On Your Journey

"As you walk and eat and travel,

be where you are. Otherwise you

will miss most of your life."

-Buddha

Buddhist Heaven 101

The following is an informative piece written by Kusala Bhikshu. Hope that you will find it as interesting as I have.

How many Heavens and Hells do Buddhists have? ... A lot!

There was a book published in 1997 called... Buddhist Cosmology, Philosophy and origins by Akira Sadakata, Kosei Publications. It goes into a very detailed explanation of the various heavens and hells. I've found as many as 33 heavens and 33 hells listed as possible destinations, but I'm going to simplify it, and talk about the six realms of existence.

Buddhism has a best heaven. Everything is just the way you want it to be. In this heaven, there is no reason to change anything. You are ultimately happy. The problem is that it's not permanent, as is everything in Buddhism. One day in the heaven realm is equal to 400 human years, and your stay is four thousand heaven years, so you will be there a really long time.

But, one day the karma that put you in this heaven will be used up. You are only in heaven as long as your Karma account has merit in it. You can only draw from your Karma account while in heaven, because there in no way to make a deposit. You can't practice generosity or compassion, and you're not striving to gain wisdom. When the karma that put you in heaven is used up... you're reborn... And that would probably make a lot of folks really unhappy. Who wants to leave a perfect place?

The second heaven realm, which is a lower one, is where things are almost perfect. I call this the Donald Trump heaven. It could be better, if only you owned one more building or house. You see, there is still some desire associated with this heaven realm, and so it can't ever be perfect.
The next realm is the human realm, where all of us find ourselves in this lifetime. This is the best place for us to be, because this is the only place we can become enlightened. We cannot become enlightened in heaven, things are too nice, and we have no reason to strive. We cannot become enlightened in hell, because things are so bad, all we do is suffer.

In this human rebirth, we have enough happiness and joy to keep us from taking our own lives, and we experience anxiety and fear to keep us striving. We cannot relax too long in any one mental state as a human, because all things are in a constant state of flux.

The next lower realm, is the animal realm. The animal realm is marked by wanting to have sex, wanting to have food, wanting to have sleep, and being totally confused. Those are the four characteristics found in the animal realm. So you can see, we are not likely to become enlightened as an animal.

A Zen question-- Does a dog have Buddha nature?-- comes to mind. Yes, a dog does have the potential to become enlightened, but only in the human realm.

Can animals be reborn as humans beings? Yes, if they come into contact with the Dharma, see a Buddhist temple, or smell incense burning. The contact can plant a Dharma seed which takes root when they're reborn as humans. They can achieve their full potential and become enlightened, but only as a human being. So, it's up to all of us to help our pets be reborn in the human realm.

The next realm is called the hungry ghost realm. The hungry ghost is often pictured as a giant creature, with a large stomach and a pinhole for a mouth. It can never end it's hunger no matter how much it eats, it never finds satisfaction.

In the hell realm, the worst place, you find the most suffering. You are given little hell bodies when you enter. Then, one day you might be walking through a forest, when all the leaves on a tree turn into razor blades and fall, cutting you into a million pieces. You cry out in pain, and your hell body resurrects, so you can be killed over and over again.

The only way to get out of the hell realm is to burn through the karma that put you there. Suffering is the only act of purification in hell, and much suffering is necessary before the next rebirth.

So, do Buddhists go to heaven? ...Yes they do!... Do Buddhists go to hell? ...Yes they do!... Do Buddhists go to Christian heaven or hell? ...No they don't!!!

In the Buddhist model of afterlife, there are specific practices necessary to achieve rebirth in heaven, and more important, there are specific practices necessary to attain Nirvana.

The Buddha did not leave afterlife up to chance. Just because a person says he's a Buddhist does not ensure rebirth in heaven or Nirvana. The Buddhist path to afterlife is a labor intensive practice that requires personal responsibility.

It's no surprise that we are going to die, but how many people think about their next lifetime? If you're a Buddhist it's important to look at life as a continuum, as a process of birth and death, a constant state of becoming, and a chance to practice.

