Reflection 2

By Lee Soo Lim, Singapore

Bodhi leaves share the same root. Human beings too, have the same nature and live on the same boat. Boat of no self, impermanence and suffering.

We are the Bodhi leaves, living on the same tree and sharing the same environment. When the environment or surrounding is on fire, we will all face the fury of fire. If any single leaf catches fire, the entire tree will be in trouble. Hence, we need to extinguish our inner fire and live peacefully with others. Only when others are happy will we then be happy. When others are in trouble so will we. We need to have the knowledge to live with those around us as well as within ourselves.

Similarly, only when there is peace and harmony within ourselves, then there will be a tangible benefit that is useful for exploration.

The Four Basic Values: Self Discipline, Respect, Gratitude and Equanimity enable one to live happily with oneself and others. In fact, the so called Four Basic Values are not 'basic'. They are the gems of mankind, worthy of practice and upholding. As the monks show these qualities during Pinapata, they are worthy of veneration, respect and gifts.

I wonder long in this Samsara, in the quest for the true teachings and eventually found this supreme teaching unintentionally. I, Dhammasiri was touched and in tears during the Pinapata Novitiate 2010. Dear Comrades, Brothers and Sisters in Dhamma. Quick! Follow me! Keep watching the activities of our Mind and practice all the Four Basic Values with diligent effort.

Emptiness encompasses ‘Somethingness’ and ‘Nothingness’. Shower in the midst of rainfall-like arrows of Mara`s army and troops. Let Emptiness identify and encompass the action and reaction, right and wrong. Let Maras disappear. Empty as it is. Equanimity and composure.

Words from Dhammasiri: The mind is enlightened because the mind knows suffering; the cause and cessation of suffering, and therefore frees itself from suffering. Taking refuge in Dhamma is refuge in Nibbana. Mind arises due to ignorance. Mind ceases due to Nibbana. No one enters Nibbana but Mind itself (Maras disappear).

I would like to offer my sincerest Thank You to Bhante Mahinda and Sister Sumitra, who organised the Novitiate program, an unforgettable lifetime experience for me. Thank you to all the Monks and Nuns, Dhamma Followers, Helpers, Merchants, Workers and all the `Past Lives Parents` who were present and around me. Lastly, my daughter Jiali who encouraged me to join this precious Novitiate program of a lifetime.

Sarnath - A Reflection on the Novitiate Programme

By Adrian Lim, Australia (Samanera Sumedha – 2009 Sarnath)

I never thought I would ever attend the novitiate programme. Two weeks in monk robes, two meals a day, communal temple living, and all the associated restrictions – it all sounded too difficult. Each year as I heard about the novitiate, I would rationalise all the reasons why I could not go – too busy, no leave, other things I had to do – but underlying it all, I was simply not ready.

Unexpectedly then, and at the last minute in September 2009, I decided to sign up for the novitiate programme in Sarnath. I suddenly felt that I was overdue for a “spiritual time out” and that it was time to replenish my fast-depleting “merits bank”. After all, I had often heard Venerable Mahinda’s catch-cry that “the novitiate is an experience that you will never forget in this lifetime, and perhaps future lifetimes”. Though I did not understand precisely why and how the experience would be “unforgettable”, at the time I just wanted to believe it. I also thought that by spending two weeks in one of the four Buddhist holy sites (and enduring all the discomfort outside of my comfort zone), I would at least receive lots of divine blessings and my life would be set for greater things! If I could achieve all of this, surely surviving the two weeks would all be worth it.

Some of you reading this may know what I mean by “surviving the two weeks”. Yes, on the one hand, you want some time to reconnect with your spiritual self, but then the thought of committing two whole weeks in India and enduring the hardship is a little much to bear.

“Really…what will the toilets be like – will there be hot water? Do we get beds? Will I able to sleep in a room with so many people – what happens if there are snorers – and mosquitoes? And I have to wake up at 5am and no dinner?”

