I am an official Dharma Teacher

I am an official Dharma Teacher today. It was coincidence and unexpectedly. Now I know the true meaning of unexpected happiness when you least expect it. It happened out of sudden when I enrolled my kids to a Dharma School in one of the Buddhist Organization in Malaysia. Yes, all the while since my awakening, I was intended to be a Dharma Teacher. But somehow in my heart, I thought to myself as I am not qualified to be one. Who am I? I am just a beginner who has just realized and awakened about this spiritual path about 6 months ago. I did a lot of research and reading on my own about Buddhism since awakening. My love and passion towards this wonderful , meaningful and noble journey has deepen day to day. I am actually glad that I know so little as I will have more opportunity to learn as much as possible. Honest speaking, this is the first time I wish for myself, I have never prayed for anything for myself except for my family members and others. But somehow, this is my exceptional. I wish to be permanently with this Buddhist spiritual path until I reach Nirvana to help more sentient beings reaching enlightenment in their lives. I am happy that my prayer has been heard. Thank you, Lord Buddha.  May I be blessed with higher attainment to help end suffering among all beings reaching enlightenment. Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!  

Buddhism Activities in Malaysia

Welcome to KCBA English Section Activities Update:

20.5.12 Sunday

8.45 a.m.   -  Buddha Puja & Chanting (in Mandarin & English) @ Main Shrine Hall, GF

10.00 a.m. – Dhamma talk Bro. Tan Huat Chye  entitled:  "Parents' Love: Buddhist Perspective" at Meditation Room, 2^nd Floor.

Guided Pali Chanting (Thai Style) lesson on every Monday night by Bro. Wan Wah Boon,

Time    :  8.30 p.m.

Venue  : Main Shrine Hall, Ground Floor

For further detail, please contact Bro. Wan @ 0123779815.

22.5.12 Tuesday

Come and join us for a devotional night in Pali chanting, Dhamma sharing and hymn singing. 

Time    :  8.30 p.m.

Venue  :  Main shrine hall, Ground Floor

For further detail, please feel free to contact Bro. Michael @ 012 6951817 or Bro. Lee Ee Chai @ 016 6626030.

May  you be well, happy and peaceful always.

 With Metta

KCBAenglish Section Moderator

E-mail : KCBAenglish@yahoogroups.com

The Klang & Coast Buddhist Association

Lot  465, KM 2, Persiaran Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, 41200 Klang, Selangor,
Malaysia. Tel / Fax : 603-33721902

