12 Results of bad deeds

One day, Buddha disclosed to his bhikkus the 12 results of bad deeds he had done in his previous births for which he had to suffer in this birth. According to ‘Pubba Kamma Pilothika apadaana’ they are as follows:

1. The accusations the Buddha got for frequenting the female ascetic Sundaree’s temple. ( In a previous birth, Buddha had accused the Pase Buddha named Sarangu.)

2. The scandal because of Chinchimaanawika who impersonated herself as a pregnant woman(This is due to calling the disciple Nanada of the Buddha Sabbahingu, an epicure, in one of Buddha’s births.)

3. The accusation, that Buddha raped and killed the female ascetic Sundaree and buried her body near a flower altar was widely talked about for seven days. After seven days, the truth came out. (This happened because of scolding Saint Bheema in one of his previous births.)

4. Bikkhu Devdath pushed a huge rock on the Buddha. (This is because in a previous birth, Buddha killed his own brother with greed for wealth by pushing him down a mountain and plunging a huge rock after him.)

5. Bikkhu Devdath tried to kill Buddha by hiring archers.( This is because in a previous birth, as a child, Buddha had thrown a stone at a Pase Buddha.)

6. Intoxicated elephant named Nalagiri was sent to kill Buddha. (This is because in a previous birth, Buddha as a mahout, led his elephant towards a Pase Buddha who was walking nearby with the intention of killing him.)

7. Bhikku Devdath, pushed a huge rock from the immense ‘Gijjakuta’ on Buddha,who was walking at the foot of it. Because of Buddha’s power, another big rock sprang up and stopped it. But, in the process, a small piece of rock hit Buddha’s toe and injured it. The Doctor had to split the toe and remove the bad blood. (This is because in a previous birth, Buddha had ordered a man to be killed, as king Pruthuvishwara.)

8. Buddha suffered from a constant headache.( This is because in a previous birth, Buddha born into the fishing clan, laughed happily when he saw the large amount of fish his kin had captured.)

9. Buddha, who had disciples, followers and contributors in all three worlds had to survive on barley since he didn’t get a grain of rice during his 12th ‘Vas’ season.( This is because in a previous birth, Buddha had accused Buddha named ‘Pussa’ for eating tasteful rice asking him to eat barley instead.)

10. Buddha suffered from a constant spinal problem.(This is because in a previous birth, as a wrestling giant, Buddha had broken the spine of his opponent.)

11. Buddha suffered from acute diarrhea.( This is because in a previous birth, as a doctor, Buddha had cured a noble; when he didn’t get his fee, Buddha had given the noble an aperient which caused the noble to purge blood. The noble got scared and paid him; in return, Buddha cured him again.

12.Prince Siddhartha had to suffer immensely for six years before attaining Nirvana.( This is because in a previous birth, As the layman Jothipala, had talked against Kashyapa Buddha with a Brahmin named Ghatikara.)

Source here

Message from The Gyalwang Karmapa Concerning the Recent Earthquake

Today, in the morning of the 25th of April, in Nepal, the land where Lord Buddha was born, there occurred a devastating earthquake. Many thousands of people have been killed or injured, and historic buildings and private homes have been turned into ruins. As soon as I learned of this painful and distressing situation, I made my deepest aspiration prayers and dedications for all the people affected, and continue to do so. Especially at times when we are faced with such a desperate situation, we cannot sit idle, unfeelingly. We must join forces and carry the burden of sorrow together. It is important that each one of us light the lamp of courage. Additionally, it is important that each of the Karma Kagyu monasteries in Nepal, while looking after their own pressing needs for immediate protection, also extend any and all aid and protection they can to the public in their surrounding communities. From my own side, I will make every effort to come personally in the near future to offer my solace and support as well.

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DO NOT GIVE MONEY TO FACEBOOK *Campaigns* by individuals with nice names such as *Help Nepal*. . Most of that collected money ends up in the persons own pocket, NOT in Nepal.

