Japanese Buddhism and Science

By: Mr. Sona Kanti Barua

Introduction:

Monk Meditating in Cross Legged.

Buddhism was first made known to Japan in 538 A. D. when a Korean king presented brilliant images of Buddha, scriptures scrolls and ornaments to the Japanese Emperor. Japan was then ruled by the Emperor Kimmei and his court nobles. Among several Japanese groups, Soga clan favored Buddhism since they thought it had something to offer for the enrichment of Japanese culture. Glorious victory to (about forty years later when) the Prince Regent Shotoku Taishi (574 – 622), was succeeded to the throne after the Emperor Yomei who was the first Emperor to become a Buddhist.  Buddhism was officially recognized as the Japanese religion. Conquering all desires, Japanese people made their motherland Japan as a `dream land’ in reciting the name of the Buddha Amitabha, called Nembutsu. It is just man’s humble response to the calling of the Buddha. There is no idol worship in Buddhism. To reflect the ideal psychology of the Buddha there are Buddha statues to realize “Pure Mind is the Buddha.” 

Japanese Buddhist pagodas symbolized to the historic pilgrim or monk of highest stage of fulfillment. There are many Buddha images (Buddharupas) of Zen (Meditation) Buddha and Tantric Buddha.  The highest and all over towering main stupa of Pagoda in its plainness and abstraction symbolizes the eternal peace after deliverance (Nirvana).

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Questions and Answers

What should be the expectation from the employees?

The employees expect these following things from the employers but the expectation varies with the qualification, experience and expertise. For example a doctor having 15 years of experience will not accept the salary, incentives and other fringe benefits same as the doctor just joined the profession.  So the expectations depend on how the self actualization process occurs in an employee so that he/she can rate themselves. These are following basic expectation:

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Buddha is the Light of Civilization & Bengali Words In Thai Language by Sona Kanti barua

Introduction

Is there a Bangla district in Thailand?  Bengali Buddhist migrants came to Thailand and discovered Bangla Mong (or Mukh as a face of Bangladesh) in Siam 1200 years ago.  On the way to Pattaya from Bangkok, we could find Bangla Mong is a district in Chon buri province of Thailand. When Hindu and Muslim rulers were confiscated Buddhist Rights and survival then many Buddhists forced to leave Bangladesh and founded home at abroad including neighboring Buddhist countries.

 Buddhistic Culture of Bangladesh & Thailand

Suvarnabhumi (it seems Bengali name) is the name of Bangkok International Airport and its meaning is South East Asia.  Indian Buddhist emperor Asoka -the great introduced  Buddhism to the world including Thailand and Suvarnabhumi (South East Asia) by  the mission of Buddhist Monks led by great Bengali  Bhikkhu Sona Thera  and great  Bhikkhu Uttara Thera (of Orissa)  2300 years ago.

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Make Happiness a Habit

Live by choice

I CHOOSE TO LIVE BY CHOICE NOT THE CHANCE. TO MAKE CHANGES, NOT EXCUSES. TO BE MOTIVATED, NOT MANIPULATED. TO BE USEFUL, NOT USED. TO EXCEL, NOT COMPETE. I CHOOSE SELF-ESTEEM, NOT SELF PITY. I CHOOSE TO LISTEN TO MY INNER VOICE. NOT THE RANDOM OPINION OF OTHERS. 

Be Polite to others

TREAT EVERYONE WITH POLITENESS, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE RUDE TO YOU, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE NICE BUT YOU ARE.

Different people has different roads

"PEOPLE TAKE DIFFERENT ROADS SEEKING FULFILLMENT AND HAPPINESS. JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ON YOUR ROAD DOES NOT MEAN THEY HAVE GOTTEN LOST" Dalai Lama

Make happiness a Habit

FOR THOSE WHO ARE POOR IN HAPPINESS, EACH TIME IS A FIRST TIME HAPPINESS NEVER BECOMES A HABIT. "Marlyn Monroe"

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Be Possitive

TRUST YOURSELF. YOU KNOW MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU DO. 

"YOU WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL PERSON, AS LONG AS YOU SEE THE BEAUTY IN OTHERS"
Bryant McGill

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You Are The Reason Of Your Happiness

FIND YOUR HAPPINESS

JUSTICE

APPRECIATE OTHERS

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

EXPERIENCE TAKES US TO THE RIGHT PATH

DONT REGRET OVER WHAT IS ALREADY DONE

LOVE LIKE A MOTHER TO HER CHILD

BE POSSIBLE OVER OTHERS

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Understand Things You See

Understand Things You See

I HAVE THE BEST JOKES WITH MY BEST FRIEND THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN UNDERSTAND. 

IF YOU LIKE HER, TELL HER BECAUSE SHE WILL NOT WAIT FOR YOU FOREVER.

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I Call It True Beauty

I Call It True Beauty

BELIEVE IN YOUR SELF BECAUSE YOU ARE THE MASTER OF YOURSELF. 

THE PRETTIEST SMILES HIDE THE DEEPEST SECRETS, THE PRETTIEST EYES CRIED THE MOST TEARS. AND THE KINDEST HEARTS HAVE FELT THE MOST PAIN. 

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Be Truthful

Be Truthful

I TRUSTED YOU BUT NOW YOUR WORDS MEAN NOTHING TO ME, BECAUSE YOUR ACTIONS SPOKE THE TRUTH.