Let's learn more about Buddhism

The Story of Buddha

Siddhartha - whose name means "the one whose objective is attained" - was born into a noble family around the year 560 AC. in the city of Kapilavastu in Nepal. 
     Queen Maya had a vision: six elephants, each one with a lotus flower on his back, were coming in her direction. The next instant, Siddhartha was conceived.
     During her pregnancy, Queen Maya, his mother, decided to call the wise men in the kingdom to interpret the vision she had had, and they were unanimous in affirming that the child about to be brought into the world would be a great king or a great priest. 
     Siddhartha's childhood and adolescence were very like ours; his parents wanted by all means to protect their son from knowing about the misery of the world. So he led his life confined between the walls of the gigantic palace where his parents lived and where everything seemed perfect and harmonious. He married, had a son and knew only the pleasures and delights of life. 
     One night, however, when he turned 29, he asked one of the guards to take him into town. The guard objected, for the king could become furious, but Siddhartha was so insistent that the man eventually gave in, and they left the palace together. 
     The first thing they saw was an old beggar with a sad expression on his face, asking for alms. Further ahead they came across a group of lepers, and right after them a funeral procession passed by. "I have never seen this before!" he must have said to the guard, who may have answered: "Well, that's old age, and that's disease, and death." On their way back to the palace, they came upon a holy man, his hair shorn and wearing only a yellow cloak, who said: "my life was a torment, so I have given everything up so that I don't have to incarnate as myself and suffer old age and sickness and death all over again." 
     The following night, Siddhartha waited until his wife and son had fallen asleep. He entered the room quietly, kissed them both and again asked the guard to escort him out of the palace; there he handed him his sword with the jewel-set hilt, his clothes made with the finest tissues that the human hand could weave, asking him to return them all to his father; then he shaved his head, covered his body with a yellow mantle and set out in search of an answer to the suffering of the world. 
     For many years he wandered all over the north of India, meeting monks and holy men who traveled around there, learning the oral traditions that spoke of reincarnation, illusion and paying for the sins of past lives (karma). When he felt that he had learned enough, he built himself a shelter on the banks of the River Nairanjana, where he lived doing penance and meditating. 
     His life style and will power ended up drawing the attention of other men who in their search for the truth came to him for spiritual advice. But after six long years, all that Siddhartha could notice was that his body was weaker and weaker and the constant infections did not let him meditate as he should. 
     The legend says that one morning, when he went into the river to make his toilet, he no longer had the strength to rise. When he was about to drown, a tree bent down its branches and let him clutch to them not to be swept away by the current. Exhausted, he managed to reach the river bank before fainting. 
     Hours later, a peasant passed by, a milk-vendor who offered him a little food. Siddhartha accepted, to the disgust of the other men who lived there with him. Believing that saint no longer to possess the strength to resist temptation, they decided to leave him immediately. But he gladly drank the milk offered him, feeling that it was a sign from God and a heaven-sent blessing. 
     Encouraged by the meal he had just eaten, he lent no importance to being abandoned by his old disciples; he sat himself down next to a fig-tree and decided to go on meditating about life and suffering. To test him, the god Mara sent three of his daughters to try to distract him with thoughts of sex, thirst, and the pleasures of life. But Siddhartha was so absorbed in his meditation that he did not notice any of this; at that very moment he was experiencing a sort of revelation, remembering all his past lives. As he did so, he also recalled the lessons he had forgotten (all men learn the necessary, but rarely are we are able to put to use what we have learned). 
     In his state of ecstasy, he experienced Paradise (Nirvana), where "there is no earth, nor water, nor fire, nor air, it is neither this world nor another world, and there is no sun, no moon, no birth and no death. There lies the end of all of man's suffering." 
     When that morning came to an end, he had reached the true meaning of life and become Buddha (the Enlightened One). But instead of remaining in this state for the rest of his days, he decided to go back to living among others and to teach everyone all that he had learned and experienced. 
     He who once was called Siddhartha, now transformed into Buddha, left behind him the tree under whose branches he had managed to reach enlightenment, and set out for the city of Sarnath, where he met his old companions and drew a circle on the ground to represent the wheel of existence that leads constantly to birth and death. He explained that he had not been happy as a prince who owned everything, nor had he learned wisdom through total renunciation. What human beings should seek in order to reach Paradise was the so-called "middle way": neither seeking pain, nor being a slave to pleasure.
     Impressed at what they heard from Buddha, the men decided to follow him on his pilgrimages from town to town. As they heard the good news, more and more disciples joined the group, and Buddha began to organize communities of devotees, following the principle that they could help one another mutually in the duties of body and spirit. 
     On one of his journeys, Buddha returned to his home town, where his father grieved deeply on seeing him begging for alms. But he kissed his father's feet and said: "you, Sire, belong to a lineage of kings, but I belong to a lineage of Buddhas, and millions of them also lived begging for alms." The king remembered the prophecy that had been made when his son was conceived, and made his peace with Buddha. His son and his wife, who for so many years had complained of having been abandoned, eventually understood his mission and founded a community which began to spread his teachings.
     When he was approaching the age of eighty, he ate something spoiled and realized he was going to die of food poisoning. Helped by his disciples, he managed to travel as far as Kusinhagara, where he lay down for the last time beside a tree.
     Buddha called his cousin Ananda and said:
     - "I am old and my pilgrimage in this life is nearing its end. My body looks like an old cart that has been used a great deal and is still working only because some of its parts are precariously tied up with straps of leather. But that's enough, now it's time to go."
     Then he turned to his disciples and asked if anyone had any doubts. Nobody said a word. He asked the same question three times, but they all remained in silence. 
     Buddha died smiling. His teachings, today codified in the form of a philosophical religion, are spread across most of Asia. In essence, they consist of understanding oneself profoundly and having a deep respect for one's neighbor. 

http://warriorofthelight.com/engl/edi72_brev.shtml

Buddhism in Perspective (Summary)

1.  Eight Sufferings

     Birth, decay, sickness, death, seperation, meeting the unfriendly, failure and aggregates

2.  Five Characteristics of Life

     Sickness, old age, seperation, death and kamma

3.  Five Hindrances in the Mind

     Craving, ill-will, laziness, restlessness and doubt (indecision)

4.  Three Evil Roots

     Greed, anger and delusion

5.  Eight Worldly Conditions

     Gain & loss, fame & blame, honour & dishonour, happiness & sorrow

6.  Ten Fetters

     Illusion of self, skeptical doubt, belief in rites and rituals, craving for worldly pleasure,  

     anger, hatred and ill-will, craving for fine material world, craving for non-physical body, 

     pride, restlessness and ignorance.

