JUNE 2012 One Heart- One Mind The Newsletter of the Association of Engaged Buddhists SANGHA LODGE: 20 Victoria St Lewisham NSW 2049! Ph/Fax: (02) 9590 3617 E: offi[email protected] W: www.engagedbuddhists.org.au Meditation & Dhamma Teaching Dana Days Association News Food Fair 7.30pm every Monday night. Dana Days are held on the first Sunday of each Healing meditation Sunday 29th July • Join with others in sitting practice. month. Attendees bring food to offer to the retreat at Vejjasala – June Page 5 Sangha and to share with each other. This is a long weekend 7.30pm every Wed night. great way to show respect for the Sangha and MEGA MULTICULTURAL FOOD FAIR Vejjasala – Installation of Sunday 29 July 2012 • Meditation evenings include a Dhamma talk enjoy a delicious meal with others in the lay 10.00am to 3.00pm ROSELEA Community Centre the Kutis 645 – 671 Pennant Hills Rd followed by around half an hour of community. CARLINGFORD Apam Balik (Msian pan cake / Ban Jian Kuih) Indonesian Wu Tow Ko Gado Gado CurriesSri andLankan mixed dishes Nyonya Kueh guided sitting practice. Beginners or more Curry Puffs Fried Kuih Teow Food Fair – Help Wanted Nasi Lemak Ais experienced meditators are equally welcome. Please note that we must start promptly at Kacang Satay Curry LaksaZongzi (chang) Malaysian Spring rolls Tea, coffee, teh tarik, drinks Chinese • There is no charge for the teachings although 10:30am in order for the Sangha to finish AND MORE... Page 3 Bargains, Plants, Books, Bric-a-Brac AND donations are welcome as this is Sangha eating by noon. The Next Dana Day will be Live music www.engagedbuddhists.org.au (for further info and photos of dishes) Lodge’s only means of support. Sunday 1st July Organised by He then followed with a small sermon in which he said that although it was true that the body would one day be as useless as a fallen log, while it was The still alive, it should be taken care of. In the state of heightened alertness in which the sick monk dwelled, brought on in part by the fresh Buddha bath and fresh clothes, he attained enlightenment at the end of the sermon. Before long, alas, this body will lie lifeless on the ground, discarded like and a useless log. The Association members and friends and those involved with our new Vejjasala retreat project at Suffering... Wingello would do well to be attentive to this small story from the life of the Buddha. The Buddha is attentive to the suffering which arises Once When the Buddha was wandering about teaching through the simple fact of physical existence. and preaching, he came upon a community of his monks Disease and dis-ease are not ignored or dismissed in which one of them was suffering from a debilitating but addressed in a very straightforward and skin disease. Sores that continually oozed blood and pus lying on and carried him to a place where practical way by the Buddha even when his covered his body from head to foot. he was gently scrubbed clean. In the meantime, disciples fail to do the same. His intention is to Too weak to wash himself or his stained robes, a his clothes were taken away and washed. relieve suffering at this most basic level. nauseating stench had settled about him which When they were dry, they dressed the sick monk I write this at a time in which we are becoming none of his brother monks could bear. And so he in fresh clean robes, which made him also feel more and more aware for example, of the terrible was left alone, unable to fend for himself. It was in clean and fresh. The Buddha then admonished the suffering of the people of Syria and especially of this pitiful state that the Buddha found him and bhikkhus present, saying, “Bhikkhus, here you their young children. This is where the Buddha’s immediately proceeded to look after him. have no mother or father to take care of you when approach to Dukkha begins; with the simple fact First, the Buddha went to boil some water and you are sick. Who will take care of you then if you of suffering - Dukkham Ariyasaccam. don’t take care of one another? Remember brought it back to bathe the monk. Then, as he was Continued on Page 2... trying to carry the monk outside to bathe him, the whenever you look after a sick person, it is as if other monks saw him and came to help. They all you were looking after me myself.” took hold of the couch that the sick monk was One Heart-One Mind! 1 JUNE 2012 The Buddha’s concern goes well beyond this very brother died when their house collapsed in a fire. several hours he gave up, left the Mango grove obvious experience of suffering however and seeks The ashes were still smouldering. Mad with grief and went back to the Buddha. to overcome suffering / dukkha in its emotional, she wandered about walking in circles and tearing psychological and spiritual forms as well as at her cloths. As a ragged and now homeless He went up to the Buddha, bowed low and said, confronting the dukkha of Avvija or ignorance. person people threw trash at her. One day she ‘Reverend Sir, I think I need help. I thought that Think of all the times you or your loved ones have entered a grove where the Buddha was teaching grove of Mango trees was so quiet and pleasant experienced great suffering through relationships and the audience attempted to keep her away. that I would easily be able to meditate there and and their sometimes turbulent nature or of the Nevertheless the Buddha approached her and said achieve wisdom. But when I sat down I found that pain arising out of bereavement, separation, loss “Sister, recover your presence of mind.” I couldn’t stop thinking about all the things I and grief. There are many examples in the Suttas wanted but didn’t have, and I couldn’t stop feeling of the Buddha meeting with these all too ordinary Her mind became clear at that moment and after irritated at people who had done things I didn’t human experiences. How he dealt with these is hearing his words of wisdom she asked to be like. What shall I do? What is wrong?’ very instructive, helpful and inspiring for us who ordained. On the spot he left the audience and ‘Ah,’ said the Buddha, ‘When you find that your try to follow his Dhamma 2,500 years after his took her to a community of nuns where she was mind is filled up with thoughts and feelings like passing. accepted. that, there are five things that you need to Please read and reflect on these short stories which Then she recounted to him the tragedy that had remember. beautifully illustrate the way the Buddha befallen her. The Teacher listened to her with ‘The first is that you need to remember how addresses suffering wherever he finds it. compassion and then made it clear to her that these painful experiences she had gone through helpful it is to have the support of good friends And Kisa Gotami had an only son, and he died. In were only tiny drops in the ocean of and companions – your Sangha – if you are to her grief she carried the dead child to all her impermanence in which all beings drown if they make progress. neighbours, asking them for medicine, and the are attached to that which rises and ceases. He told I hope that you might reflect on the way the people said: "She has lost her senses. The boy is her that all through many existences, she had wept Buddha approaches suffering and his wish to dead. At length Kisa Gotami met a man who more tears over the loss of dear ones than could be overcome it, to be of help to others and think of the replied to her request: "I cannot give thee medicine contained in the waters of the four oceans. He said: difference we may often find in our own approach. for thy child, but I know a physician who can." The “But little water do the oceans four contain, girl said: "Pray tell me, sir; who is it?" And the man First the Buddha is open to and aware of suffering Compared with all the tears that man hath shed, replied: "Go to Sakyamuni, the Buddha." in all of its forms. He never seeks to lay blame. He By sorrow smitten and by suffering distraught. never asks about the worthiness or otherwise of Kisa Gotami repaired to the Buddha and cried: Woman, why heedless dost thou still remain?” the sufferer to receive assistance. He offers the "Lord and Master, give me the medicine that will heart of friendship not judgement. He has no cure my boy." The Buddha answered: "I want a Once, a long time ago, when the Buddha was thought of ‘self ‘in his actions with regard to handful of mustard-seed." And when the girl in staying on a hill at Calika, his main companion helping others to overcome dukkha. He does not her joy promised to procure it, the Buddha added: was a very worthy man called Meghiya. And one see others as “others” but rather as beings in "The mustard-seed must be taken from a house day Meghiya noticed a pleasant grove of Mango distress and in need of the healing balm of where no one has lost a child, husband, parent, or trees on the bank of the Kimikala River, near the Dhamma.