| [TDE-Weekly] 22.10.09 : Fuller Awareness | The Moon Cannot be Stolen | Legend of Princess Miao Shan (Guanyin Pusa) Posted: 21 Oct 2009 11:24 AM PDT If you can't view this, please click here
 | | | Quote: Full Awareness | |
As we are affected by our sub-consciousness,
we should become as conscious as possible.
Otherwise, our lives would be semi-conscious ones.
- Stonepeace: http://twitter.com/stonepeace
| | The TDE Collection |  | | Realisation: The Moon Cannot Be Stolen | | The truly wise appear
truly foolish
to the truly foolish.
- Stonepeace | Zen Master Ryokan lived a simple and frugal life - all by himself in a small hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening, a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing in it to steal. When Ryokan returned, he was 'caught' red-handed. Instead of being angry or alerting the authorities, Ryokan said, 'As you must have come a long way to visit me, you should not leave empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift.'Stunned and bewildered, the thief nevertheless took the clothes before sheepishly hurrying off. As Ryokan sat naked while watching the moon, he exclaimed, 'Poor fellow, I wish I could have given him the beautiful moon!'
| Ryokan challenged the norm by being gracious even to the petty. Shouldn't he admonish him to change his ways? He probably saw no point in punishing him conventionally, but more worth in acknowledging his desperation with touching compassion. In an extended version of the story, he asked the thief to thank him before leaving. When he was caught later, Ryokan was asked to testify the theft, among others. Ryokan answered that he gave his robe to him, that he was even thanked for it. To that, the thief broke down in hot repentant tears. Criminals are often further hardened with punishment. Why not soften their hearts instead?
| In Buddhism, the moon symbolises the bright and beautiful truth, that is often missed, shrouded by the passing dark clouds of our defilements. Yet, taken for granted, the moon is always there. The truly precious cannot be stolen. It cannot even be given, but only pointed to – for another to see. Even fellow Buddhists miss the moon of truth at times, when they become attached to the finger of words that point to the truth, mistaking the finger for the moon. The thief almost missed the precious truth too, that Ryokan was trying to impart – the truth that the virtues of contentment, generosity and kindness which saved him are priceless, that cannot be stolen - qualities that he should emulate. – Shen Shi'an: http://facebook.com/shenshian
| To see the truth,
one has to see beyond
that which points to the truth.
- Moonpointer.com
| Related Article: The Intentional Thief Who Became an Accidental Teacher
Share Articles & Comments: comment@thedailyenlightenment.com | More Realisations | | Excerpt: The Legend of Princess Miao Shan | |
If living beings encounter weariness or peril,
immeasurable suffering pressing them down.
the power of the Perceiver of Sounds' wonderful wisdom
can save them from the sufferings of the world.
[via mindfulness of her]
- Lotus Sutra
| There once was a king who had three daughters. The youngest was named Miao Shan, meaning 'wonderful virtue.' At the moment of her birth, the earth shook, the sky rained down flowers, and a delicate scent filled the air around her. Many people said these signs indicated a most sacred incarnation. But the king and queen cared little about this - they were both greedy. The only thing they wanted was to acquire as much material wealth as possible, and they found it difficult to understand this little girl, who was pure of heart and focused exclusively on virtuous deeds. When Miao Shan grew up, her father expected her to marry. But she resisted his decision and said she would only be married if it would help her to free humanity from suffering. If this was not to be, her aim was to continue her spiritual practice and use it to help all sentient beings, both humans and animals. When the king learned that his daughter refused to marry, he was furious, and he tried to punish her by making her perform menial tasks. Her sisters and her mother had to persuade her to bow to her father's wishes, but in vain. Finally, the king threw up his hands and sent Miao Shan to live in a monastery. He ordered the nuns there to make his daughter perform only the most difficult and backbreaking tasks and to treat her so poorly that she would change her mind and submit to his will. The girl was forced to carry wood and water and build a garden in barren soil. Thanks to the devoted efforts of the young nun, the land turned into a paradise. Miao Shan lovingly tended all the plants so well that the garden became lush and even retained its splendor during winter. Apparently from nowhere, a spring emerged - very close to the kitchen. And the animals began to assist Miao Shan in carrying out her labors.
| When the king heard about these miracles, he flew into a rage; he wanted to kill Miao Shan. He had told the nuns to force her to her knees, and in that they burn down the monastery, including all its occupants. But when Miao Shan saw that the building was on fire, she pierced her tongue with a hairpin - soon blood began to shoot from it. This summoned storm clouds, and it started to rain. The fire was extinguished, and the nuns were saved. The king refused to give up, and to get rid of his daughter once and for all he decided to have Miao Shan executed. But no weapon could kill her: she was protected by the celestial Jade Emperor [Sakra] himself, the ruler of a heaven. Sword after sword, arrow after arrow broke before they could touch her body. Then, suddenly, the air became very still, and a huge white tiger appeared. He grasped Miao Shan and then bounded away with a single giant leap. It was in this way that Miao Shan reached the intermediate words and met Yama, the ruler of the hell realms. He led her to their chambers, which were filled with the suffering cries of all beings. Miao Shan sent her deepest compassion to the crying ones. One by one they were liberated by her empathy, and the hells filled with light, music, and wonderful scents. Yama had to send Miao Shan away, as powers like hers had no place in the hells. As she was leaving, he gave her a peach of longevity as a gift. Miao Shan now flew through the air and reached the island of Putuo Shan, where she remained in deep meditation for many years. During this period she lived only on the dew of grasses and the scent of flowers. Then one day when she was deep in meditation for many years, she saw the image of her father in the last stages of severe illness. The doctors were helpless: her father could neither sleep nor eat - he would die.