7.  Four Elements

     Earth, fire, water and wind

8.  Five Aggregates

     Form, sensation, perception, conception and consciousness

9.  The Middle Path and The Three Advices

     Not to go to extremes. Not to do bad actions, to do good and purify the mind.

10. Dependent Origination

      Cause and Effect

11. Four Noble Truths

      Suffering, cause of suffering, cessation of suffering and the path leading to the 

      cessation of suffering

12. Three Universal Characteristics

      Change, suffering and soul-lessness

13.  Twelve Links in Dependent upon Origination

       Ignorance, conditioned activities, relinking consciousness, mind and matter, six 

       spheres of senses, contact, feeling, craving, grasping, volitional activities, birth and 

       death

14.  Thirty Seven Constituents of Enlightenment:

       -   Noble Eight-fold Path - right understanding, right thought, right speech, right 

           action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration

       -   Four foundations of mindfulness - concentration on the body, concentration on 

           feelings, concentration on the mind and concentration on mind objects.

       -   Four mind efforts - Efforts to abandon, effort to prevent bad thoughts, effort to 

           develop and effort to maintain good thoughts

       -   Four bases of success - Zeal, effort, wisdom and mindfulness

       -   Five faculties - Faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration and understanding

       -   Five powers - Faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and understanding

       -   Seven enlightening factors - Mindfulness, truth investigation, effort, joy, 

           tranquillity, concentration and equanimity

15.   Noble Eight-fold Path already mentioned

16.   Ten Meritorious Deeds

        Generosity, discipline, meditation, reverence to teachers, sympathetic, joy, learning 

        the Dhamma, spreading the Dhamma and straightening one's view

17.   Ten Perfections

        Generosity, discipline, renunciation, wisdom, effort, patience, determination, 

        truthfulness, universal love and equanimity

Q & A about Buddhism

It is best to ask or clear our doubts on what we do not understand. The clearer we are, the nearer we are to the path of enlightenment. Let's share some of the common questions asked about Buddhism.

Does KARMA explain why there is so much inequality of life around us?
People have always wondered about the fairness of life, and everyone is not born equal. Questions are always asked about why is one person so healthy, and another born with many physical afflictions. Why is one person born into a wealthy family, and another born into abject poverty. Why is one person able to enjoy a long happy life, and another having their life cut short by violence or accident. Buddhist do not believe that all these inequalities are because of chance, or the explainable  will of an unseen and omnipotent heavenly being. We believe that Karma and the principle of Cause and Effect account for most of these differences in people's lives.   (Anyone can go to Heaven. Just be Good! by TY Lee)

If there is REBIRTH, why don't people remember their past lives?
Memories of the past lives lie deep in the subconscious mind. We are usually unable to access these memories because our minds are not clear, or disciplined enough. For example, very few of us can recall what we did on the same day of even just a month ago! However, research has shown that some young children whose minds remain reasonably clear, may be able to spontaneously recall their past lives. Western psychoanalysts are now using methods of hypnotic regression to help patients with psychological problems, and some of these patients seem to be able to recall their past lives under such therapy. Monks with highly disciplined minds and who are able to enter into deep meditative states are also said to be able to recall their past lives.  (Anyone can go to Heaven. Just be Good! by TY Lee)


Does  MEDITATION allow demons or evil spirits to enter and possess the mind?
Meditation has been practiced in many different forms, and by many different cultures for thousands of years. It is taught and practiced all over the world and is gaining much popularity, especially in Western countries. Large international corporations are sending their staff and executives for lessons and retreats in increasing numbers. They recognize the benefits of meditation to be improved concentration and clarity of mind, as well as better management of stress, pain, aggravation and anger. Neuroscientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, by studying the brain waves of people who meditate regularly, have shown that they are more peaceful and tranquil than non-meditators. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Centre, have shown that because of meditation, Buddhists really are happier and calmer that most other people! Some people might discourage us from practicing because of their own irritation fears. It would be wise to treat such talk as superstitious nonsense. (Anyone can go to Heaven. Just be Good! by TY Lee)


