Good Karma Music Stories

Normally I live at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Redwood Valley, CA, USA, but I am writing this on a computer in northern India. I have just completed a pilgrimage to a few (but not all) of the Buddhist Holy Places with my friend, Manu. I am writing this to obtain the Paramita music files for him, as I think he will appreciate them.We traveled, in order, to Ajanta/Ellora (ancient Buddhist caves), Sanchi (stupa with Buddha relics and also stupa with relics of Sariputta and Maha-Mogallana), Sarnath (where first teaching was given), and Bodh Gaya (Bodhi Tree of Enlightenment). We kept journals but the whole story cannot be related here.Normally a “Good Buddhist” will want to go pilgrimage to the Holy Sites at some point in his/her life. However, the main reason I came to India was to help my friend, Manu, who was going through difficulties in his life. The Holy Sites allowed me to do this. A pilgrimage can be the most powerful way to overcome obstacles.Manu had spent three months at Abhayagiri in early 2004, helping serve our annual winter retreat. At that time I was having some difficulties as a newly ordained monk, and Manu told me that if I ever made it to being a monk for five years, he would invite me to India. So this is how the one month pilgrimage came about.

I attended Rev Heng Sure’s talk at Global buddhist conference.Rev Heng Sure told us about this free download but we need to do a kind act first. I was thinking what could i write but the thinking did not last very long as rev gave us some suggestions immediately after that. One of them was not to quarrel with the wife. I follow the advice on that very night. My wife was angry at me on that day and i was able to control my anger and did not fight back. I am glad that i did that and did not hurt my wife with unpleasant words.I will try to speak kind words to others and not to hurt them intentionally or unintentionally

About 25 years ago, when I was a college student, I hang out at night for a drink (tea not beer). Strange on that night, about 11:00 p.m., a stranger approached me and asked me how to get to Location X. It was 8km to walk and there were no buses. Then out of nowhere, a taxi came by. I flagged the taxi and told the driver to get him to Location X.The stranger said he had no money to pay for the fare. I paid for him. He then said, “Can I have your address, so I can pay you back on another day?” I said, “no need.” He said thank you and left. An hour later, I felt so happy. 25 years later from that incident, Uncle Vijaya Samaravickrama, aka Uncle Vijaya gave a talk on charity. He said, “if you give something without expecting anything in return, then you are a master of giver.” He further explained the other types of givers, namely, slave of the giver, friend of the giver. Three weeks later after the talk, I suddenly realised at that time, I was the Master of Giver.

Few days ago i suddenly felt that I have to call my Mom, when she get the phone she didnt say a word but startdto cry… I asked about the Christmas Eve, cause she lives alone 80 km from my city and thought that she is going to my brither’s home. She said she’s going to stay in the darkness alone with light turned off cause she doesnt want neighbours to think that she is so lonely, In one second without thinkin I promissed her I’m gonna come to her place and spend with her all Christmas,we’re gonna bake together and go for a walk every day… I knew that only in this way I can help her. I was afraid that my father and grandma going to be a bit ungry that i wont spend those days with them but when I told them about everything they said I’m doing the right thing and they are very happy… My mother is not crying but thinking about “our time” so I’m happy more then all of them, cause there are no problems anymore:)))this is my duty, duty of being a child:))) funny thing is that my mom turned on the cell phone only for few seconds, it was turned off for 3 days before i called she, told me that:)

My friend moved to another country last week. Before she went though, I managed to get another friend to burn a CD. The friend that’s moving loves classical music; and although I knew and know nothing about classical music, I chose some famous composers. I sent the friend off with that parting gift. I do hope she listens to it. 😀

Last night I meditated for an hour on the name of Amitabha Buddha and dedicated the merits to all living beings. We are conditioned to think of the world in terms of laws of physics and chemistry, as if the world has an independent existence. Indeed, this is what science teaches us, which is useful at a practical level but is a very limited view and cannot explain the phenomenon of the universe. Buddhism teaches us that the mind is the source of all things. By purifying our minds, we can all make the world a better place.

My girlfriend was, in name, a Buddhist. But she was really more like the rest of the ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asia: nominally Buddhist, but just going through the motions for religious rites and festivals for Buddhism, folk Taoism and Neo-Confucianism.She was sometimes quite irritated by how involved I was in Dhammadhuta work in my Buddhist Society. And so in ways she was quite anti-Buddhist.Regardless, I continued my activities while trying to practise to be as gentle and kindly as possible, making aspirations that one day she would be touched by the Dharma.Being prone to negativity and mood swings, she goes through emotional ups and downs especially during stressful periods. Finally, she asked me to teach her meditation.I was so glad! I introduced her to meditation on loving kindness as I found it the most suitable for her temperament. Now she’s beginning on it already, and I can see a difference in the way she speaks and acts now. More gentleness and thoughtfulness.With the songs by Ven. Heng Sure, I hope to be able to inspire my juniors in the National University of Singapore Buddhist Society. I would be introducing them to the songs during our Dharma Camp in December 2007.May all good roots sink in deep and multiply!