lotus Journal of the Birmingham Buddhist Vihara

Issue No. 28, Spring 2009

Letter of Thanks and Report from the Desk of Venerable Ashin Nyanissara (Sitagu Sayadaw)

December 28, 2008 Dear Donors, Friends in the Dhamma & to those who are interested in putting their “Compassion into Action: First of all, I would like to pay my deepest gratitude and highest honour for your benevolent donations throughout 2008 to the victims of Cyclone Nargis, in the Irrawaddy Delta of Myanmar (Burma). We, the Sitagu Missionary Association volunteers, have worked ardently as “Compassionate Workers” since May 9, 2008 up-to now, and will continue with our long term endeavours for Health, Education and Religion in the future. Within this period we’ve received donations of money and goods from all corners of our country as well as the rest of the World. Particularly, we’d like to mention our special thanks to the donors from Australia, Germany, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand, U.K. and U.S.A. We have received over 370 trucks/containers containing many different kinds of clothing, food, medicine and other vital necessities from many different religious and social associations, and from individuals in Myanmar and abroad that truly cared in rebuilding the lives of those afflicted. We personally delivered these goods directly reaching over 1,500 villages and 2,264 monasteries; including donations of 245,800 zinc roofing sheets, over 2000 tons of rice, and many other goods and equipments. We re-paired and re- equipped twelve hospitals with new modern equipment. We selected twenty-five monastic and government primary schools from ten townships to reconstruct since they were totally destroyed. We already have donors for these; the donors are from Myanmar associations, Mahayana Buddhist associations, Christian associations, musical associations, and other Non-Government organizations and individuals. Three primary schools construction have been completed, and twenty-two are currently under-construction. We will build more. Other special arrangements include: a water-treatment system within the Bogalay Township where we’ve treated twenty-five lakes, constructing a water-purification system in Kadonkani to produce drinking water, donating fifty language labs and computers to five high schools, and are preparing and making sixty-six golden umbrellas for sixty-six pagodas in and around the Hai Gyi Island. So, within the past eight months all of the donations totalled over 6.17 billion kyats, or USD $5.14 million. Noting, some of the donations from the primary schools have not been included. Therefore, I humbly express my deepest appreciation and congratulations to all donors and well wishers. I also must express my special thanks to all voluntary workers and the members of my Sitagu association. May such Noble Spirit, Metta, Karuna and Khanti spread to every corner of the World! May all human beings walk on a “Common Highway” working together for the welfare of others.

Venerable Dr. Ashin Nyanissara (D.Litt; PhD) Sassanadhajadhammacariya, Mahadhammakathikabahujanahitadhara Aggamahasaddamajotikadhaja, Aggamahaganthavacakapandita Aggamahapandita

Sitagu International Buddhist Missionary Center Email: [email protected] Web: www.sitagu.org

1 "Letter from Guernsey"

I meditate once a week with a Zen Buddhist group here in Guernsey, which is affiliated to the London Buddhist Society. Closely linked to the Society is the Zen centre Shobo-an, which is headed up by a monk called Venerable Sochu.

Venerable Sochu made it over for a weekend in early July. That weekend - my first meeting with him - turned out to be a mini turning-point in my practice and I wanted to share it with the readers of Lotus.

A few months ago, I was having a telephone conversation with Bill Strongman. I was banging on about my perennial problem, a seeming inability to discipline myself to do meditation every day. After I had finished my moan, I began to talk about another problem, one which is actually bigger but which I think about less often (probably because I don’t want to). This problem was the fact that although I could achieve some rather nice states of mind during meditation, a more permanent sense of peace or equanimity did not seem to be pervading the other 23 hours of my day! What was interesting was what Bill said in response: “Don’t worry. Insight will come, but I don’t think it will be during the meditation.”

This comment planted itself in my mind and eventually became very relevant indeed. Fast forward eight weeks or so, to a time when I’m in a bit of a meditation lapse. Because I hadn’t done any sitting meditation for a while, the mind was quite agitated. The usual frenetic, neurotic to-and-fro was strengthening as I chose, day after day, to distract myself from how I felt rather than face it in formal practice.