Buddhism teaches CONTENTMENT, but people have ambitions in work and also want better lives for their families. How can this be reconciled? 
While it is true that Buddhism considers contentment to be a virtue, it also realizes that everyone may take different paths to attain their own peace and happiness. In such cases, the Buddha would recommend taking the Middle Path. Be not too ambitious that you may cause harm or hurt to others in achieving your ambitions. And also don't be too contented that your own livelihood and family be adversely affected. (Anyone can go to Heaven. Just be Good! by TY Lee)


Is being Vegetarian a must for Buddhist?
In Buddhism, being vegetarian or not depends entirely on the individual. What is emphasized in Buddhism is not the purity of the diet, but the purity of the mind. Of course, many Buddhist eventually realized the cruelty involved in eating meat, which is nothing more than the flesh of a helpless animals. Many succeed in eliminating the craving and attachment of eating meat, and eventually become vegetarian on their own accord. However, if coming vegetarian is not convenient or too difficult, then take the path you are comfortable with. Nonetheless be a vegetarian at least once of twice a month is a good way of practicing compassion for all living beings, by consciously abstaining from meat for that day at least. A book that deal extremely well with the Buddhist perspective on vegetarianism is Philip Kapleau's " To Cherish All Life."  (Anyone can go to Heaven. Just be Good! by TY Lee)


Why do some monks eat meat?
The Buddha refused to prohibit the eating of meats among his followers. He had very practical reasons for this because sufficient vegetable food may not be available in some areas, or could be very scarce in times of drought. For example, vegetable food is extremely limited in places like Tibet. Monks survive on alms and if alms were restricted to only vegetarian, then could be a great burden on the lay people supporting the monks. Thus monks eat whatever they are given, even it is meat, as long as the animals were not specially killed for them. Nowadays though, many monks and temples do have a preference for vegetarian food. However, it should be noted that most monks in the Mahayana tradition are strict vegetarians.  (Anyone can go to Heaven. Just be Good! by TY Lee)

Buddhist TV

Siddhartha was born in a royal Hindu Kshatriya family. He was brought up by his mother's younger sister, Maha Pajapati.^[37] By tradition, he is said to have been destined by birth to the life of a prince, and had three palaces (for seasonal occupation) built for him. Although more recent scholarship doubts this status, his father, said to be King Śuddhodana, wishing for his son to be a great king, is said to have shielded him from religious teachings and from knowledge of human suffering. (Wikipedia) Watch this video for a better understanding of how Buddha reached enlightenment. 

Beautiful Buddhist Quotes for us to understand and realize the true meaning and message of the quotes.

Cause And Effect 因果 


"The life of Human Being is within his one breath. Once the breath is stopped the man will die. Suppose I was able to live for one hundred years. Indeed, among the millions of people, how many can really live for one hundred years? - Soon Guo Sen

 Karma (Sanskrit, also karman, Pāli: Kamma) means "action" or "doing"; whatever one does, says, or thinks is a karma. In Buddhism, the term karma is used specifically for those actions which spring from the intention (Sanskrit: cetanā, Pali: cetana) of an unenlightened being.

These bring about a fruit (Sanskrit, Pali: phala) or result (S., P.: vipāka; the two are often used together as vipākaphala), either within the present life, or in the context of a future rebirth. Other Indian religions have different views on karma. Karma is the engine which drives the wheel of the cycle of uncontrolled rebirth (S., P. saṃsāra) for each being. In the early texts it is not, however, the only causal mechanism influencing the lives of sentient beings. 

As one scholar states, "the Buddhist theory of action and result (karmaphala) is fundamental to much of Buddhist doctrine, because it provides a coherent model of the functioning of the world and its beings, which in turn forms the doctrinal basis for the Buddhist explanations of the path of liberation from the world and its result, nirvāṇa."^[1]. (Wikipedia)


Once we understand that everything happens to us in the present is the result of our actions of our pasts, we eliminate our sufferings. We sow what we reap and that's all. Why there some good people live in bad conditions and poverty? At the same time, why there are bad people live in good wealth and prosperity? This understanding answer all of our doubts which we think unfair. Nothing else for us to blame if things gone wrong but we ourselves. Once we realize it, we accept it. After accepting it, we forgive ourselves. After that, we move on. Most of us stop right there, don't just more on, instead do more good deeds as what we do in the present guarantee the results of my future lives, but of course depend on the maturity of individual karma. Remember, we will leave this world one day. Just remember to create more good deeds and merits for yourselves as these are the only things that we can bring along and nothing else.

