Sherab's Talks on Loving Kindness and Mahayana Mind Training

Hi everyone,

Sherab is invited by Persatuan Penganut Buddha Bodhi (菩提工作坊）Kuala Lumpur to give a three-days talk at their centre near China Town (Petaling Street).

Based on the Theravada Metta Sutta, he will speak about love and compassion from the spiritual perspective of Mahayana Buddhism, Vajrayana's way of Mind Training as well as Integral Spirituality. There will be Q & A sessions as well. Admission is free.

Details:

Topic: Loving Kindness and Mahayana Mind Training

Date: 16th/23rd/30th December 2008 (Tuesday)

Address: 15 C, 3rd Floor, Jalan Sultan, 5000 Kuala Lumpue, Malaysia.

Tel: 603-20267605

for map download please visit:

http://bodhi.org.my/bodhi/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=3

Background
In Theravada Buddhism's Pali Canon, metta is one of the four "divine abodes" (Pali: brahmavihara) recommended for cultivating interpersonal harmony and meditative concentration (see, for instance, kammmatthana). In later canonical works (such as the Cariyapitaka), metta is one of ten "perfections" (parami) that facilitates the attainment of awakening (bodhi) and is a prerequisite to attaining buddhahood.
According to post-canonical Sutta Nipata commentary, the background story for the Metta Sutta is that a group of monks is harassed by earth-dwelling deities in a forest; when the monks seek the Buddha's aid in dealing with the deities, the Buddha teaches the monks the Metta Sutta for them to recite regularly; the monks do so and, as a result, win over the deities' good will.

Contents
The Mettā Sutta contains a number of recollections or recitations that promote the development of mettā through virtuous characteristics and meditation.
The discourse identifies fifteen moral qualities and conditions conducive to the development of metta. These include such qualities as being non-deceptive (uju), sincere (suju), easy to correct (suvaco), gentle (mudu) and without arrogance (anatimani).
In terms of meditative development, the discourse identifies:
an intentional wish that facilitates generating metta (Pali: sukhino va khemino hontu; English: "May all beings be happy and safe")
a means for developing meditational objects (a list of various sizes, proximity, etc.) for such a wish a prototypical metaphor — of a mother's protective love for her only child — to be extended to all beings a method for radiating metta outwards in all directions

Use
It is often recited as part of religious services in the Theravada tradition. Cultivating mettā through the recitation of the Mettā Sutta is sometimes believed to have apotropaic powers within the Theravāda tradition.
It has been reported that Buddhist monks chanted the "Mettā Sutta" as part of their demonstration in September and October 2007 against the military in Burma.
(source: wikipedia)

What's NEXT?

A Client of mine, let's call her Anita, read out her feelings that she wrote on her diary during a recent reading session. I kinda like her writing, so upon my request, she is sharing it here with everyone:-

"So I thought, maybe this is a sign. I am not big on reading signs. Mostly I do not wish to believe in them but sometimes, you just want to believe because you are not always in control of the situation and I have been feeling much of that of late.

So there I was in Pandan Indah picking up a guy whom I have never met before but believes because Guy says he is trustworthy. I was not feeling anxious of scared. Just a little curious, maybe a little skeptical of how the rest of the evening will progress. I was waiting outside his condominium. In a way, he looked like how I would imagine he would. A medium built man, very fair but gentle looking. He looked kind and that is most important. I felt like I can trust him in an instance. So far, I have not been wrong about the characters of those I choose to call friends. We drove to a nearby eatery. It is dimly lit, with slightly overpriced ya-ya looking drinks. He chose a slightly bigger table so that he could place his cards. Cards, I asked? Tarot cards? No angel cards and there is a difference. Angel cards are aided by angels, he said. I raised an eyebrow. Of course I did. My experiences with tarot cards are all from shows like CSI.

