Last week I watched a documentary film on Discovery Channel about Ram Bahadur Bomjon also known by his monastic name Palden Dorje, is from Ratanapuri village, Bara district, Nepal.
I was so inspired by this 15 years old Nepalese boy who meditated under a pipal tree for three years without food and water. Watching the boy sitting motionless with the same position day by day really amazed me! I was so sanctified by his peaceful countenance. I felt a profound peace within me just by keenly watching every detail of his face and serene posture as he sit motionless in a deep meditation. What a supernatural phenomenon! An average human being would be expected to die from kidney failure after four days without drinking any fluids. Ram showed no sign of physical weakening and dehydration but consistently remained in a very serene and intense state of meditation.
I am not a Buddhist, but I believe on the ecumenism and the oneness of celestial knowledge of the Divine. The universal divine who transcend love, peace, unity, holiness and all the graces where the soul and spirit rest. I am one in the equality, the oneness, the total understanding and true wisdom, and the nothingness of an individual in all forms of faith and belief.
But to tell you my friend, I know very little with all these wonderful experiences of divinity. The universe is so substantial that I only get not even a hand full or perhaps a very diminutive piece of its mystery, as I remain very faithful with my Catholic- Christian Credo. Well, everybody have a story to tell about their piece of heaven. And no one can question and measure the divine love you are experiencing because it transpire only between you and God, no one else!
In connection with this, let me share with you an excerpt that I just read entitled “The Heart Sutra”, which means the Heart of the Great Wisdom. I am not an expert with other doctrine or whatsoever, but let me impart this because it is somehow similar to the teachings of St. John of the Cross and the spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux on nothingness. I am convince that the teachings of John are acceptable in the faith and belief of Buddhism.
Pardon me but I edited some terminology and change few of it to its general meaning. Every word of this wonderful Heart Sutra has penetrated my being. How powerful it is that every phrase truly consumed me. I find this mindful for people who seek nothingness to arrive at everything. I hope your soul will savour to its unfathomable space as you chew every bit of its emptiness that will fill every inch of your mind, body and soul.
“Heart of the Great Wisdom”
When a sincere truth seeker attains the wisdom of enlightenment,
he realizes that all the five senses which are the bodily forms, sensation, perception, mental creations and consciousness are empty and he transcends every suffering.
Listen: All things are no different from emptiness; emptiness is not different from all things.
Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.
Feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness are also like this.
The original nature of all things is neither born nor extinguished.
There is no purity, no defilement; no gain, no loss.
In this world of emptiness there is no form, no feelings, perceptions, impulses, or consciousness.
No eye, ear, tongue body, or mind.
Therefore, no color, sound, smell, taste, touch, or thought.
The world of form does not exist, nor the world of the mind or of ignorance; no old age and no death. Yet there is continuous ignorance, old age, and death.
There is no suffering, no cause of suffering, no cessation of suffering; no wisdom and no attainment because there is nothing to be attained.
The compassionate truth-seeker depends upon the wisdom of enlightenment. When the mind does not become attached to anything, there are no obstacles and fear does not exist.
This mind goes beyond all disruptive views and attains paradise.
All the enlightened sentient of the past, present and future depend upon the wisdom of enlightenment–and so attain the supreme, wisdom of enlightenment as the great unexplainable true word, the great shining true word that is able to remove all suffering. It is true, not false.
This true word of wisdom says: Gone, gone, totally
Gone, completely gone, perfect wisdom, so be it!…
Palden Dorje
Emptiness suggests that nothing really exists, but that’s not the intention of what is being express here. Thus, emptiness state the existence of reality, and that all things exist really. Here, emptiness means that things are “as they are”
We animate in a humanity of theophanies. Holiness hides in the ordinary. There are burning bushes all around us. Every tree is full of angels. Miracle is always happening at hand. And this can happen only if you are willing to unlock the ordinary by believing and holding on with your little faith.
As I unwind, If we will sum up all the great teachings in this world, from Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc. It’s a resounding melody of peace, love, unity, forgiveness and repentance.
Pure spirituality out cry for healing and salvation of the soul from all evil and worldly attachment, that devastate the human heart from its good nature. For all things are No-Things (Nothing). All things will soon fade, all things are futile, all things are forgotten, all things passes, all things now decay.