W I S D O M

Buddhism Educational Tools

Do We Have a Choice? - Towards More Compassionate Eating (Book) by Chan Kah Yein, Ph.D

Go Meatless Once a Week! Have you often wanted to reduce your meat consumption? In this little booklet, Chan Kah Yein shares with  you ways on how you may achieve this. She encourages the reader to move towards a diet of eating less meat, which is definitely more doable and acceptable than adopting a strict vegetarian diet.














108 Ways to Grab My Apples (Book) by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

These delicious bite-sized little quotes are based on Tweets, which are short quotations from Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, a modern spiritual teacher who is as dynamic as he is traditional. Placed within the context of contemporary life, love, struggles, stress and happiness, these quotes resonate with every one of us in almost every aspect of our lives. By sharing practical, profound and positive solutions with inspirational insights into relationships, career, family, friendships, animals, conflict and leadership,108 Ways to Grab My Apples promises many delectable morsels that you’ll just have to sink your teeth into. (www.kechara.com)

Beloved for his unconventional, contemporary approach to Dharma, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche brings more than 2,500 years of Buddhist wisdom and teachings to the modern spiritual seeker by connecting ancient worlds with new people, cultures, attitudes and lifestyles. Rinpoche shares largely progressive teaching methods, which use elements as diverse as Madonna’s music, sacred sutras, feeding the homeless and caring for animals to convey authentic Buddhist teachings.

More information about Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and his works are available at www.tsemtulku.com.

This book is available at Popular Book Stores in Malaysia. 

 KECHARA MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS

No. 41-2A, 41-2B, Jalan PJU 1/3C, Sunwaymas Commercial Centre, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor,MALAYSIA. 

[t] 603 - 7805 5691 / 7805 5619
[f] 603 - 7805 5690
[e] kmp@kechara.com

www.kechara.com

Cause And Effect 因果 (Book) by KJ Teoh & Teoh Hai Siang

"The life of Human Being is within his one breath. Once the breath is stopped the man will die. Suppose I was able to live for one hundred years. Indeed, among the millions of people, how many can really live for one hundred years? - Soon Guo Sen

This was the first book read by me before my awakening to find back the missing spiritual path of myself, "Cause and Effect." or better known as KARMA. Once we understand that everything happens to us in the present is the result of our actions of our pasts, we eliminate our sufferings. We sow what we reap and that's all. Why there some good people live in bad conditions and poverty? At the same time, why there are bad people live in good wealth and prosperity? This understanding answer all of our doubts which we think unfair. Nothing else for us to blame if things gone wrong but we ourselves. Once we realize it, we accept it. After accepting it, we forgive ourselves. After that, we move on. Most of us stop right there, don't just more on, instead do more good deeds as what we do in the present guarantee the results of my future lives, but of course depend on the maturity of individual karma. Remember, we will leave this world one day. Just remember to create more good deeds and merits for yourselves as these are the only things that we can bring along and nothing else.


To know more, check this website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma_in_Buddhism




A Life of Blessings - The Guide to Prosperity, Peace and Happiness (Book) by TY Lee
"In this booklet Mr. TY Lee has shown how to gain prosperity and happiness, how to avoid material, moral and spiritual downfall and enlightens people on the blessings in life. Therefore, I highly recommend this booklet as knowledgeable material for a life of blessings in the Buddhist perspective." Venerable Dr. I. Indasara Thero, Sri Langka. 


For info and free copies, kindly log in to www.justbegood.net

It is also available at :
The Klang & Coast Buddhist Association
Lot  465, KM 2, Persiaran Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, 41200 Klang, Selangor,
Malaysia. Tel / Fax : 603-33721902




Awaken to the Buddha Within (CD) by Shi Wuling

Highly recommended for beginner and busy working people. A complete but simple CD comprises of Buddha's teachings as follows:

1. Buddhism Today

2. He Who Has Accomplished His Goal

3. The Great Awakening

4. Turning the Dharma Wheel 

5. The Path to Liberation

6. Karma and Rebirth

7. The Tree Dharma Seals

8. The Four Immeasurable Minds

9. The Five Precepts

10. Taking the Tree Refuges

11. Pure Land Buddhism

For info about the free CD, kindly log in to http://www.amtb-la.org/
"Awaken to the Buddha Within" free CD is also available at the following Buddhist Organization in Malaysia:
Amitabha Buddhist Society (M)
16A, Jalan Pahang, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel : 603- 40414101 / 40452630
Fax : 603- 40412172
Email: amtbmy@pd.jaring.my
Website: http://www.amtb-m.org.my