So, give money where it goes to the right place:

Nepal Red Cross

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Save the Children - Nepal Children's Emergency Relief Fund
\
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF

MercyCorps Nepal Earthquake Response fund

CARE Emergency Relief

Oxfam Great Britain - Nepal Earthquake Response

Handicap International

Global Giving - Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund

Earthquake survivors need you now 

The Buddha in mud

Once there was a thief. One day he was found while he was breaking into a house. Off he ran as fast as he could, until he reached a dam. He jumped to the bank of the dam, fearful of the people in hot pursuit after him. Looking around, there was no bush to hide in, so he just sat down on a clump of weeds full of mud. Petrified with fear of being caught, he dared not move, just sat motionless with his eyes closed. The pursuers were startled when they found a muddy man sitting motionless. They asked themselves: “Who is this man?” One of them thought this man looked like someone in meditation, so he told the others: “He’s a monk in meditation!” Everybody became respectful, they bowed to him and asked: “Master, we are sorry to bother you, but did you see a man running by earlier? We are looking for a thief.” The thief reply: “Oh no... I did not notice anything…” So they left, but came back after a while. The thief was still sitting there, because he did not know where to go. Thinking this is a kind of profound meditating practice, the pursuers were full of respect. They asked him to become the monk of the village’s temple, which until now had been without any residing monk. Being in such a situation, the thief had no other choice than to accept it. 

Although living in the temple, a thief was always a thief. He soon thought of stealing the valuable things in the temple and take off when there was a chance.

That morning, he went into the main shrine, removed all the valuable statues, worshipping appliances etc... stuffed them into a bag and got ready to go. Suddenly there came a crying believer, because a member of his family just passed away last night. The believer asked him to go to his house to pray for the dead. The thief hastily put down his bag, acting as though he was just dusting and cleaning the appliances. He comforted the believer, took his name on a piece of paper, then promised to go there to pray. Sighing disappointingly for his foiled plan, he put back all the stolen things and set out to the believer’s house. Before that, he was careful to bring along one of the prayer book that he found in the shrine.

And so the days went by, he stayed in the temple waiting for the good time to leave. But he never had the chance. Believers kept coming, asking questions, or inviting him to their house for funeral prayers, and to be able to serve them he had to read and learn the sutras. Soon he began to practice meditation, chanting the Buddha’s name to relieve himself of his worries and stress. The old thief who was forced to become a monk now had to learn to live the life of a monk, and unexpectedly, this simple life gradually brought peace to him.

A year passed by. His daily schedule now was like the schedule of a real practitioner. He worked all day, cleaning, growing the vegetables, practicing meditation and chanting the sutras every morning and night. He partook in the joy, the sadness of the peasants in the village, shared with them the products that he grew by himself. Looking back at his previous life, he was horrified. How can he think of stealing from these poor, hard working people! He was ashamed of himself. From now on, he would make time to repent for his past sins. 

Henceforth, he was transformed from a thief to a real practitioner. All traces of his past life were now erased. He became a new person, a person of goodness and a spiritual support for the people of the village.

 (Collected)

33 People Who Prove The World Isn’t Such A Broken Place After All

1. This generous tipper:

 

 

2. This hero, who just did the right thing:

 

3. This stranger, whose pay-it-forward scheme might just catch on:

 

 

 

4. This grocery store employee, who knows a simple thing like tying someone’s shoes can make their whole day:

 

 

5. This pet-lover:

 

6. This team of paramedics, who didn’t just stop at saving an the man’s life:

 

 

7. This exotic car forum, who banded together to help a disabled kid live his dream… over, and over again:

 

 

8. This sports team, who let a kid with a congenital heart defect live his dream:

 

 

9. This animal lover, who knows the power of one good night of sleep:

 

10. This guy, who cleared his conscience after 13 years:

 

 

 

11. These folks, who just want to return an expensive phone to its rightful owner:

 

 

12. This good samaritan:

 13. This animal hospital, who truly knows how significant a pet can be to a person:

 

 