"So, tell me your story," Ching Wei started.I am wondering where to begin. In the beginning would be good. The spot I identify to be the beginning of the end of me and Brandon. It started with Brandon quitting his job and pursuing a dream which did not materialize. I tried to condense the past 6 years in 15 minutes. I spoke about my anger, frustration, disgust, contempt and ultimately, a demise of feelings for him. And then I went to Mark. How we met, how important he is in my life now, and yet non-existent in a way. I try to keep him real by talking about him to friends. I am sure he doesn't like it. But what he doesn't know doesn't hurt him. As far as Mark is concerned, only Mallory and Dian know and that too freaks him out a little. When we first met, Mark can even ask me what my parents will say about my having a kwailo boyfriend. He doesn't ask anymore. I do not know how he feels for me. I can't guess and I do not know how to speculate. This lack of feel for the pulse of our relationship makes me anxious where it is going. Mark keeps saying that I shouldn't think too much. He may not (or have time to think so much since he is so super busy or want to since he has a baby coming) but I do. Does he even worry about us? What is his story with his wife? Why is he willing to take the risk with me if he fears being found out so much? He is a foreigner, I told Ching Wei. It was easy to talk about him.

Ching Wei took some cards out. Asked me to choose some number and then placed the cards out in a pyramid of 9 cards. As he spoke, I noticed he took some cards out. He said those were my future and in his line he does not tell people what their futures are else it becomes self-fulfilling. Geez, isn't this why people seek fortune tellers? To read the fortunes of the future? But I understood what he meant and I shut up.

He said to me – Do not worry. Everything will be all right. But if you do something drastic, like divorce your husband now, or leave Mark or whatever, then only disaster will fall. It wouldn't even be a win-lose situation. It'd just be lose-lose. No one will benefit. He said I am not at peace with myself. I cried when he said that. I couldn't hold it in. The tears just streamed. He cannot be more accurate. I have problems being with me. I go crazy and I can't sleep. I do not know why I feel this way or when it started to be like this because I didn't start out in life being like this. As a growing kid, I spent hours in my room alone. Creating my own world. Doing my own thing. Now it seems like I cannot function without company….even with company I do not like, like Brandon's. I fear being alone and this fear is crippling. And even though I know Mark and I seem all wrong, I can't leave him because he has become someone important in my life.

Sure, Ching Wei said, he is your soul mate. When he said that, I am reminded of the skype conversation with Mark. When he suddenly asked if I think we are soulmates. I told him I did. Ching Wei said I needed to take time to be with me. I told him I'm off to a far-off-land without my family. He said that is a good thing. Ching Wei said that Mark loves me and that he cannot do what he needs to do for obvious reasons. He said that I should try to make him open up his feelings. Talk about his problems with his wife. I told him that would be hard because Mark hardly ever does. The only time he does is to tell me about his baby. He said that Mark is worried about the baby and that is true and that I should tell him not to worry because the baby is going to be fine. How do I make Mark open up? This is something I still struggle with. Ching Wei said that once I find me, then I will know what to do. The answer will present itself. The best to do now, is to just live my life and let things be. This is the only thing I CAN do, I told him.

Of course I asked, how long is this going to take? What are we talking about here? A month? Two? A year? Give me a time frame. He can't (or won't) answer me. All he can tell me is I will not be disappointed with the end. It will be all right and it will be something I will be happy with. Mark is the right one for me and Brandon is not in my future. I think I heard him but still…. Then he brought out a picture of Gabriel. Angel of Marriage. A Caucasian looking male-angel! Ching Wei said – this is him. He is a kwailo. I can't believe it. He got it spot on. Then he took out another card. Long straight black hair asian looking woman. And this is you, he said. I need meditation, peace of mind.

2 things happened at the reading. Firstly Ila sms-ed me. Some stuff about not believing in my doubts and not doubting my beliefs. I showed Ching Wei who told me that it never fails to happen – the past visits at readings. I told Ching Wei about Ila. He got it right again when he said Ila is not Chinese. The second thing is a song about angels was playing. He asked me to ask Mark if Mark believed in crystals or aromatherapy. Mark couldn't answer the phone but sms back that he did. Ching Wei said that confirmed all that he told me about Mark. Just go forth in the relationship without worries but caution that sometimes things get worse before they get better.

I asked about my kids. He said they are fine. They have guardian angels looking after them. Go to the far-off-land without worries.