You then start to rationalise that perhaps your time and money could be better spent on a holiday elsewhere. After all, you’ve worked hard and you deserve something more enjoyable - and so in this familiar manner, the novitiate is put off for yet another year.

All these quiet questions and inner doubts are understandable (if like me, you’ve become that attached to all the mundane comforts of your life). And therein lies a point. As I realised during the programme, the novitiate is in part an experience that shows us the potential to live a simpler way of life away from all our modern conveniences, yet at the same time still be truly contented and happy. Yes the first days of the programme are hard to adjust to, but in that process, you begin to recognise all your unconscious external dependencies that you assumed to be necessary in your life. And beyond that, how being free from it all is somehow liberating – and that, of itself, is not a bad thing.

But as I now contemplate further, what I learnt was far more than just about leading a simpler way of life. All of the procrastinations, doubts and challenges I feared about the novitiate was in many respects also a personal test of my sincerity in wanting to lead a more spiritual way of life – in some ways becoming like mirror of all the compromises I was making to being (or not being?) a spiritual person. In this manner, the external experience of the novitiate provides an opportunity for internal reflection on what you truly want from your life, what makes you happy, and most importantly, how important is all of this to you.

Nothing quite prepares you for the outward experience of undertaking the spiritual vows at a Buddhist holy site, and its ability to deeply engage and open your mind and heart for the spiritual quest within. The setting of Sarnath, as the place where the Buddha chose to preach his first sermon, both in its symbolism and a fountain source of spiritual energies, could not have been a more fitting backdrop for the 2009 novitiate programme. Taking the vows of a samanera (or novice monk) in the Mulaghanda Kuti Vihara, meditating before the sacred Dhammika stupa, chanting the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta each night in the very place where the Buddha first uttered it, and walking in the footsteps of the Buddha on our almsround or pindapatta, are moments hard to describe in terms of its deep spiritual impact.

And the internal transformation you undergo is unquestionable, however subtle and whether or not you may realise it at the time. As the shared experiences of the novitiate participants have shown, each person’s objectives / experience may differ from the next, but most agree that the inner transformational experience is profound and encompassing. To participate in a programme that has the genuine capacity to re-engage one’s inner spiritual self, and in the process embrace qualities such as love, compassion, humility, contentment and gratitude, is to experience the Buddha’s teachings unfold in one’s own heart and mind. It is in this respect that Venerable Mahinda’s statement that the novitiate is an “unforgettable experience” truly has an enduring context and power.

So finally, if you are reading this and still contemplating to join a novitiate programme or a spiritual retreat - put all your procrastinations to one side - and just make the decision to do it.

Reflection

by Lee Soo Lim, Singapore

I would like to share what I learnt from the 2010 Novitiate Programme in Kushinara, India.

(1) Four basic values: Self Discipline, Gratitude, Respect and Equanimity from the Pindapata.

(2) Living a simple life is a happy life.

(3) Away from craving. Free from worldly distractions and pollution.

(4) In short, understand the Four Noble Truth, follow the Noble Eightfold Path and Middle Path to be free from the conceited world. This would in turn lead us to realise our intrinsic nature which are: Loving Kindness, Compassion and Purity.

Bodhi Tree - The past lives parents' tree, the tree of ‘LOVE’'. Crowned by the countless heart-shape leaves, signifying countless past lives parents' love.

Parents' love is endless and boundless even at their deathbed, they are still concerned about their children...

Alas... been loved by countless parents... in the past... unknowingly...

In this mighty Samsara, governed by the law of Rebirth and Karma, no self and impermanence. This is indeed Suffering. Realised have been separated from so many parents' love. Unable to help them by preaching to them the Dhamma to release them from Samsara...

During the 2010 Novitiate, Bhante Mahinda asked the assembled before we departed from the Korean Temple:

“Anybody not happy?”

Dhammasiri raised his hand...

