Chapter 3

WILL HAPPY AND HAPPY

19. Unspeakable  (= no) lovers (= fear) means no fear)

If sin looked at the brick wall at first and saw only two deflected blocks ( see "Two deviated blocks", no. 1 ), the fear would be on the wall of the future, and only the whole block would be seen. When fear is blinded, eyes will no longer see good bricks anymore. 

On the morning of the first talk, newspapers posted on the front page and in large letters in Singapore has 99 cases infected. Find out the Singapore number I know the figure is under four million. I told the organizers:

Thus 3,999,901 people do not have SARS. I keep going. "

"But what if someone gets infected?" Asked Fear.

"But if no one else?" Wisdom asked again, with a great probability available in hand.

So the talks are conducted as usual. The first night there were five hundred listeners and the fourth night of the convention hall. A total of over eight thousand attend. They learn irresistible fear resisting lessons and this lesson helps them to be more courageous in the future. They like the teachings and come out of joy; Their immune system seems to be strengthened. And as I usually joke at the end of each talk. "You laugh with my funny stories, your lungs will bloom and your respiratory system will be healthier!"

No one to attend my four dharma nights to be hospitalized for SARS!

Thousands of things can happen in the future. If we turn our attention to the bad things we fear. When we engage in good things we are not afraid; Fearless growth is so simple.

20. Predict the future

Many people want to know their future. Some people do not have the patience to wait for him to find hands, divination, horoscope, etc. I would like to tell you not to believe in them. Many teachers predict the future is better, but not when you practice!

Once there was a disciple of Ajahn Chah who begged him to guess his destiny. He said, "The righteous do not divinize." But he insisted and told the public how many times he had placed his bowl, offered his monastery, took him by his car and gasoline, served him regardless of the work of his family. Seeing that this disciple was too eager to know his future, Ajahn Chah said he made an exceptional decision on the prohibition of fortune telling and said,

"Disciples spread their hands to the teacher for"

He was very happy to know that Ajahn Chah has not handled anyone now. Europe is a special gift He gave him. More than that, he thought, he was a saintly living god, guess what is sure to be. Ajahn Chah took his hand, using his forefinger to draw his handwriting and occasionally say to himself, "Oh, that's great!" Or "Good, good, good!" Or "Great!" Guilty are anxiously waiting.

Ajahn Chah took a moment later and said,

"Hey student, this is what will happen to you"

Yes, sir. "He stammered.

"And he was never wrong," Ajahn Chah continued.

"Sir, you know, I know. So what is your future? "He brightened with joy.

"My future is uncertain," he replied.

And, He is not wrong!

21. Silver

Money is hard to accumulate but is easy to consume and the fastest way to lose is to gamble. All gamblers eventually lose money. Yet many people still prefer to predict in the hope of winning. I would like to tell two stories later that predict very dangerous oil with signs of positive.

A friend wakes up to the dream of a dream. He dreamed that the first five women gave him big gold coins worth a fortune. Opening his eyes, he did not see the fairies nor the gold, but the dream was alive and thrilling in his head.

As soon as he came down to the kitchen, he saw his wife fry him five eggs and bake him for five slices of bread. This year's number is also on the top of today's newspaper: May 5th. Really! Not yet. He turned over the horse racing page, surprised at the Ascot (five words) in the first one with the five-year horse named the Year of the Angels. Dream is a good omen, I guess.

He asked to take a day off, went to the bank withdrew five thousand dollars, ran to the racecourse, counted five, struck five thousand dollars on the fifth horse named Five Angels, run fifth.

Dream is not wrong. The number of years is not wrong. The only wrong thing is that they happen a little bit skewed: The fifth horse in the fifth.

The second happened in Singapore a few years ago. There is an Australian guy who married his Singaporean wife. One time the couple visited his hometown and he was invited by the brothers to the race track. On the way, you visit the temple to burn incense. See the temple indiscriminately, they take the brush, rags and clean up. Completely they burned incense vow, then put each other to the race track. That day they lost bold.