One Kindness One Day

# Tip 1 : SMILE

Smile is the easiest way to show kindness to everyone. It doesn't require any time, effort or energy to do it. The most important thing smile is free but the effect is huge. How do you feel seeing people smiling at you? What is your reaction seeing people smiling at you? Awesome, right? A smile can make someone's day brighter. You might be helping that someone to ease the pains and sufferings just be smiling to them. So, why wait? Show you first kindness towards a heart of compassion. Smile now (even to yourself). =)


# Tip 2 : Greeting
Greeting someone by simple words like Good Morning is crucial and a great start to make people happier. It is even better if you say it with a smile. Not just to represent your friendly image but also to enhance relationship between you with that person. Greeting is not limited to just time greeting but also including special occasions  like during birthday, parents' day, teachers' day and even greetings to certain objectives like during examination, for winning or passing exams and many more. Your greetings make a different in other people's lives as to show your care and concern about their existence. Remember to just greet everyone to indicate how special they are in your lives now. All the best! ;)


# Tip 3 : Do Something for Someone

Doing something for someone unconditionally without expecting anything is a way to show kindness to others. You may offer to do something even without being asked like offering or volunteering to do housework at home, to carry books for your teachers and many more. You don't have to do something for someone only on the special occasions like Parents' Day, Teachers' Day or even birthday. You may do it on the normal days and if can do it oftenly and practice as part of your daily life. With this, people surround you will feel happy, appreciated and most importantly lessen their burden or load of work. Try it today as it feels great.

# Tip 4 : Donate Something

Donation is another popular way to show kindness to others. You may donate anything that you want besides money or cash. You may donate old but useful materials like old toys, old clothes or many. You may also donate other forms donation like blood, time, knowledge or many others. Many people think donation is only restricted to cash or money, so they don't practice donation as they don't have extra. You don't have to be rich or wealthy to do donation. You may donate cash according to your own ability only when  you have enough. Besides cash, you may also donate other forms. If you have energy, donate energy. If you have time, donate time. If you have knowledge, donate knowledge. If you have skills, donate skills and many more. There are many convenience kiosk or stops that you can donate your old times to the needy around you. So, why wait, donate now.

# Tip 5 : Feed a Stray Animal

There are many hungry stray animals like cats and dogs at the street. These animals are homeless, unprotected and hungry most of the time as they are left wondering alone. If you happen to see a hungry stray animal , feed them. You may feed them with the leftover food, bones or any animal canned food that you want to help them survive. With this, you may show a deep compassion on the helpless animals.



# Tip 6 : Pick Up Rubbish

If you happen to see any rubbish on the floor regardless where you are, help to pick it up. With this, you may help to maintain a good hygiene and cleanliness in the environment. At the same time, do not litter to show your care and responsibility as a good citizen. By keeping the environment clean, you might even same a life, lives of an innocent animals especially the lives of the sea creatures. So, pay your role and responsibility as a good citizen by help maintaining a good hygiene, health and clean environment now.

# Tip 7 : Share Something

Sharing is Caring. You may share anything as long as it is beneficial to others. This includes materials like food, toys, stationery or abstract items like inspiration, idea, concept, knowledge to name few that will be able to help someone. You may also share merits that you have created and dedicate to all sentient beings in the universe. By sharing, you will lessen others' burden. By sharing, you will help someone to survive. By sharing, you will rescue others. By sharing, you will reduce sufferings among others. Never underestimate your little effort of sharing as it might be huge and touch someone's life. Remember, sharing is always caring.

# Tip 8 : Say Thank You

Saying Thank You whenever someone does something for you regardless what is a way to show gratitude and appreciation. A simple world Thank You can make those who help you feel appreciated. Say Thank You with sincerity whenever someone helps you like giving you something, helping you to do something, behaving well, praising you or even telling criticizing you to help you to grow wiser and better. Say Thank You without being discrimination. Don't choose to say Thank You only those who are at the higher status or position than you. Say Thank You to all even to someone younger or lower than you whether your subordinate, students, staffs or even your children. With just a Thank You, you can make them feel great and willing to help you again next time. Just how do you feel when someone say Thank You to you, you feel great, right? You feel appreciated, right? Just do the same as you know how positive it react to you when someone appreciate your help and say Thank You to you.