As I am writing this now. Recalling this conversation of 2½ weeks past, much has already happened. We had our first argument, and he even suggested we break up. He said he loved me then he didn't mention it again. He said he has chosen a name for his baby and then refused to tell me because it is a surprise (to whom I wonder – that is just plain stupid). We had another weekend together. He told me his baby has big feet. We drove back together and I saw how angry he can be on the road with "dumb Malaysian drivers". I introduced him to Steven and that relationship seems to be taking off pretty good. Steven has no idea what is going on. Vincent has no idea what is going on. I wish someone from his circle knows of me. Just a little. Even if it's just to know that I am in his life. But Steven tells me Mark is a 51% shareholder in his brother in law's business back where he is from. If it is Natalie's brother then I can see some problems. But if its brother in law from his sister/brother side, then maybe things will not be complicated. But that is over analyzing. Which is something I freaking shouldn't do. Feelings have not diminished. If anything it has strengthened somewhat. I say somewhat because sometimes I just do not know what the hell is going on. So what is this future I seek. In my mind, I am thinking wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a baby together. How beautiful the baby will be. It will be a girl, called Tara. Long black hair, big blue eyes. I wonder if he thinks the same. We will have all our kids with us, of course. And it's the other bits of the puzzle like Natalie and Brandon that I can't place.

And so there. I have written what I set out to do after speaking to Mallory about my reading with Ching Wei. She said I should write it down lest I forget. She is right. And now that I have, what's next?

March 2008

Anita

Closer-to-Reality Conference 2008

Sherab is officially invited to be the Guest Speaker

at this coming Closer-to-Reality Conference (C2RC) 2008

- Join Me in this wondeful event where we talk about

out-of-body and near-death experience, memories of past lives,

bardo teachings etc etc....

Details:

Closer-to-Reality Conference 2008

An Attempt to connect real life experiences

with Buddhist scriptural understanding

Date: Saturday/27th December

- Monday/29December 2008

Venue: Thean Hou Temple,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

(more deails will be realesed soon...)

SacredMountain - My new Project

SacredMountain
Sacred Place, Secret Land
- Creating a Living Space of Peace, Power and Prosperity

"A Power Spot dedicated to ALL seekers of Peace, Truth and Enlightenment..."

Our Intention:
to promote, preserve and prospere
the teachings/learning/training/researches and practices of ~

* ALL Mystic and Spiritual traditions
* The Universal Law of Attraction and Intention
* The Sacred Art of Divination
* The Principles and Practices of Synchronicity
* Eastern and Western Schools of Metaphysics
* Practical and self-sustainable Living within a Spiritual Commune
* Integral and Holistic Spirituality -

a practical and spiritual life-style of Body, Mind and Spirit.

" Awaken Yourself

to the New

Dimensions of

Integral Spirituality!

10 Good Points

WHY You

Should Suport Us:

1. Strategic Location for vocation and relaxation

2. Best place to meditate/retreat/pray/heal and renew yourself

3. Near to town (only 2 Km from Bt. Mertajam with 5 minutes drive!) but far from mundane lives

4. Agricultural land for organic farming and holistic life-style

5. Excellent place for sun-set view

6. A sacred place for spiritual activities, with two Budddhist temples beside our power spot.

7. Suitable for both leisure/pleasure and Spiritual Enrichment.

8. A training and learning acedemy for self-growth and personal development.

9. Complete with modern and Zen-style facility for your pleasant stay

10. Spiritual shops, restaurants and training centres for you and your loved ones...

Spa. Relaxation.Yoga

Meditation. Prayers

Qi-gong. Healing

New Age. Spirituality

Reiki. Angels. Divination
Corporate Training

Leadership Seminars

Workshops

Leisure. Pleasure

"Whatever You are Looking for...

You can find it HERE....."

Don't Give UP!

About Robin Sharma

What an Amazing teacher HE is!

I taught to some youths about his ideas, but nobody seems to know and appreciate his values and importance.... it seems that the organized religious group that they belonged to had stop them from Authentic Growing, and they are half-dead because of too many dogmatic rules and non-sense rubbish; no fun...no humour.... their souls are empty and dry.

I felt sad for them, as they were the victim of someone's ignorance; but I felt even puzzled and shocked by the organization they belonged to - these socalled religious people don't even know what they are doing - to all the young and innocent and beautiful souls. I believe that 'control dramas' and 'insecurity projection' are the greatest Sin you can do to others, both emotionlly and spiritually.

Anyway, I do appreciate you, Sharma - you are great, and in so many ways, BETTER than those Priests and Politicians!