In the evening, Australians dream of horse racing. When waking up, he remembered the name of the horse first. Seeing in the Straits Times the name of the horse he dreamed of running this afternoon, he looked up to his brothers and sisters. But no one believed the guardian gods Singapore Pagoda again to dream for the white Australian should not pay attention. He went to the race track alone and fishing the horse. He won big.

The yellow piggybacked monkeys that go to bless white Australians. Chinese wives angry!

22. What is fear?

Fear very futile. Only when we believe that the future can not be ascertained, let us not guess the future. Then we are out of fear.

When I was young I was afraid to go to the dentist. Once I arrived and learned that the appointment had been canceled, I learned a lesson: fear before arriving just takes time and takes time!

The future has not come yet and we can not know for sure. The uncertainty can resolve the fear. But if we do not know how to use wisdom, fear can break us down. It almost eliminated Little Grasshopper in the Kung Fu TV series, which I loved while still teaching and before leaving home.

Story: A Sadi Shruti was taken by his blind master in a glass in a pagoda closed door. In the cup there is a six meter long lake with narrow wooden bridge crossing. Sadi was told not to go near the lake because the lake did not contain water but also contained acid.

"In the next seven days," he said, "you will be tested. I will go across the lake on the swaying board. Be very careful. Do you see bones scattered on the bottom of the lake? "

Scratching the grasshopper, I stared down into the lake and saw many bones on the bottom. Master continued to ask:

"It's the bones of the Sadi like I dropped into the lake"

The monk brought the locusts to the ground in the bright sun to train through the lake. Here he arranged a board with a narrow plank-like bridge crossing an acid lake, only the plank was on two bricks in the middle of the yard. Then, for seven days in a row, you do not have to elaborate on the plank. Easy After a few days, he can walk, blindfold, or fall.

On the day of the examination, the grasshopper was handed over to the acidic tank, the bone was still there, and was flickering on the bottom. He walked to the center of the bridge, his eyes on Master. He ordered: "Step"

Acidic Acidic Platforms seem to be narrower than the boards in the yard. Scratchy Scratchy started to walk. But his steps are unstable, he staggered to the middle of the bridge. Then husband husband, seemingly about to fall into the lake acid.

Here the film stopped for advertising. Do I have to endure these three stupid commercials, while I'm afraid I do not know whether the rake is crossing the bridge?

End of ad. Film continues. Scratchy Scratchy baby lost all confidence, step wobbling. Tý, he falls into the lake!

Your blind teacher smiled as he broke the splash of water. Lake water, not acid lake. Bones are dry bones bottomed for "scary". They raked the rake at the same time also cast the audience, like me.

"What makes you fall into the lake?" Teacher asked, and he replied, "Fear falls on me, scratch me, scare me."

23. Fear public speaking

One of the greatest fears I was told was the fear of public speaking. For me, for the sake of duty, I often speak in public at the temple, on the forum, at weddings and funerals, on live radio and television.

There was only fifteen minutes before I had to speak on the podium, and suddenly I trembled for fear. I did not prepare in advance so I did not know what to say while the audience over three hundred spent the evening listening to me lecture. I thought, "What if I did not find the topic? What if I say bad? And if I make myself home ...? "

Fear rose with every word "if" I added to the questions I asked myself. Damn hurt! I am predicting the future with negative mind. I'm crazy I know I thought crazy if I knew I understood many explanations about predictions and fears. But I can not stop the fear from continuing. I got stuck!

I suddenly remembered a secret that the Buddhist language called "skilfulness". I try it. I asserted to me that nothing is important, whether the audience is interested or not, as well as I am happy enough. I decided to say a dhamma that I will enjoy. So I'm out of fear. My lecture was very successful. And that skill has helped me effectively until today.

