Pure Water and Pureland

In the past few years Western countries have had a thirst for pure bottled H20 - Water. You only have to take a casual stroll through any supermarket in Australia and behold whole aisles dedicated to the life giving liquid. Evian, Perrier, Fratelle, Home Brand (not sure if this one comes straight out of the tap at home!?) and on it goes. If you are like me having lived in Brisbane Australia you would certainly be drawn to the more “pure” waters as our city water supply tastes like something coming out of a chemical laboratory with its chlorine and fluoride additives.

I wonder if all of this has something to do with our unconscious search for something more pure in our lives, untouched by additives, ‘faddatives’, non-fat reduced and non-polluted. If you haven’t had an information holiday yet I suggest you try one for a few days. Get away from the TV, radio, computer, emails etc and just see how fresh you mind feels. It’s amazing. People seem to be searching for something more meaningful and deeper.

Another pure product, Pure Land Buddhism is still little known in the West due mainly to the paucity of literature for beginners in English. Pureland had its origins in China when it was founded by the Patriarch Hui Yuan in 402. It recognizes that in these times Nirvana is very difficult to attain. However, through faith in Amitabha Buddha and the concentrated recitation of his name we are able to attain rebirth in the Pure Land.

It is not just a “place” in the future after our completion of this life-time, it is also a state of mind. All external phenomena are a result of mind. The practise of Pure Land purifies the mind of all impurities and enables us to live more contented and fulfilling lives. The interesting thing about Pure Land practice is that results are very noticeable within a short time of concentrated and sincere practice. Pure Land Buddhism does not require any complicated rituals and is easy to practice any time anywhere. It is very portable (or should I say potable) and contains no additives or ‘fadditives’.

If you are interested in Pure Land Buddhism I can recommended a couple of good resources:

In One Life Time, Pure Land Buddhism by Venerable Wuling. It is freely downloadable in the Ven Wuling’s Blog at http://www.abuddhistperspective.org

Pure-Land Zen, Zen Pure-Land by the 13th Patriarch of Pure Land Yin Kuang. A free download is available at www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/yin_kuang.pdf

For a general, easy to read, user-friendly introduction to Buddhism and Pure Land I recommend The Teaching of the Buddha (Available in English and Chinese). It is available free on our website www.taishendo.com

Frightening, isn't it?

It was an ink black night. I was lined up at the end of the run way awaiting take-off clearance from the control tower. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as a mixture of excitement and trepidation came over me. This was my first night flying training and I knew that as we were taking off into fairly uninhabited area there would be very little visual reference and I would need to concentrate upon the instrument panel. My instructor, a former Navy pilot and humorless man fixed his gaze straight ahead. “Romeo Victor Charlie, clear for take off”, came the control tower. I smoothly pushed the throttle into full position as the aircraft lunged forward gathering speed. At rotation speed the aircraft released its hold on the runway. Suddenly there were no runway lights. Excitement rapidly turned to fear and in an instant I caught myself saying to the flight instructor “I feel a bit scared.” As immediately as his icy glance came my way I wished I had not made any comment. He came back at me with a forceful and steely question that seemed to pierce my soul. “Then what are you doing about it?!!” I immediately gained composure and did what a pilot needed to do to navigate in darkness.

I have often looked back at that moment in my life with great thanks to my instructor. There have been many times I have had to navigate in darkness. . . and here I am referring to my daily life, not flying an aircraft.

Not so long ago my teacher had visited our Retreat Centre in our village of Shi Ta Wan, China. The local driver from Zaoxi had driven up the mountain to take us back down to the town below. We jumped into his little van. My teacher wanted to take the back seat, so I sat next to the driver. The driver took off as if there was no tomorrow. The very narrow road winds its way through hair-pin bends and past small villages. We were pushed from side to side as the diver picked up speed. I envisaged us going over the edge and being killed any instant. Suddenly as we sped through a village a dog leapt out in front of the van causing the driver to skid sideways. He made some remark in local Chinese about the dog and continued at break neck speed. Gripped with a sudden feeling of fear I look around to my teacher, a dignified Buddhist monk advanced in age. I pretended that I was simply looking at the scenery not wanting to show any sign of my inner fear lest I should be embarrassed by not attaining a level of meditative calmness. My teacher looked straight ahead expressionless. I marveled at his ability to remain calm, cool and collected and secretly hoped he would say something to the driver to slow down in local dialect.