And yet I began to notice that there was some way in which the path of mindfulness was not going to move out of sight completely. Sure, I wasn’t staying on the path all the time, but there was a momentum there that I began to realize would never go away - even if I did not do sitting meditation.

This experience of the mind inexorably tending toward focus was in the background during Sochu’s visit. While here in Guernsey, one of the things he emphasized was that what he calls the Daily Life Practice (being mindful during your day-to-day activities) is the hub and centre of the Buddhist path. Not a nice addition, but the most important part - even more than ‘actual’ meditation itself. All of the meditation, retreats and reading in the world will not help you if the Daily Life Practice is not done, he said. People who come to his classes are even told to stop meditating, in fact, if they seem to be attaching too heavily to it.

All of this pushed me to realize that sitting meditation was not be the be-all and end-all of practice. Here I was beating myself up for not having the discipline to sit regularly when really there is a far bigger and subtler discipline to be trained in - that of really being willing to give up the self in the moment-to-moment flow of life.

So, there's always room for us to attach that little bit less to things, including even the meditation practice itself. That was the lesson I learned during Venerable Sochu's visit.

---Duncan Rathband was a regular at the Vihara's Thursday night beginners' meditation classes, taught by the much-loved Bill Strongman. In Summer 2007, he moved to Guernsey in the Channel Islands, where he works as an apprentice plumber doing eco-friendly installations.---

2 Intellect + Realization = Nibbana

I am filled with admiration and not a little envy toward my friends who are able to assimilate and retain all the information in the Abhidhamma and other Buddhist writings in the form of lists and formulas; you know the sort of things I mean there are four of these, eight of those, twelve of something else and so on. This obviously is a very good way to present the Buddha’s teaching but it seems to me (and this is probably a touch of sour grapes in my part) that there is a possibility that this learning will remain on the intellectual level and if this is confused with true realization of the truth then it may delay the process. I am reminded of the story told by Ajahn Sumedho of the man who was sitting under a roadside sign saying London with a finger pointing in that direction. When asked “What are you doing?” the man replied “I always wanted to go to London and now I am there.” When told that this was just a sign pointing to London, which was still many miles away, he said “No look at it, it says London and here I am.” Ven. Dr. Rewatadhamma wrote a book in which he describes the Buddha’s teaching as a prescription which of course it is, a medicine that if taken regularly will cure all our suffering but if we are content to read the label and understand what all the ingredients are without actually taking the medicine then we are unlikely to get better, well not in this lifetime anyway. It is possible that at first the medicine may not be exactly to your taste but if you persist and take the medicine as prescribed then you will find the taste gets a lot better and with the passage of time becomes a joy to take. The medicine will cure doubt, despair, ignorance, anger, ill will, hatred, fear and anxiety. The ingredients are peace, happiness, love, compassion, gentleness, kindness, understanding and generosity. So, keep taking the medicine and perhaps you would like from time to time to try Dr Bill’s therapy it’s called smiling. Bill Strongman

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3 Pavarana (Invitation)

It has long been a tradition that the New Year heralds our “turning over a new leaf”, as having acknowledge to ourselves that there are things about us that could be better we resolve to achieve an improvement by changing our actions and/or thinking. This requires us to first look at ourselves honestly after which we often turn for inspiration to those who appear to have the qualities we seek.

Unfortunately, the culture around us appears to be slowly robbing us of this responsibility as the state responds with more and more legislation whenever a “new problem” occurs. Added to this we hear more and more people complain it was not their fault it went wrong, it was always someone else. With this atmosphere of “it’s not my fault” it becomes increasingly hard to hold up others as an example of good behaviour to aspire to as this also requires an acceptance by us that we could do better. From this background, rather than acknowledge the achievements of others it becomes preferable to undermine their success by finding faults in whatever they have done. Further to this we hear people saying what others are doing or thinking is wrong because it is not what I do or think. Consequently, rather than having a culture constantly striving to improve itself we have one that equally demeans the actions and success of others, whether good or bad, and therefore aspires to nothing.