Now whenever I lecture, I am delighted - my own enjoyment. I joked and laughed at the audience. Once on a Singapore radio station, I described the currency prediction that Ajahn Chah had told before. ( Singaporeans love to hear about economics ). He said there would not be enough paper money in the world and silver coins should use something to replace. Predator chicken is used to make money. So people will pocket chickens, the bank will be full of chickens, billionaires will be proud to have more chicken, poor people will be hoping to hit the number to get a pile of chickens. And the government will focus on chickpea economics, and social environmental issues will be addressed after chickens are full in the country.

What is the difference between paper silver, bronze, and chicken? Thought nothing at all.

I like to tell stories because it reflects our current culture. And it's kind of weird, weird. Singaporean humorous people like to hear such stories.

I discover that whenever you enjoy the public speaking you will relax right away. In terms of psychology, fear and excitement can not go together. As I relaxed, the mind came to me as a stream and flowed easily, and I became eloquent. Moreover, listeners will not be bored when they enjoy and laugh. Laugh very important. A Tibetan monk once said, "Every time they open their mouths you can throw in a single piece of wisdom"

I do not often prepare before lecture. But I always prepare my mind. Monks studying in Thailand are trained to prepare the lecture at any time and do not prepare the lecture first. The story follows what I just said.

According to the tradition of northeastern Thailand, Magha Puja (the first full moon of the year) is the second largest Buddhist ceremony of the year. That year - my fifth year - the festival was held at Wat Pah Pong hosted by Ajahn Chah and two hundred Buddhists attended. After the night to the sermon. Usually Ajahn Chah posts because this is very important. But that night he did not lecture. He looked around the monks. His eyes just past me, good luck. But he was not out yet, he turned back. You know where his eyes stopped?

"Brahm," he ordered "to speak French"

I do not know how to climb over the platform. I had to teach an hour in Thai, in front of teachers, friends and thousands of spectators, while I did not have any preparation. Talking or talking is not important, it is important to say.

 Ajahn Chah never compliments. That is not the point He wants to teach. Once, he told a very eloquent western monk to lecture Buddhists to the weekly monastery. After each chant begins to conclude the lecture. But he asked him to add another hour. After Monday, he asked him to speak the third language (It is difficult for Western monks because their Thai language is limited). Interpreters must continue by repeating and, of course, hearing impaired, tired. At the end of the third day, many people left, the few who did not pay attention, but just talked to each other. All flies, mosquitoes, lizards, and goats sleep. But not yet, Ajahn Chah said another hour. Master obedient and charismatic, He allowed back four hours standing on the podium. However, after that lecture,

Europe is also a way that we learned from Ajahn Chah!

24. Fear of pain

Fear is an element of suffering. It makes suffering more painful. Withdrawing from pain, there is only pain. In the mid-70s, when I studied in Northeastern Thailand, I got toothache. I live very poor, no electricity, no phone. There is no aspirin or paracetamol. The monks in the forest must have endured!

By afternoon I had the impression that I had more aches; It seems that the illness tends to increase at the end of the day. I am a very good martyr, but this toothache is a tough challenge for me. One side of my jaw hurts. This is the toothache I have never experienced, never. I try to meditate. Concerned about breathing in the air I often forget all the pain; Once I counted the forty red plums all over my body after meditation so that I did not have or been bitten by mosquitoes. But this toothache is strange. It does not let me meditate; I focused on two or three seconds is much. It comes as storms as I try to close my mind to all suffering. I got up to walk meditation. Nor can. I do not "meditate" but "meditate run"; The pain control me, it does not give me step that catches me running. But where to run now. I have extreme pain, I want to go crazy.

Finally I run to noon, sit down and chant. People praise the Buddhist god of miraculous powers - bring luck, banish beasts and heal illnesses as well as suffering. I do not believe so because I am a science teacher. Besides, I believe business is a miracle is not like the sentence of the magic of the good news. However, I still chanting, thank goodness was cured pain. Hopeless. I always chant. Saying is chanting, do not really yell, I scream my prayer, and my screams dare to wake the whole village away from the hospital a few thousand miles not play. My pain has the power of not chanting me as usual, and of course I'm afraid the noise will awaken the practitioners for being late.

