How does อาจารย์ U Myint Kywe know about Wat Phra Dhammakaya?
By- Thaw
Tar Win
He and his
family took part at alms-giving (ทาน) ceremony place in front
of Central World and big C in Bangkok on Sunday 8th September 2013. He
got a photo of the great master Luang Phor SODH พระมงคลเทพมุนี (สด จนฺทสโร). 
The Venerable Phrathepyanmahamuni (Luang Phor SODH) พระเทพญาณมหามุนี (ไชยบูลย์ ธมฺมชโย) is the very famous monk in Thailand. He is very well known as greatest master of the Wat Phra Dhammakaya. This is a good omen for him.
They did donated some foods and goods to monks (Sangha). (Remark: Alms are money or goods given to those in need as an act of charity (donation). It is NOT charity as presumed by Western interpreters. It is closer to a symbolic connection to the spiritual and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of normal society. The word alms used many times in the Buddhism. Alms-giving is a long-standing practice within the Buddhism tradition. In Buddhism, alms or alms giving is the respect given by a lay Buddhist to a Buddhist monk, nun, spiritually-developed person or other sentient being. In Buddhism, give alms is the respect given by a lay Buddhist to a Buddhist monk and nun).
(In
Theravada Buddhism, nuns and
monks go on a daily alms round to collect food. This is often perceived as
giving the laypeople the opportunity to make merit. Money cannot be accepted directly by
a Theravada Buddhist monk or nun. In Buddhism, both "alms-giving"
and, more generally, "ทาน giving" are called "dana"
(Pali). Such giving is one of the three elements of the path of practice as
formulated by the Buddha for laypeople. This
path of practice for laypeople is: dana, sila, bhavana).
Two days before on 20.Nov.2014, he saw a child in front of him fell into the pit on a lane at Phra Khanong market between Sukhumvit 71and Sukhumvit road, in Bangkok.
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| อาจารย์ U Myint Kywe and ความเห็นอกเห็นใจ |
Then he soon decided to mend the pit (cover pothole damage) so that people in the future wouldn’t fell into the pit again. Maybe some people are facing any injury at this hole. He wants to donate soon road cover the hole. He has had searched for that timber shop around the Sukhumvit Soi 71. He found one of the timber shops ( furniture shop) on the Sukhumvit Soi 71 road (between Pridi Banomyong 48 and khlong Tan river). But, the shop owner told him "I can't sell my timber because my wood is long side only".
He asked some people for short sawn woods. Fortunately, he got some sawn woods provided by Madam Pimpavee Kongkawinkan. Next, he made the woods to mend the hole (as cover the hole on the lane) in front of the DICO shop at the lane Phra Khanong market.
Unfortunately,
5 days later he found the woods he mended with has been broken.
Therefore, he bought and made again new woods to mend the hole on 28th Nov 2014. The DICO shop owner Ms. Lek helps him. Fortunately,this final mending was repaired successfully. He said a cover had been placed over the hole to prevent accidents. The motorcycle and people are now easy to going past above the repaired, mended hole.
Therefore, he bought and made again new woods to mend the hole on 28th Nov 2014. The DICO shop owner Ms. Lek helps him. Fortunately,this final mending was repaired successfully. He said a cover had been placed over the hole to prevent accidents. The motorcycle and people are now easy to going past above the repaired, mended hole.
He
is not Thai. He is Burmese. He is NEITHER a carpenter NOR a mason and he is NEITHER one of
the road labourers NOR general workers in Bangkok. His name is U Myint Kywe
(also known as Myoma Myint Kywe). Actually, he is my father. He is the
Writer, Historian, and Karate Chief Instructor.
นี้เป็นหนึ่งในเมตตากรุณาและความอ่อนน้อมถ่อมตนของ (อาจารย์ Myint Kywe) ในเขตกรุงเทพมหานคร.
นี้เป็นหนึ่งในเมตตากรุณาและความอ่อนน้อมถ่อมตนของ (อาจารย์ Myint Kywe) ในเขตกรุงเทพมหานคร.
He
said me “Although this is a very small donation but this is needed for people. Either anyone
living in one’s own country or staying in other foreign country, to do good
things to others. We should be responsible to do for our own happiness, peace
and convenience while we should responsible the best to other people needs,
peace and happiness, and our surrounding as much as you can”…” The helping hand
is the support service for people by เมตตา METTA voluntarily, one of the best things”.
I
am very proud of my father's GOOD example. He taught me to take the "CORRECT THOUGHT" with good example based on his sympathetic mind ความเห็นอกเห็นใจ, and humility ความนอบน้อม.
The
DICO shop owner Ms. Lek explained him about the great master Luang Phor SODH พระมงคลเทพมุนี (สด จนฺทสโร) and his meditation style.
