林愛偉

Any type of teaching certification will do when finding a job through a middle man company who hires you directly. Therefore you work as an employee of the company and they set up teaching contracts with a school. One, they sign a contract with you for their company, and then you sign one with the school. The company is your employer, not the school, so any problems one refers directly to their hiring company. This will get you a work visa, which allows you to live in China for a year, and can be renewed through that particular company. Another way is to have a degree from Bachelors and up. This will give you a residence/foreign experts permit. You can find work individually and a school can hire you directly. Or, you can go through a middle man company as well. Both options are good, first one is a bit safer, unless the second option has been worked out in full detail with the school concerning all types of living conditions and salary, etc. Best position, if looking to study in a monastery, for the time being, get a job out here, be a resident/worker, connect with a monastery, and build good ties with them. Then pop the question about leaving the home life to them and how to go about doing it legally. Then you will have to go through the appropriate procedures for such things. :-) I live and teach in China, and am here currently. I have a teaching cert. TEFL, and have been here since 2004. Came back to NY for 3 yrs '09-'11, and have no problems getting visas. Another option...hahaha find a girlfriend, get married and get a family visa issued in china giving you residence for 1 yr, which can be renewed. But you can't work on a family visa, so it has to be changed to a work visa.

Sun Wukong, having taken refuge, became a Bhikshu, which has 3 meanings, one of which means "Frightener of Mara". Why? Because before one resolves to attain enlightenment, and leave the defilements of their mind aside, state their resolve and take precepts, the desire realms shake, and since Mara is a Demon king of one of the Desire Heavens, his realm quakes with a fierce vibration. That lets him know he has lost another one to the proper way. Before one resolves to attain enlightenment, the demons don't really care much for you, there is no threat. But once there is a thought, and application to it, to attain enlightenment, the demons come and mess with you, obstruct the mind so one feels frustrated, and fearful to go any further. Those who push further frighten the demons, and when they get some strength in cultivation, and take further steps to push forward, the heavens quake. Thus, Mara was afraid of Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong, before attaining enlightenment, was immortal, and still subject to birth and death, it was that his "death" didn't come, it would have been sooner. Immortals are said to have a lifespan of 10,000yrs. Thus, they seem immortal. If they push forward in cultivation and don't claim that they reached the ultimate, they will find their state is not permanent, and be able to go further to actual deathless-ness. Gods also can lose their position over time, if they don't go further in cultivation, and or maintain their blessings.

Vows don't "make" one become a Bodhisattva, one's cultivation and the realization of it do...AND if we do that which a Bodhisattva does, then we are a Bodhisattva. Yet, those who haven't realized the fruition of a Bodhisattva are just like Bodhisattva in the rough, so to say. When the realization of it hits, that's when it is. Then, there is still more work to do. Vows keep one guarded on their path, and assist in refining one's skill, and mind. Its not that it is necessary to take them, it is most definitely advised to do so. And it is that way because one can not be sure they have enough concentration power to not drift off their path, and or not be taken by afflictions. There is nothing wrong with doing so, and still is a choice by the cultivator. To dismiss them as unnecessary is irresponsible. They are in fact a very necessary aspect along the path. When one sees that realization they will understand what vows actually mean. Some people may have attained a "high" enough level where as they do not need to take vows in this life, yet that is for them, and should not be advised for anyone else. In various Sutras the Buddha spoke, he did indeed speak on taking vows to attain the way. Even in the Dharani Sutra, Avalokiteshvaa speaks on holding the Dharani...which means not reciting it, but adhereing to vows, precepts in order to realize the true function of the Dharani Mantra and Great Compassion Dharma. His words were not opposed, but upheld and praised by Shakyamuni Buddha. Even various Bodhisattvas during that assembly spoke on vows as well. Even in the Shurangama Sutra, there is speaking of vows. They are definitely an aid that nourishes the seeds towards enlightenment.

