Buddha Vacana (July 16, 2555)

When the Tathagata or the Tathagata’s disciples live in the world it is for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare and happiness of both gods and humans.  And what is a Tathagata?  Concerning this, a Tathagata arises in the world, a Noble One, fully enlightened Buddha, of perfect knowledge and conduct, happily attained, a knower of the worlds, a guide unsurpassed of men to be trained, a teacher of gods and humans, a Buddha, the Lord.  And what is a Tathagata’s disciple?  He is one who teaches Dhamma that is lovely at the beginning, lovely in the middle and lovely at the end, in both in the letter and in the spirit.  He makes plain the holy life, entirely complete and purified.  This is the Tathagata and this is the Tathagata’s disciple, and when they live in the world, it is done for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare and happiness of both gods and humans.

-- A.II,147

Note: Tathagata ตถาคต : 'one who has gone through the way' -- by acually having travelled the way himself; compare with 'one who knows the way' who may learn the way from text or ...

This winter the Kei apple produces a out-of-normal crop (usual crops are in late Spring-eraly Summer).

Kei apple (Umkokola) is a native of Africa (like custard apple, cocoa or ca cao --used to make chocolate, coffee,...), but has settled in America, Asia and now Aus. The fruits are very aromatic, sweet when ripe, acid when green. The 3-4 inch long thorns at leaf nodes put umkokola beside kaffir lime (มะกรูด).

Does anyone know its Thai name?

It's mid winter in AUS now (July15). A Jew's Plum (มะกอก) is shedding its yellow leaves while a little mango tree stands and watches. The mango feels the cold too and is preparing to put on flower buds on the tips of last summer branches.

They are signs of change in season. The ways things are seem choatic, but, once the signs are known we can see order and adjust our lives accordingly.

We have rains and an example of things that may come...

ปลานับแสนตัวลอยตายทั่วลำตะคองเมืองโคราช - ขาดออกซิเจนเฉียบพลัน ... www.khaosod.co.th/view_newsonline.php?... - Translate this page 15 ชม.ก่อน – ปลานับแสนตัวลอยตายทั่วลำตะคองเมืองโคราช - ขาดออกซิเจนเฉียบพลัน ... อาจจะมาจากโรงงานผลิตน้ำแข็งหลอดแห่งหนึ่ง ตั้งอยู่หลัง เดอะมอลล์โคราช ...

Local - Manager Online - ประมงโคราชตรวจปลา“ลำตะคอง” ตายเป็นเบือ ... www.manager.co.th/Local/ViewNews.aspx?... - Translate this page 3 ชม.ก่อน – ศูนย์ข่าวนครราชสีมา - ประมงโคราช ลงพื้นที่ตรวจสอบปลา “ลำตะคอง” ลอยตายนับแสนตัว ... ทันที อ้างไม่กระทบระบบผลิตน้ำประปาเมืองโคราช แฉ “ลูกเจ๊เกียว” บิดเบือนพูดความจริงครึ่งเดียว. ... สูบน้ำขึ้นมาจากลำตะคอง ที่บริเวณโรงกรองน้ำมะขามเฒ่า ต.

Local - Manager Online - ปลานับแสนลอยตายเกลื่อน ! “ลำตะคอง” โคราช ... manager.co.th/Local/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID... - Translate this page 13 ชม.ก่อน – ศูนย์ข่าวนครราชสีมา- ปลานับแสนตัวลอยตายเกลื่อน“ลำตะคอง” โคราช เป็นระยะทางกว่า 3 กม. ส่งกลิ่นเหม็นเน่าไปทั่วคลอง คาดโรงงานปล่อยของเสียหรือสารพิษลงลำน้ำ ... ชี้น้ำลำตะคอง เป็นแหล่งน้ำดิบผลิตประปาหล่อเลี้ยงเมืองโคราชทั้งหมด ...

โครงการส่งน้ำและบำรุงรักษาลำตะคอง จังหวัดนครราชสีมา www.lamtakong.com/ - Translate this page ยุทธศาสตร์การแก้ไขปัญหาเพื่อบรรเทาปัญหาน้ำท่วมบริเวณลุ่มน้ำลำตะคอง - ลุ่มน้ำลำพระเพลิง จ. .... เมือง จ.นครราชสีมา และ โครงการก่อสร้างอาคารแบ่งน้ำบ้านละลมหม้อ บ้านละลมหม้อ ต. .... ขอขอบคุณโรงไฟฟ้าลำตะคองชลภาวัฒนา. scha - avatar scha 27 ต.ค.