She invited him to the Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Wat Phra Dhammakaya (วัดพระธรรมกาย) is a Buddhist
temple in Khlong Luang
District,
Pathum Thani
Province
north of Bangkok, Thailand.
We
arrived and practice meditation at Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Khlong Sam, Khlong
Luang, Pathum Thani Province. We met many good friends there such as Mr.สีแดง. At the next week, he
introduced us to Ajahn Pissamai อาจารย์พิศมัย แสงหิรัญ. We went and
practiced สมาธิ meditation at
Bangkok Institute of Technology, Sukhumvit 97/1 (nearby BTS บางจาก).
Then my family went and offered alms foods, medicines and goods to Buddhist monks at alms-giving ceremony of Ajahn Pissamai อาจารย์พิศมัย แสงหิรัญ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkvR8g3XSLc
In Buddhism, "alms-giving" and, more generally, "giving" are called "dana". Alms giving is one of the most common practices among Buddhists. It's a way to support the monks, who study and practice the Buddha's teachings, by offering them food and goods.
Alms are money or goods given to those in need as an act of charity (donation). The word “alms” is used many times in the Buddhism.
(Remark: Although the Sangha Vinaya specifies a prohibition on accepting money and handling gold and silver, the real spirit of it is to forbid use and control over funds, whether these are bank notes or credit cards. BUT, The Vinaya even prohibits a monk from having someone else receive money on his behalf. In practical terms, monasteries are financially controlled by lay stewards (pursers), who then make open invitation for the Sangha to ask for what they need, under the direction of the Abbot. A junior monk even has to ask an appointed agent (generally a senior monk or Abbot) if he may take up the stewards' offer to pay for dental treatment or obtain medicines.
In Theravada Buddhism, an Anagarika is a person who has given up most or all of his worldly possessions and responsibilities to commit part-time or full-time to Buddhist practice. It is a midway status between monk and layperson where one takes on the Eight Precepts for the entire anagarika period, which could be for life. Anagarikas usually wear white clothes or robes, depending on the tradition they follow. Some traditions have special ordination ceremonies for anagarikas, while others simply take the eight precepts with a special intention.
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need. Charity (donation) is humanitarian act of temporal principle.
Moreover, it reduces the greedy impulses (urge) that ultimately lead to continued suffering from egotism.
The Buddhism views charity as an act to reduce personal greed which is an unwholesome mental state which hinders spiritual progress.
Then my family went and offered alms foods, medicines and goods to Buddhist monks at alms-giving ceremony of Ajahn Pissamai อาจารย์พิศมัย แสงหิรัญ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkvR8g3XSLc
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| ตักบาตร ทาน |
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| ตักบาตร ทาน |
My father U Myint Kywe told me “I have memories of my childhood days. I
have been practiced Vipassana since 1972 when I was 12 years old. I attended and practiced many times “ten days Vipassana courses”
and “Anapana courses” at Mogok Vipassana
meditation Course and Mahasi Vipassana Meditation Course in
Rangoon (Yangon) since my childhood days round between1972 and 1983”. (This is good. So I say "sadu... sadu... sadu").
He has been studying Vipassana meditation and เมตตา METTA meditation since 1972.
He has been studying Vipassana meditation and เมตตา METTA meditation since 1972.
Vipassana insight meditation
is a process which enables the human to develop concentration, awareness and,
through personal experience, to gain an understanding of the natural
characteristics of impermanence, suffering and non-self. Practiced with
diligence, the gradual process of mental purification will lead the student to
the end of suffering and to full enlightenment or Nibbana (Nirvana).
Most
of the Buddhist meditation courses in Myanmar (Burma) are taken in ten-day
retreats and conducted in the practice of Eightfold Noble Path as taught
by the Buddha, which comprises three stages of training: morality (sila),
concentration or control over the mind (samadi), and wisdom of insight (panna).
Instruction
in mindfulness of the breath (anapana meditation) is then given
for five days, with the aim of quieting and concentrating the mind. The
remaining days are devoted to insight meditation (Vipassana), whereby students
can experience at first hand the essential elements of the Buddha's teaching:
the impermanence of all physical and mental phenomena (anicca), the
unsatisfactory nature of all conditioned phenomena (dukkha), and the
absence of a permanent enduring SELF or EGO in beings (anatta).
Generosity
or charity (donation)
or alms or alms-giving involves giving to others as an act of virtue,
either materially or in the sense of providing capabilities (e.g. education)
for free. In Buddhism, alms or alms-giving is the respect given by a lay Buddhist to a Buddhist monk, nun, spiritually-developed person or
other sentient being.
In Buddhism, "alms-giving" and, more generally, "giving" are called "dana". Alms giving is one of the most common practices among Buddhists. It's a way to support the monks, who study and practice the Buddha's teachings, by offering them food and goods.