We may have taken vows before, but not actually the 10 Major and 48 Minor Bodhisattva Precepts. Also, if we have no recollection of having taken any vows during any and all of our past lives, it is not safe to assume we have. Shakyamuni Buddha's appearing in our world, fully realized, teaching the Dharma and maintaining the principles therein were the fulfilling of his vows from past lives. In this, because he turned the Dharma Wheel, realized Buddhahood and took endless beings across shows his application and fulfillment of his vows. The act in itself was the embodiment of his vows. Vows are there to keep us going in the direction towards our goal. Why are they necessary? Because they help us to not waver. By stating a specific vow towards a goal, we attain a specific standing in our own mind. This standing, or merit so to say, is an empowerment and a catalyst to keep us moving forward in resolve to attain our goal. Vows also keep us on our toes so as if we almost make a mistake, we have an alarm system that screams loudly that it will go against what we promised ourselves and others and thus create obstacles in our path that we may not be able to break through this time around. It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with keeping the mind straight on the path to realization. It is advised to make vows in your practice so as to safeguard your mind from any external influences, and internal ones as well. Its a promise we make to ourselves...so why let ourselves down? There are ways to make and receive vows. Receiving by means of having a witness there, and or taking them in front of an image of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, in which one repeatedly recites their vows and bows until they receive a response. The response in mind, is seen as having there be a witness to your receiving the vows and such certifies one in having the vows being set. A response can come in any form in terms of it being from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, be it an image of their faces appearing, or hearing them say something, and or just inherently knowing that it was satisfied in taking them. Thus the work truly begins. So, it is necessary to make promises so as to keep one's mind focused and resolved to attain their goal. Especially towards refraining from the things that take away our essence, which are usually bad habits of our 6 sense faculties. The vows protect the mind and guard one's virtue. All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have made vows that coincide with their cultivation. Its a powerful aid and an advised one to take. hehe I like your post, reminds me of finding loopholes.. hahaha

Yay ! Shurangama Sutra/Mantra Dharani Sutra/Mantra Amitabha Sutra 6th Patriarch's Platform Sutra

This is what happens when one does not eradicate false thinking and gets taken by demonic states. The Shurangama Sutra's 50 Skanda Demon States section talks about this in detail. Even the Buddha said it would happen during the Dharma-Ending Age

can you mean Sutras, or just books written by others?

Nope, it wont kill the body. The methods for leaving the body sound simple, but the ability to concentrate and strengthen that power in order to actually do the deed and go on a ticket free vacation takes time and effort. One can attain the ability through sitting in Chan, as an outcome of practice, and or one can develop it by actually just practicing the method. Chan develops concentration power, and thus is much more advised to do for concentration power keeps the external influences at bay.... like an apple, every day a bit more of concentration power keeps those demons and false thoughts away... hahaha

The Buddha never was quiet about God (s). He spoke in depth about that state, and the many states of the many Gods and their realms. Especially on the God which Judeo-Christian and Arabic traditions follow. That God, being named Lord Shakra Indra of the Heaven of 33. before reaching that status, was a woman who in her travels passed upon a statue of a Buddha. Finding it was losing its gold gild, and being weathered to destruction, got the townspeople, 32 of the women, to get together and get donations and build a shelter for the statue. Then they reguilded it, and made an outlet for others to be inspired to cultivate the way. The merit and virtue amassed from that deed, in helping others cultivate the way, was reaped as being given a seat within the desire realm, rebirth as a God. The 33 heavens of the desire realm are not in a hierarchy, but just in a position that the 33rd heaven is smack in the middle. This God, is named Shakra Indra, also the Jade emperor, also Allah, or the Judeo-Christian God of "all creation". There is so much more to this, but above is just a brief explanation. There are sutra which expound on this. The Avatamsaka Sutra speaks on this, as well as Shurangama Sutra (briefly) and Brahma Net Sutra, as well as others which leave my memory. Buddha meant that though a God is a very high position of cultivation attained by one's merit and virtue, they are still subject to birth and death, and are also not the "highest" in terms of realization. Respect them, and even ask for their blessings, but it is more beneficial to cultivate the ways of one fully realized, and has ended the cycle of birth and death. But if one feels strong affinities with certain Gods, be it they are wholesome and not demonic kings, by all means those wholesome Gods will teach the expedient methods in order to reel the cultivator in, and once the cultivator is within the heavens upon their rebirth there, they will be taught the teachings for the next step and realize what they couldn't realize while they were humans. *** Also, Buddhism was on this planet for thousands and thousands of years, I mean so many thousands of years.It just wasn't in the name "Buddhism" persay, as it was in the mannerism of the cultivatio nof the way, and or the way to realize complete and perfect enlightenment. Cultivation methods were on this planet more than 6 Buddhas ago. And over time they get watered down, and or taught in different cultures. Changing a bit, those teaching's "origin" gets forgotten and or mixed with cultural influences.