ปลานับแสนตัวตายอืด ส่งกลิ่นเหม็นคลุ้งทั่วลำตะคอง - ข่าวไทยรัฐออนไลน์ www.thairath.co.th/content/region/276032 - Translate this page 11 ชม.ก่อน – ปลานับแสนตัว ลอยตายส่งกลิ่นเน่าเหม็นทั่วลำตะคอง เมืองโคราช ... สาเหตุปลาตายอาจจะมาจากการล้างโรงงานผลิตน้ำแข็งหลอดแห่งหนึ่ง ...

ผงะปลากว่า3ตันถูกสารพิษลอยตายเป็นแพลำตะคอง | เดลินิวส์ www.dailynews.co.th/thailand/135947 - Translate this page 13 ชม.ก่อน – ชาวบ้านผงะร้องปลาหลายหมื่นตัวลอยอืดตายเป็นแพ เหม็นฟุ้งลำตะคองกลางเมืองโคราช กว่า 9 กิโล คาดโรงงานปล่อยสารพิษฝนชะลงน้ำ ใช้เวลากว่า 2 ...

77 ช่อง 77 จังหวัดโคราช(ภาพ)คลองลำตะคองที่ผ่านไหลเมืองโคราชพบปลา ... 77.nationchannel.com/home/261368/ - Translate this page by ประสิทธิ์ | 14.07.2012. โคราช(ภาพ)คลองลำตะคองที่ผ่านไหลเมืองโคราชพบปลาลอยตายนับแสนตัวส่งกลิ่นเหม็น. 1 views ...

Buddha Vacana (June 28th, 2012)

Being devoted to the recollection on peace allows one to sleep happily and wake happily, have peaceful faculties, a peaceful mind, self-respect and fear of blame, to be confident, resolved to attain the highest state, and to be respected and revered by ones fellows in the holy life. And even if one attains no higher, one will have a happy rebirth.

-- Vism.294*

A day down the dam, our sulfur-crest cockatoo Yoyo is enjoying snack of waterlilies.

Buddha Vacana (June 11st 2555)

Abandon wrong.  It can be done.  If it were impossible to do, I would not urge you to do so.  But since it can be done, I say to you: ‘Abandon wrong.’

If abandoning wrong brought loss and sorrow, I would not urge you to do so.  But since it conduces to your benefit and happiness, I say to you: ‘Abandon wrong.’

Cultivate the good.  It can be done.  If it were impossible to do, I would not urge you to do so.  But since it can be done, I say to you: ‘Cultivate the good.’

If cultivating the good brought loss and sorrow, I would not urge you to do so.  But since it conduces to your benefit and happiness, I say to you: ‘Cultivate good.’

-- A.,58

Daily Buddha Vacana
June 7th

Malunkyaputta said to the Lord: “Sir, as I was meditating, this thought came to me: ‘Those speculative views about the world, whether it is finite or infinite, whether it is both or neither; those speculative views about whether the soul is the same as the body or different from it; those speculative views about whether the Tathagata exists after death or does not, whether he both exists and does not exist, whether he neither exists nor does not exist; the Lord has not addressed these views, he has sidestepped them and ignored them.’ Sir, if you do not explain these views for me, I will leave this training.  If you know the answers to these questions, you should explain them to me.  And if you don't know, then it would be honest and say so.”

“But Malunkyaputta, did I ever say to you: ‘Come, be my disciple, and I will answer all these questions for you?’ ”

“No, sir.”

“Then, did you ever say to me: ‘I will become your disciple only if you answer all these questions?’ ”

“No, sir.”

“So, who are you and what is your complaint, you foolish man?  If one were to say that they would not become my disciple until all these views had been explained by me, he might be dead before it could be done.  It is as if a man had been shot by a poisoned arrow and his friends might get a doctor to help him.  And he might say: ‘Wait!  I do not want the arrow removed until I know the name of the man who shot it, what caste he is, whether he is short or tall, fat or thin.  I do not want the arrow removed until I know whether the bow that shot the arrow was a spring bow, a crossbow or a longbow.  I do not want the arrow removed until I know whether the bow was made from reed, wood or bamboo, or whether the head of the arrow was a calf-tooth head, an ordinary head, a jagged head or an iron head.’ Long before all these questions could be answered, that man would be dead.  In the same way, if someone were to say that they would not become my disciple until all the questions about whether the world is infinite or not were answered, they might be dead before it could be done.  Living the holy life could not be said to depend upon whether the world is infinite or not, whether it is both infinite and finite, whether it is neither infinite nor finite or any of the other questions.  Whether the world is infinite or not, there is birth, there is aging, there is dying, there is grief, sorrow, suffering, lamentation and despair, and it is for the ending of this that I teach.  Therefore, understand as not explained what has not been explained by me, and understand as explained what has been explained by me.  And what has not been explained by me?  All these speculative views that you ask about.  And why?  Because it is not connected with the goal, it is not fundamental to the holy life, it does not conduce to good, to turning away, to fading, to calming, to higher knowledge or to Nirvana.  And what has been explained by me?  The Four Noble Truths.  And why?  Because it is connected with the goal, it is fundamental to the holy life, it does conduce to good, to turning away, to fading, to calming, to higher knowledge and to Nirvana.”