| Suddenly, a monk appeared at the king's court and promised to heal him. To achieve this, however, he would have to prepare a special medicine from the eyes and arms of a human who had experienced neither anger nor hatred. This type of being, the monk said, a bodhisattva who would joyously fulfill his request, lived on the island of Putuo Shan. The king sent a messenger, who soon found the bodhisattva. Miao Shan was happy to give her arms and eyes; they were prepared into medicine that instantly brought about the king's recovery. The king tried to thank the monk, but the monk told him that only the being who had selflessly given of its own body deserved the king's gratitude. Then he disappeared as suddenly as he had come. The king decided to travel with his wife to Putuo Shan to bring a wonderful gift to the mysterious, life-saving donor. When the king and queen found the cave where the bodhisattva dwelled, they discovered that this miraculous being was their daughter, Miao Shan. At the moment of recognition the air became filled with a delicate scent, and flowers rained down from the ceiling. The cave was bathed in brilliant light as Miao Shan transformed into her sacred manifestation with a thousand eyes and arms and then floated away. She had become the embodiment of the purest unconditional compassion [Guanyin Bodhisattva; Perceiver of Sounds]. Humbled and in gratitude, her parents began their own spiritual practice and meditation. They built a shrine in lace where they had reunited with their daughter. Today it is known as Fragrant Mountain.
| Kuan Yin: Accessing the Power of the Divine Feminine
Daniela Schenker
Get it at Awareness Place shops or Amazon | More Excerpts |  | | Links | 
Music: The Sun & the Rainfall: Things Must Change
Misc: Why be Good Among the Evil?
Are Girls & Guys Equally Evil?
Remembering Past Lessons
A Spiritual Headache?
Virtual Dharma Friends
Do You Have Regrets?
Mere Impressions
Place to Stay
Metta is for All
Getting Ahead
| | More | Share: comment@thedailyenlightenment.com |  | | Events | | View or subscribe http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dharmanews/messages for faster & latest news | | Talks & Classes | [PKS/LLL] 25/10: Dr Lai Chiu-Nan Workshop: Growing from Sickness and Danger, Returning to Joy (Chinese)
[PMT] Date Change: From 10/11: The Way to Buddhahood (Chinese)
[PMT] From 29/10: The 4 Immeasurables & The 8 Verses of Thought Transformation
[KYCL] Zen Retreat & Talk
[BF] Various Activities
[SLT] Sutta Discussion & Pali Chanting Class
Sg: Sutta Study Classes
[TMC] New: Meditation Course Updates
[DTDL] 22-25/10: Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen Rinpoche's Teaching Program
| | Youth | kmsYM: 1/11: 3GEMS KMSPKS Temple Tour
DDYS] 24/10: Cartoon Marathon!
kmsYM: Oct w*s*d*p: 22/10: Making Effective Decisions During Critical Moments
[NUSBS Weekly] What's on | | Pujas, Initiations & Retreats | [ODS] Regster from 28/10: 25-27/12: 100 Million Mani Recitation Retreat
[KM] 9-15/11: Offering to 10,000 Sangha
[ZKBC] 26-29/11: Gharwang Rinpoche's Programme
[PKS] 26/10-1/11: Medicine Buddha Practice & Lamp Offering
[PKS] 19-26/12: Shuilu Fahui
[PKS] 6-14/12: 8-Precepts Retreat at Bodhgaya
[PKS] 1/11: 3 Refuges & 5 Precepts Ceremony
| | Misc | [CASonline] Uncommon Bodhicitta & CAS's Annual Monks Sponsorship
[KYCL] Sep-Nov Activities
[AP/PKS] Sharing for Home Caregivers, Art Class for Kids, Taichi, Yoga, Road to Resilience
[PKS] From 26/11: Unleash Your Potential with D.I.S.C.
[BF] 26/11: Invitation to 21st Anniversary Celebration
[PKS] 27/11: Voices of Harmony: Sound of a Thousand Years
[MM] 22/11: Mahabodhi Fund-raising Fair
Chinese Events
More Events after 22/10
Events/Notices RSS | World |  | | Notices | | Misc | 
Sg: Room for Rent Needed
[VSS] Now at Bookshops & Newstands: Singapore Vegetarian Food Guide
[VSS] 15/10: Latest Newsletter | Vege Outlets | Support
[VSS] 24/10: International Day of Climate Change
[VSS] 31/10: Anti-ageing via Vege Diet
[VSS] 28/11: Meat Productin & Land Use
[PKS] Counselling Service
Sg: Enhance Your Campus Life with Buddhism
[MPTR] Something Every Day About Everyday Things (From creator of TDE) | | Volunteers | [SBCF] Dharma Volunteers for Inmates
[MaitriPals] Volunteer Recruitment: Caring for HIV/AIDS Patients | | Jobs | [PKS] Youth Officer, Education Officer, Kitchen Asst, Lecturers (Buddhist Psychology, Festivals in Chinese)
Chinese Notices
More Notices after 22/10 | To subscribe to the above, email thedailyenlightenment-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
TDE-Weekly is a free ndependent Buddhist inspiration e-newsletter. You can support us by
contributing news, articles, running costs and encouraging friends to join. Change of emails,
contributions, suggestions and queries are welcomed at tde@TheDailyEnlightenment.com. The information within the articles need not represent TDE's views.The copyrights of the articles belong
to the authors. | |
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