# Tip 9 : Love Yourself

Loving youself is loving others. Loving others is loving yourself. To love others is to love yourself. To love others is to be loved by others. Loving yourself doesn't mean being selfish but looking after yourself well by not engaging and involving in something dangerous, harmful and negative to you. This includes not doing anything that will pollute your mind, heart and soul like involving in law breaking activities like become a drug addicts, a criminal or even in  any unhealthy activities that involve moral values like sexual misconduct, spreading rumuors or any activities that are not beneficial to you. Love yourself means to lead a righteous and a wholesome life towards the right, spiritual and meaningful direction. Loving yourself is also means to take good care of your physical and mentally health (mind) so that your beloved family members, friends and relatives don't have to worry about you. To make them less worried by showing your independence and maturity is a way to repay and show your love and compassion to them.

# Tip 10 : Pray

Praying is important and should be done daily as part of your life. Praying doesn't mean requesting from the Holiness One to fulfill your wishes and goals but a good reminder and promise to be someone better. A real  and sincere prayer shouldn't only be focus on oneself but to focus and dedicate to others like your family members, friends and relatives or even to all sentient beings in the universe. Prayers for oneself are meant for self-improvement on the characteristics and attitude but not on achieving success or gaining other materials or achievements. The prayer is meant for yourself to be reminded and awakened. However, you may always pray for the benefit of others like prayers for safety, health, peace and others. Prayers are not only be practiced when you are down. You may practice it anytime, anywhere for anyone as you wish as long as you are sincere. Pray now as your prayers will be heard. May all be well and happy.

# Tip 11 : Feel People's Shoes

Feeling People's Shoes will help you to be considerate and understand why people behave in different manners. It can also develop compassion and sympathy for others. You will accept if there's any misbehave among others by understanding their real situation. For example, a child who feels his parents' shoes of being busy and working hard to raise and support family members. Same thing for a parent who feels his child's shoes by understanding the work load and stress borne by the child in school. If all of us practice this simple method and be more considerate, less argument, misunderstanding, hatred and revenge will be formed. People will start to leave in peace and harmony.

# Tip 12 : Rejoice

Rejoicing of people's success will help you become someone generous, compassionate, joyous by reducing or even eliminating your envy and jealous towards people's success. Rejoice by celebrating and happy on people's success and happiness will make you more humble too. You may also help people surround you feeling happy and comfortable whenever they are with you.





# Tip 13 : Speak Truth And Beneficial Words

Speak only the truth, not lie just to please someone. Speak only the truth, but the beneficial truth at the right time not to hurt someone, unless someone who ask for the truth or advice. Mind your words as words have the potential to heal or to hurt. Once spoken, cannot be taken back. Hurtful words are as sharp as knives as they are really hurt if misused. Never gossips. Never spread rumuors. Always be careful with your words with anyone, anytime, anywhere. According to Buddha, if you know it is not truth but not helpful, don't speak. If you know it is not truth but helpful, don't speak. If it is truth but not helpful, don't speak. Speak only if it is truth and helpful at the right time. Speak only good words that always have the intention to help and benefit others. With this, less people will be hurt by the hurting and untruth words of others.

# Tip 14 : Be a Volunteer

Volunteering in any social work is a compassionate way to show kindness to others. The objective of volunteering is to help others and to contribute back to the community. Learn to work and give for free without expecting anything in return unconditionally. With this, you will remind yourself not to be ego and remain humbleness and kindness in you. Volunteering can be in many forms, either in Buddhist activities, recycling activities, counseling, education, social work and many more.  By volunteering, you are not just helping others but also helping yourself in personal mastery and creating merits. So, show your compassion by volunteering now.

# Tip 15 : Forgive Others

To forgive others is to forgive yourself. To forgive yourself is to forgive others. Forgiving others is hard but worth to do. You are not only making people feel relief and happier by forgiving others; you will also feel great and happy when you forgive others. How do you feel when you don't forgive others? Your heart is filled with anger, revenge and hatred, right? These negative emotions will lead you to more suffering, hurt and pain. On the other hand, how do you feel when you forgive others? You will ease all these negative thoughts in your heart and replace them with positive thoughts and emotions like compassion, loving kindness and generosity. You will feel awesome, right? You will even feel lighter. So, give people a chance by forgiving them and learn from their mistakes. After all, you are given second chances when you make mistakes. Learn to accept that no one is perfect and people tend to make mistakes. Just forgive others, let go and move on. You are not only showing kindness to others but to yourself too. Remember, to forgive others is to forgive yourself.