Back from Singapore

I learned so many seemingly trivial but vitally important things during my train(ning???) trip to Singapore. Transformative, at least; I think. I write it down here, hoping that this is informative for you as well.
I’ve learned that:
• To enjoy the journey is more important than holding on to the destination, half the fun is on the way. This includes your personal goals and wishes.
• To enjoy the ride, no map, no agenda, no plan is needed. Only a relax and happy mind, plus some carefree dignity.
• I clicked some pictures of my own and some of the scenery's. learned to be spontaneous, listened to my heart, regardless of what others might think or say.
• I used to mark some passages that I read from any book very systematically, some straight lines, with an artline 600 yellow color marker pen. I’ve changed it in the train. I enjoyed ‘drawing’ curves and funny (and sunny!) yellow shapes around some aphorisms or wisdom words I like. It’s fun – I’ve learned flexibility and living in the ‘presence’ (even when I am writing this on the pad note, yeah, in the same train, the feeling of ‘go with the flow’ is simply there…)
• Thus my current words and works are marked with spaciousness and sheer joy…
• Some ‘wisdom pearls’ that I’ve found strikingly attractive, even though I’ve owned the book by moon “The Power of the Gift” for years (I must confess that, I didn’t finish it even until today…) but the jewels in it are shining now:-)
• I read some news about some local politicians accusing each other. True or false? Right or wrong? Good or bad? Believe or abandon? Support or reject? Faith or doubt? Justice or scandals? – or simply the mixtures of these two dichotomy? Who knows….anyway? looks like Malaysian has to live with this kind of uncertainties for quite some time before the truth is revealed. But just be patient enough there, a light of wisdom will shine through illuminate the dark night of the souls.
• “Only god knows,” some said. “But YOU have the answers!” my heart said. And I totally agree. My heart never lies.
• One door closed, another opens; two doors closed, many opportunities blossom... A path is showed, almost immediately. I have windows in front and beside me. Great blessings and abundance are all around us!
• I am on a wonderful journey of peace and love, of unexpected surprises and infinite innate discoveries.
• I am overjoyed by this simple finding.
• Making affirmative statements on the train is interesting. The outer world is shaky and uncertain, but my inner voice is clear and loud; determined and strong.
• “I believe in Miracles. I believe in Angels. I believe in Synchronicity. I trust Life, I follow the Flow. All is Well, and my Life is beautiful!”
• Just a simple Smile. A stranger made my heart warmth, and a thousand petal lotus blossoms beautifully. Simplicity rises, joint hands with awareness to celebrate their co-existence…
• Trains paused and go, paused and go, then we shall reach very soon. We should BE RICH as well, within and without. Life is but a trip of Reaching RICHfullness. Both for oneself and others.
• I’ve brought some Feng shui books and magazine as reading materials. But what is the BEST feng shui of a moving motion or a dynamic object, like this train? Can’t find any answer from the books…REAL answer MUST comes from the True Knowing Mind.
• Train stopped. I thought I reached. But it’s only an illusion. I remember what Rumi said, “if a tree would know how to run and walk, it wouldn’t worry about being chop-off…” wondrous wisdom. Ok, keep growing and learning and changing and maturing….
• False expectations make you weak, real love and authentic confidence make you strong and keep going...
• Everything is impermanent - which is good. Everything is moving, even a static stone. So soon we shall reach, our destiny is on the Way...
• Whatever it may BE....just continue, AH, the journey of Life!

Sherab's Program- Singapore 7-12th July 2008

Sherab's Translation and Teachings Program in Singapore:

7.7.2008 Monday 7.30- 10.30 pm

Teachings on Meditation (Part One)

8.7.2008 Tuesday 7.30- 10.30 pm

Teachings on Meditation (Part Two)

9.7.2008 Weds 7.30- 10.30 pm

Teachings on Meditation (Part Three)

10.7.2008 Thurs 7.30- 10.30 pm

Teachings on Meditation (Part Four)

11.7.2008 Friday 7.30- 10.30 pm

Teachings on Dzogchen Trekcho (Part One)

- Khenpo Munsel's Lineage

12.7.2008 Sat 2.00- 5.30 pm

Teachings on Dzogchen Trekcho (Part Two)
- Khenpo Munsel's Lineage

12.7.2008 Sun 7.30- 10.30 pm

Guru Rinpoche Empowerment

Venue: Drikung Phende Ling Buddhist Centre, Singapore

Contact: 02-98175363 for details

New Website!

A New Dawn.....

Good News!

