Shinkoku-O Gosho Part 6

Shinkoku-O Gosho 

(Sovereign of Our Divine land)

Part 6

The Juei and Jokyu Incidents

The 81st sovereign, Emperor Antoku, was the eldest son of Emperor Takakura, and his mother, Kenrei Mon'in, was a daughter of Lay Priest Prime Minister Taira no Kiyomori. Emperor Antoku, defected by the army of Minamoto Yoritomo, was drowned in the Sea of Yashima on the 24th day of the 3rd month in the first year of the Genryaku Period (1184).

The 82nd sovereign, Emperor Gotoba, was later called the ex-Emperor in Buddhist Robe on Oki Island. He was the third son of Emperor Takakura and was enthroned in the first year of the Bunji Period (1185). The 83rd sovereign was Emperor Tsuchimikado, known as ex-Emperor of Awa province. He was the fist son of Emperor Gotoba  and was placed on the throne in the second year of Kennin Period (1202). The 84th was Emperor Juntoku, known also as ex-Emperor on the Island of Sado. he was the second son of Emperor Gotoba who ascended the throne on the 26th of the second month in the third year of Jokyu Period (1221) but was exiled to Sado Island in the seventh month of the same year. Thus, the three sovereigns of 82nd, 83rd and 84th emperors were a father and his two sons. defeated by Hojo Yoshitoki, vassal of Minamoto Yoritomo of Kamakura, these three sovereigns were banished respectively to Oki, Awa, and Sado Provinces, an event of disgrace that never been paralleled in history.

by Nichiren Daishonin
12th year of Bun'ei Era (1275) 

Is Buddhism scientific?

Before we answer that question it would be best to define the word 'science'. Science is, according to the dictionary, 'knowledge which can be made into a system, which depends upon seeing and testing facts and stating general natural laws, a branch of such knowledge, anything that can be studied exactly'. There are aspects of Buddhism that would not fit into this definition but the central teaching of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, most certainly would. Suffering, the First Noble Truth, is an experience that can be defined, experienced and measured. The Second Noble Truth states that suffering has a natural cause, craving, which likewise can be defined, experience and measured. No attempts is made to explain suffering in terms of a metaphysical concept or myths. According to the Third Noble Truth, suffering is ended, not by relying upon a supreme being, by faith or by prayer but simply by removing its cause. This is axiomatic. The Fourth Noble truth, the way to end suffering, once again, has nothing to do with metaphysics but depends on behaving in specific ways. And once again behavior is open to testing. Buddhism dispense with the concept of a supreme being, as does science, and explains the origins and workings of the universe in terms of natural laws. All of this certainly exhibits a scientific spirit. Once again, the Buddha's constant advise that we should not blindly believe but rather question, examine, inquire and rely on our own experience, has a definite scientific ring to it. In his famous Kalama Sutta the Buddha says;

'Do not go by revelation or tradition, do not go by rumor or the sacred scriptures, do not go by hearsay or mere logic, do not go by bias towards a notion or by another person's seeming ability and do not go by the idea "He is our teacher". But when yourself know that a thing is good, that it is laudable, that it is praised by the wise and when practiced and observed that it leads to happiness, then follow that thing'. A.I,188

So we could say that although Buddhism is not entirely scientific, it certainly has a strong scientific overtone and is certainly more scientific than any other religion. It is significant that Albert Einstein, the greatest scientist of the 20th century said of Buddhism:

'The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religion sense arising from experience of all things, natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism'.

by S. Dhammika

Words of Wisdom 19

All that we are is the result of what we have thought;

is is founded on our thoughts.

If a man speaks or acts with pure thought,

joy will follow him,

like a shadow tat never leaves him.

Short Katha for Phra Somdej Archan Toh

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato

Samma Sam Bud Tassa x 3

Metta Khunang Arahang Metta x 9

Katha for Tok Raja Phra Pidta

Namo Tassa Bhavato Arahato 
Samma Sam Bud Tassa  x 3

Namo Bodhi Sato 
Punnak Suwanno Pasittimay  x 3

E Rak Ja Kha

Tha Rak Sa

Ti Hang Jak

Tho Ro Ti Nang

Pi Sam Ra Ro

Bu Sa Bu

( You can repeat 3, 9 or as many time as you like)

Words of Wisdom 18

Hatred never cease by hatred,

But by love.

My amulet collection - Phra Pidta Phakawan Wat Bangsek B.E.2480

督拉惹 (Tok Raja/LP Khron)

在馬來亞佛教界裏，曾被泰國覲選一百零八位頂尖兒高僧裡，唯一不屬於泰國境內的高僧，就是信徒尊稱為“督拉惹”的高僧，也是唯一被回教蘇丹王室御封為“督拉惹”的高僧。

“督拉惹” （Tok Raja）,意譯為“督，馬來語是公公、法師、村長及長輩等的意思。“拉惹” 意譯為蘇丹王室，結合起來“督拉惹”應該是，王室僧簡稱為“僧王”更有人稱鑾波為馬來亞“必打王”ปิดตา（Pitta），可想而知，他所鑄造的“必打”是多麼出名的。但簡稱鑾波為“阿祖”或“阿公”，較為有親切感。泰族人稱鑾波為鑾波昆榜錫หลวงพ่อครน บางแซะ （Luangpo Kron Bangsek）。