14. Dan:

15. This mailman, who knows the importance of getting something other than junk mail every once in a while:

16. And they say kids these days have no morals:

 

 

17. This loving launderer, who put off their load to make sure a stranger’s was dry:

 

 

18. This kind soul:

 

 

19. This firefighter, who heroically rescued what was clearly “more than just a pet”:

 

 

 

20. This lady, who unknowingly demonstrated that kindness begets kindness:

 

 

21. This guy, who gave a kid the world for a brief moment in time:

 

 

22. This guy, who probably missed his train to help this lady with her bags:

 

23. This “citizen of the Earth”:

 

 

24. This dry cleaner, who believes everyone should look their best when trying to get a job:

 

 

25. This team, who in a display of utter sportsmanship helped an injured opponent score:

 

 

26. This samaritan, who helped a stranger get where they were going:

 

 

27. This crowd, who figured the fan in the wheelchair deserved to see the show just as much as anyone else there:

 

 

28.Rugby player Brian O’Driscoll, who visited his biggest little fan in the hospital:

 

 

29. This officer, who handcuffed himself to a suicidal woman so she knew she wouldn’t go alone:

 

 

30. This barber, who offers haircuts at the cost of one hug each:

 

 

 

31. This biker, who held up traffic to help an older lady cross the street:

 

 

 

32. This guy, who saw a person in need and realized he could help:

See Source here

 

 

What is the most impotant thing a child should learn?

A young man went to seek an important position at a large printing company. He passed the initial interview and was going to meet the director for the final interview. The director saw his resume, it was excellent. And asked, '
- Have you received a scholarship for school?' The boy replied, " No '.
-' It was your father who paid for your studies? '
-' Yes.'- He replied.
-' Where does your father work? '
-' My father is a Blacksmith'
The Director asked the young to show him his hands.
The young man showed a pair of hands soft and perfect.
-' Have you ever helped your parents at their job? '
-' Never, my parents always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, he can do the job better than me.
The director said:
-' I have got a request: When you go home today, go and wash the hands of your father and then come see me tomorrow morning.'

The young felt his chance to get the job was high.
When he returned to his house he asked his father if he would allow him to wash their hands.
His father felt strange, happy, but with mixed feelings and showed their hands to his son. The young washed his hands, little by little. It was the first time that he noticed his father's hands were wrinkled and they had so many scars. Some bruises were so painful that his skin shuddered when he touched them.
This was the first time that the young man recognized what it meant for this pair of hands to work every day to be able to pay for his study. The bruises on the hands were the price that he payed for their education, his school activities and his future.
After cleaning his father's hands the young man stood in silence and began to tidy and clean up the workshop. That night, father and son talked for a long time.

The next morning, the young man went to the office of the director.
The Director noticed the tears in the eyes of the young when He asked him: -' Can you tell me what you did and what you learned yesterday at your house?'

The boy replied: -' I washed my father's hands and when I finished I stayed and cleaned his workshop '
-' Now I know what it is to appreciate and recognize that without my parents , I would not be who I am today . By helping my father I now realize how difficult and hard it is to do something on my own. I have come to appreciate the importance and the value in helping the family.

The director said, "This is what I look for in my people. I want to hire someone who can appreciate the help of others , a person who knows the hardship of others to do things, and a person who does not put money as his only goal in life". ' You are hired '.

A child that has been coddled, Protected and usually given him what he wants, develops a mentality of " I have the right ' and will always put himself first, ignoring the efforts of their parents. If we are this type of protective parent are we really showing love or are we destroying our children?
You can give your child a big house , good food , computer classes , watch on a big screen TV . But when you're washing the floor or painting a wall , please let him experience that too.
After eating have them wash the dishes with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you have no money to hire someone to do this it's because you want to love them the right way . No matter how rich you are, you want them to understand. One day your hair will have gray hair, like the father of this young man.
The most important thing is that your child learns to appreciate the effort and to experience the difficulties and learn the ability to work with others to get things done. "

 (Collected)