#EarthDay2021 And The Venerable’s #Birthday

#EarthDay2021 And The Venerable’s #Birthday

Author: Minimal Modernist & Virtual-world Indy 

Date: 15th April 2021 

Keywords: #celebrate, #meditation, #mindful, #world, #peace, #environment, #NewNormal 

Length: 1433 words

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          Some may not know that Venerable Dhammajayo’s #birthday is on #EarthDay 22nd April.  He was born in 1944.  To celebrate #EarthDay2021 means to celebrate his 77th #Birthday Anniversary all together.  But no one will expect to see him blow out seventy-seven candles on his birthday cake like others do, rather a spectacular merit accumulating scene will take place to celebrate this special day, such as mass ordination which is regarded as an extraordinary meritorious effort which is believed to produce extraordinary wholesomeness for all involved.

          #EarthDay2021 plus 77th #Birthday are celebrated with variety of meritorious activities at grand scale in the same #NewNormal way as that of the previous #MaghaPujaDay2021 was organized, which a 280-meter-long LED screen is installed so that Dhammakaya devotees and people in general can attend the all-day-long ceremony virtually as a precaution measure due to the third-waved #COVID-19 restrictions.

          With today’s technology, it enables Dhammakaya Temple to connect with people worldwide via Zoom application so that the Temple’s members in Thailand and around the globe can join the #EarthDay plus 77th #Birthday Anniversary online.  This year, the Temple organizes the prior mass ordination on 4th April to celebrate this particular occasion.  At the #EarthDay’s event on 22nd April, popular Buddhist #EthicalActivities are arranged for around-the-globe-virtual participants such as alms-giving, Five Precept Trainings and guided #EarthDayMeditation.

          At 07.00 p.m., it will be a spectacular scene of lanterns and candles lit on both of the well-known Dhammakaya Cetiya and its surrounding grounds, with a light display drawing the image of the world atlas with wordings written ‘#Earth Day’ and ‘Cleanse The Mind, Cleanse The World’, and a picture of a person sitting in cross-legged posture meditating.  It messages that the clean mind through the practice of meditation can generate the cleanliness to the world’s environment.

          Tangibly, the #EarthDay2021 moral and meritorious activities participated by the Temple’s network online together will offer the world a thought that there is a path that can prevent the destruction of the global ecosystem, one that can reduce the amount of greed, violence and despair.  What the whole world can learn from #EarthDay2021 event is the alms-giving promotes the sense of generosity.  The First Precept Training is to cherish all life on earth and not support any acts of killing.  The Second Precept Training is to practice generosity and not support social injustice and oppression.  The Third Precept Training is to make a commitment to behave responsibly in one’s relationships and not engage in sexual misconduct.  

          The Fourth Precept Training is to practice loving speech and deep listening in order to relieve others of suffering.  The Fifth Precept Training is to practice mindful consumption and mindful eating which can build a concrete way of making our commitment to a new eco-spirituality of mindful and sustainable living a reality in our daily lives.

          We can see that the Five Precept Trainings the Buddha devised is the universal practice which offers the world a global ethic, so that everyone can agree on a good path to follow, helping to create harmony, protect the environment, and safeguard peace.  Without the Five Precept Trainings, it is impossible to have a global ethic, which means the world cannot live in harmony.

          As we all know that the laws of our countries do not have enough strength to manage corruption, superstition, and cruelty.  Only morality, determination to practice, and awakened mind, can create an energy strong enough to help our societies rise above and go to the shore of peace and hope.  We do not have to sink into despair about global warming or any other global issues; we can act.  Human beings have the power to decide the destiny of our planet.

          To restore harmony and eco-friendly society mean to bring back skillful actions on track which means practicing the Five Precept Trainings in our lives and cultivating peaceful and positive energy in our mind through meditation and radiate the peaceful and positive energy towards the nearest and dearest, then further to others and all beings.  It is really work if we all try doing it together and enhance each other’s effort and determination.

          Nowadays, people do not have time to stop and think about weedy activities in their lives and skillful ones, such as meditation, that will sweeten their hearts and awaken their minds.  They are constantly under the pressure of time.  Their lives may be totally booked with work, family, and paying off the mortgage.  In couple with the fact that human was born with inherent ignorance, they are as Buddhist teachings say like sleepwalkers, not knowing what they are doing or where they are heading.  At the same time, they are searching for meaning in the present stressful digital world and they will never find it because all things are changing fast and impermanent.  So they suffer symptom of depression because of inability to find the true essence and foresee a meaningful future.

          In former times, people could afford three hours for one cup of tea, enjoying the company of their friends in a serene and spiritual atmosphere.  Today, we may not be able to do so; fortunately, we still have our leeway to deal with our mental vulnerability and depression.  This very modern fast-paced era also presents us with very age-old extensive mental boost and stress reduction menu to choose from such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong, etc.  And to reduce stress and get the boost to the mind, two in one activity, is to take meditation practice.  Perhaps, it is the perfect solution; it takes lesser time than other extra boost and stress reduction menus, no special gear, no special place, no special time, no special equipment required, everyone can do.

          If any of you have yet had an established practice, it is recommend starting with meditation and beginning your meditation by softening the heart.  First, visualize a place of still water.  This feeling may last for only a second.  Do not worry, just notice that.  Remember that meditation practice needs time to flower and bear the fruits, and build up a meditation habit.

          Gradually, you may develop a penchant for meditation and want to take it more seriously.  Meditation retreat can be the next solution to take, as it provides a system of practice that not only prevents going astray but also facilitates the favorable result because on retreat, you have just the right conditions which are a schedule, nutritious meals that are prepared for you, and only the belongings that fit into one suitcase.  Amazing how little we need to live comfortably for a week or so.  Simplifying our lives gives us breathing space.

          One advantage of going on retreat is that someone else tells you what to weed out of your daily routine at the retreat center: no reading, no writing, no cellphones, and no computer.  It helps you to realize about the differences between weedy activities and useful ones.

          Most importantly, if you can carry the practice continuously, in the long run, the moment you are on your deathbed, the elements of earth, water, heat, and air are likely to be out of balance, and possibly very uncomfortable.  That is when the concentration you have been nurturing, the wisdom you have gleaned from your practice, will support you, just when you need it the most.

          Meditation can cleanse the mind and bring a positive change in individual awareness and each individual will bring about a positive change in the collective awareness.  The positive collective change in our consciousness will change the way we response to society and the #MatherEarth in the positive direction so that we can pursue right action in the face of our reality.

          Scientific investigation currently puts the #Earth’s age at 4.6 billion years.  That is really old.  And the #MotherEarth is really needed to be cared for and loved.  To truely care for the #Earth is to stop to live as we have been living, consuming without a thought to the future otherwise much of our ecosystem will be destroyed.  To truly love the #Earth is to take an urgent action at the individual and the collective levels to truly love meditation and the practice of the Five Precept Trainings because our social harmony and environmental woes must ultimately be spiritual if we are to succeed.  And it is not yet too late to start doing now, so that the #MotherEarth is protected and eco-spiritual society continues healthily.

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         Author: Eleanor Choke-jaya

Posted on:    1st September 2019

Keywords: #Buddhism, #controversial, #meditation, #monk

Length: 1563 words

https://aloosechitchatblogg.blogspot.com/2019/10/phra-dhammajayo-most-loved-as-equally.html