Fire-crackers are roaring.
It’s the 8th day of Chinese New Year, 2016. The 9th day will roll in soon and it’ll be a special celebration for the Hokkiens to pray to Sakka Devaraja, the deva-king.
Luangpor Dhammavuddho is here too. It’s just an overnight trip to visit the doctor for his nagging eye issues. No one escapes the ageing process.
Penangites got hold of him for a Dhamma discussion. He consented.
Visiting the doctor has tired him. However, when he started the Dhamma discussion, there was immense energy.
He never fail to inspire.
I quickly jotted down some notes at my Google Keep. Thanks to Google’s innovation.
Luangpor reminded us to put the Dhamma into practice. As we digest the Dhamma, our behavior will change. If our mind becomes god-like, it’s possible we may join the company of gods after we pass on.
If we live like an animal, then that kind of behavior may lead us to those company one day.
Value Of The Dhamma
When you’ve tasted the Dhamma-nectar, it’s even better than becoming the next Bill Gates.
Why?
It’s because when one becomes a Sotapanna (entered the Stream), one will no longer be prone to rebirths worse than a human. Oh, that’s an immense lot of sufferings one has avoided!
Remember, the Buddha’s disciples are called Savakas. They’re hearers or listeners to the words of the Buddha. If we constantly take the earliest Suttas to read, listen and contemplate, it sets forth a firm foundation towards the spiritual path. You’re knocking on the door of a Sotapanna, and entering the Stream becomes a possibility.
Rebirths to the lower realms (i.e. animals, ghosts and hell) are extremely frightening. They’re a lot worse than any sufferings humans can experience.
The sound of fire crackers is diminishing. Tonight’s celebration to Sakka will end soon. Sakka is our friend and also a disciple of the Buddha. Extract here is the end of Digha Nikaya 21 (Sakka’s Questions):
“Then Sakka, the deva-king, touched the earth with his hand and said three times, ‘Homage to the Worthy One, the Blessed One, the Rightly Self-awakened One! Homage to the Worthy One, the Blessed One, the Rightly Self-awakened One! Homage to the Worthy One, the Blessed One, the Rightly Self-awakened One!’
While this explanation was being given, there arose to Sakka the dustless, stainless Dhamma eye — ‘Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation'”
Sakka has seen the value of the Dhamma. Have we seen the value of the Dhamma?
