Vishvajit,
What happened between you and me can never be explained rationally. It is something, which drives my mind insane and disrupts my life continuously. It is simply unnatural. The problem increases when I try to logically factualise our relationship. No where can I locate a space to capture what we have now. At the pinnacle of it all, I then realise that this is not a matter of the mind but of the heart.
Manisha Savarna
Thursday, May 26, 2005
The force in you
How lightly a vow is taken. A vow is not a spiritual contract, as many seem to think it is. A vow is an understanding and an actual action taken to transform the mind. This evolution occurs internally. Much has been said about what is internal and what is external. These are not mere words but have a nonlocal and transcendental connotation. When we actually sit down and quietly listen to ourselves and not judge based on environmental conditionings, perhaps this is knowing ourselves internally.
Under such circumstances, we make an honest pact with ourselves. We admit to our faults, shortcomings, attachments, ignorance and for once not justify our mistakes. And then, through this pact or vow a transformation to make connections with the higher-self comes into place.
The force in us is great. We can will many victories and also engage in many failures. But none of these are real. Because our minds actually only register electronic signals and not the object our eyes perceive. What we touch, taste, see, hear and smell are merely an intention to make them real and we know deep down, what we perceive and study as real is consequently a tiny drop of reality.
This vow that we make with ourselves, is an agreement to drop the sheild of rationalism and to go beyond what is empirical and factual. A plunge into the unknown, fearless, deathless, selfless and joyous rim. The force within us which, dances to the tune of nature links once again with the universal one .
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Aristotle today
In my reading of Aristotle, his writings go back to approximately 2300 years ago, I notice that the problems he learnt are yet to be solved today. In fact we are drifting further and further away from answering anything substantial. As of now, we are attempting to decodify his desideratas and questions, giving birth to swarms of Aristotle scholars. Some defending and some antagonising. But mainly irrational and running against the wall of common sense, one way or the other.
It is true that once we start taking sides, we lose our sense of objectivity.
Whether reality preaches and explains itself or we are independent of a true reality outside the world we know, remains a maze. Quantum physics seem to take the Parmanedian theory by its' horns and state that a thing can be simultaneously is and is not. A potentiality until an observer brings it to reality.
Why didn't I study Metaphysics as a major, but Law?
How did I even come across Perennial Philosophy?
I literally was in bookshop, scrutinising the philosophy compartment and there it was - "Aldous Huxley's THE PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY." It hit me in the face when I had no idea what the title referred to. Absorbed by an inexplicable burst of energy, I reached out my hand and my fingers gently grabbed the book. Took it safely in my possession, found a chair by the corner, sat down and read the first page. It sucked me into a vortex and left me spinning in amazement.
Meditation:
Purge all dust of ignorance and debacles of attachment from the soul. Don't get it wrong. It is not "them" but "me".
Manisha Savarna
It is true that once we start taking sides, we lose our sense of objectivity.
Whether reality preaches and explains itself or we are independent of a true reality outside the world we know, remains a maze. Quantum physics seem to take the Parmanedian theory by its' horns and state that a thing can be simultaneously is and is not. A potentiality until an observer brings it to reality.
Why didn't I study Metaphysics as a major, but Law?
How did I even come across Perennial Philosophy?
I literally was in bookshop, scrutinising the philosophy compartment and there it was - "Aldous Huxley's THE PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY." It hit me in the face when I had no idea what the title referred to. Absorbed by an inexplicable burst of energy, I reached out my hand and my fingers gently grabbed the book. Took it safely in my possession, found a chair by the corner, sat down and read the first page. It sucked me into a vortex and left me spinning in amazement.
Meditation:
Purge all dust of ignorance and debacles of attachment from the soul. Don't get it wrong. It is not "them" but "me".
Manisha Savarna
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Why tarry? Just go forth!
SANGHA speaks:
Why tarry? Just go forth!
Venerable Mangala was in the midst of his personal meditation retreat in Penang when he received a request from Venerable Aggacitta to share with the second Introduction to Monkhood Programme Participants (IMPPs), his experiences of monkhood as well as the practice of Abhidhamma as taught in the Pa Auk tradition.
Venerable Mangala was a law graduate from the University of Malaya, Malaysia.
Firstly, I guess many good potential candidates
for monkhood are held back by petty fears of
‘what ifs’. They fear they may fall, having seen
some very senior monks fall. They fear some
beloved ones may not be able to live well enough if they
renounced. Deep inside they feel they are indispensable
to the world they live in. So on and so forth.
Please tell them to have a better understanding and
faith in the Law of Cause and Effect. Please tell them
to contemplate on Dependent Origination and nonself.
Then all the fears can be easily dispelled. The
fears that triumph on illusion and delusion will find
no foothold to stand on. Then all decision-making will
be very simple. Fear no loss. Fear no outcome.
Why fear scorn or shame? The shame, if we want to
call it so, is in useless fear and indecision. When our
ego is big, we fear. Understanding non-self, why
indulge in fears? Just walk ahead. We have our kamma.