-- M.I,426

India Learns from Thailand's Prime Minister so it seems

India bans five-star govt meetings
<http://bigpondnews.com/articles/World/2012/06/01/India_bans_five-star_govt_meetings_756441.html

01 Jun 2012 - 02:07pm>

India has ordered an immediate austerity drive banning government meetings in five-star hotels.

India has ordered an immediate austerity drive banning government meetings in five-star hotels, curbing foreign travel and halting the creation of new posts to help rein in a bulging deficit.

There will also be a ban on buying new vehicles, the finance ministry said on Friday in an official directive to all ministries...

High antibiotic levels in Asian fish http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Health/2012/05/30/High_antibiotic_levels_in_Asian_fish_755476.html 30 May 2012 - 08:44am

The [Australian] Agriculture Dept has confirmed a rising number of Asian fish imports have high antibiotics levels.

... more than a thousand imported foods haven't met Australian standards. Imports from China have failed the most tests, followed by food from India, Italy, Japan, Korea and France.

The imports that failed testing contained traces of Listeria monocytogenes that can cause pregnant women to miscarry, and eight consignments with Vibrio Cholerae Bacteria that can cause cholera.

For those who love to have everything on their บัตรประชาชนในฝัน, this may serve as points to ponder

ไทยติดอันดับ3 ฐานทำเว็บปลอม วันจันทร์ที่ 28 พฤษภาคม 2555 เวลา 19:39 น. http://www.dailynews.co.th/technology/116940

Sad news for Mother Fish today. It seems Thailand's government is supporting illegal fishing -- Mother Fish Killers!

See more in >>> หยุด ฆ่า แม่ปลา <<< http://www.gotoknow.org/blogs/posts/474661

การนิรโทษกรรมเรือประมงอวนลากเถื่อน : อีกครั้งของความล้มเหลวในการจัดการประมงทะเลไทย โดย ASTVผู้จัดการออนไลน์ 26 พฤษภาคม 2555 22:51 น.
http://manager.co.th/Local/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9550000064806

Truly dangerous are gains, honours and fame. Concerning this, I have known a person whose mind I have read, who would not deliberately tell a lie even for the sake of a golden bowl filled with pieces of silver. That same person have I seen at another time telling lies because his heart was obsessed by gains, honours and fame. Truly dangerous are gains, honours and fame.

-- S.II,233

NB 'gains' cover 'profits, exploits, advantages,...'

I reflected on this message while doing my Pali lesson today. I want to share:

It is good from time to time to examine one’s own faults; it is good from time to time to examine another's faults. It is good from time to time to examine one's own attainments; it is good from time to time to examine another’s attainments.

-- Aṅguttara, book IV, page 160

ทำไทยทำ

Learning to build an organization (ทำไทยทำ) to serve innovation and ultimately people of Thailand is unfolding steadily. There are more issues to cover than anticipated but that is quite usual -- "the more we know, the more we don't know".

Tomorrow, 5 May 2555 (5/5/55 -- sounds like a big laugh), a blog will be opened in Gotoknow.org to signify the 'official' start of this new venture. (Other 'official' record will take more time to materialize, especially on Thailand's public service machinery). We will also have ชุมชนทำไททำ in GotoKnow for innvators to talk about anything and everyting relating (or not) to innovation. A class in Classstart.org to deal with a  'courses on innovation study' (innovation 101) will also be opened for all who are interested in innovation.

[Innovation is about 'idea'. So we will play with more 'idea'.]

How the Buddha Teaches Dhamma
(from Digital Pali Reader: Daily Buddha Vacana - 14 April 2012)

When the good Gotama teaches Dhamma to an assembly in a park he does not exalt them or disparage them.  On the contrary, he delights, uplifts, inspires, and gladdens that assembly with talk on Dhamma.  The sound of the good Gotama’s voice has eight qualities.  It is distinct and intelligible, sweet and audible, fluent and clear, deep and resonant.  Therefore, when he teaches the assembly, his voice does not go beyond that assembly.  After being delighted, uplifted, inspired and gladdened with talk on Dhamma, the audience rise from their seats and depart reluctantly, keeping their eyes upon him.

-- M.II,140*