Will be Launching my New personal website pretty soon!
Have a glimpse here http://www.sherabwong.com/
and send me your comments and suggestions!
email me HERE: sherablotsawa@yahoo.com

This Saturday, 24th May 2008 - the Secret...

Sherab will be conducting a movie viewing and sharing session

on the movie "The Secret"...

Date: 24th May 2008 (Saturday)

Time: 8.15 pm

Venue: 32A, Jalan Tiara 5, Bandar Baru Klang,

41150 Klang, Malaysia.

For details pls contact: 016-2321420 and 012-2330965

Current Happenings

Sherab’s Recent and Upcoming Events:

* 17th April 2008 / 8 pm /Thursday– Private Sharing with the Youth Group – FGS
* 18th April 2008 / 8 pm /Friday– Sharing and Discussions about “The Secret": and the Law of Attraction – FGS
* 25th April 2008/ 8 pm /Friday– Public Talks - “The Secret of Mind” Vs “Liaofan’s Fou Lessons” at FGS, SS3, Petaling Jaya.

1. Weekly “Spiritual Translation Course” (Translating Your Dreams into Reality!) – Every Friday, FGS, Petaling Jaya.
2. “Spirit and Space 2008” – a neoFeng-Shui Energy Workshop – Date and Venue to be confirmed.
3. Weekly “Simply Spiritual” Gathering, Date and venue to be confirmed.
4. “Reiki for ALL” Energy Healing Workshop, date and venue to be confirmed.
5. “Crystal Awareness Workshop”, date and venue to be confirmed.

For details, please call:
012-4231969
013-9332922
016-6525102
Or mail: sherablotsawa@yahoo.com

The message is SIMPLE....

Sherab speaks at the opening ceremony of Choegyal Rinpoche's Art Exhibition at Metro Art, Kuala Lumpur:-

Dear friends and all honorable guests, a very good morning to all of you.

We are gathered here to appreciate and celebrate the Dharma Art created by His Eminence Tugu Choegyal Rinpoche.

"Dharma art" refers to creative works that spring from the awakened mind and meditative state, characterized by directness, simplicity, un-selfconsciousness, and non-agression, and spreading the message of peace, love, happiness and joy.

Tugu Choegyal Rinpoche shows that dharma art can be utilized as a vehicle to appreciate the nature of things as they are, and to express it without any struggle or desire to achieve anything. A work of dharma art brings out the goodness and dignity of the situation it reflects -- dignity that comes from the artist's heart and interest in the details of life, and a sense of appreciation for all kind of experiences, good or bad, ups and downs, happy or sad.

At the same time, through his artworks, Rinpoche also stresses the need for Dharma artists to study their craft, to develop their skill, and to absorb their knowledge and wisdom passed down by traditions and blessed by a special insightful training system of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. And, finally, he extends the principles of dharma art into everyday life, showing how any activity can provide an opportunity to relax and open ourselves to the limitless possibility of enlightenment.

As it was spoken by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche :"Genuine art--dharma art--is simply the activity of nonaggression."

Zen master Seung Sahn once said: “Just Like This is Buddha”. As art lovers and collectors , I am sure some of us also must have heard that “Ordinary Mind is the Great Way”. So, Rinpoche’s artworks’ message is very simple, but essential to hear: "Pay attention to the world in which you live," he says, "The seeds for happiness are everywhere--in the blue sky, in the clouds, in the hearts of our children, in the smiling faces of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, in the glorious gesture of a flying dragon, or simply in a plain and unique art of calligraphy".

He advises us to simply slow down and sit down. "Take the time to live more deeply. You will make fewer mistakes and not cause suffering to the world, you can bring joy and spread love to yourself and others.”

Rinpoche’s artwork speaks of essential blessings that get lost in day-to-day living. "It's a joy to walk on planet Earth. It's a joy to be alive." Beauty, it says, is everywhere. We just need to teach ourselves to see it--through attention to our breath, feeling a connection to the earth, engaging and nourishing the best in all of us, and choosing not to flame the fires of negative qualities that harm ourselves and others. Rinpoche has spent a lifetime practicing his beliefs. "In Buddhism," he says, "we live what we believe, and we must do that to serve others.”

As it was expressed the famous poet William Blake:

“to see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour”

May you find peace, joy and happiness in Rinpoche’s artwork, and may we all attain what we desired for by the power of artistic expresion of true beauty.

THANK YOU!