鑾波昆出生於1876年（佛曆2419）11月2日，星期四屬鼠年，當時還是暹羅管轄時代的吉蘭丹，父親名叫乃村，母親叫喃喬，姓氏為叻乍倫（Rajcharuen）。

鑾波昆十二歲時，父親才帶他去越烏塔瑪喃 วัดอุตตมาราม（Wat Uttamaram），也稱越榜錫วัดบางแซะ（Wat Bangsek），隨寺院主持學習泰文，過後又學會了巴利文，而能朗誦經文。鑾波自從進入寺院，學習語文後，就非常喜愛研讀經書，甚少遊樂，與其他孩童性格絕然不同。住持在觀察下，就覺得此孩童，似乎前世曾修過梵行，看他的一舉一動皆有僧侶的風範，他日必為僧中之尊呀！

鑾波讀完寺院裏的經書後，他也不願回家，繼續留在那裡，幫忙做個方面之事，同時也教村中的小孩們學習泰語。到年齡二十一歲時，鑾波要求父母給他籌備出家之事，父母也和親友們為他剃度受戒為僧人。於1895年（佛曆2438）6月15日，為受戒的是柏巴叻差法師，鑾波的法名柏昆普納蘇瓦若 (Phra Kron Punnasuwanno)。起先鑾波昆用兩年的時間深入的研習大藏經，過後他覺得自己應該出外走走，尋求更高一層的佛學知識。就毅然此外了住持，步行出發去修苦行戒律。但是當時沒有良好的道路，只好翻山越嶺，當然得徒步行走。整個月後來到了一個村莊，有間寺院越蓮乍（Wat Leamchak），得知有位法力高強的高僧，叫做鑾波瑪哈蕾（Luang Phor  Mahaloi）。起初鑾波瑪哈蕾將一本法術秘笈交與督拉惹，他得花上兩年時間方能背誦通笈交裏的經文，接着更深的修禪定法門。其後他也各地去尋訪名師讚研各門法術，而且還在泰南各府，當了多間佛寺的主持。督拉惹多住在宋卡府和高頭廊府一帶，也曾在越考烏（Wat Khao-Or）修習多種信物的獨特法門。 在1925年（佛曆2468）督拉惹辭去越邁考嶺的主持職位，決定回到家鄉，接任越烏塔瑪喃的住持方丈。 

他準備大肆修葺寺院。當時周圍都被膠園團團圍住，寺院的地大約二十多英畝。居民多是以割膠為生，過的生活的相當辛苦，不過每逢節日卻都非常誠心的前來獻僧供佛，有者今天看他們歡天喜地的來獻僧，明天卻穿來他的惡訊，說是被蛇咬死了！因為樹膠園裏毒蛇叢生，尤其是眼鏡蛇，在攻擊人的時候，豎起起來像人一般高。 

鑾波看到這種情景，非常難過，就將以前修苦行戒時所收集的聖土，用來製造避險的信物，這就是初期鑾波製造掩面佛的心意，製成後派發給信徒，信徒佩帶後果真一路平安無事，更奇怪的是毒蛇遇上有佩帶必打佛牌的村民，都會掉頭而逃，不敢接近，甚至碰上老虎、熊也會出現相同的情況，信徒們一傳十，十傳百，鑾波的必打佛像就慢慢的火紅起來。

從前要去寺院很艱難，因為交通很不方便，只有從水路和火車才能達到寺院，有些信徒甚至跟隨火車鐵軌走了十多哩才到達寺院，因為哥打峇魯到蘭斗班讓間是沒有火車站的，有些信徒都是去到蘭斗班讓在走回頭，但路程也要數哩之遙。 
曾經有比較熟的信徒，要到鑾波昆寺院之前，就會先買了煙。然後才上火車；在火車上，就會走到車頭，找駕駛員打交道，順便送上煙給他，要求火車經過寺院時，儘量放慢車速，好讓他們有機會從火車上跳下去，如此一來就節省了很多時間和精力。 信徒一到寺院，一般先回和鑾波閒談，鑾波是一位很健談的僧人，不會難以相處，而當信徒要求必打佛時，鑾波就會記錄下他個人的行業和需要，如果是做生意者，鑾波就會多下人緣咒。然後才然後再擇日鋳造制模，集會聖土、經水和石灰等，放進模型裏印出了一枚必打佛牌。 鑾波才利用小刀片，慢慢的雕出完美的曲線，然後以畫圖的鐵筆，一邊唸經，一邊將符咒寫在必打的身上，再放入法壇上，日夜誦經，直至兩三個月後，信徒才可以奉請佩戴。所以每一枚必打佛牌，都是鑾波要每枚佛牌都呈現最完美的形象，讓人看上去，就非常渴望將之擁有。這就是督拉惹必打佛牌最獨特之處。

