20 July 2003: Creating the causes for good health

The Buddhist Hour Radio Broadcast Archives

Buddhist Hour
Broadcast 286
For Sunday 20 July 2003

This script is entitled:
“Creating the causes for good health”

On Thursday 17 July 2003 our Teacher John D. Hughes was admitted to the Angliss Hospital for observation.

The Venerable Master Ru Sun was contacted (via his attendant Jason Thigh) and has given the following instructions to help with Master John D. Hughes' recovery.

Members and friends are requested to chant and recite the following for our Teacher John D. Hughes' recovery each morning and as often as possible.

As you chant, visualise John D. Hughes chanting the mantra and recitation with you.

Chant the Heart Sutra 7 times or if you can, 49 times, 108 times or more.

We would like to read the Heart Sutra to you.

This version of the Heart Sutra, provided to the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. by Mr Jason Thigh, is for free distribution.

BO JE PO LO MI DO SHIN CHING

KUAN TZE TSAI PU SA, SHING SHEN BO JE PO LO MI DO SHIH,

CHAO CHIEN WU YUN CHIEH KUNG, DU YI CHEH KI ERH.

SHER LI TZE, SER BU YI KUNG, KUNG BU YI SER,

SER CHI SHIN KUNG, KUNG CHI SHIN SER

SHOU SHIANG SHING SHIH YI FU ZU SHIH.

SHER LI TZE, SHIH CHU FA KUNG SHIANG.

BU SHENG BU MIEH, BU KOU BU CHING, BU TSENG BU CHIEN,

SHIH KU KUNG CHUNG WU SER, WU SHOU SHIANG SHING SHIH,

WU YEN ERH BI SHER SHEN YI, WU SER SHENG SHIANG WEI CHU FA,

WU YEN CHIEH, NAI CHIH WU YI SHIH CHIEH,

WU WU MING, YI WU WU MING CHIN, NAI CHIH WU LAO SHIH, YI WU LAO SHIH CHIN,

WU KU CHI MIEH DAO, WU CHIH YI WU DER

YI WU SO DER KU, PU TI SA TO, YI BO JE PO LO MI DO KU, SHIN WU KUA AI,

WU KUA AI KU, WU YO KUNG BU,

YUAN LI DIEN DAO MONG SHIANG, CHIU CHING NEIH PAN

SAN SHIH CHU FO, YI BO JE PO LO MI DO KU,

DER O NOU DO LO SAN MIAO SAN PU TI

KU CHIH BO JE PO LO MI DO, SHIH DA SHEN CHO,

SHIH DA MING CHO, SHIH WU SHANG CHO,

SHIH WU DENG DENG CHO, NENG CHU YI CHIEH KU,

CHEN SHIH BU SHU, KU SHO BO JE BO LO MI DO CHO,

CHI SHO CHO YUEH, CHIEH DI, CHIEH DI, PO LO CHIEH DI, PO LO SENG CHIEH DI, PU TI SA PO HO.

Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutra

Avaloskitesvara Bodhisattva while contemplating profoundly the Prajna Paramita,

realized that the five Skandhas are empty, and thus he was able to overcome all sufferings.

Sariputra, form is not different from Emptiness, Emptiness is not different from form,

Form is in fact Emptiness, emptiness is in fact form.

the same is of feeling, conception, impulse and consciousness.

Sariputra, Emptiness is the nature of all Dharmas.

It can neither be created nor annihilated, polluted nor cleansed, increased nor decreased

Therefore, in Emptiness there is no form, no feeling, conception, impulse or consciousness;

no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch or conception;

no object of eye to the realm of consciousness;

no ignorance, nor its extinction; no aging and no death, nor their cessation;

no suffering, causes, cessation, nor the path; no wisdom with nothing to attain

As there is nothing to attain, a Bodhisattva that relies on the Prajna Paramita has neither worry nor obstruction.

Without worry and obstruction, there is no fear,

away from confusion, daydreamimg, and thus reaches Nirvana.

Buddhas of the past, present and future also rely on the Prajna Paramita,

to attain Supreme Enlightenment

Thus, one should know that Prajna Paramita is the great mantra,

the mantra of illumination, the supreme of all mantras,

It is unequalled and able to emancipate all sufferings.

This is true and not false, thus proclaim the Prajna Paramita mantra,

saying thus, "Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi svaha"

At the completion of each round of 7 chants say the following dedication:

'I would like to repent for all the bad kamma I did based on the greed, hatred and ignorance through my body, mind and speech, I ask for repentance before the Buddha'.

The following mantra, which gives the names of the first to seventh Buddhas, is also to be chanted 7 times or more.

li po li po di (this is the name of 1st buddha)

chiu ho chiu ho di (this is the name of 2nd buddha)

to lo ni di (this is the name of 3rd buddha)

ni ho la di (this is the name of 4th buddha)

pi li ni di (this is the name of 5th buddha)

mo ho chieh di (this is the name of 6th buddha)

chen ling chien di (this is the name of 7th buddha)

so po ho

John has been blessed by numerous visits from Venerable Monks since he was admitted to hospital. We thank the Venerable Monks for their kindness to our Teacher.

On Thursday 17 July 2003 Venerable Tanee and Venerable Yokee from Wat Dhammarangsee, Springvale Road, visited John Hughes at Angliss Hospital to chant Parittas and give Blessings. Venerable Tanee offered 4 CD-ROMs to the Buddhist Discussion Centre(Upwey) Ltd. which contain a video of some of Acharn Plien's Teachings whilst he was on his recent visit to Melbourne. On Friday 18 July 2003 Venerable Boonsom and Venerable Thongdaeng from Melbourne Thai Buddhist Temple, Box Hill, visited John Hughes at Angliss Hospital to chant Parittas and give Blessings for his good health and protection.