In his teachings the Buddha told us about those who were good and those who were bad. He told us of good actions so that we might aspire to equal them, he told us of bad actions so as to avoid them and to understand the consequences of both. He never held up those who did wrong so that we could feel superior to them and therefore become complacent about our own actions. Theravada Buddhism is not a religion but a lifestyle designed to improve the individual through the following of the Eightfold Path of right behaviour. Therefore, as Buddhists it is our responsibility to improve ourselves and not spend our time telling others how we think they should behave. If by such actions we inspire others to improve themselves this is an added bonus. This is not saying that others around us can not be wrong, the Buddha warned of such beings calling them mittapatirupaka (false friends). In his teachings he was quite clear that we should avoid such people or become like them, which is best summed up in an old Thai proverb: “Always keep a safe distance – give a hound an arms length, give a monkey six feet but for a fool a hundred thousand miles may not be enough.”

If we want to lead by example then in future we could not go far wrong by adopting the Pavarana (Invitation) for our New Year’s resolutions, as practiced at the end of the Vassa (Rains Retreat), by simply turning to our neighbours and saying “If you have heard me do wrong, seen me do wrong or think I have done wrong then tell me and I will change my ways.” It is harder than criticising others but ultimately more beneficial to us. Robert Black

Diary Dates

Buddha Day (Visakha) Sun. 3 May 10:30am Buddha Day (BM&AG) Sat. 9 May 12:45pm Dhammacakka Day & Pagoda Anniversary Sun. 5 July 10:30am Group Ordinations Sun. 9 Aug 10-day Meditation Retreat Fri. 14 Aug – Sun. 23 Aug Abhidhamma (Pavarana) Day Sat. 3 Oct 7:00pm Kathina Day Sun. 4 Oct 10:30am English Heritage Open Days Thurs 10 th – Sun 13 th Sept, 10:00am – 5:00pm

4 THERAVĀDA BUDDHIST PRECEPTS TAKEN BY ATTENDEES OF Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravāda)

Theravāda Buddhism offers several different sets of Precepts for its adherents. Attendees of the Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravāda) have taken the Precepts described below.

Ājīvatthamaka Sīla (The Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth)

The Ājīvatthamaka Sīla builds upon the framework of Pañca Sīla (The Five Precepts). It expands the Fourth Precept of the Pañca Sīla (The Five Precepts) to specify the four types of wrong speech from which a lay disciple should abstain. The Ājīvatthamaka Sīla also requires abstention from wrong livelihood, including trading in arms; in living beings (slavery, prostitution); meat; alcohol; and poison. “The three constituents of the Morality Group of the Eightfold Path when considered in detail become the Ājīvatthamaka Sīla .” (Ledi Sayādaw, Wheel 171-174 page 10) “The perfect moral conduct or character can be categorised under the Eight Precepts called the Ājīvatthamaka Sīla.” (Venerable Balangoda Ānanda Maitreya, 1995, page 16)

1) Pānātipātā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi I undertake the Precept to refrain from killing and injuring living beings

2) Adinnādānā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi I undertake the Precept to refrain from taking that which is not given

3) Kāmesu micchācarā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi I undertake the Precept to refrain from sexual misconduct and excessive sensuality

4) Musāvādā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi I undertake the Precept to refrain from false and harmful speech

5) Pisunavācā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi I undertake the Precept to refrain from backbiting

6) Pharusavācā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi I undertake the Precept to refrain from using harsh or abusive speech

7) Samphapalāpavācā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi I undertake the Precept to refrain from useless or meaningless conversation

8) Micchājīvā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi I undertake the Precept to refrain from wrong means of livelihood

Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Mahā Thera has administered Ājīvatthamaka Sīla for life to Upāsaka s Sumedha and Mahinda in 2000 and Upāsaka Puñña in 2002.

If you have a story or article you would like to share with other readers please e-mail it to our new address [email protected] or post it to the editor at the Birmingham Buddhist Vihara.