# Tip 16 : Be Mindful

Mindfulness is important to prevent us from misspoken, misdoing and mis-thinking. Mindfulness means be alert and careful of your speech, actions and thoughts. Like the Buddha said "Speak Good Words, Think Good Thoughts and Do Good Deeds." Imagine if all of you be careful and mindful with your words, actions and thinking, there will be peace and harmony as everyone is truly aware of his actions. For example, take a second to think before you speak to anyone so that you will not speak out any words that is hurtful, harsh or even harmful. With this, you are more considerate and compassion on your words. You will choose positive or kind words when you speak to others. At the same time, you will control your bad emotion like Anger if you are aware and alert of the rise of your negative emotion. With this, peace and harmony will be again formed. So, practice Mindfulness now and you will experience true happiness and inner peace within you.

# Tip 17 : Think Positive

No matter what happen in your life, think positive. There's always a light in every darkness. You just have to put a little patience in it. The light will grow when the time is right. Remember, nothing is permanence. Happiness nor sadness will not last. So be positive about everything that happen in your life because the better one is about to appear. If you think positive in everything you do, you will not only cheer yourself up but also people surround you can feel your positive influence. So, be positive no matter what.



# Tip 18 : Be Polite

Politeness is important to show kindness to others. People who are polite can create comfort, peace and harmony with others. Be polite even when others are rude to you. Politeness is crucial to show respect and also to earn back respect from others. Politeness can also display one's image and create good impression for others. People would love to be with those who are polite because politeness make them feel happier, more peaceful and more comfortable.




# Tip 19 : Compliment Others

Compliment others is important as long it is true and sincere from the heart. Praise or compliment others anytime, anywhere to anyone. You may just praise someone from the look like "You look great!", "You look fresh!", or when someone done a good job like "Well done!", "Congratulations!", "Good work!" or many more. Complimentary can increase people's confidence level and also help them to continue to work harder for personal development. You may also build a better relationship with them when you praise them sincerely. They will surely feel happy and comfortable with you too. Praise what is truth and not over-doing it or just for the sake of pleasing someone. It must be done from the bottom of your heart. A true compliment can help build trust and friendship among each other too. So, compliment someone today.

# Tip 20 : Focus on the Goodness not the Weakness

People tend to find mistakes, faults and weaknesses of others. Do you like it when people find mistakes, faults and weaknesses of yours? Of course no. Everyone has his own uniqueness or advantages. To help others to nurture and grow, you have to focus on their goodness or advantages, not weakness or disadvantages. For example, a mother who focuses on her child's talent of art will help her child to brush up the talent until successful. The child will grow up to be a fine and successful artist in this line. You may also focus on others' good characteristics like hardworking, kindness, honest and many more. When you focus on their advantages, they will increase confidence level among themselves and improve further. Remember, focus on others' goodness and not weakness.

# Tip 21 : Appreciate What You Have

Appreciation is one of the most important way to show kindness to others especially to your own associates of family members, relatives, friends, colleagues, teachers, and many more. Appreciate what you have. Appreciate what you own. Appreciate where you are. Appreciate whom you have. Appreciate goodness. Appreciate success. Appreciate failures. Appreciate mistakes. Appreciate what comes. Appreciate what goes. Appreciate everything that relates to you in this life as nothing is permanence. Things come and things go. Appreciate everything while you still can before it is too late.


# Tip 22 : Listen

Listening is always better than speaking. Do you know why you were born with two ears and one mouth? The purpose is for you to listen more than speaking. People tend to speak more than listen as they assume speaking more is wiser. They prefer to control others so they use words to control them and to show their power towards others. Silence speaks a thousand words. Only speak with wisdom whenever necessary. Empty vessels make the most noise. Listening is also a way to show respect and kindness to others. Listening is also a humble way to show compassion to others. Listen to people's need and be a shoulder to cry on and reducing people's pains and stress just by listening. When you listen, you will gain more. When you listen, you'll understand more. When you listen, you'll learn more. So, start listening now for a better improvement.