To explain rebirth, I like the analogy of going to an airport with a suitcase. I put the suitcase on a conveyor belt so it can be loaded into the luggage compartment of the airplane. But, I am not getting on the plane, just the suitcase. The suitcase contains my karmic energy. When the karmic energy gets to its new destination, my next lifetime picks up the suitcase. But, I didn't get on the plane, because my ticket had expired... It's not really me that picks up the suitcase... It's because of me the suitcase is picked up.

The suitcase may be almost empty because of a past life of unskillful activity. It may have only one set of clothes and no shoes... But, I'm not predestined to be poor and homeless. Through acts of kindness and generosity, I can start filling the suitcase. I can turn rags into riches through good thoughts, good speech, and good actions. I'm in charge, and my life is what I make it.

When all is said and done? For a Buddhist heaven is not the real answer, just an option.

Nirvana is the answer to suffering and rebirth!

Practice everyday... There is very little time left. Think about death often, it will give your life urgency. Exercise and good health allow you to die in the slowest way possible. May you see nirvana in this very lifetime.

City of Ten Thousand

The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is a unique place containing a Buddhist monastery, nunnery, small university, high school and elementary schools. CTTB is frequented by people from all over the world. Conferences, workshops and seminars are regularly attended by people of all backgrounds.

An international Buddhist community and monastery founded by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, an important figure in Western Buddhism. CTTB is one of the first Chinese Zen Buddhist temples in the United States, and one of the largest Buddhist communities in the Western Hemisphere.

The City is situated in Talmage, Mendocino County, California. Approximately two miles east of Ukiah, and 110 miles (180 km) north of San Francisco. It was one of the first Buddhist monasteries built in the United States.

There are seventy large buildings established here with over 2,000 rooms of various sizes that can accommodate up to 20,000 persons. Tall street lamps and trees over a hundred years old lined along the road. The grounds also contain the Jyun Kang Vegetarian Restaurant which is open to the public. The entrance to the City is named Mountain Gate and is marked with yellow roof tiles and red brick walls.

For a truly enriching experience you can volunteer at the CTTB. As a volunteer in the monastery, you will be expected to live like a semi-monastic following the daily schedule and guidelines. In ancient China, Chan Master Bai Zhang setup rules for a Chan meditation monastery with the spirit of, "one day without work; one day without food."

The Buddhist Garden

In most monastic settings the most important jobs are given to the least important people. Gardening is the personification of Buddhism in action:

1. The Soil represents the fertile ground of the Buddha Mind.

2. The Sangha is in the community of plants.

3. The Dhamma as the expression of wisdom is the collective environment we call The Open Temple of Buddha Nature -

The Garden. The various practices of Buddhism are exemplified in our garden practice. The Buddha Nature that permeates all things is both still, being ever present, and also totally empty; void.

If we see the garden as the mind then:

1. Paths are represent the clear ways to enlightenment.
2. The condition of the soil represents the state of our Karma.
3. The plantings represent both fruitful and blossoming ideas, and perennial and dying concepts.
4. Seasons represent the fluctuations of the mind.

Peace and serenity are always associated with gardening and when we walk with intent (walking meditation) we should be aware of those on our journey who need our attention, whether self or other as personified in the garden.

Mindful weeding is attention with purpose and this will help us clear our own overgrown patches.
All monastic gardens are an expression of the innate wisdom of the community and visitors. What you see is a reflection of yourself.

We care for the garden through the practice of Mettaa - not just for others but for each plant and rock. If something is out of place we move it. If a plant cries out for attention, we give it - without fuss, without demand for reward. It is our sacred duty to give help before it is asked for and to demand no recompense.

For the gardens will grow, will develop in accordance with those who aid and care. What do we care for but our many Buddha selves in the environment of the garden?

The 4 Noble Truths of Gardening

1. All gardens need perfecting Change, transition and evolution always exist in the garden. The imperfection moves towards a further impermanence that again needs attention.

2. The reason why The cause of this continual dissatisfaction is the craving for a better environment. The desire for an unattainable goal, the creation of paradise or nirvana.

3. The way to improve By understanding the nature of this constant turmoil and need for further evolvement we see a means of satisfaction and acceptance open up.

4. The means to improve Understanding that perfection is unattainable but realisable, we implement the 8 fold path to come to terms with our own dissatisfaction, transforming our lives and being through the practice of gardening . . .

The 8 Fold Path of Gardening

1. Right Understanding

Practice is always through choice. Gardening is the intention to improve. Anyone who does not understand the necessity of gardening as a service to the community and ultimately to themselves needs to meditate (preferably whilst engaged in a task) on the nature of walls, obstacles, hedging etc. which are barriers to be overcome.

2. Right Mindedness

In gardening the internal mind dialogue is replaced by the external Buddha in Nature. By focusing on being attentive to gardening we are turning inside out the nature of mind. When we can garden without thought we are approaching our practice with Right Mindedness.

3. Right Communication

Speech is one form of communication. All expression and all manifestation talks to us and we respond. What we say in our mind to this, is our speech - if we do not like this we must change it. Right speech is then the attention to our thoughts expression. In gardening it is our communication with nature, our commitment to growth and improvement that shows that actions speak louder than words.

4. Right Action

Gardening is activity. The more active we are in gardening - the quieter our minds become. This is quite often the opposite of meditation where our body is still but there many be much mental activity. Action is not only what is done but more importantly how. Anything done with an aim of perfection becomes an expression of the best we are capable of.

5. Right Living

Gardening is an expression of both Samsara and nirvana. In its interplay exists the whole realms of experience. When we for a time work as gardeners, we are engaged in the Boddisattva Vow to relinquish our own good for all sentient beings down to each blade of grass.

6. Right Effort

Through choice we ask ourselves to do more than we want or think we are able or capable of. This is very important as time goes on we find ourselves doing more and more. Sitting meditation becomes easier through practice Similarly gardening tasks that seem less enjoyable become easier until all aspects of gardening are seen in a non differential way.

7. Right Attentiveness

A distracted mind is destructive to the individual. An attentive and open mind, gives attention to being and action. This practice of bringing into the present, underlies much Buddhist Mystic training.

8. Right Concentration

Focusing on a gardening job is one of the best mind practices We sweep away extraneous thoughts - allowing them to gently dissipate. Focusing on our task and breath, we become better able to be efficient in all areas of our life. We do what we are doing - we give focus and attentive awareness to this.

Be Still

We all need a space. Somewhere we can step out of our daily routine and be still. The world we have built is a noisy, crowded place. We need a healthy escape where we can renew.

A meditation garden, whether nestled in a small city place, suburb or open country can be a great place to unwind, relax, contemplate and rejuvenate in all seasons. The garden allows you to step aside and have some time when your mind is not filled with the what if, what's next and the whys that demand your attention.

Gardening itself can be a meditative activity but there are times when something more is required. If you have a garden or a space where you can create a garden you are indeed fortunate. The size of this space does not need to be great. A meditation garden may be only a few square feet.

Advance courses of study are not required to create your own mediation garden. All you need is the desire to do so. Less is more when designing a meditation garden, where the minimalist approach can be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. These gardens are meant for dreaming, not for tending. These should be healing and relaxing gardens. Low maintenance. Not large. Not places where you have to work.

Choose low-maintenance plants -- for the most part perennials -- with features that appeal to the senses. If greenery is not an option, you can use rocks and sand to create a Zen inspired garden.

Water features. Few sounds are more lulling than those made by moving water. Ponds, streams, waterfalls or fountains are design standards for meditation gardens, often serving as the focal point. They also attract many species of wildlife.

But beware the temptation to continue adding on.

It's human nature to add more and more. If you have a pond, then you add an aerator. Then you add some fish. Then you have to add filters. People can lose what they're seeking in a meditation garden by making it too complicated, too much work.