My Thoughts

Happy Vesak Day to all Buddhists! May everyone be well and happy.

Hmm.. so what is vesak day? It is a day you celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of our teacher, Gautama Buddha.

Is Buddhism really a religion or what? Lets see the definition of religion.

It is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Okay... so i guess Buddhism is out of the religion bracket. For we believe that no lives is controlled by one God. Buddhist believe that we are govern by the laws and forces of kamma, and critically our own mind ( thoughts ).

So then wad is Buddhism? Hmm... personally i will call it knowledge.

Knowledge is defined as (i) expertise, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject, (ii) what is known in a particular field or in total; facts and information or (iii) awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation.

Knowledge acquisition involves complex cognitive processes: perception, learning, communication, association and reasoning. Fits perfectly doesnt it?

For example the knowledge of the 6 realms of existance. There are the hell, hungry ghost, animal, human, deva (god) and asura (demi-god). When you realised what beings reside in each realms you will be filled with envy and emphaty. hell and hungry ghosts are constantly suffering due to their bad kamma. Animals are born to survive, no mind to actually think and improve mentally. Human is just tied down by so many distractions. deva and asura live in riches and luxury.

6 realms may be out of this world. So lets use this theory on Earth. Isnt it the same, you see people in 3rd world country or soldiers suffering. Animals, ya you watch it on discovery channel. Human, you got a few in the house you live in. And rich people like err.. bill gates. Haha i only think of his name. ZZZ but i bet there are tons out there living luxurious life.

From here on let us analysis.
What is known in a particular field or in total; facts and information- this you no need say, cause its everywhere. Unless your a senseless person.

Awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation- Ya news and television programs broadcast this everyday. Ehh why dont i register? CAUSE you are always busy with I and you forget about the negative stuffs in other people's life.

Expertise, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education- now you know there are people out there suffering. Cultivate more compassion. Help out physically or monetery. But that dosent mean putting in the black bag that goes to an organisation that is so rich it can set up concerts with live broadcast.

And after reading this you develop certain perception, and you are learning new things, through the communication between you and this post, association with certain people to conference and reasoning to see if it really is true.

At the end of the day. Just be happy and contented. BUT that doesnt mean to hurt people physically and mentally and be happy bout it. Dun be dumb. Do the right stuff please. Like you can buy me lunch someday. Haha

- Woo Jianyong