關於督拉惹的必打佛牌威力，是不可置疑的，而且為信徒們所公認的，就連暹羅的佛牌收藏家們都會來尋找這塊寶物，現在此必打佛牌，在市場價值大約處於五十萬株左右。即使鑾波昆生前鋳造的銅佛牌市價都值越十萬銖左右呢！

鑾波昆所住的吉蘭丹州，鑾波在這裡卻沒有受到回教徒的排擠，鑾波有高深的法力，時常幫忙這些馬來同胞解決一些玄難雜症，如中邪、中降、小孩子哭個不停等的問題。鑾波昆也常常唸一些經水讓他們帶回去飲用或洗澡，一般可以解決一些玄妙的問題。甚至連吉蘭丹蘇丹也親自覲見鑾波，並向鑾波談起說：他每次去舉行王室儀式時，都會感到頭頂有撕裂頭痛的感覺，因為其中有一點血統奧妙的差距。鑾波就說沒有問題，走入佛舍裏，拿出長約一尺多的手杖。 
 
此手杖泰語成為“邁古魯”ไม้คูรู（Mai Kru），意譯是師父杖或權杖。此杖的功能是增加權威，避一切的邪惡。鑾波昆就把它交給吉蘭丹蘇丹王。而蘇丹王從此每次開王室大會時，再也不會發生頭痛的問題。而蘇丹永遠手不離此權杖，時常緊隨於身。蘇丹為了感謝鑾波昆的恩典，就第一次封泰族高僧為僧王，馬來語就是“督拉惹”（Tok Raya）。 

據說鑾波昆在修苦行戒律時，去到一座山洞，見到一位修行老僧在裡頭居住，鑾波就朝拜此老僧，並向他學習禪定法門。 過了三個月的守夏節。有一天老僧叫鑾波昆來到床前，這時候老僧已病倒再創了，老僧將一支拐杖狀的木棍交給鑾波，說是當年他年輕時候有位高僧交給他的，並吩咐他說他日得遇見有慧根者才傳交於他，並傳授口訣以及製造邁古魯的秘訣，鑾波昆就是從此處學來的。 鑾波得到邁古魯後，就日夜擁帶在身旁，連睡覺也相隨，覺得得到邁古魯後，自己的法力也隋着增長。不久之後傳邁古魯於他的老僧也圓寂了。

後來鑾波昆製造了數支邁古魯給有需要的人士，吉蘭丹蘇丹的就是其中一支。這隻邁古魯現在還供奉在蘇丹宮裏哪！

自從鑾波昆回到家鄉主持寺院，首先就是着手發展教育、建設校舍，並由柏嗎哈曾當老師。接着還籌建了一間全馬甚至暹羅所無悟的，與眾不同的是和大雄寶殿。四方有門進出，前門的十二支大柱子有祥龍盤捲的雕刻，更有許多奇珍異獸的雕像團團圍繞，計有龍、象、獅、虎、鹿、鷹及牛等等。進口處兩旁築了兩座神龕，分別供奉大伯公與觀音大士的聖像，蔚為奇觀。 從此這裡就變成好像少林寺一樣，有許多僧侶和法師紛紛前來拜在鑾波昆的門下，不是學武術，而是學法術。學成之後可以籍着法術救人於苦難中，這也是鑾波教授法術的宗旨。
在1962年（佛曆2505年），鑾波昆剛由新加坡回來之後，就不舒服臥病在床，吉蘭丹蘇丹也親自前來探病。鑾波年事已高，終於在11月19日圓寂，享年88歲，入戒68年，一代聖僧從此沉寂了 ......

Why are there so many different types of Buddhism?

There are many different types of sugar - brown sugar, white sugar, rock sugar, syrup and icing sugar - but it is all sugar and it all tastes sweet. It is produced in different forms so that it can be used in different ways. Buddhism is the same: there is Theravada Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, Yogacara Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhism and Nichiren Buddhism but it is all the teaching of the Buddha and it all has the same taste - taste of freedom. Buddhism has evolved into different forms so that it can be relevent to different cultures in which it exists. It has been reinterpreted over the centuries so that it can remain relevant to each new generation. Outwardly, the types of Buddhism may seem very different but at the center of all of them are the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold path. All major religions, Buddhism included, have split into schools and sects. Perhaps the difference between Buddhism and some other religions is that the various school have generally been very tolerant and friendly towards each other.


* Reference to S.Dhammika

My amulet collection - Somdej Phra Tat Phanom 2401 (Dark color, special power mixture with color beads #1)

Gohonzon

The Great Mandala is the object of worship for the believers, known as the Gohonzon. Whereas the inspiration of the Odaimoku comes from  verbal display, the Gohonzon provides for a visual interaction as well. The Gohonzon is the graphical representation that expresses the oneness between the Great Truths (Dharma) and the personage of the Eternal or Primeval Buddha.

Inspiration wells from a reverent gazing of the Gohonzon coupled with the chanting of the Odaimoku. For the faithful the experience is one of being bathed by the rays of wisdom and compassion that emanates from the Eternal Buddha. Thus are we embraced in the Buddha's realm of enlightenment and brought to a state of " Kanno Dokyo", a resonance between the Buddha's power and our spiritual receptivity.

Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo

Namo Buddhaya

Namo Dharmaya

Namo Sanghaya