I am in the deep forest, not means, the homeland thousands of miles. I am suffering from pain, no way out, although I have done everything. Hopeless!

A moment of despair suddenly turns into the key to open the door to the intellectual treasures, doors that everyday life never open. The door opened for me. I do not have any other paths.

I suddenly remembered two hours "let go". I have heard these two times many times. I once explained to my friend. I think I understand the meaning of those two hours. I want to try everything so I try to let go, put it away completely, give up one hundred percent. And for the first time in my life I really let go.

What happened next made me very surprised: my desperate pain vanished immediately. It was replaced by great excitement coming to me like continuous waves. My mind became calm, blissful innumerable. Then I meditate easily. After the morning meditation I lay down to rest. I sleep a good and quiet sleep. When I wake up to elaborate I have noted the toothache, but the pain is not as monstrous as the night before.

25. Let go of the pain

In the story above I let go of the fear of my toothache. Previously I had invited the pain, hugged it and it allowed it to be present. So I have a problem.

Many of my friends have pain and try to use my experience but not like it. They came to tell me that my teeth were nothing compared to the pain of tearing their flesh. Not so. Pain is an unpredictable personal feeling. I explained to them why letting go does not work for them by telling them the following three of my students:

The first practitioner pain and try to let go.

"Let go" he was encouraged, simple and gentle. Then he waited for the result. "Let go" people repeated to him when not seen what happened.

"Just let go!"

"Let go"

"I say leave and leave!"

"GIVE UP!"

You may find it strange, but that's what we do every day. We let go of not the need to let go. We should give up the advice, the reminder, or the commander to "let go". We need to let go of the "monster under our control", and we all know who it is. Drop out of control no longer.

The second practitioner, at the time of pain, remembers what he said was to let go of the monster's control. He sits in pain believing that the pain will disappear. After ten minutes he did not notice and complained that the method of letting go was not effective. I explain that letting go is not a cure but a way to get rid of the pain. I bargain "I will let go in ten minutes, and you are the pain, you will end home"

It is not to let go of the pain but to try to get rid of the pain.

The third disciple said to the pain he was experiencing: "Pain, my heart is open all the time. Please do not, if you do anything to me. He let the pain continue as long as he has for the rest of his life. If it does get any better. He gave the pain of complete freedom, not trying to control it. It stays or goes it's own, he does not mind. It was just let go, and only then did he feel free.

26. TT  (Transcendental Meditation)  Or How To Not Need Dental Toothache

One of the disciples of the monastery had bad teeth. You need to spit a lot of teeth, but you want to be anesthetized. Finally, he meets a Perth dentist who can remove teeth without anesthetics or anesthesia. He came to him many times, and everything was going smoothly.

Dentists do not need anesthesia is a matter of respect, but also not tolerated. He wants to extract his own teeth. One day we saw him standing in front of the monastery's storehouse, using his tongue-in-the-mouth nipple, his bloodshot teeth. But he purposely cleansed before returning to the workshop.

I asked him how he liver, he replied:

"When I decided to extract my teeth, I did not feel any pain. When I went to the workshop, I did not feel any pain. When I borrowed a plier, I did not feel pain. When I use the tongs, I do not feel pain. When I flipped my teeth, I felt pain but only for a few seconds. When I brought out my teeth I did not feel any pain at all. I only get pain for about five seconds, so what do dentists do for money and work? "

When reading this truth, you will not frown. Because fear can hurt you more than another! If you try to do like him you will get pain, pain before you go to the workshop to borrow strippers. Prediction - fear - is the main element of suffering.

