Composing ends on 16 April 2020
"PAYBACK TIME "
***信不信由你***
The title is just a
hook to get your attention to read on the "PAYBACK" - The Act Of Giving article for the needy during this Covid-19 Pandemic. I
was moved to write it when someone suggested that it would be better to use the
money to BUY food for the needy rather than use it to BID the mass produced and chanted Thai Amulet via live online
bidding !
Don’t get me wrong ya,
I neither suggesting, provoking nor condemning any ideas or parties here. I’m
just sharing some positive vibes shared by Thai Wats @ Thai Buddhist Temples
in the Land of Smile a.k.a Thailand during this Lockdown @ MCO – "Movement Control Order" in Malaysia.
The sharing shows how these Thai
temples organised their "PAYBACK TIME" - The Act Of Giving to soothe the needy and kampung folks in their
areas. I ( PERSONALLY ) named it as “PAYBACK TIME” as during normal days the devotees will
throng to the temples to perform “DANA” by DONATING MONEY and VALUABLE
THINGS, PROVIDING THE VENERABLE WITH FOOD, ROBES and etc. So during this pandemic lock-down, Thai Monks @ Temples TAKE TURN to provide a helping hand to the needy
devotees by PROVIDING THEM FOOD and DAILY NECESSITIES.
In my opinion, it is really a big responsibility for us to help the poor @ needy, especially in this critical period like this – Covid-19 Pandemic. Of course not all of them, because we know that some of us may don’t have the capacity and capabality to do so, but if we at least try to help one, it is enough. And when we help them, it doesn’t mean helping them with everything or feeding them the whole life but to try including them socially and not neglecting them. We have one world that is divided in two. On one side is people living their life in luxury, and on the other side is people who hardly afford to live, they have no place to live in, they have no food to eat and they have no clothes to wear.
“Hunger
is a terrible thing. If you’ve ever gone hungry for any period of time, you
will know that the feeling of hunger keeps you awake at night. Being able to feed
people is very rewarding…………”
If you are Buddhist and believe in Buddhism, it's a mandatory for you to believe all of these happened due to our own "KARMA" from the CAUSE and EFFECT of our own deeds in the past. Our Great Buddha spoke on these verses on Cause and Effect when Ananda was on Magic
Mountain, together with twelve hundred fifty in the assembly. Ananda
made obeisance with his palms together, circumambulated the Buddha three
times, and knelt with his palms joined.
Then he asked Shakyamuni
Buddha this question:
"During the Dharma-Ending Age, all the living beings in Southern
Jambudvipa will give rise to much unwholesome karma. They will not
revere the Triple Jewel, or respect their parents. They will be lacking
in the Three Bonds. The Five Constants that safeguard the universal
obligations between people will be in disharmony and disarray. Beings
will be poor, destitute, lowly, and vile. Their six faculties will
suffer impairment. All day long they will engage in killing and harming.
Moreover, they will not be of equal status; some will be wealthy while
others will be poor. What are the conditions leading to these various
different rewards and retributions? We disciples pray that the World
Honored One will compassionately explain each one of these for us."
Then the Buddha spoke these verses on cause and effect:
"Wealth and dignity come from one's destiny
From causes planted in lives in the past.
People who hold to this simple principle
Will reap good fortune in lives in the future.
Others don't have food or drink,
Who can guess the reason why?
Before those people were plagued with a fault:
Stingy greed made them squeeze every penny.
The well-to-do among us dwell
In very tall mansions and vast estates.
The reason is they gladly gave rice,
Lavishing gifts of grain on monasteries.
Enjoying blessings and justly prosperous,
Are People who reap a fitting reward."
..................................................................
..................................................................
*** Adapted & adopted from The Buddha Speaks "The Sutra On Cause and Effect In Three Periods Of Time"
Like all good deeds, an act of giving will bring us happiness in the
future, in accordance with the kammic law of cause and effect taught by
the Buddha. Giving yields benefits in the present life and in lives to
come whether or not we are aware of this fact. The amount of merit gained varies according to three factors: the
quality of the donor's motive, the spiritual purity of the recipient,
and the kind and size of the gift. Since we have to experience the
results of our actions, and good deeds lead to good results and bad
deeds to bad results, it is sensible to try to create as much good kamma
as possible. In the practice of giving, this would mean keeping one's
mind pure in the act of giving, selecting the worthiest recipients
available, and choosing the most appropriate and generous gifts one can
afford.
Back to the discussion on the topic...……... it’s so releasing to see such monks and temples in Thailand TAKING TURN to
PAYBACK to their devotees including the personnel during this pandemic lockdown. Shadu, Shadu, Shadu. Keep it up !
Here are some MP4 showing how the temples and monks in Land of Smile - Thailand organizing their "PAYBACK TIME" - The Act Of Giving to the needy devotees including the personnel involved in the activities. Do accept my apologizes as i don't know the exact temple names and the monks involved. Perhaps one of it is Wat ChaiMongkhol ...............