We finally arrived in Zaoxi. My face and knuckles must have been snow white drained of all blood supply with my legs behaving like noodles as I climbed out of the van. I turned to my teacher as he brushed his robes and remarked without any tell-tale expression: “Tian na! Xia ren!!” which translates as: “Heavens above! That was frightening, wasn’t it!!” I roared with laughter. We laughed together as we thanked the driver. (Thanking him we arrived safely without incident!) Suddenly a memory flash came back to my night flying lesson. In an instant in time the two moments connected. My teacher was human. He felt the fear too! Only, he did not allow it to control him.

Mindfulness teaches us just that. There are many things in life that shatter us or can turn us to jelly. There are the memories that can still haunt us and cause us to panic at every turn in the journey of life. Fear puts tremendous stress upon the adrenal system and heart. Prolonged fear can have quite injurious effects to our physical and mental well-being. Most often we allow the fear to overtake us then the struggle sets in creating a vicious cycle. We can often find ourselves struggling against the fear: “Oh! I shouldn’t be afraid” or "I should get my act together". Somehow it doesn’t make the fear go away. We try other methods – a stiff drink, some pills, diversion – but the fear very often returns.

Mindfulness does not deny the fear but openly accepts it. Like my flying instructor it asks us: “what are we doing about it?” Positive and growthful action is necessary. Mindfulness is not violent to the fear. It says: “I know you are there. I can accept you and give you space to be.” We must learn that the thought of fear and ensuing emotions cannot harm us. What can harm is inappropriate action.

Accepting what “is” defuses the “struggle”. Mindfulness teaches us to breathe into the fear gently and slowly being aware of the body and its tensions. Often as a consequence the fear gradually subsides on its own accord.

Finally Mindfulness teaches us to be guided by what truly matters to us in life. As Buddhists we know that all things are impermanent. All things change. All ceases. Yes, even our fear. Allow yourself to be guided by your deepest inner values rather than fleeting impermanent feelings. As we concentrate on meditation and whole heartedly on the name of Amitabha Buddha all else begins to fade into insignificance. Naturally, we need to work at it. Just imagine your fear fading into insignificance. Frightening, isn’t it?

The Happiest Lady in the World

It was our second day of Mindfulness Training. The autumn had rapidly given way to winter in the bamboo forest mountains. We donned gloves, scarfs and hats as we mounted the three wheeled tractor that was to take us up to the summit of the mountain. As we wound around the mountain road the temperature seemed to drop with each meter we climbed. Suddenly the motorcycle tractor came to an abrupt holt. The bitumen had come to an end and the dirt track was mud and slush from heavy icy rains the day before. We all got out to push the tractor through the mud. My attention was diverted to a small stone house with its occupants now curiously looking at us guys and girls seemingly in position for a rugby “scrum”. Lijuan, our team guide, had gone up the path to chat to them. “They are inviting us in for hot tea!”, called Lijuan. This seemed a far more sensible thing to do so we made our way up to the humble hut. It was a small hut typical of this mountain area of China. I must have past it many times before but had not really noticed it as it was set off the road a little.

Inside the hut was an inviting charcoal fire in the centre. We gathered around warm our numbed hands. I looked up to notice an old lady inviting me to sit down. He face was a smile for ear to ear. As she prepared and poured hot local tea she beamed an infectious laugh. We couldn’t help ourselves laughing with her. Her invitations were interpreted by Lijuan to Jin Jin as she spoke a local dialect which Lijuan translated into Mandarin then Jin translating into English for us. The old happy lady offered us nuts and dried sweet potato. Soon we were joined by her husband and other local villagers. Communication seems to happen rapidly in these remote parts as our presence was announced!



I could not help wanting to ask her the reason for her high pitched laughter and beaming smiles. After the dual interpreting came a response: “Oh! I am happy here. We came here five years ago from the town. In the town we had no work so we came here to grow vegetables.” “But what makes you happy?” I inquired further? “I have never thought about it” came the lady with a giggle. “Are there times when you struggle or are sad?” I asked digging for the deeper meaning. “Oh! (a very big raucous laugh!) I have never thought about it. I never think very much. I just watch my vegetables grow, work the soil, and drink some tea. Maybe you think too much! Now have some more tea.” We all laughed. I felt a tad embarrassed and at the same time extremely humbled.

Earlier that morning in our Training we talked about the Mind pulling us into our thinking self. That same morning we had met the happiest lady on earth. Her recipe? Don’t think too much. Just observe, work and enjoy tea and don’t let the mind get in the way. Too simple? Maybe. However, the lesson was powerful – from the happiest lady in the world.