Good Karma Music Stories

This morning it was me and the little bird. I was on my usual morning walk and as i was starting to round Grove park, i saw this little bird on its side. I looked closer, and it was still alive, it’s little chest rising and falling, it’s eyes moving. I started to recite for it. First the Great Compassion Mantra, then Guan Yin’s name. I was there for it. It was me and the bird for it’s last moments in it’s life. The human and the bird, together. It did somehow seem that the bird…calmed down, or at least that’s the subtle vibe i got. It started to move more, and then it took it’s last breath.I continued reciting, and then got a plastic bag from a neighbor, picked the bird up, dug a hole, and buried it. Threw the bag away.It made me wonder about the situation. I had arrived at just the right time. I didn’t have to stay there so long, or have to leave the bird still there, alive and suffering. I recited for a while and then it died. Did i arrive just at that time where the bird had enough, was going to die? Had my recitation or intention or presence helped it along? Who knows. It’s a mystery. But it worked out.

Normally I live at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Redwood Valley, CA, USA, but I am writing this on a computer in northern India. I have just completed a pilgrimage to a few (but not all) of the Buddhist Holy Places with my friend, Manu. I am writing this to obtain the Paramita music files for him, as I think he will appreciate them.We traveled, in order, to Ajanta/Ellora (ancient Buddhist caves), Sanchi (stupa with Buddha relics and also stupa with relics of Sariputta and Maha-Mogallana), Sarnath (where first teaching was given), and Bodh Gaya (Bodhi Tree of Enlightenment). We kept journals but the whole story cannot be related here.Normally a “Good Buddhist” will want to go pilgrimage to the Holy Sites at some point in his/her life. However, the main reason I came to India was to help my friend, Manu, who was going through difficulties in his life. The Holy Sites allowed me to do this. A pilgrimage can be the most powerful way to overcome obstacles.Manu had spent three months at Abhayagiri in early 2004, helping serve our annual winter retreat. At that time I was having some difficulties as a newly ordained monk, and Manu told me that if I ever made it to being a monk for five years, he would invite me to India. So this is how the one month pilgrimage came about.

I attended Rev Heng Sure’s talk at Global buddhist conference.Rev Heng Sure told us about this free download but we need to do a kind act first. I was thinking what could i write but the thinking did not last very long as rev gave us some suggestions immediately after that. One of them was not to quarrel with the wife. I follow the advice on that very night. My wife was angry at me on that day and i was able to control my anger and did not fight back. I am glad that i did that and did not hurt my wife with unpleasant words.I will try to speak kind words to others and not to hurt them intentionally or unintentionally

About 25 years ago, when I was a college student, I hang out at night for a drink (tea not beer). Strange on that night, about 11:00 p.m., a stranger approached me and asked me how to get to Location X. It was 8km to walk and there were no buses. Then out of nowhere, a taxi came by. I flagged the taxi and told the driver to get him to Location X.The stranger said he had no money to pay for the fare. I paid for him. He then said, “Can I have your address, so I can pay you back on another day?” I said, “no need.” He said thank you and left. An hour later, I felt so happy. 25 years later from that incident, Uncle Vijaya Samaravickrama, aka Uncle Vijaya gave a talk on charity. He said, “if you give something without expecting anything in return, then you are a master of giver.” He further explained the other types of givers, namely, slave of the giver, friend of the giver. Three weeks later after the talk, I suddenly realised at that time, I was the Master of Giver.

Few days ago i suddenly felt that I have to call my Mom, when she get the phone she didnt say a word but startdto cry… I asked about the Christmas Eve, cause she lives alone 80 km from my city and thought that she is going to my brither’s home. She said she’s going to stay in the darkness alone with light turned off cause she doesnt want neighbours to think that she is so lonely, In one second without thinkin I promissed her I’m gonna come to her place and spend with her all Christmas,we’re gonna bake together and go for a walk every day… I knew that only in this way I can help her. I was afraid that my father and grandma going to be a bit ungry that i wont spend those days with them but when I told them about everything they said I’m doing the right thing and they are very happy… My mother is not crying but thinking about “our time” so I’m happy more then all of them, cause there are no problems anymore:)))this is my duty, duty of being a child:))) funny thing is that my mom turned on the cell phone only for few seconds, it was turned off for 3 days before i called she, told me that:)

My friend moved to another country last week. Before she went though, I managed to get another friend to burn a CD. The friend that’s moving loves classical music; and although I knew and know nothing about classical music, I chose some famous composers. I sent the friend off with that parting gift. I do hope she listens to it. 😀

Last night I meditated for an hour on the name of Amitabha Buddha and dedicated the merits to all living beings. We are conditioned to think of the world in terms of laws of physics and chemistry, as if the world has an independent existence. Indeed, this is what science teaches us, which is useful at a practical level but is a very limited view and cannot explain the phenomenon of the universe. Buddhism teaches us that the mind is the source of all things. By purifying our minds, we can all make the world a better place.