ถึงเวลาแล้วที่วัด ต้องตอบแทนญาติโยม ในช่วงวิกฤต
Some will say that by doing so, they - the monks and temples are violating the lock-down order by the government. According to my Thai friends, before organising such activities the temple committees will get the written green light from the authorities involved in order to ensure such activities strictly follow the S.O.P and guidelines imposed. They will impose all the do's and dont's to be followed, ensure all the precaution and safety measures are taken into account before conducting such activities. Kudos !
Below are some photos involving the same "PAYBACK TIME" - The Act Of Giving activities organized by Luang Phor Kit of Wat Bot Maharat, Ayutthaya. The former abbot Wat Bot is late LP SaiThong. LP Sai Thong was once popular with his Takrut MahaRangap as i used to introduce in my blog few years back. Link to the post as per-attached ..........
Some photos of "PAYBACK TIME" - The Act Of Giving activities organized by Luang Phor Kit of Wat Bot Maharat, Ayutthaya during lockdown in Thailand .
As far as i concerned, this "PAYBACK TIME" - The Act Of Giving activity was successfully organised by the temple due to the support from the public - raised fund from the devotees from many part of the countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Credit to the FB owner - Huang Qing Sheng for the sharing. Kindly click the FB link below for further information. Bear in mind that, i'm neither promoting nor provoking......
As a recap, the "PAYBACK TIME" - The Act Of Giving activities as shown @ discussed above is MERELY sharing of thought and writer's PERSONAL VIEW per se. I'm neither promoting nor provoking any temple or monk both in Thailand or Malaysia ......... intentionally or unintentionally !
Stay Safe & Stay At Home !
***信不信由你***
Merely Sharing @ Perkongsian Semata !
wiesukhihotu20
sabbe satta sukhita hontuk !
Composing ends on 26 April 2020.
Good news is rare these days, and every
glittering ounce of it should be cherished, hoarded and worshipped like a priceless diamond......
Good news is rare these
days, and every glittering ounce of it should be cherished and hoarded
and worshipped and fondled like a priceless diamond.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/good-news-quotes
Good news is rare these
days, and every glittering ounce of it should be cherished and hoarded
and worshipped and fondled like a priceless diamond.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/good-news-quotes
Actually i'm going to publish this post today, right after the composing ends on 26 April 2020. Suddenly i received a WhatsApp message from close buddy in Kelantan sharing some "PAYBACK TIME" - The Act Of Giving activities (what a coincidence ! ) from local Thai temples and monks in Kelantan. The list of the temples are;
* Wat Cheng Buddhavas, Terbok, Tumpat.
* Wat Semerak, Cherang Ruku, Pasir Putih.
* Wat Mai Suwankiri, Bukit Tanah, Tumpat.
Just like Thailand temples and monks our local kelantan Thai monks also have taken the fight against the deadly Covid-19 outbreak to another
level by organizing the same initiatives - "PAYBACK TIME" @ "The Act Of Giving" as an outpouring of community support for the needy families during the challenging times. Please don't get me wrong, the temples list might be more than the listed above. Perhaps, there might be more local Thai temples conducting the same "PAYBACK TIME" - The Act Of Giving out there. Kudos !
Below are some of the photos taken during "PAYBACK TIME" - The Act Of Giving by our local Kelantanese Thai Temples .....
Almost 50 bags of daily necessity goods from Than Dee of Wat Cheng Buddhavas for the needy and kampung folks around Wat Cheng Buddhavas. I was told that all goodies were purchased by Than Dee and his wat commettees by using the temple proceeds plus the support and contribution from other temples and community.
Than Noon of Wat Semerak, himself distributing the daily necessity goods to the needy kampung folks.
These daily necessity goods are from Wat Mai Suwankiri and were distributed to kampung folks from door to door. I'm not sure about the overall volume of the distribution and family involved but i was told that all the contribution was pouring in as an outpouring of community support to the monks and temples.
Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu !
Keep It Up !
***信不信由你***
Merely Sharing @ Perkongsian Semata !
wiesukhihotu20
sabbe satta sukhita hontuk !
Composing ends on 26 April 2020.
**********************Muhasabah
Diri *******************
JANGAN TAKBUR,
JANGAN JADI HAMBA DUIT !
KALAU BETUL, KATAKAN BETUL,
KALAU SALAH, KATAKAN SALAH,
USAH BERMUKA-MUKA,
USAH MENJADI TALAM DUA MUKA,
USAH KERANA DUIT, PANGKAT, DAN KUASA,
KITA JADI HIPOKRIT,
MAKA.........................
YANG BETUL DIKATAKAN SALAH,
YANG SALAH DIKATAKAN BETUL !
********************Muhasabah
Diri *****************