The Venerable Vimalananda from the Shakyamuni Buddha Vihara, Berwick, Homestead Road also visited John D. Hughes and Anita Hughes in the Angliss Hospital on 18 July 2003, at approximately 7.15pm.

Venerable Vimalananda chanted the Kassapa Bojhanga Sutta. This Sutta is to bestow blessings and good health. It also names the seven items that must be practised to reach nirvana.

John’s condition is improving and he is expected home on Monday.

The Buddhist Foundation (Vic) Australia Inc. will present a Symposium on Thursday 28 August 2003 from 7.30pm on the theme “Health & Healing: the Buddhist Perspective”. The speakers will be Venerable Mahinda from Aloka Centre, NSW., Lama Choedak Rinpoche from Sakya Losal Choe Dzong, ACT. and Dr. Ian Gawler from the Gawler Foundation, VIC. The speakers will explore the inter-connectedness of mind and body and how this affects health and healing. The symposium will detail the positive effects of Buddhist practices on a broad spectrum of health issues ranging from serious illness such as cancer, to stress, depression and the common cold. The symposium will be held at Camberwell Centre, 340 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Vic. Tickets are $30, or $25 concession, and are available from Ticketmaster7 on 1300 308999 or online at www.ticketmaster7.com.

John and Anita Hughes intend to attend the symposium.
On 15 July 2003 we issued a press release entitled “Feed a Buddhist Program”.

All beings exist on nutrients - fine or course.

All students need nutrients to progress. To have mental power students must offer food and drink.

Our Teacher John D. Hughes has created “Feed a Buddhist Program” for Members to make the causes needed in this area.

A report in The Australian newspaper this week noted new research has found that high doses of fat and sugar in fast and processed foods can be as addictive as nicotine - and even hard drugs.

The researchers found that foods high in fat and sugar can cause significant changes in brain biochemistry similar to those from drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Once hooked, the scientists said, many people found it almost impossible to switch back to a healthy diet, often leading to obesity.

The addictive nature of fatty foods was established by researchers at Rockefeller University, New York, who found that regularly eating fast foods can quickly reconfigure the body’s hormones to want more fat. They also found exposure to fatty food could influence children’s choices so they would always seek similar food, raising chances of obesity in later life.

We are resource rich and can stay that way. Every change we make brings more resources. That is why we change. We do not make changes to destroy our supply chain. In our supply chain at present are millions of beings.

This is a devamanussanam Temple. It is “user pays”.
“User pays” is the Law of the Universe for devas and humans. We make suitable offerings and requests of the many beings who come to help us. We make food for the Devas. That is what they pay us for. The devas pay us with various gifts.

Some Members will teach other Members to cook at their place and deliver “Meals on Wheels” to Anita.

Other Members will buy selected commercial food with their own money and deliver the ingredients. They understand use-by dates.

The cooks or their attendants will need to produce shopping lists for those Members who are providing the ingredients.

Each person will cook one course so that up to four courses can be provided. Offerings will also be made to Padmasambhava, the Heavenly Monks and the Nat House.

Members can chant all the time they prepare food and the Kitchen God will guide them.

The effect of this program is that Members will start to eat non-sattvic food and their body will alter to become finer. They will have less body trouble, less boredom and need less sleep.

Some of the auspicious marks (32 major and 80 minor) will appear on their bodies. As more and more appear, their bodies become fit for Abhidhamma practice.

This system is used in Chinese Monasteries and includes work in the garden as part of the process.

The order is:

1. Work in the garden to grow the food. (Members
and non-Members)
2. Work in the kitchen assisting. (chant over food)
3. Cook the meal (chanting) (all with the help of the
Kitchen God)
4. Deliver the food (in silence) (Members)
5. Teach Five Reflections on food. (all)

Members can “adopt” a part of the garden at the Centre and/or use gardens at their own homes to grow food.

We have already planted garlic and ginger and have some fruit including lemons, mulberries and limes. We have parsley, mint and chillies growing.

Nature helps.

The first step is that Members and non-Members will grow tomatoes and broad beans. A list of other vegetables and fruits for Members to grow is forthcoming.

Members and non-Members will bring fresh food for the cooks.

The “big effort” follows nature.

We have a Kitchen Manual which outlines procedures for assisting in the Kitchen, including chanting while preparing food.

This program will have a Dana Effect and a Sila Effect.

We teach no killing. Garlic can be planted near other plants to prevent bugs from eating them.

The Five Reflections on Food are:

1. This meal is the labour of countless beings. Let us accept this offering with gratitude.

2. This meal is taken to strengthen our exertions, for greed and opinion are strong. Let us deserve this offering.

3. This meal is taken to help us become clear and generous. Let us pay attention.

4. This meal is taken to nourish and sustain our practice. Let us be moderate.

5. This meal is taken to help all beings attain the Buddha way. Let us practice wholeheartedly.

This meal is finished. Our strength is restored for us to teach the Dharma.

We plan to further increase food dana.

These programs will create Ten Blessings or more for Members and non-Members and save or make money.

For further information on the “Feed a Buddhist Program” please contact Julian Bamford at the Chan Academy Australia on 03 9754 3335 or 0400 267 330.

We thank our Teacher John D. Hughes for continuing to teach the Buddha Dhamma.

May you have the nutrients you require.

May you have good health and long life.

May you be well and happy.

This script was written and edited by John D. Hughes, Julian Bamford, Leanne Eames and Evelin Halls.

Reference:

1. Leake, Jonathon., Porter, Andrew ‘Fat, sugar as addictive as drugs.’ The Australian’ newspaper. 14 July 2003. p1

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"The gift of Dhamma excels all other gifts".

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