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“There is one thing that all true spirituality has in common, whether that spirituality is derived from faith, from science, from nature or from the arts – a sense of wonder!” -Andrew Schneider
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Peace to All!
Excellent, and even more excellent that you posted your lovely article on the anniversary of Palden Dorje’s completing 4 years out of 6 of his meditation.
You are inspired!
I like your Heart Sutra, too. You can hear Imee Ooi sing the Heart Sutra with pictures of Palden Dorje here:
Honeybrisketbabyfat: Hello LTJ! Oh! Wow! It gave me goose bump when you said that I posted this article in his (Ram) anniversary. Yes, I am truly inspired. Thanks for the information about his years of meditation. Likewise the beautiful Hannya Shingyo by Imee Ooi. I included you in my blogroll. Peace be with you my friend. (:
I am amazed how profound your reflections are on this aspect of Buddhist spirituality, or should I say, universal spirituality (since the practice of meditation is indeed shared by all). What’s insightful for me is how you linked it to the Todo-Nada principle of St. John of the Cross. Truth be told, I do not know much about these things as mysticism is not exactly my field but by reading your post, it seemed like you understood much of what is it all about.ü thanks for posting this, HBB!
Honeybrisketbabyfat: Hello Utoy! Hmmm, the truth is I also don’t know all these things, especially mysticism. It’s the love for God that make me write all these things, that are coming from my heart. Maybe I am in love with God… and I want to be deeply in love everyday. And for sure, that if I am radiating so much love in my deeds and actions, I’ll desire nothing more. How I miss my daily meditation and divine office. Thanks for dropping by my friend (:
wow.. great post ( english yan)
that’s why the Lord God is my Tanging Yaman
more inspiring post to come!
thanks
Honeybrisketbabyfat: Hi Sandi! Nakakatawa naman na kung kailan inilagay mo ang iyong gwapong pic eh bumaba ang readers haha! I feel so especial because you gave me a comment in english. Thanks! nice pic in blue. At aasahan ko talaga ang pangako mo na berger (:
for your readers who doesn’t know the meaning of the word “Tanging Yaman” it means “Only Treasure”
thank you!
Honeybrisketbabyfat: Wow! may bonus pa! Thanks again Sandi! (:
kumusta naman ang kapatid ko na nag around the world haha. Nangungumusta lang madalang na ako mag bloghop
Honeybrisketbabyfat: Kapatid!!! around the world ka diyan. Trip to Jerusalem lang yun yung sa agawan ng upuan. Salamat sa iyong pagdalaw at pangangamusta sa akin. Kita kita tayo ulit sometime ha, andito na ulit sila rev., God bless kapatid.
“Holiness hides in the ordinary.” This is very true. In the ordinary of life, there you can see many opportunities to become holy:
sa trabaho, kung araw araw mo ba naman nakikita ang bruha mong boss, araw araw din ang hamon na maging holy;
sa pag-aaral, kung ayaw mong magbasa at magsulat, naku… ang pagpupursige ay isang kilos ng holiness;
sa mrt na masikip, katabi mo ba naman ang isang mabaho ang kilikili at nakataas ang kamay nya at timing na timing na ito’y malapit sa mukha mo… ewan ko lang kung di ka mahilo sa opportunity na maging holy.
thanks for sharing this to us. napaisip tuloy ako… ang pagcocomment ko kaya dito ay landas patungo sa holiness? watchutink?
Honeybrisketbabyfat: Kapatid, first, I am happy that you spent time to read my blog (grabe ang effort touch ako). I can’t help myself but laugh with your comment, its light, real and refreshing, ang galing! Tama ka, na masusumpungan natin ang kabanalan sa mga ordinaryong bagay na yan. Keep in touch kapatid and God bless you (:
reading this post over again completes the music you shared with me…”i felt peace…” really….
i was not able to tell you how stressful this day had been for me… but for some reason, i felt well rested after listening… God really makes things fall into place… great timing, i must say! what better way to ease out after a tiresome day than to spend it in reflection… i’ll never grow tired in thanking you for teaching me the value of silence in my life….Thank you….Thank you…
Honeybrisketbabyfat: Sharer lang po ang iyong kaibigan, hindi teacher ha. I am happy you’ve been able to find comfort especially in moments you needed space. Welcome po. (: