The living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu said:
After studying Buddhist Tantrayana, I discovered an authentic Tantric practice that eradicates sexual desires. In general, the exoteric scriptural schools resort to the following methods to suppress sexual desire:
1. Viewing the body as impure
2. Viewing the body as a skeleton
3. Viewing the body as emptiness
Tantrayana also advocates the practices of "chi, channels, and light drops." In these practices, "the movement of chi opens one's channels, fire and light are engendered inside the channels, and one can attain the accomplishment of 'the non-leakage of light drops'." Throughout the process of these Energy Yoga practices, a kind of "pleasure" is engendered when chi moves through the channels, and an even greater pleasure is engendered when the light drops move through the channels. These pleasures far surpass the ordinary pleasures produced by sexual orgasms.
After experiencing the authentic greater pleasures engendered by Energy Yoga practices, the carnal pleasures engendered between man and woman pale in comparison. Therefore, the practice of Energy Yoga can be used as an antidote for the arousal of sexual desires.
I have realized that:
The circulation of chi throughout the body is associated with great bliss and pleasure.
When the channels are filled with light, one attains a supreme pure awareness.
The practice of light drops leads to a realization of the indestructible, unperturbed Buddha Nature.
I finally was able to liberate myself from the snares of human instinct, realize the true nature of Buddhahood, and attain Great Bliss, Light, and Emptiness.
I have also realized how pitiful and foolish it is for humans to remain trapped by their baser instincts. Out of sexual desire, man is born; out of sexual desire, man also perishes.
In the process of seeking an insignificant pleasure that is itself transient, numerous evils arise. The risks are not worth the trouble!
I would like to tell everyone that I have, through my practices, arrived at the above-mentioned realizations and attained the authentic Great Bliss!
souce :
http://www.voyagestohell.com/tbs/books/145_living_this_moment_in_purity/15_great_bliss.htm
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Sexual Misconduct (chapter 8) - GHOST WOMEN
Living This Moment in Purity
By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Janny Chow
This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 145th book, 當下的清涼心.
CHAPTER 08 - Ghost Woman
During a dinner party one evening, I was asked by an acquaintance to give an energy (chi) reading for everyone present. Among the group of guests at the table there were some I already knew, while others I was meeting for the first time.
A man by the name of Xu Ming spoke up and said, "Though I have not met you personally until today, I have heard your name. Why not give me a reading first?"
I carefully observed Xu Ming and was surprised to observe the presence of ghost chi in his body. Upon stating this aloud, several people turned to me, stunned.
"Sheng-yen Lu, you are joking!"
Another responded, "Well, that's not a very nice joke to make!"
And another said, "What you say is irresponsible! How can you say such things so casually?"
Everyone was looking at Xu Ming, who appeared rather calm. "But Mr. Lu is right! I have indeed been touched by ghost chi," he said, shocking everyone even more with his admission. Turning to me he asked, "How can I get rid of this ghost chi?"
I replied with the following poem:
Return home and chant the Huang Ting Jing;
Wonderful benefits will be engendered;
Put your heart and mind into observing the precepts;
It "the ghost chi" will be gone
Naturally in three months time.
In addition to asking Xu Ming to chant the Huang Ting Sutra, I instructed him to observe a vegetarian diet and abstain from sex for three months.
After thanking me, Xu Ming asked, "Mr. Lu, since you can see that I have the touch of ghost chi in me, can you tell me whether its presence will help or hurt me?"
I answered, "Of course it is not good to have the presence of ghost chi in one's body. Nevertheless, from my observations, this ghost chi is from a woman spirit who harbors no hatred or enmity towards you. In this case, this ghost chi may not cause any great harm."
After hearing this, Xu Ming was greatly impressed, "Shengyen Lu, you indeed live up to your reputation!" He then recounted to me and everyone present the following strange incident:
Xu Ming, a businessman and owner of a trading company, was on a business trip in Tokyo, when he encountered the following strange event. One night, during his stay on the sixth floor of a hotel, a beautiful woman suddenly appeared lying next to him. Xu Ming, believing he was in a dream, made love to the woman and had a very pleasant experience. Yet all the while, the woman seemed so real-he could even smell her perfume-that he was not sure if he was really dreaming or not.
Upon awakening the next morning, the woman was gone. He glanced around his bed, and the windows and doors were still locked. The room looked the same as it had the night before. Despite the clarity of the event, Xu Ming decided he had only been dreaming.
The second night, the woman came again. After making love for a second time, Xu Ming asked her where she was staying. She replied that she was staying in Room XX on the seventh floor.
When Xu Ming awoke, the woman had again disappeared. This time, he felt there was something strange about his experience and decided to take the elevator to the seventh floor to look for the woman. But, the elevator did not stop at the seventh floor. It stopped at the eighth, ninth, tenth, and remaining floors. Xu Ming then tried the stairway, but upon arriving at the seventh floor, he found the entrance sealed.
Xu Ming later inquired of the concierge, "Who is staying in room XX on the seventh floor?"
"No one," the concierge replied.
"Why is no one staying there?"
"Because the entire seventh floor is being renovated now, and no one is staying there!"