Alms are money or goods given to those in need as an act of charity (donation). The word “alms” is used many times in the Buddhism.
(Remark: Although the Sangha Vinaya specifies a prohibition on accepting money and handling gold and silver, the real spirit of it is to forbid use and control over funds, whether these are bank notes or credit cards. BUT, The Vinaya even prohibits a monk from having someone else receive money on his behalf. In practical terms, monasteries are financially controlled by lay stewards (pursers), who then make open invitation for the Sangha to ask for what they need, under the direction of the Abbot. A junior monk even has to ask an appointed agent (generally a senior monk or Abbot) if he may take up the stewards' offer to pay for dental treatment or obtain medicines.
If
a layperson wishes to give something to a particular monk, but is uncertain
what he needs, he should make an invitation. Any financial donations should
not be to a monk but to the stewards of the monastery, perhaps mentioning if
it's for a particular item or for the needs of a certain monk.
For
items such as travelling expenses, money can be given to an accompanying anagarika
(dressed in white) or accompanying layperson, who can then buy tickets,
drinks for a journey or anything else that the monk may need at that time. It
is quite a good exercise in mindfulness for a layperson to actually consider
what items are necessary and offer those rather than money.)
In Theravada Buddhism, an Anagarika is a person who has given up most or all of his worldly possessions and responsibilities to commit part-time or full-time to Buddhist practice. It is a midway status between monk and layperson where one takes on the Eight Precepts for the entire anagarika period, which could be for life. Anagarikas usually wear white clothes or robes, depending on the tradition they follow. Some traditions have special ordination ceremonies for anagarikas, while others simply take the eight precepts with a special intention.
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| Donating foods and goods |
The
lay people line the side of the road in groups and as thousands of monks pass,
they offer the food. With the mass alms giving that we attended and donated at 6:00 am
- 8 am (23rd November, 2014). My family offered alms
foods, medicines and goods to monks.
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| Lay people in front of central world |
Thailand
is best known as a devout Buddhist country like our Burma (Myanmar).
A survey done in 2005 show that Thai people spend about 3.3 billion baht annually on making merit and giving donations to Buddhist monks. The donations in the Northeast were about 1.1 billion baht each year, followed by 760 million baht in the greater Bangkok area, 750 million baht in the Central Plains, 550 million baht in the North and 160 million baht in the South. Frequent actions include giving alms and donations at robe-giving ceremonies.
Offering food to the Buddhist monks is a free will, compassion and voluntary giving ritual for the people to practice in their daily life.
A survey done in 2005 show that Thai people spend about 3.3 billion baht annually on making merit and giving donations to Buddhist monks. The donations in the Northeast were about 1.1 billion baht each year, followed by 760 million baht in the greater Bangkok area, 750 million baht in the Central Plains, 550 million baht in the North and 160 million baht in the South. Frequent actions include giving alms and donations at robe-giving ceremonies.
Offering food to the Buddhist monks is a free will, compassion and voluntary giving ritual for the people to practice in their daily life.
Dana is generosity or
giving, a form of alms. In Buddhism, it is
the practice of cultivating generosity. Ultimately, the practice culminates in
one of the perfections (paramita):
the perfection of giving - dana-paramita.
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need. Charity (donation) is humanitarian act of temporal principle.
Buddhists
believe that giving without seeking anything in return leads to greater
spiritual wealth.
Moreover, it reduces the greedy impulses (urge) that ultimately lead to continued suffering from egotism.
We
can donate alms foods, and material goods not only to monks but also needed
people.
The Buddhism views charity as an act to reduce personal greed which is an unwholesome mental state which hinders spiritual progress.
A
person who is on his way to spiritual growth must try to reduce his own
selfishness and his strong desire for acquiring more and more.
Dhammakaya meditation in the tradition taught at Wat Pak Nam. The system is said to be an efficient way to purify the mind. One begins by bringing the attention to a point in the center of the body. Some of the smaller ones are completely transparent / see-through (I assume they are perspex or glass) to represent the RUPA visualized by meditators in their abdomen. A crystal ball or Buddha image is visualized as a NIMITTA (mental image of Buddha); a mantra (a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation) such as "Samma Araham" or "Buddho" can be used to further reduce mental chatter. As the mind becomes clearer, the wisdom inherent in the mind will manifest itself. It is this wisdom that's called "Dhammakaya." Teachers give instruction in Thai during meditation periods. Some monks can also give instruction in English.
Samadhi
Meditation
is often used to clear the mind and ease many health issues, such as high blood
pressure, depression, and anxiety.
It may be done sitting, or in an active way—for instance, Buddhist
monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of
mind-training. Buddhists
pursue Samadhi meditation as part of the path toward enlightenment and nirvana.
Meaning of Dhammakaya (วัดพระธรรมกาย) : is “Temple
of the respected body of the Dhamma"
