city insights : ​ค้นหาหนังสือธรรมะ หน้า 43 / 49

3. SAVE YOURSELF FIRST We are like a small, helpless baby bird vulnerable to dangers. Save yourself from danger before thinking and worrying about saving others. After I left home, I never looked back

This text emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing oneself before assisting others, likening individuals to vulnerable creatures that must first ensure their own safety. It recounts personal experienc

6. TEACH YOURSELF We must learn how to teach ourselves. I never had to be taught by anyone, yet I know how to do everything on my own. I didn’t know how to read or write, but I observed and I learned

This text illustrates the concept of self-teaching through the author's experiences with cleanliness. Growing up in Nakorn Chaisi, the author learned to clean meticulously without being taught by anyo

stung when the bedbugs bit me, but I would not kill them. I would catch them and put them in a spittoon covered with a piece of paper so they could not get away. When morning came, I would release the

The author shares her lifelong passion for cleanliness and orderliness, rooted in a disciplined upbringing at Wat Paknam. Through meditation, she recalls past lives that have contributed to her self-t

7. LOOK WITHIN YOURSELF I look at myself. I look through myself. I understand "me" clearly. I look into my physical self to find my human nature until I thoroughly understand it. Then I look deeper in

This text encourages individuals to look within themselves for true understanding rather than focusing on others. It highlights the journey of self-discovery through examining both physical and spirit

16. BORN ALONE, DIE ALONE We were born alone and we will die alone. There is no need to worry about others if we can't even save ourselves. If we can't save ourselves, and don't have a firm grip on o

Life is fleeting and solitary; focus on saving oneself before aiding others. With the knowledge of Buddhism, one must act promptly to reap its benefits or risk a wasted life. Achieving Perfections and

22. WE ARE PUPPETS I reflect on death, realizing that time waits for no one. That's why I made 'Kathina" offerings, re robe offerings to monks, while I still could. Any day could be my last. I don't k

This text reflects on the significance of making merit and the inevitable passage of time. It emphasizes that life is fleeting and encourages readers to perform good deeds while they can, as merit is

27. COME TO THE TEMPLE NOW Khun Yai encouraged those who came to the temple for the first time to visit the temple often. Whether it’s early or late in life, we all end up in the temple one way or ano

In these teachings, Khun Yai emphasizes the inevitability of visiting the temple, especially regarding death and the afterlife. No matter our life stage, we all will face the consequences of our actio

111. PURSUING PERFECTIONS UNTIL YOU PREVAIL Addressing a group of Upasaka (male temple attendants) getting ready to be ordained: When you have decided to enter the temple in order to pursue Perfecti

In a talk directed at male temple attendants preparing for ordination, the importance of unwavering commitment to the pursuit of Perfections is emphasized. The speaker stresses the need to avoid distr

30. BE MODEST I'm not the ambitious type. I don't want to be popular nor famous like others. This has been a characteristic of mine for a long time. When I lived at Wat Paknam and practiced high-leve

This text reflects on the values of modesty and the pursuit of virtue through consistent good deeds. The author shares experiences from their time at Wat Paknam, where humility and quietude were key t

32. ALL THINGS MUST BE BASED UPON VIRTUE Those ignorant ones, who have no virtue yet desire fame, power and prestige, are doomed to fail in the end. The louder they boast, the faster they will fail. A

This text emphasizes that ambition without virtue leads to failure. The author reflects on a life built on merit and caution against desiring others' wealth. It highlights the importance of choosing o

35. SEEING THROUGH PEOPLE There is a parable about a fox that was raised as a lion. It is the fox's nature to eat excrement. But one fox was taken and raised like a lion. He was fed the finest meat an

This text discusses the essence of recognizing one's true nature illustrated by a parable about a fox raised as a lion. It emphasizes the value of good human relations, teamwork, and the importance of

41. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SECRET Luang Por Wat Paknam's meditative attainment was utterly complete and profound. I have witnessed it. A secret as tiny as a strand of hair could not be hidden fro

Luang Por Wat Paknam's teachings emphasize that there are no secrets in the world, as true meditation opens the mind to profound knowledge. After weeks of meditation under his guidance, expanded consc

56. TO SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE PERFECTIONS, ONE NEED TO EMBRACE MEDITATION We were born to pursue virtues. Strive to perform good deeds. If you wish to successfully pursue Perfections, you need to “attac

In the pursuit of Perfections, one must focus on mental development rather than attachment to people. Meditation serves as a vital practice to overcome false views and achieve personal merit. As exper

60. I CHERISH MEDITATION During the time I attended Luang Por's super advanced meditation workshop at Paknam, I never left the temple and was there for the entire duration. Some people went home to se

In this collection of reflections, the author shares profound insights gained from attending a meditation workshop and personal challenges faced in building a temple. The narrative emphasizes the impo

64. MEDITATION HELPS Addressing an engineer: If you run into a mental block in regards to your work, find a tranquil place to sit down and meditate. Put your mind along with thoughts about your work a

Meditation can serve as a powerful tool for addressing mental blocks and enhancing clarity in both personal and professional environments. By finding a tranquil place to meditate, individuals such as

103. WISHES COME THROUGH I made the following resolution while leaving a robe-offering ceremony to monks on the occasion of the Magha Puja Day® in which I was the ceremonial leader. Bring your mind to

The text reflects on the practice of making merit during the Magha Puja Day, emphasizing the importance of intention in offerings. It conveys that merit can be shared and received by others, and the o

71. ONLY THOSE WITH A PURE HEART WILL BE WITH ME A person with a pure heart and a clear mind, one whose focus is on gaining merit, is the only kind of person I want to have in my company. Those with d

This text emphasizes that only individuals with a pure heart and clear mind, focused on gaining merit, belong together. Merely being in good company does not ensure merit; active participation in buil

78. CALL UPON MERIT FOR HELP All good work takes good planning. When I built the Buddhad­hakka Center, I had to plan everything very carefully. I knew building an alms house (reformatory) at the Buddh

This passage discusses the significance of merit in achieving success, specifically in the context of building a temple and an alms house at the Buddhadhakka Center. Drawing inspiration from the Most

89. USING MERIT CORRECTLY The act of charity returns to us in good fortune. The act of mental cultivation brings us deliverance. Meditate frequently. Before merit can be generated, there is a great d

Merit is essential for success and happiness, requiring faith and good deeds. Cherish your merit and make the most of every opportunity to acquire more, as it serves as your refuge from life's defilem

95. TAKE THE LONG TERM VIEW I am someone who takes the long term view (seeing beyond this life). Nothing can be taken with us after death except our merit and demerit. Accumulate as much merit as you

The text emphasizes the significance of adopting a long-term viewpoint, where the accumulation of merit becomes paramount. It suggests that upon death, only merit and demerit accompany us, urging indi