5 Knowledge & Wisdom

In the north of China there once lived a celebrated Confucian scholar. He was very old and had no equal in his knowledge and understanding of the teachings of his great master, Kung Fu Tzu. Then stories started to be heard in the town that in the barbarian south a new doctrine had taken hold that was even deeper than his. The old scholar was annoyed to think that anyone would believe that there could be teachings greater than those of Master Kung but he felt the matter needed to be settled properly. As there was nobody with as great an understanding as he had he decided to make the journey to the south himself. After several months on the road he arrived at a small house where a humble Zen monk lived. He introduced himself and explained that he had come to determine whose teachings were the most profound. He suggested that they should each explain in turn their teachings and understanding of them so that they could decide between themselves who’s were the more profound. The monk agreed and suggested that his guest should go first. The Confucian scholar first spent several hours outlining the teachings of Master Kung and then proceeded to explain the various points that he had covered. The monk sat and listened carefully without interrupting once. At last the old scholar finished and asked the monk would he like to make a start on expounding the teachings of his master. The monk smiled and said “To avoid doing evil, to do as much good as possible is the teaching of all Buddhas.” The scholar sat still for a moment but then jumped up and shouted at the monk “I have travelled for many months and put up with much hardship despite my great years. As promised I have fully explained the teachings of Master Kung and then elucidated all the major points. In return for all my efforts you tell me a simple verse that every little child knows, do you think I am some kind of a fool!” “I am not trying to make fun of you, “ said the monk, “but consider this, every child may know the verse but even an elderly scholar fails to live up to it.”

It is not what we know but what we do with it that is a true sign of wisdom.

Vihara News

Sponsorship news As always, our deepest thanks also go to all our regular donors and those individuals who volunteer their time and energy without which none of this would be possible. However, in addition we would also like to thank the following supporters for their generous sponsorship of our recent events. 10 th Pagoda Anniversary Sponsors 1. Dr Aung Myin + Daw Thein Thein, Blackpool. (Dr A. Myin’s birthday d āna) 2. Dr. Mar Mar Lwin Kathina Day Sponsors U. Maun Maung Than (patron) + Daw Aye Aye Than and family 1. Debby Su Su Than + Robert Haywood. Rebecca Thida Aye Haywood. Adam Myo Aung Haywood 2. Mandy Hla Hla Myint + Andrew West. James & Daniel 3.Robin Chithtwe Than + Kerry Than. Louise & Evie Yin Yin Aye 4. Steven Aung Lwin Than + Lindsay Mitchell. Aimee Nila Aye Than

Ordinations Group ordinations of both monks and novices are to be held on Sunday, 9 th August 2009. Prospective novices Kathina Day must be over 7 years old and monks over 20 years. Following their ordination novices and monks may remain at the Vihara for up to 6 days, after this time they may extend their robed time by taking part in the 10-day retreat starting on Friday, 14th August 2009. In order to apply for a place in the ordination ceremonies please complete the enclosed application form or for further details please contact either Dr Ottaranyāna (email: [email protected] Tel:

6 0121 454 6591), Dr T.Z.Oo (email: [email protected] Tel: 01623 662744) or Robert Black (email [email protected] Tel: 4291457) and marking your envelope “ORDINATIONS”.

Dr Ottaranyāna’s Activities Between 27 November and 26 December 2008 Dr Ottaranyāna visited Myanmar for a variety of reasons.

On his arrival in Myanmar Dr Ottaranyāna first looked into the matter of the shipment of various items to the UK. The items involved are a collection of wooden arts, tables and chairs and books for use in the newly completed Dhamma Hall. The books amount to 600 copies of Pitaka literature and 500 copies of Dr Rewata Dhamma’s biography in Burmese. On 30 November he attended the funeral of his friend, Ven. Kosalla, in Pago (Dean of Pariyatti,Theravāda Buddhist University) and donated K.300,000.

On the 4th December he visited Thamangon to take part in their school anniversary celebrations. During his visit he was able to make financial awards to seven students on behalf of Dr Mar Mar Lwin and the late Dr Rewata Dhamma, the awards being: 2 medical students each received K.500,000 1 student awarded K.150,000 for achieving 3 distinctions in their 2008 high school exams. 2 students each awarded K.100,000 for achieving 2 distinctions in their 2008 high school exams. 2 students each awarded K.50,000 for achieving 1 distinction in their 2008 high school exam. To each of Dr Rewata Dhamma’s two sisters a gift of K.100,000 was made. Finally, Thamangon village was given K.200,000 to enable them to relocate their Primary School to safer ground because of a threat of flooding by the nearby Irrawaddy River.