Words from Dhammasiri: Refuge in the Buddha is refuge in our nature. Mind arises due to delusion. Mind ceases due to enlightenment. No one is enlightened but the Mind itself.

Special Thank You to Bhante, Sister Sumitra, Dhamma followers, all the temple monks and nuns, helpers and 'all the past lives parents' who were present and around me.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Novitiate Recollection #3: Kieran's Account

Aloka Novitiate 2010, Kushinara



Say Kieran, Marrie Loh's son, was one of the youngest samaneras at the Novitiate in Kushinara. His mum produced a short video of him relating the goings-on at the Novitiate. The video was for presentation at one of the Aloka Rainbow Kids session. It is reproduced here as a video recollection:

Noviate Re-collection #2: Sweeping Emotion

Post Aloka Novitiate 2008, Bodhgaya

by Darshani

During the Novitiate programme, Bhante Mahinda talked about gratitude. Gratitude to everyone who has been a part of our life journey from our parents to teachers, to persons who prepared the food for our daily consumption to the taxi driver to got us to our appointment on time. For the Novitiate programme, we expressed our gratitude to our parents, friends, organizer, helpers, the hotel and monastery that housed us, the driver and even to our bosses who approved our vacation leave to enable us to attend the programme and our colleagues who need to cover for us during our absence.

On my return from the programme, it got me thinking about my attitude towards the road sweeper. Every morning, she will be on either side of the road, sweeping the road diligently. I would get irritated should she be on my side of the road as I will then need to give her space for her trash bin and space to avoid my car being hit by her broom with her sweeping motion. One morning, due to traffic jam, my car stopped within 5 feet behind her trash bin. When she looked up, I gave her a smile, a nod and mouthed ‘Thank You’ to her. She was stunned for a moment and when she recovered, she gave me a wide happy smile. As she continued to sweep the road ahead, she kept turning back and grinning happily back at me.

It was a joyous experience – just a smile in gratitude can make another’s day!

Noviate Re-collection #1: Making Peace with Mosquitoes

The four years of Aloka Noviate in the Buddha’s holy sites in Nepal and India must have been an experience for many. We begin this series of recollections – anecdotes, personal accounts etc – for all to re-connect with the Triple Gem, the sacred sites, and fellow samaneras, upasikas, anagrika, helpers and organisers. We welcome your stories and first hand accounts. Just email it to kllim@alokafoundation.org

by Darshani

Aloka Novitiate 2009, Sarnath

During a novitiate programme, I was bugged by mosquitoes at night. They would buzz and buzzzz and buzzzzz all night -- on my right ear, on my left ear, on both ears. When I shared this with my roommates, they provided a number of remedies - apply tiger balm on the earlobes; spread tiger balm on the pillow; cover your head with a thin scarf, etc. They all didn’t work!

One night Bhante Mahinda talked about the mosquitoes menace and advised us to ‘negotiate’ with the mosquitoes – take your bites then leave so that I can have a good night sleep. Didn’t work either. Next, ask forgiveness from the Mosquitoes Devas, since those I have killed may not be around to receive. It worked, sort of :-P The mosquitoes were still there but the irritation eased a bit, but not for long before I was in full blown irritation mode. Another sleepless night…

Must have killed too many mosquitoes as nothing seemed to work!

Then I had an insight – I must have bugged my mother when I was a child, wanting this and wanting that… eeeeee Mummy this eeeeeee Mummy that… Now suffering the results of my kamma i.e my past action.

Then another insight – mental hindrances – sensual pleasure – the mosquitoes – their buzzing an irritant to my ear sense, anger at their bites on my body, invading my space, causing me sleepless nights – such a strong I, me, my and mine.

Once this understanding arose, I was able to accept the mosquitoes’ buzz, bites and all. They were still buzzing, but not as irritating as before, they were still biting, but with less anger to their bites, they were still buzzing around my face, ears, the whole head, it’s okay it’s their space too and not surpising, I was able to have a good night sleep thereafter.