When Xu Ming heard this, he was flabbergasted.
The third night, in his dreams, the woman came again. This time when she made the initiative gesture to embrace him, he refused. He asked her again, "Where do you live?"
"Room XX on the seventh floor."
"But the entire seventh floor is being renovated now, and there is practically no one there. Are you human or ghost?"
As soon as the woman heard this, tears started running down her cheeks.
Flustered, Xu Ming said hurriedly, "You can talk to me. Don't cry. I just want to find out what this whole thing is about."
The woman then told Xu Ming, "I'm doing this because I need to ask you a favor. That is why I offered myself to you."
"What is the favor?"
"In your hometown," she asked, "is there someone by the name of Xu Yuan?"
"Yes, we are both from the same village and we were once classmates."
"Xu Yuan is a ruthless and ungrateful man. When we first met here in Japan, I supported him and paid for his complete room and board and tuition fees. I also entrusted myself to him. We made a solemn pledge of love that we would not marry anyone else. But after graduation, he went back to his country and vanished without any news. Later, upon hearing he had already married someone else, I became sad and furious. I had invested my entire life's savings on him, giving him all my love and loyalty. Without him, there was nothing left in life for me. Depressed and angry, I killed myself," the woman wailed.
"So you're a ghost then?" Xu Ming asked shocked.
Suddenly, the woman's sad face morphed into that of a hanging ghost's, with blood dripping out of her orifices and a long tongue dangling from her mouth.
Xu Ming flinched, stepping back several paces. It had never occurred to him that the gorgeous woman he had been making love to the past couple nights was only beautiful on the surface. Underneath, she was actually a terrifying ghost reeking of rotting flesh.
The woman said, "If you help me, I will not hurt you."
His heart beating rapidly, Xu Ming asked, "What can I do to help you out?"
"I have a golden hair ornament to which I can attach my spirit. Take the hairpin, go to room XX on the seventh floor, and call out my name. Room XX is where I hung myself. As soon as you call out my name, I will attach myself to the ornament. When you return home, toss this golden hairpin into Xu Yuan's house. Please help me. I definitely will not hurt you."
"But the seventh floor is sealed. How will I get inside?"
The ghost woman replied, "Well of course there is another entrance. How do you think the renovation workers get in?"
The next morning, with hairpin in hand, Xu Ming found the other entrance to the seventh floor, and went to room XX where
he called out the woman's name.
Later, when Xu Ming returned to his hometown, he carried out the ghost woman's wishes exactly as she had instructed. He went by Xu Yuan's house and tossed the golden hairpin into his courtyard.
It so happened that on that day, Xu Yuan had planned a big party at his house. He had recently been promoted to a new government post and had invited a large number of guests for the celebration. Everyone was toasting him and Xu Yuan was extremely elated. His wife was by his side entertaining the guests.
Suddenly Xu Yuan felt a draft of cold air. The world around him began spinning, and he collapsed on the floor. When the ambulance arrived, the doctor said, "He probably had too much to drink. His is brain-dead due to a ruptured blood vessel, and he cannot be revived."
Xu Yuan died, and his wife developed a severe sickness from which it took some time for her to recover.
After Xu Ming related this strange story, everyone then understood why he had the touch of ghost chi in him. They all shook their heads and sighed.
In today's world, there are few who do not wish to enjoy a long life of good health and serenity. It is natural and normal for people to want to make more money and be promoted to higher positions. Yet, many also heartily indulge in sensual pleasures while, at the same time, swearing and making vows all too casually.
If one gives way to one's carnal desires and takes the liberty to make bold vows, one can easily offend the ghosts and gods. People do not realize that every time one makes a vow, the vow is recorded in the spiritual realm. This is not something to be taken lightly. People of noble character take their promises seriously, while people of little integrity often make vows and forget them right away. Heartlessness and disloyalty are regarded as offensive by the world of spirits.
If one desires a long life, with good health and serenity, one must abstain from lust and sexual misconduct. If one desires a promotion and an increase in wealth, one must not offend the world of the spirits.
Xu Yuan's deserved death was a result of his ruthlessness and betrayal!
Xu Ming's contamination also was a result of his lust for carnal pleasure. Luckily the ghost chi had not brought him great harm and could easily be cleansed away by keeping a vegetarian diet and abstaining from sex for a short period of time.
Today people swear and make vows much too casually, as if they were eating ice cream. They do not keep their promises, as if it were the natural thing to do. How sorrowful this is!
Source :
http://www.voyagestohell.com/tbs/books/145_living_this_moment_in_purity/08_ghost_woman.htm
By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Janny Chow
This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 145th book, 當下的清涼心.
CHAPTER 08 - Ghost Woman
During a dinner party one evening, I was asked by an acquaintance to give an energy (chi) reading for everyone present. Among the group of guests at the table there were some I already knew, while others I was meeting for the first time.
A man by the name of Xu Ming spoke up and said, "Though I have not met you personally until today, I have heard your name. Why not give me a reading first?"
I carefully observed Xu Ming and was surprised to observe the presence of ghost chi in his body. Upon stating this aloud, several people turned to me, stunned.
"Sheng-yen Lu, you are joking!"
Another responded, "Well, that's not a very nice joke to make!"
And another said, "What you say is irresponsible! How can you say such things so casually?"
Everyone was looking at Xu Ming, who appeared rather calm. "But Mr. Lu is right! I have indeed been touched by ghost chi," he said, shocking everyone even more with his admission. Turning to me he asked, "How can I get rid of this ghost chi?"
I replied with the following poem:
Return home and chant the Huang Ting Jing;
Wonderful benefits will be engendered;
Put your heart and mind into observing the precepts;
It "the ghost chi" will be gone
Naturally in three months time.
In addition to asking Xu Ming to chant the Huang Ting Sutra, I instructed him to observe a vegetarian diet and abstain from sex for three months.
After thanking me, Xu Ming asked, "Mr. Lu, since you can see that I have the touch of ghost chi in me, can you tell me whether its presence will help or hurt me?"
I answered, "Of course it is not good to have the presence of ghost chi in one's body. Nevertheless, from my observations, this ghost chi is from a woman spirit who harbors no hatred or enmity towards you. In this case, this ghost chi may not cause any great harm."
After hearing this, Xu Ming was greatly impressed, "Shengyen Lu, you indeed live up to your reputation!" He then recounted to me and everyone present the following strange incident:
Xu Ming, a businessman and owner of a trading company, was on a business trip in Tokyo, when he encountered the following strange event. One night, during his stay on the sixth floor of a hotel, a beautiful woman suddenly appeared lying next to him. Xu Ming, believing he was in a dream, made love to the woman and had a very pleasant experience. Yet all the while, the woman seemed so real-he could even smell her perfume-that he was not sure if he was really dreaming or not.
Upon awakening the next morning, the woman was gone. He glanced around his bed, and the windows and doors were still locked. The room looked the same as it had the night before. Despite the clarity of the event, Xu Ming decided he had only been dreaming.
The second night, the woman came again. After making love for a second time, Xu Ming asked her where she was staying. She replied that she was staying in Room XX on the seventh floor.
When Xu Ming awoke, the woman had again disappeared. This time, he felt there was something strange about his experience and decided to take the elevator to the seventh floor to look for the woman. But, the elevator did not stop at the seventh floor. It stopped at the eighth, ninth, tenth, and remaining floors. Xu Ming then tried the stairway, but upon arriving at the seventh floor, he found the entrance sealed.
Xu Ming later inquired of the concierge, "Who is staying in room XX on the seventh floor?"
"No one," the concierge replied.
"Why is no one staying there?"
"Because the entire seventh floor is being renovated now, and no one is staying there!"
When Xu Ming heard this, he was flabbergasted.
The third night, in his dreams, the woman came again. This time when she made the initiative gesture to embrace him, he refused. He asked her again, "Where do you live?"
"Room XX on the seventh floor."
"But the entire seventh floor is being renovated now, and there is practically no one there. Are you human or ghost?"
As soon as the woman heard this, tears started running down her cheeks.
Flustered, Xu Ming said hurriedly, "You can talk to me. Don't cry. I just want to find out what this whole thing is about."
The woman then told Xu Ming, "I'm doing this because I need to ask you a favor. That is why I offered myself to you."
"What is the favor?"
"In your hometown," she asked, "is there someone by the name of Xu Yuan?"
"Yes, we are both from the same village and we were once classmates."
"Xu Yuan is a ruthless and ungrateful man. When we first met here in Japan, I supported him and paid for his complete room and board and tuition fees. I also entrusted myself to him. We made a solemn pledge of love that we would not marry anyone else. But after graduation, he went back to his country and vanished without any news. Later, upon hearing he had already married someone else, I became sad and furious. I had invested my entire life's savings on him, giving him all my love and loyalty. Without him, there was nothing left in life for me. Depressed and angry, I killed myself," the woman wailed.
"So you're a ghost then?" Xu Ming asked shocked.
Suddenly, the woman's sad face morphed into that of a hanging ghost's, with blood dripping out of her orifices and a long tongue dangling from her mouth.
Xu Ming flinched, stepping back several paces. It had never occurred to him that the gorgeous woman he had been making love to the past couple nights was only beautiful on the surface. Underneath, she was actually a terrifying ghost reeking of rotting flesh.
The woman said, "If you help me, I will not hurt you."
His heart beating rapidly, Xu Ming asked, "What can I do to help you out?"
"I have a golden hair ornament to which I can attach my spirit. Take the hairpin, go to room XX on the seventh floor, and call out my name. Room XX is where I hung myself. As soon as you call out my name, I will attach myself to the ornament. When you return home, toss this golden hairpin into Xu Yuan's house. Please help me. I definitely will not hurt you."
"But the seventh floor is sealed. How will I get inside?"
The ghost woman replied, "Well of course there is another entrance. How do you think the renovation workers get in?"
The next morning, with hairpin in hand, Xu Ming found the other entrance to the seventh floor, and went to room XX where
he called out the woman's name.
Later, when Xu Ming returned to his hometown, he carried out the ghost woman's wishes exactly as she had instructed. He went by Xu Yuan's house and tossed the golden hairpin into his courtyard.
It so happened that on that day, Xu Yuan had planned a big party at his house. He had recently been promoted to a new government post and had invited a large number of guests for the celebration. Everyone was toasting him and Xu Yuan was extremely elated. His wife was by his side entertaining the guests.
Suddenly Xu Yuan felt a draft of cold air. The world around him began spinning, and he collapsed on the floor. When the ambulance arrived, the doctor said, "He probably had too much to drink. His is brain-dead due to a ruptured blood vessel, and he cannot be revived."
Xu Yuan died, and his wife developed a severe sickness from which it took some time for her to recover.
After Xu Ming related this strange story, everyone then understood why he had the touch of ghost chi in him. They all shook their heads and sighed.
In today's world, there are few who do not wish to enjoy a long life of good health and serenity. It is natural and normal for people to want to make more money and be promoted to higher positions. Yet, many also heartily indulge in sensual pleasures while, at the same time, swearing and making vows all too casually.
If one gives way to one's carnal desires and takes the liberty to make bold vows, one can easily offend the ghosts and gods. People do not realize that every time one makes a vow, the vow is recorded in the spiritual realm. This is not something to be taken lightly. People of noble character take their promises seriously, while people of little integrity often make vows and forget them right away. Heartlessness and disloyalty are regarded as offensive by the world of spirits.
If one desires a long life, with good health and serenity, one must abstain from lust and sexual misconduct. If one desires a promotion and an increase in wealth, one must not offend the world of the spirits.
Xu Yuan's deserved death was a result of his ruthlessness and betrayal!
Xu Ming's contamination also was a result of his lust for carnal pleasure. Luckily the ghost chi had not brought him great harm and could easily be cleansed away by keeping a vegetarian diet and abstaining from sex for a short period of time.
Today people swear and make vows much too casually, as if they were eating ice cream. They do not keep their promises, as if it were the natural thing to do. How sorrowful this is!
Source :
http://www.voyagestohell.com/tbs/books/145_living_this_moment_in_purity/08_ghost_woman.htm
The Cause of Sexual Miscontuct!
In the Hell of Feng-du, Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu saw the horrendous amounts of karmic transgressions committed by humans—they were as tall as a mountain and as deep as the sea. The evils committed by men—murders, kidnappings, robbery, arson, theft, etc.--are numerous, but the one evil that tops these in prevalence is sexual misconduct. Human beings commit sexual misconducts casually and frequently.
Karmic effects include the following:
1. Retribution upon one’s wife and daughters
2. Loss of fame and reputation
3. Punishment upon one’s descendents
4. Loss of fortune
5. Decrease in rank
6. Shortened lifespan
7. Punishment in the realm of hells
8. Descent into the hell, hungry ghosts, and animal realms
According to the teachings of karma and transmigrations:
People who rape others’ wives or daughters will suffer five hundred kalpas in the Hell of Feng-du before attaining rebirth. They will then be reborn as animals, such as donkeys, horses, or cows, for another five hundred kalpas before attaining rebirth as humans. When they recapture their human bodies, they often become prostitutes.
People who rape widows, nuns, or spiritual practitioners will suffer eight hundred kalpas in the Hell of Feng-du before attaining rebirth. They will then be reborn as sheep and pigs to be slaughtered by humans. After eight hundred kalpas in the animal realm, they can then re-attain human birth. However, they will not be born in high or noble form, but as a blind, a mute, or with other deformities.
People who commit incest - such as father with daughter, mother with son, or one sibling with another, and people who break the ethics - such as an old person with a young person, man with man, or woman with woman - will suffer fifteen hundred kalpas in the realms of hell before attaining rebirth. They will then be reborn as snakes or rats. Only after another fifteen hundred kalpas can they recover human births. The recovered human lives are not very long, and they will die either in gestation or infancy and not be able to enjoy old age.
Also, those who fabricate pornographic materials that debauch and corrupt others’ minds will suffer even more severely. After dying, they will descend to the Interminable Hell from where it is quite difficult to be released. Only when all the pornographic materials produced by one have disappeared, can one depart.
As stated earlier, the harms produced by pornographic materials are incalculable. A woman from a good family can, through a chance meeting with such materials, become seduced and be unable to suppress the fire of lust thus aroused. A virtuous woman may become loose and wanton. These materials may fan the fires and lusts of a young man or woman who may then become addicted to the habit of masturbation. When young people over-indulge in masturbation, their physical health also suffers. The harm done is relatively minor when purveyors of such material hurt only themselves. But, when they start involving and ruining others’ ethics and lives, the negative results will be magnified. According to Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu, pornographic materials create and result in endless karmic hindrances.
Sheng-yen Lu the Living Buddha aware that, within the ocean of karma, sexual desires are the most difficult to extinguish. Desires for “money, fame, food, and sleep” are hard to control, but the desire for sex is the most difficult to handle. In this world of samsara, where there are frequent interactions between men and women, temptations for sexual misconduct abound.
He have seen heroes with great accomplishments succumb to sexual temptations and stoop to bestiality. Some very fine and talented people, aroused by lust, have fallen and ruined their reputations. From ancient times until now, such transgressions have befallen men from all walks of life, the holy and foolish alike.
The modern world of today is even more challenging than the past. Consumed by the winds of lust and influenced by numerous sex industries, young, middle-aged, and even old people harbor frivolous and unrestrained thoughts. The moral principles once honored in the past are no longer held in the same regard. Hedonism and sexual innuendos have become socially acceptable, and today’s society constantly bombards one with a barrage of sexual images. When mind and reason become subordinate to body and passion, it is easy for one to fall, becoming a denizen of the bitter hells of suffering. One should know that the retribution for licentiousness and sexual misconduct is severe!
As practitioners, we must look past the illusions of physical beauty and realize that “form is emptiness.” Under the rosy and powdered skin are bones, blood, flesh, and foul-smelling excrement.
Be very careful and beware of making a slip! One must break through the delusions to return to the path of realization.
Amid the endless seas of karmic transgressions, hindrances of sexual desire are among the hardest to remove.
Source:
http://www.voyagestohell.com/tbs/books/145_living_this_moment_in_purity/04_celestial_gathering.htm
ps. before you commit adultery, or indulge in that few minute pleasure, think 1000times!!! Think about how the karmic retribution will affect your career, wealth and personal well-being. And we're not even talking about next life, we're talking about this life! There have been stories of how one's good destiny are being changed because of just one sexual misconduct!
Karmic effects include the following:
1. Retribution upon one’s wife and daughters
2. Loss of fame and reputation
3. Punishment upon one’s descendents
4. Loss of fortune
5. Decrease in rank
6. Shortened lifespan
7. Punishment in the realm of hells
8. Descent into the hell, hungry ghosts, and animal realms
According to the teachings of karma and transmigrations:
People who rape others’ wives or daughters will suffer five hundred kalpas in the Hell of Feng-du before attaining rebirth. They will then be reborn as animals, such as donkeys, horses, or cows, for another five hundred kalpas before attaining rebirth as humans. When they recapture their human bodies, they often become prostitutes.
People who rape widows, nuns, or spiritual practitioners will suffer eight hundred kalpas in the Hell of Feng-du before attaining rebirth. They will then be reborn as sheep and pigs to be slaughtered by humans. After eight hundred kalpas in the animal realm, they can then re-attain human birth. However, they will not be born in high or noble form, but as a blind, a mute, or with other deformities.
People who commit incest - such as father with daughter, mother with son, or one sibling with another, and people who break the ethics - such as an old person with a young person, man with man, or woman with woman - will suffer fifteen hundred kalpas in the realms of hell before attaining rebirth. They will then be reborn as snakes or rats. Only after another fifteen hundred kalpas can they recover human births. The recovered human lives are not very long, and they will die either in gestation or infancy and not be able to enjoy old age.
Also, those who fabricate pornographic materials that debauch and corrupt others’ minds will suffer even more severely. After dying, they will descend to the Interminable Hell from where it is quite difficult to be released. Only when all the pornographic materials produced by one have disappeared, can one depart.
As stated earlier, the harms produced by pornographic materials are incalculable. A woman from a good family can, through a chance meeting with such materials, become seduced and be unable to suppress the fire of lust thus aroused. A virtuous woman may become loose and wanton. These materials may fan the fires and lusts of a young man or woman who may then become addicted to the habit of masturbation. When young people over-indulge in masturbation, their physical health also suffers. The harm done is relatively minor when purveyors of such material hurt only themselves. But, when they start involving and ruining others’ ethics and lives, the negative results will be magnified. According to Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu, pornographic materials create and result in endless karmic hindrances.
Sheng-yen Lu the Living Buddha aware that, within the ocean of karma, sexual desires are the most difficult to extinguish. Desires for “money, fame, food, and sleep” are hard to control, but the desire for sex is the most difficult to handle. In this world of samsara, where there are frequent interactions between men and women, temptations for sexual misconduct abound.
He have seen heroes with great accomplishments succumb to sexual temptations and stoop to bestiality. Some very fine and talented people, aroused by lust, have fallen and ruined their reputations. From ancient times until now, such transgressions have befallen men from all walks of life, the holy and foolish alike.
The modern world of today is even more challenging than the past. Consumed by the winds of lust and influenced by numerous sex industries, young, middle-aged, and even old people harbor frivolous and unrestrained thoughts. The moral principles once honored in the past are no longer held in the same regard. Hedonism and sexual innuendos have become socially acceptable, and today’s society constantly bombards one with a barrage of sexual images. When mind and reason become subordinate to body and passion, it is easy for one to fall, becoming a denizen of the bitter hells of suffering. One should know that the retribution for licentiousness and sexual misconduct is severe!
As practitioners, we must look past the illusions of physical beauty and realize that “form is emptiness.” Under the rosy and powdered skin are bones, blood, flesh, and foul-smelling excrement.
Be very careful and beware of making a slip! One must break through the delusions to return to the path of realization.
Amid the endless seas of karmic transgressions, hindrances of sexual desire are among the hardest to remove.
Source:
http://www.voyagestohell.com/tbs/books/145_living_this_moment_in_purity/04_celestial_gathering.htm
ps. before you commit adultery, or indulge in that few minute pleasure, think 1000times!!! Think about how the karmic retribution will affect your career, wealth and personal well-being. And we're not even talking about next life, we're talking about this life! There have been stories of how one's good destiny are being changed because of just one sexual misconduct!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Sexual Misconduct (chapter 1)
Living This Moment in Purity
By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Janny Chow
This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 145th book, 當下的清涼心.
CHAPTER 01 - The Reason For Writing This Book
While sleeping one night, a colorful swirl of clouds, with two youths holding Buddhist banners, manifested before me in the spiritual realm. Bowing to me they spoke, " Living Buddha Lian - sheng, our master would like to invite you to visit him. "
" Who is your master? "
" Our master is Virtuous Light Buddha, " they replied.
My mind momentarily drew a blank. After all, among the three thousand Buddhas, many names are quite similar, and some Buddhas even share identical names. So instead of inquiring further, I flew up to the auspicious clouds with the two youths. Soon we arrived at a land known as Green Flower Heavenly Grotto. Inside a great crystal hall, the Virtuous Light Buddha descended on his throne to welcome me.
" Lian - sheng, how have you been? "
Puzzled, I still did not recognize this Virtuous Light Buddha. Seeing my bewildered reaction, Virtuous Light Buddha immediately understood my thoughts. He spoke with a smile, " Lian - sheng, you are looking at my Bliss Body now. Of course you won't recognize me. Take another look. "
A Buddha has three bodies: Dharma Body, Bliss Body, and Emanation Body.
The Dharma Body radiates boundless light
The Bliss Body is the majestic Tathagata with the thirty - two Buddha marks
The Emanation Body undergoes transformations among the many worlds
In my case, for example, my Dharma Body radiates boundless lights just like the great sun; my Bliss Body is Amitabha (Padmakumara); and the Emanation Body is Living Buddha Lian - sheng Sheng - yen Lu.
As I took a closer look, the face of Virtuous Light Buddha began to morph until I finally recognized him. " You are Lord Wen Chang (Lord of Literature) of the Ci Ji Temple! " I declared.
I had met with Lord Wen Chang of Ci Ji Temple several times in the past. Though the two of us are quite familiar with one another, I had not learned of his new name, Virtuous Light Buddha, after his attainment of Buddhahood.
Virtuous Light Buddha then said to me, " In today 's world, people are becoming greedier and stronger in their cravings. Few are those who live simply with scant desires. Although civilization has made much progress, the presence of virtuous light is fast becoming extinct. I cannot help but feel sad, seeing how so many in the world will wind up in the three lower realms. I ventured to invite you here today to borrow your talents for the writing of a book. This book will be of great benefit to humans if it will wake them up so they will be more cautious and discipline their lust. "
I then asked, " What should the contents of this book be? "
Virtuous Light Buddha replied, " I will send you the material. Just go ahead and write it in your own way. "
" Who will bring it to me? "
" Lü. "
I chatted with Virtuous Light Buddha a while longer, while admiring the beautiful scenery of Green Flower Grotto Heaven. After sipping the wine he offered me, I finally bade farewell and left.
Not long afterward, I went to a Buddhist temple, Fo Qian Yuan, to offer incense.
The abbot approached me and asked, " Mister, would your last name happen to be Lu? "
" How did you know? "
" Last night in my dreams, Virtuous Light Buddha appeared and told me that when a Mr. Lu comes to offer incense today, I should give him this manuscript, " he stated, handing me a large envelope. Inside were worn pieces of parchment with handwritten script advising people to do good.
" Who was the writer? " I asked.
" I don't know. " The abbot explained, " When I first came to this temple as abbot, the manuscript was already here. I flipped through it and thought it would be a waste to toss out, so I saved it. I was surprised when the Virtuous Light Buddha appeared and wanted me to hand it to you. " I knew I would not get any further information from him.
Before leaving, I asked the abbot, " What is your last name? "
" Lü. "
And that is how this book came about.
souce :
http://www.voyagestohell.com/tbs/books/145_living_this_moment_in_purity/01_reason_for_writing.htm
By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Janny Chow
This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 145th book, 當下的清涼心.
CHAPTER 01 - The Reason For Writing This Book
While sleeping one night, a colorful swirl of clouds, with two youths holding Buddhist banners, manifested before me in the spiritual realm. Bowing to me they spoke, " Living Buddha Lian - sheng, our master would like to invite you to visit him. "
" Who is your master? "
" Our master is Virtuous Light Buddha, " they replied.
My mind momentarily drew a blank. After all, among the three thousand Buddhas, many names are quite similar, and some Buddhas even share identical names. So instead of inquiring further, I flew up to the auspicious clouds with the two youths. Soon we arrived at a land known as Green Flower Heavenly Grotto. Inside a great crystal hall, the Virtuous Light Buddha descended on his throne to welcome me.
" Lian - sheng, how have you been? "
Puzzled, I still did not recognize this Virtuous Light Buddha. Seeing my bewildered reaction, Virtuous Light Buddha immediately understood my thoughts. He spoke with a smile, " Lian - sheng, you are looking at my Bliss Body now. Of course you won't recognize me. Take another look. "
A Buddha has three bodies: Dharma Body, Bliss Body, and Emanation Body.
The Dharma Body radiates boundless light
The Bliss Body is the majestic Tathagata with the thirty - two Buddha marks
The Emanation Body undergoes transformations among the many worlds
In my case, for example, my Dharma Body radiates boundless lights just like the great sun; my Bliss Body is Amitabha (Padmakumara); and the Emanation Body is Living Buddha Lian - sheng Sheng - yen Lu.
As I took a closer look, the face of Virtuous Light Buddha began to morph until I finally recognized him. " You are Lord Wen Chang (Lord of Literature) of the Ci Ji Temple! " I declared.
I had met with Lord Wen Chang of Ci Ji Temple several times in the past. Though the two of us are quite familiar with one another, I had not learned of his new name, Virtuous Light Buddha, after his attainment of Buddhahood.
Virtuous Light Buddha then said to me, " In today 's world, people are becoming greedier and stronger in their cravings. Few are those who live simply with scant desires. Although civilization has made much progress, the presence of virtuous light is fast becoming extinct. I cannot help but feel sad, seeing how so many in the world will wind up in the three lower realms. I ventured to invite you here today to borrow your talents for the writing of a book. This book will be of great benefit to humans if it will wake them up so they will be more cautious and discipline their lust. "
I then asked, " What should the contents of this book be? "
Virtuous Light Buddha replied, " I will send you the material. Just go ahead and write it in your own way. "
" Who will bring it to me? "
" Lü. "
I chatted with Virtuous Light Buddha a while longer, while admiring the beautiful scenery of Green Flower Grotto Heaven. After sipping the wine he offered me, I finally bade farewell and left.
Not long afterward, I went to a Buddhist temple, Fo Qian Yuan, to offer incense.
The abbot approached me and asked, " Mister, would your last name happen to be Lu? "
" How did you know? "
" Last night in my dreams, Virtuous Light Buddha appeared and told me that when a Mr. Lu comes to offer incense today, I should give him this manuscript, " he stated, handing me a large envelope. Inside were worn pieces of parchment with handwritten script advising people to do good.
" Who was the writer? " I asked.
" I don't know. " The abbot explained, " When I first came to this temple as abbot, the manuscript was already here. I flipped through it and thought it would be a waste to toss out, so I saved it. I was surprised when the Virtuous Light Buddha appeared and wanted me to hand it to you. " I knew I would not get any further information from him.
Before leaving, I asked the abbot, " What is your last name? "
" Lü. "
And that is how this book came about.
souce :
http://www.voyagestohell.com/tbs/books/145_living_this_moment_in_purity/01_reason_for_writing.htm
Heaven Knows, Earth Knows, You Knows and I knows!
Living This Moment in Purity
By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Janny Chow
This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 145th book, 當下的清涼心.
CHAPTER 03 - Heaven Knows
On one occasion a man by the name of Cui Jia came to me for a consultation seeking information concerning his future. Cui Jia was handsome, tall, and very fit.
Upon asking the gods in the spirit realm for guidance on his behalf, I received the answer: " Heaven knows. "
The response initially seemed a bit strange. Of course " heaven knows " but what did that have to do with Cui Jia's future? I asked my question a second time. Once again, the response given was, " Heaven knows. "
I made a third attempt to ask my question, and the response was the same. However, this time, I received the additional message, " Due to the merits accumulated from 'heaven knows,' extra blessings will be bestowed upon this individual, and his fame, career, and prosperity will flourish. A bright and beautiful future awaits him. "
I then directed my next question towards Cui Jia, " Why do the gods keep replying with 'heaven knows'? "
Cui Jia was taken aback. Blushing in embarrassment, he related the following story to me.
In his college days, Cui Jia had rented a room in a residential home near his school. The landlady, a very beautiful and charming woman, was quite a flirt, and the young Cui Jia found himself rather enamored of her, particularly her alluring eyes in which he also detected affection toward himself. The mere thought of her would send flutters through his heart.
One day, the landlord traveled out of town on a business trip. As Cui Jia happened to pass by the master bedroom, the door opened, and inside, the landlord's wife stood gazing seductively at Cui Jia with an inviting, flirtatious expression across her face. Cui Jia stood motionless as his eyes locked with hers. Heat rushed through his body, and he could hardly contain himself.
The young woman spoke, " No one will know. "
He was young and full of sexual desire. As Cui Jia took a step forward, his heart pounded with excitement.
She continued, " It's all right to have some fun once in a while. No one else knows but us. "
Suddenly, Cui Jia recalled a phrase he had learned in school as a child: "Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know. These are the 'four witnesses'. " He stopped in his tracks and said to the young wife, " It may appear as though no one else knows, but heaven knows."
The young woman then replied, "So what if heaven knows?"
Cui Jia responded, "Heaven knows, heaven knows, heaven knows!" He then turned his back on the young woman and quickly walked away.
That same night, she came to knock on Cui Jia 's bedroom door. She was leaning against the wall right outside his room, and he could smell her perfume wafting in through the cracks of the doorframe. Several times, he almost unlocked his door, knowing perfectly well that as soon as he opened it, her warm, voluptuous body would fall into his embrace. "Why not open the door?" he asked himself. But the phrase heaven knows, heaven knows, heaven knows, persisted in his conscience.
Other people may not know, but heaven knows. Human beings may be deceived, but one cannot deceive the heavens.
Eventually his will power prevailed, and he never opened his door.
The next morning, Cui Jia hurriedly moved out of the building and moved in with another classmate. He did not dare mention the incident to anyone; even to his closest friends, he gave the simple excuse that the house had merely been unsuitable for him.
So, as it turns out:
Indeed,
No one knows.
Yet Heaven knows.
Cui Jia then proceeded to tell me of another strange incident.
During his college days, he had moved five different times. This particular event, which occurred after the incident with the young woman, took place while he was lodging at a boarding house for students.
One night while he was fast asleep, Cui Jia suddenly heard a voice in his dreams saying, " Heaven knows, get out of bed quickly. Heaven knows, get out of bed quickly. Heaven knows, get out of bed quickly. "
The voice had been very clear, and waking from his sleep, he jumped out of bed. Running to look outside his window, he saw flames and thick smoke billowing from the house next door. Immediately he woke the other students in the house and, before escaping, made an emergency call to report the fire.
By the time Cui Jia had run out of the house, the flames from next door had already spread to his residence. Soon even the house in which he had been living became completely engulfed in flames. Altogether, six two-story buildings burned down. Many were killed and injured in that fire, and there was a great loss of property and possessions.
As Cui Jia shuddered in terror, recalling this incident, he was reminded that had he not heard the words " heaven knows, get out of bed quickly, " he would have remained deep in sleep. He and his friends, trapped in the sea of fire, would likely have been burnt to charcoal corpses.
Prior to this event, Cui Jia did not believe in the world of spirits and held no religious beliefs. Afterwards, however, he no longer doubted the existence of gods in this universe. The alarm call, waking him from his sleep, obviously had been a warning message from heaven.
I spoke to Cui Jia, " Gods and spirits indeed occupy the invisible world around us. One may try to deceive others in a dark room, but the penetrating eyes of gods perceive everything. "
Cui Jia responded, " Indeed, heaven knows. "
I said to him, " You should be commended for your high morals and will power. "
Cui Jia 's face reddened and he said, " Oh, but it was just luck! "
" Good and evil... " I began.
Cui Jia finished my sentence, " ...are only separated by a single thought. "
" A moment 's error may become the regret of a lifetime. "
" When one repents, one may be already at the end of one 's life. "
I explained to Cui Jia, " In today 's world, with increasing interaction between men and women, relationships have become increasingly complicated. People no longer concern themselves with traditional principles governing relationships between the sexes. What differentiates humans from other animals is man's sense of ethics. Without morals and guiding values, men are no different than birds and beasts. There are actually people who have abandoned ethics, and they are worse off than the birds and beasts. "
" How should we maintain our vigilance? " Cui Jia asked.
I replied, " As the Forty-two Chapters Sutra says: regard all older women as your own mother or elder sisters, all younger women as your younger sisters or daughters. Developing this kind of view can help extinguish one's licentious thoughts. "
" What if one finds it difficult to maintain this view? Then, what should one do? "
" Learn to practice the unclean view. What remains of a beautiful woman once her outer skin and flesh are removed? All that remains is a skeleton. When the body is viewed anatomically, one sees internal organs filled with blood, feces, and urine reeking of an unclean and offensive stench. By engaging in this kind of view, one will find the body's physical characteristics quite horrible and disgusting. "
" What if one cannot perform this visualization? "
" As one's sexual urges begin to rage out of control, just stop and imagine the consequences. Taking that one step may very likely prevent future loss of wealth and reputation. Otherwise, not only might one bring shame to one 's family and ancestors, one 's infamy may spread, having adverse influence on one 's children and grandchildren, and even destroy the career one has worked so hard to build up. Just thinking of these consequences is absolutely terrifying. This should cool down those surging sexual desires right away! "
" What if one still cannot restrain oneself. Then what happens? "
I could only respond, " A moment's pleasure will bring unending disaster and misfortune. "
" But so many people enjoy engaging in such pursuits of momentary happiness, " Cui Jia said. " Some would have no regrets even if they had to risk death! "
" The Buddha has taught: pleasure is emptiness, form is emptiness. "
" Generally though, people cannot see this. "
My final response was, "One creates one's own blessings and disasters."
In fact, our dialogue addresses a serious issue facing many members of contemporary societies. Ultimately, these matters can only be decided by each individual depending on his or her conscience, moral character, and power of stability developed from spiritual cultivation. In the invisible world around us, gods and spirits do exist. You may think that no one else knows but, in reality, heaven knows and cannot be deceived. It is my wish that everyone will cherish their bodies and souls, preserve their purity, and engage in spiritual cultivation to transcend the sufferings of transmigration.
Source :
http://www.voyagestohell.com/tbs/books/145_living_this_moment_in_purity/03_heaven_knows.htm
Sunday, June 6, 2010
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