Jack Kornfield on Meditation

10 Principles for Your Total Peace of Mind [ytpom]

1. Do Not Interfere In Others' Business Unless Asked:

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs.
We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction.
This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of 'x' ie.god....
We were born, each one of us in a unique way.

No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way.
All men or women act the way they do because their conscience within them prompts them that way.
Mind your own business and you will keep your total peace of mind (ytpom).


2. Forgive And Forget:

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind.
We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us.
We nurture grievances.
This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure.
This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it.
Get over this bad habit.
Life is too short to waste in such trifles.
Forgive & Forget, and march on.
Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.


3. Do Not Crave For Recognition:

This world is full of selfish people.
They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives.
They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you.
Why do you wish to kill yourself in striving for their recognition?
Their recognition is not worth the aggravation.
Do your duties ethically and sincerely.


4. Do Not Be Jealous:

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind.
You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not.
You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbour whose business is only one year old.
There are several examples like these in everyday life.
Should you be jealous?
No.


5. Change Yourself According To The Environment:

If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail.
Instead, change yourself to suit your environment.
As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.


6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured:

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage.
Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control.
If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things.
We must learn to endure them cheerfully.
Believe in yourself and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.


7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:

This maxim needs to be remembered constantly.
We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out.
Know your limitations. . Why take on additional loads that may create more worries?
You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities.
Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and
meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless.
Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.


8. Meditate Regularly:

Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts.
This is the highest state of peace of mind.
Try and experience it yourself.
If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours.
Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before.

You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation.
You may think that this will interfere with your daily work.
On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.


9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant:

An empty mind is the devil's workshop.
All evil actions start in the vacant mind.
Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile.
Actively follow a hobby.
Do something that holds your interest.
You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind.
Your hobby, like social work or religious work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement.
Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting.


10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret:

Do not waste time in protracted wondering " Should I or shouldn't I?"
Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating.
You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings.
Value your time and do the things that need to be done.

It does not matter if you fail the first time.
You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time.
Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing.
Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past.
DO NOT REGRET.
Why cry over spilt milk?.

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MORE PLACES OF WORSHIP FOR BUDDHIST PLEASE, AUTHORITIES URGED by SJ ECHO

SJ ECHO 30 January 2008

Buddhist Community hands over objections to the Draft Local Plan with 4,000 signatures attached
Excerpts from the objection letter submitted to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council:
We urge the MPSJ to adhere to the Federal Government guidelines in relation to the provisions for building of places of worship for non-Muslims, which is one place of worship for every 2,600 devotees or 5,000 residents.
Based on the MPSJ Draft Local Plan, there is no land allocation for the building of Buddhist temples (Vihara)/ tokong in all the areas under planning except Blok Perancangan Kecil 3.4 Puchong which was allocated only ONE tokong/Vihara.
We need to have more Buddhist temples to cater to the spiritual and religious education needs of the large number of devotees.
With regards to public amenities, we would like to propose to the MPSJ to reserve a piece of land and provide allocation to build a crematorium especially for the benefit of the Buddhist and Hindu communities who opt for cremation for their last rites. Considering the size of Buddhist residents in MPSJ areas, the building of a crematorium will directly helps the MPSJ in reducing land use for burial grounds.
We hope the Federal, State and local authorities; elected representatives and local councillors will seriously consider our objections and proposals as a duty and commitment to take care the welfare and interest of the Buddhist community which comprises 42.6% of all residents within the Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya which includes areas in Subang Jaya/USJ, Kinrara, Puchong, Seri Kembangan, Putra Heights, Bandar Putra Permai and Subang Hi-Tech.
We are prepared to attend the Committee Public Hearing on the MPSJ Draft Local Plan and we hope the local authority will invite us to attend the public hearing to provide details on our submissions.
Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Subang Jaya
Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Fo Guang Malaysia, Cawangan USJ
Persatuan Penganut Buddha Serdang, Seri Kembangan
Malaysia Mahayana Buddhist Association, Subang Jaya
Kinrara Metta Buddhist Society, Puchong