3 Most Important Questions

Three Most Important Questions

A king wished to know the answers to three questions:

Who is the most important person?
What is the most important thing?
When is the most important time?

He felt that if he knew the answers, he would have the key to a more effective and successful life as a king. But no one could ever answer the questions to the king’s satisfaction. Eventually, acting upon his Prime Minister’s advice, the king dressed himself in plain clothes and went to visit a hermit who was known for his wisdom. But the hermit did not answer the king’s questions. Seeing the frailty of the hermit, the king began to help him with his activities, and so they worked in silence.

It happened that nearby, someone suffered an accident. At once the king and the hermit began to work together to help the injured man. When the man was strong enough, he begged the king’s forgiveness, for he had come intending to kill the king, who had wronged one of his family members in the past. They forgave each other and became friends.

When the king was about to leave, he asked the hermit once more to answer his questions. The hermit then explained to the king:

1. Yesterday, when you saw me, then the most important person was obviously me as you had taken the trouble to disguise yourself and come all this way to find me.
2. Your purpose was to come here to get the answers to your questions, so the most important thing was to be with me and to help me with my work.
3. The most important time was the time you were with me.

Don’t forget that due to your remaining here, you escaped being killed by your enemy.

1. Then, when the man was injured, he became the most important person because both of us dropped what we were doing to help him.
2. The most important thing then was to attend to his injury.
3. The most important time was the time we helped him.

1. Now the most important person must be you because all your people and family members are waiting for you to come back to the palace.
2. The most important thing is to go home.
3. The most important time is now.

In conclusion, there is no absolute importance relating to who, what and when. Relatively speaking,

1. The most important person is the one next to you.
2. The most important thing to do is to meet that person’s needs.
3. The most important time is now.

So don’t waste your effort needlessly. Treasure the here and now.

What is the Golden Rule?

The Golden Rule is the most fundamental common ethical denominator of all religious and non-religious belief systems on Earth. Although profound in meaning, it can be easily understood because its message is simple:

“Treat others as you would like to be treated” or “Do not treat others as you would not like to be treated”.

This is the basic law of peaceful human co-existence and can, therefore, be characterized as the mother of ethics of humankind.
As a matter of fact, the Golden Rule is found in the holy scriptures of all major religions and faiths – in different words but with the same divine meaning.
The Golden Rule is not only laid down in the basic texts of all world religions but also in the main non-religious philosophical theories where it is often referred to as the principle of reciprocity. The famous German philosopher Immanuel Kant once called the Golden Rule “the categorical imperative” of humane co-existence on Earth.
As the Golden Rule is found in virtually every important religious and non-religious belief system throughout human history all over the Earth, it seems to be the basic law or constitution for humankind.
Without any doubt, the Golden Rule is the fundamental ethical standard on Earth. All other precepts derive from it, for example:
Have respect for all life, or “You shall not kill”.
As you do not want others to kill you, therefore you should not kill others.
Deal honestly and fairly, or “You shall not steal”.
As you do not want others to steal your belongings, therefore you should not steal their belongings.
Speak and act truthfully, or “You shall not lie”.
As you do not want others to lie to you, therefore you should not lie to others.
Respect and love one another, or “You shall not commit sexual immorality”.
As you do not want others to take your wife/husband, therefore you should not take the wife/ husband of another.
There are many other moral values and ethical standards which are shared by all faiths and belief systems, like the respect for human rights (i.e. every human being must be treated humanely), love and compassion, justice, caring and sharing, environment (nature) protection, honesty, integrity, accountability, etc.
Let us try to make the Golden Rule and the many other common ethical standards and shared moral values to be accepted as the global ethic of humankind by as many people as possible!
Obviously, if the great majority of people practise the Golden Rule, we would definitely live in a better and much more peaceful and just world. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we start to educate our children about the Golden Rule and other common ethical standards.
We should do this not only in our families but also in the public school system. This means that education about the Golden Rule, shared moral values and common ethical standards should become an integral part of the curricula of kindergartens and primary and secondary schools all over the world.
In fact, such an education would be an education for peace – peace in the family, peace in the community, peace in the country and peace among nations. Such an education would be a peaceful but forceful weapon against the spread of extremism on all sides.

Remember the Golden Rule Of Life : Treat others as you would like to be treated.
http://www.globalethicpenang.net/

There are 2 Types of Meditation :
1. Tranquillity Meditation (SAMMATA)
2. Insight Meditation (VIPASSANA)

Meditation can give us calmness of mind. It is also said that people meditate to cultivate the mind. There are mainly 2 benefits for meditation:
1. To gain peacefulness and better mind and health.
2. To develop supernatural power.

Right posture during meditation:
Leg - Easy type (both legs just rest on the floor), full lotus and half lotus.
Hand - Hold together resting on the leg but thumb not touching or spread out and rest at knee.
Back - Should be straight
Shoulder - Just relax.

How to start :
1. Concentrate on your breath when breathing in and out at the nose. If cannot concentrate, can try to count the breath. Each time when breath out, count one and so on until ten. Then start from one again.
2. Concentrate on abdomen raising and falling.

If one feels drowsiness, ie mind feel dull, how to overcome?
1. Change altitude by telling yourself I have to fight with it. Shift focusing and try to forget it.
2. Reflect, search.
3. Read out sultra to keep the mind busy.
4. Pull your ear.
5. Wash your face with cold water or use eye drop.
6. Look at bright object to remove darkness.
7. Do walking meditation.
8. Surrender by taking a nap. Set alarm clock to ring in 30 minutes time. When alarm clock ring, must get up.

Loving Kindness Meditation

This is to start with ourself and develop the joy. Recite in your mind : May I be well, happy and peaceful.