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 The Buddha taught thus on "Friends":
Making oneself into a Mighty Friend: Friendliness means Goodwill Roy emailed thus on "Friends":
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Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
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Animal Release
Submitted to World Tibet Network by Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal Charitable Trust,
New Zealand.
First published as The Merit from Releasing Live Animals by Khenchen Thrangu
Rinpoche, in: Thar Lam, August 2004, p. 63.
In general, we study karma, the law of cause and effect, in Buddhism. The
principle of karma is that if you commit non-virtuous actions you will have
bad results and if you engage in virtuous actions then you will have good
results. The ten non-virtuous actions can be classified into ten different
categories and the opposite of these can be classified into the ten types of
virtue.* The first non-virtuous action is the worst, the strongest, and that
is to take life, then after that is to take that which is not given or
stealing; committing sexual misconduct is another harmful action. These are
the first of the bodily non-virtues.
Of the ten non-virtuous actions, really the worst is killing. And the
opposite is saving lives. From among all the things one should abandon,
first you should abandon killing, and the most important virtue to practice
is to save lives. By saving lives you accomplish great virtue; you can
protect beings and you can save them from fear.
So because of this, of the ten virtues - saving lives or protecting lives -
we can either save the lives of humans or that of animals. My teacher in
Kham, Khenpo Gangshag, taught me that among these two - saving the lives of
animals or of humans - saving humans is not as powerful and the reason for
this is that man can speak for and help himself, he or she can do things to
improve their situation - we have ways to help ourselves. But animals, on
the other hand, are really lost for means to help themselves, they cannot
say anything to anyone and they cannot protect themselves from being eaten
and tormented, and that is why saving the lives of many animals is really
very important.
Now, from among the many different types of animals, in particular fish in
oceans, lakes and streams and birds in the sky have neither a lord nor a
master - they have no protector, they have no refuge - and so in order to
benefit them we buy fish or birds at the market and set them free. That is
how we can accomplish the first great virtue, that of saving lives.
Fish on sale at markets all over the world are usually trapped in iron
buckets. Also, many, many fish are stuffed and tightly packed into small
caskets - no single fish can move and they really have a very difficult
time; it is terrible for them and they experience unbearable suffering. And
so, after we have bought the fish, we simply lift them out of the containers
with our hands and heedfully place them in the ocean or stream again. Then
we watch them swim off - it is as though they have been set free from
prison. And while we release the fish we make prayers for the Lama's long
life, we make prayers for the long lives and happiness of all sentient
beings, in particular we make prayers for the long life and happiness of
those who sponsored the event, that the fish be set free, and in this way
tremendous virtue is accumulated. Furthermore, there is the benefit of
bringing blessings to these animals. In general, in their current state they
aren't able to listen to the dharma, they aren't able to practice
meditation, they can't really see the body of a Buddha. But through the
experience of having been released - through the blessings of this act - in
the future they will experience freedom from samsara. That is how it brings
them tremendous benefits and blessings.
Thank you very much.
Translated from Tibetan by David Fuqua, transcribed and edited by Gaby
Hollmann.
* See Ven. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, The Ten Virtuous Actions and Karma,
Namo Buddha Publications, Colorado; also available as a download under
Rinpoche.com, Namo Buddha Publications, Booklets.
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From Michael:
Dear Friends
4 Good Reasons to Go Veggie http://viva.org.uk/goingveggie/index.html 4 Great Reasons to Go Vegan http://viva.org.uk/goingvegan/index.html have a nice day
Peace and harmony and well-being to all
kovido michael liau _________________________________________________________________________________
From FS Chan:
The Life of Tert?n Sogyal Lerab Lingpa (1856-1926)
http://www.lotsawahouse.org/id68.html http://www.lotsawahouse.org/id68.html http://www.lotsawahouse.org/id68.html
www.lotsawahouse.org
"Dharma. On the House." ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From the Rakarpos:
Hi all!
I'd like to introduce https://www.vedamsbooks.com/relbuddh.htm
The site offers any avid reader of Buddha's teachings including Tibetan Buddhism an online catalogue as well as a summary of the contents. Translations such as 'Mahamudra and sNying-thig' are available. Pls note that are many titles listed abt Buddhist studies eg., Buddhist healing listed under 'pharmaco.htm' catalogue. It is VeriSign secure. Pls explore...
Another site : http://www.mlbd.com namely Motilal Banarsidass.
There are one of the oldest names in publications of Indo-Tibeto titles. Not as convenient as Vedams as there aren't any catalogues but an 'evergreen titles' gives you an idea of the most read books internationally from this publisher.
Happy reading, contemplating and practising....
Rakarpos
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From Rabbit @ CAS
Once upon a time, there lived a kind hearted man. After he died, he ascend
into the heavens and became an angel. After becoming an angel, he often
comes down to earth and help those to attain happiness.
Once, he met a farmer who was sulking. He told the angel that his bull just
died and he couldn't plough the fields. The angel gave the farmer a healthy
bull. The farmer was very happy and the angel could felt his happiness.
Another time, he met a young man who was despondent. He told the angel that
he was robbed of his money and couldn't travel to his hometown. The angel
gave him some money. The young man was very happy and the angel could felt
his happiness.
This time, the angel met a poet. He was young, handsome and full of talent.
He was also rich. His wife was pretty and gentle. But he declared he wasn't
happy.
The angel asked, "You aren't happy. How can I help you?"
The poet replied, "I have everything. But I lack only one thing. Can you
give it to me?"
To which the angel happily said, "Sure. I can give you anything you
desired."
The poet stared right into the angel's eyes, "I want happiness."
"All right," the angel nodded. And the angel proceed to take away
everything the poet possessed.
The angel took away the poet's talent, destroyed his looks, robbed his
riches and killed his wife. The angel then left for heaven.
A month later, the angel appeared in front of the poet. The poet was lying
on the ground, half dead, hungry and struggling for survival.
The angel then returned him everything he once possessed and left for
heaven again.
Two weeks later, the angel paid a visit to the poet. This time, the poet,
together with his wife, thanked the angel profusely. He finally found
happiness.
~~
Often, a person need to lose everything before he know how to cherish.
Actually, happiness is right in front of you.
Just what is happiness?
When you are hungry, a bowl of hot noodle in front of you is happiness.
When you are tired, a soft bed is happiness. When you are crying, a gentle
tissue is happiness.
Actually, happiness has no definition. Sometimes, small actions can touch
your heart. Happiness or not, depends on how you look at it.
Love endures long and is kind; love is not jealous; love is not out for
display; it is not conceited or unmannerly; it is neither self-seeking or
irritable, nor does it take account of a wrong that is suffered. It takes
no pleasure in injustice but sides happily with truth. It bears everything
in silence, has unquenchable faith, hopes under all circumstances, endures
without limit. Love never fails. | |||
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