NEVER LOVE ANYONE WHO TREATS YOU LIKE YOU ARE ORDINARY.

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Three Universal Characteristics in Buddhism

All that exists in the universe is subject to three characteristics:

Anicca: 

Everything is limited to a certain duration and, consequently, liable to disappear. The notion of impermanence (anicca) is less obvious. Nevertheless, it is also often described in religious and philosophical systems.

Dukkha: 

Everything is unsatisfactory. There is nothing that can be relied upon, there is nothing that can bring true happiness. Even if we forget this when we are immersed into one moment of pleasure, each of us is aware that existence is filled with sufferings, worries, dissatisfactions of all kinds, and that these never stop. This characteristic (Dukkha) which is obvious, is described in all schools of thought, in all religious systems

Anatta: 

Everything is deprived of a self. There is no self-inherent entity, nothing that can be controlled. As to the characteristic of absence of a self (Anatta), this is a completely new concept about which only Buddha talks. It is by far the subtlest and most essential point of all knowledge. It is the foundation of any understanding of the Dhamma. 

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Top Ten Great Health Benefits of Eating Cherries

1. Cherries, known as a “super-fruit”, are packed with antioxidants called anthropocentric which aid in the reduction of heart disease and cancer.

2. Cherries are one of the few food sources that contain melatonin, an antioxidant that helps regulate heart rhythms and the body’s sleep cycles.

3. Cherries are an excellent source of beta carotene (vitamin A). In fact they contain 19 times more beta carotene than blueberries and strawberries.

4. Cherries are rich in vitamins C, E, potassium, magnesium, iron, folate and fiber.

5. Cherries are referred to as “brain food”, aiding in brain health and in the prevention of memory loss.

6. Because cherries contain anthocyanins, they can reduce inflammation and symptoms of arthritis and gout.

7. Eating cherries reduces the risk of diabetes.

8. Cherries are a good source of fiber which is important for digestive health.

9. Cherries are a great snack or dessert choice important for weight-maintenance.

10. Because of their powerful anti-inflammatory benefits, cherries are said to reduce pain and joint soreness for runners and athletes after workouts.

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Navakovada

Navakovada by Somdet Phramaha Somanachao Khrom Phraya Vajirananavarorasa. Navakovada is a simplified synopsis of elementary Dhamma and Vinaya. So we must study Navakovada until we understand the Vinaya.

Navakovada is useful as a basic reference but as a textbook it is inadequate and can indicate some of the things that are wrong with the way monks are educated.

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Traibhumikatha

“Traibhumikatha” Translated by King Lithai, the Thai National Team for Anthology of ASEAN Literature has nine chapters starting from The Three Planes of Existence to Humanity-Historical Personages.

“Traibhumikatha” is a respected commentary on the Mangala sutta . The “Traibhumikatha” is clearly not just a treatise on Buddhist cosmology. It also presents the picture of an ideal Buddhist monarch and the principles of good government. The lengthy description of the legendary dharmasokaraj with his meritorious deeds and the moral injunctions to both the ruler and the ruled coupled with its graphic account of the torments which awaits sinners in hell.

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Nettippakaranam According to Kaccana Thera

NettippakaraNaM seeks to control words as a functional text - through two types of ideas: extending to describe something further; and exercise the ideas further – preserving the language and keeping the concept intact.  In other words the Netti just rewords concepts in the discourses – through phrasing and meanings.  “So the re-wording of an intellectually known idea without due precautions in regard to this aspect may make a communication different from what was intended, and it can even mislead the would-be commentator or translator, himself by undermining in his mind the ideas that were intellectually clear to him.” NettippakaraNaM is a guide for commentators.

NettippakaraNaM is a treatise setting out methods for interpreting and explaining canonical texts, similar in content to the Petakopadesa and used by Buddhaghosa and other commentators. Investigative Tools – and use of the words in book is as follows:

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BUDDHADHAMMA: Natural Laws and Values for Life Translated by Grant A. Olson

Buddhadhamma is a huge text – often the only book cited in a Thai thesis or dissertation by Thai students. One of the major contributions of this book is a detailed description of the Buddhist principles of causality.  This book reveals the rational basis of the Buddhist worldview and contains an especially lucid discussion of the distinctive Buddhist notion of no-self and Buddhist "faith" or confidence based on inquiry.

“Because of ignorance (avijja) – defined as non-knowledge of the Four Noble Truths – a person engages in volitional actions or kamma, which may be bodily, verbal, or mental – either wholesome or unwholesome.”

“Ignorance is non-knowledge of the Four Noble Truths, pre-natal past, post-mortem future, the past and future together, and dependent arising.”

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Keys to Natural Truth by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

Keys to Natural Truth is the Book about Kalama Sutta , it help Us to know Two kinds of Language, Looking Within, Happiness & Hunger, The Dhamma - Truth of Samatha - Vipassana for the Nuclear Age.

The first, "Kalama Sutta, Help Us!" sets out a fundamental attitude of Buddhism.  We should believe something only after examining it, thinking it through carefully, trying it out, and finding for ourselves that it is correct. The Buddhist path of wisdom is meaningless for those who ignore this principle; they turn it into something else.

“Two Kinds of Language," the second key has still been long out of print.

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