Others have their kamma.
If things do not work well, the worst is to disrobe.
Failure is never permanent. If we truly try—honestly—
there will be no real failure. Every day of brahmacariya
is meritorious, and is never cultivated in vain even if
we disrobe later. Just be honest to oneself in the
present moment. Be true to one’s present wisdom.
Attach not to anybody nor to anything.
Why hesitate? If we say detachment is one of the
greatest gifts we can give to the world, the only true
way to teach it, is by living it. Detachment can only be
taught in a detached manner. We cannot free others
without freeing ourselves. Another form of attachment
is craving for things, tangible or intangible, in life.
Sincere contemplation on death and impermanence is
enough to help us make a decisive turn from indulgence
in craving for material things and for other
aspects of Dhamma (i.e. mere intellectual theories or
views and preoccupations with worldly af fairs. Ed.)
When I was deliberating on becoming a monk, one
of the things I considered was, “Thirty or forty years
later will I regret the way I spend my youth now?”
This thought made everything else superficial and
tasteless. Conditional greatness is never great in the
stream of impermanence. So I decided, “If there is
anything that may be called great that I should do, it is
to help myself and others to realise the Deathless.”
Now, seven and a half years into monkhood, I am
still appreciative of this spiritual opportunity granted
by the Buddha.
May your vision materialise.
May SBS grow steadily.
May you be well and happy.
Why tarry? Just go forth!
Venerable Mangala was in the midst of his personal meditation retreat in Penang when he received a request from Venerable Aggacitta to share with the second Introduction to Monkhood Programme Participants (IMPPs), his experiences of monkhood as well as the practice of Abhidhamma as taught in the Pa Auk tradition.
Venerable Mangala was a law graduate from the University of Malaya, Malaysia.
Firstly, I guess many good potential candidates
for monkhood are held back by petty fears of
‘what ifs’. They fear they may fall, having seen
some very senior monks fall. They fear some
beloved ones may not be able to live well enough if they
renounced. Deep inside they feel they are indispensable
to the world they live in. So on and so forth.
Please tell them to have a better understanding and
faith in the Law of Cause and Effect. Please tell them
to contemplate on Dependent Origination and nonself.
Then all the fears can be easily dispelled. The
fears that triumph on illusion and delusion will find
no foothold to stand on. Then all decision-making will
be very simple. Fear no loss. Fear no outcome.
Why fear scorn or shame? The shame, if we want to
call it so, is in useless fear and indecision. When our
ego is big, we fear. Understanding non-self, why
indulge in fears? Just walk ahead. We have our kamma.
Others have their kamma.
If things do not work well, the worst is to disrobe.
Failure is never permanent. If we truly try—honestly—
there will be no real failure. Every day of brahmacariya
is meritorious, and is never cultivated in vain even if
we disrobe later. Just be honest to oneself in the
present moment. Be true to one’s present wisdom.
Attach not to anybody nor to anything.
Why hesitate? If we say detachment is one of the
greatest gifts we can give to the world, the only true
way to teach it, is by living it. Detachment can only be
taught in a detached manner. We cannot free others
without freeing ourselves. Another form of attachment
is craving for things, tangible or intangible, in life.
Sincere contemplation on death and impermanence is
enough to help us make a decisive turn from indulgence
in craving for material things and for other
aspects of Dhamma (i.e. mere intellectual theories or
views and preoccupations with worldly af fairs. Ed.)
When I was deliberating on becoming a monk, one
of the things I considered was, “Thirty or forty years
later will I regret the way I spend my youth now?”
This thought made everything else superficial and
tasteless. Conditional greatness is never great in the
stream of impermanence. So I decided, “If there is
anything that may be called great that I should do, it is
to help myself and others to realise the Deathless.”
Now, seven and a half years into monkhood, I am
still appreciative of this spiritual opportunity granted
by the Buddha.
May your vision materialise.
May SBS grow steadily.
May you be well and happy.
It is me...
My sweetheart, my darling and my love...
Thank you for coming back to my life.
Please don't wonder off too far.
I worry a whole lot about you.
Manisha Savarna
Even though reason is on your side, you must be forgiving;
even though justice is on your side, you must be soft-spoken.
Thank you for coming back to my life.
Please don't wonder off too far.
I worry a whole lot about you.
Manisha Savarna
Even though reason is on your side, you must be forgiving;
even though justice is on your side, you must be soft-spoken.
Where have you been?
Oh! my sweet heart
my darling
my love
where are you?
I miss you...
I am only human.
I make mistakes too.
I think I said many words
which I shouldn't have.
I think I dreamt many dreams
when I should let things be.
Because good fortune only happens...once.
Manisha Savarna
my darling
my love
where are you?
I miss you...
I am only human.
I make mistakes too.
I think I said many words
which I shouldn't have.
I think I dreamt many dreams
when I should let things be.
Because good fortune only happens...once.
Manisha Savarna
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