27. Do not worry

Letting go of the "controler", trying to live in the present moment and finding out the uncertainty of the future can free us from the prison of fear, helping us cope with mental challenges. Our availability, and bring us safely to shore. Let me tell you two "do not worry":

One day I came back from Sri Lanka via Singapore and stood in a six-row shop waiting outside the Perth counter. The goods move very slowly because the occupants want to strictly control all settlers. There was a tax officer opening the door to the waiting room. Passengers seem restless when the dog goes up and down each row to sniff out the national government prohibited smuggling. Even if there is no illegal activity, they still breathe when the dog leaves them to smell.

When this little dog came to me, he stopped, slid my head and shook his tail. The officer must hold the zipper up. The passenger standing in front of me stepped up a step before he proved very friendly with me. And I'm sure the couple behind me also took a step back.

After five minutes I moved closer to the immigration counter. At the same time the little dog was brought back. It goes up and down, sniffing one after another. At the time I stopped dogs. As before, it slipped my head and shook my tail. The officer must pull it out. I have the impression that all eyes are looking at me, maybe some people care about me is another. But I still get butter. I think if there is inmates I will have more friends and maybe even eat better at the monastery!

At the customs counter I was scrutinized very carefully. I do not bring medicine; Monks are not allowed to drink that wine! I do not have the right to take off; Maybe because I did not show any fear. Then they asked why the dog just stopped with me. I asked our monk to be compassionate and maybe the dog could smell it. Or that dog was a monk in previous lives. They let me through.

Another time I was beaten by a big Australian guy for a few punches because he was angry and half-drunk. I saved my nose that day.

I just moved to a monastery on the north side of Perth. We celebrated the festivities and were honored to be greeted by Governors Gordon Reid of Western Australia. I was assigned to the mission on the welcome board in the courtyard and placed the seat for guests. The treasurer asked me to be attentive to the ceremony as well.

After a minute of inquiries, I met a rental company in a luxury suburb on West Perth; A company specializing in renting furniture to hold a billionaire garden party. I explained why I chose this company - to have a great festival - the secretary talked to me about the reason and I ordered.

Goods arrive at late afternoon Friday. Then I was busy helping behind the monastery. When I checked out, the driver and his delivery arrived. I can not imagine the bad situation of the board; It's a reddish layer of dust, I'm very disappointed but it's okay, just a little work. We left cleaning the board. Finished, I went to the chair, dirty dirty look. My precious volunteers brought rags and wiped them one by one.

Finally, I looked at the seats for the guests. No one is not crooked.

That's too much! I ran straight to the phone company to pick up the phone. Thankfully I met the secretary talking to me before; She was about to leave for the weekend. I explained the situation to her, emphasizing the point that the Governor would "swing" in the chair for grandparents. She sympathized, apologized and promised to change the seats immediately, within an hour.

I'm waiting for the truck to change. I saw a truck cut through the gate of the monastery. Halfway to the car, about sixty yards to the door, a man jumped down, ran to me, eyes rounded hands bow to punch. He shouted:

"What sort of name is this? I want to meet it "

(Later on, I knew the delivery was the last day of the week.) All the workers were back home for a night out, and they were called back by the manager because the Buddhists wanted to. So the drunk guy is so angry.

I face him and calmly said: "I am the person in charge. Do you need anything? "

He put his face close to me and his grip near my nose. His eyes are burning, his mouth smelling of beer. I'm not scared nor channeled, I'm just calm.

The people that I call you stop wiping chairs, watching. No one came to save me. Thank you!

Face to face for a few seconds. I was stunned by what happened. The hot-headed laborer stands "as if it were planted" in front of my attitude; Usually in such a situation if you do not meet the fear, you also meet the resistance of the enemy. His mind did not know how to react to a person so calmly, holding his hands close to the nose. I know you can not punch me nor retreat. Drunk makes him "dead stand."

In those few minutes the car stopped and his boss arrived. He put his hands on his shoulders and said, "Hey, go down the stairs." He instructed him to take the mummy and help him out.

"I will give you one hand," I said. And we side by side carrying our seats off the car.END=NAM MO SHAKYAMOUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.THE MIND OF ENLIGHTENMENT.VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=GOLDEN LOTUS MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.18/7/2017.