A few days later, on 7 th December, Dr Ottaranyāna visited his home village where he was able to make financial gifts to several people: To 30 people, over the age of 70, he donated K.500 each To 5 people, over the age of 80, he donated K.5000 each To his teacher Sayādaw, who is 88 years of age, he donated K.100,000 To 2 university students he donated K.100,000 each

th th From the 9 to the 10 December he was invited to take Ngathyinggaung Ordinations part in the ordination ceremony held in Ngathyinggaung of his nephews; 2 novices and 2 monks . Bhante sponsored for their ordination with K.600,000 and donated K.100,000 for the rebuilding of Lokamarajina Cetiya.

During the 20 th & 21 st December he travelled in the cyclone damaged regions of Pyapon and Daydaye where five Buddhist Primary Schools (over 700 students) and Kani where an Orphan School (over 150 students) were all severely damaged. In addition to the structural damage sustained by the buildings their contents were also spoiled. It was with these latter losses that Dr Ottaranyāna was able to help with a range of educational donations:12,000 copy books; 2,000 ballpoint pens; 2,000 pencils; 1,000 rulers and 1,000 erasers. In

7 addition to these educational donations he also donated medicines, soaps and K.200,000 to two abbot monks.

Finally, during his stay in Myanmar he asked to deliver three lectures at the International Theravāda Buddhist Missionary University, Yangon.

Between mid-February and early March Dr Ottaranyāna has been invited to run meditation retreats in Brazil. After this he has been invited to run a meditation retreat in Belgium during April. Unfortunately these trips do mean that the following Abhidhamma study dates will have to be cancelled: February 10 th and 24 th and March 3 rd .

Other Items Important Information regarding the “Gift Aid Scheme”

If you have previously used a “Gift Aid envelope” but have not confirmed this by completing a “Gift Aid Scheme” form could you please complete one of these forms as soon as possible? If you do not currently make a regular donation to the Vihara could we please ask you to consider making your donations by Standing Order in conjunction with a Gift Aid declaration? Such regular payments make our budgeting for the future easier and the Gift Aid Scheme means that for every £1 you donate the tax office will give us a further 25p at no cost to you . Please return forms to Dr Chit Ko Ko at the Birmingham Buddhist Vihara.

Full Moon Children’s Class U. Ghosaka

Chanting in the Pagoda at Every Sunday from 1:00- 7:30pm except on festival 3:00pm, except Christmas days. Day and New Years Day. Suitable for 5+ years but 10 January, 7 June, all welcome with or without 9 February, 5 July, children. 10 March, 5 August, 1 November, 9 April, 3 September, 1 December, For further details please 8 May, 3 October, 30 December. contact Ellen mobile: 07814 972 460 ****************************** e-mail: [email protected]

Abhidhamma Studies Dr Ottaranyāna ****************************** Meditation Classes Tuesdays 2:30 – 4:00pm Beginners: Advanced: Thurs. 7:30pm Mon. 7:30pm Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27 Feb. 3, Mar. 10, 17, 24, 31 Apr. 21, 28 ****************************** May 5, 12, 19 Jun. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Pagoda Opening Jul. 7, 14, 21 Sep. 8, 15, 22, 29 Oct. 6, 13, 20 Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24 Summer 9am – 7pm Dec. 1, 18, 15 Winter 9am – 5pm The Pagoda is open most days but to avoid Due to unforeseen circumstances dates may be disappointment please call or e-mail first to ensure cancelled, please telephone to confirm before there will be someone available to welcome you and attending. show you around

BIRMINGHAM BUDDHIST VIHARA & DHAMMATALAKA PEACE PAGODA 29 Osler Street, Ladywood, Birmingham B16 9EU Tel: 0121 454 6591 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.birminghambuddhistvihara.org

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