i like this post. In past lives of Shakyamuni Buddha, before he realized fruition of the way, complete and proper enlightenment, he made many vows to benefit sentient beings. From my memory, which is an abbreviated version and just kindof cuts to the chase: In one life he was known as the "Patient Immortal" practicing patience. When a king went out hunting, he brought with him his many wives. Bored to death, they went walking around the forest and came across this ragged, dirty man. Thinking he was a beast, when he spoke to them, they were startled! They asked what kind of beast, or animal, etc, are you, and he replied he was neither, that he is cultivating patience. After a while the wives took to him, and began playing with his hair and touching his course skin because it was matted with dirt. He began to speak about dharma to them. Then, when the king was ready to go home, he found his wives laughing and giggling with this dirty fellow. Angry, he screamed what the hell are you doing with my wives? The patient Immortal replied that he was speaking dharma to them. The king asked what dharma, and he replied the dharma of patience. I am cultivating patience for the sake of living beings. I can not get angry. The king was taken aback, and dared him, saying we will see how patient you are. So the king cut off his hand, and asked if he was angry yet,, and he replied, No. Then he began to cut off his other hand, and both feet. Saying, I have cut off your 4 limbs, you must be angry. The Patient Immortal replied, not at all, I hold no anger towards you. The king was angry as hell, and concluded this man was a fraud, and or crazy. Then, the Patient Immortal said that if he held one ounce of anger in his heart towards the king, may his 4 limbs not grow back. Then, his four limbs grew back. After the Patient Immortal said that in the future when he realizes Buddhahood, the king will be the first to be taken across. Thus when the Buddha did indeed realize Buddhahood, he went to the deer park and crossed over that king who was reincarnated as Ajnatakaundinya. The full story, is here:http://www.gbm-online.com/online/dharma/kali.html We can see that such a vow is for the benefit of living beings, thus the Buddha did indeed make a Bodhisattva vow at one point, and in many other lifetimes. Things stick, and when the time is ripe, one reaps the fruit.

They appear to everyone they have affinities with. it doesn't matter if they are "Buddhist" in this life or not. For being a "Buddhist" is only the expedient means to the source teachings.

A Bodhisattva Vow is simply a vow by the cultivator which resolves his mind to benefit living beings, in turn creating the merit and virtue to allow him/her to realize enlightenment. Upon making such a compassionate vow, it shows his/her already realization of enlightenment. With a mind unconfused, the cultivator thus places others benefit before his own, and offers it up as a service for living beings. Basically, a Bodhisattva gives, regardless if he has only one dollar, or one crumb of food, for the benefit of those he comes across. Bodhi= enlightened Sattva= Sentient Being. A Bodhisattva is thus one who is enlightened, and teaches others how to attain enlightenment. Shakyamuni Buddha, before appearing in the world as The World Honored One, was already a Buddha awaiting his time to come for the Saha world. He appeared as the mannerism he did to teach others the process, progress and realization of enlightenment. just like Maitreya Buddha at this time, who is awaiting his time in the Tushita Heavens. He is already a Buddha, yet his time for the world has not yet come. Though he does appear in our world to teach living beings, time is not ready for his overall teaching of the Dharma. Here is a link to the Bodhisattva Vows made by Master Xuan Hua: http://www.theosophy.com/theos-talk/200301/tt00625.html

Awww you guys

OOOLONG you waskally wabbit! You posted this here! hahahahahaha oh no

Hi Michael! Gerard has good advice. May I offer some? 1. Contemplative Application of the mind ( applying concentration on) turning the hearing inwards. 2. changing bad habits of the mind in thinking, habits of the eyes in grasping, habits of the wanting in hearing, tasting, smelling and touching. 3. Doing the above (practice), and utilizing it within the daily practices one already has undertaken. Contemplative application of the mind allows one to contemplate the meanings of classic texts leading to wisdom and or sutras. turning the hearing inwards allows one to break through the obstructions of eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind, thus hearing one's inherent wisdom, illuminating the 5 obstructions and the mind, like the "untying of knots" on a rope. Changing bad habits of 2nd aspect allows one to gradually clear the mind of attachments to things which held them down, or better yet, created outflows which took one's energy and wasted their concentration power. With stronger concentration power, the stronger the mind, and less "afflicted" one will be. Thus resulting in a more "cleaner" vessel for higher energetic cultivation, and more so for attaining the state of realized wisdom. Lastly, applying the above into one's practice of other things. One must DO what is required if they take on cultivation, and thus they can attain the fruit of their efforts.

I was actually a bit happy! I had an excuse to stay in bed and read Sutras and meditated for almost a week. Totally in a warm place, while everywhere else outside was below 0. Then we had a heater installed... hahahahahaha it was just a warm heaven.

If you were on the Moon, and you just saw this happen, what would you most likely say? I thought: ha ha ha ha

Yes, Qigong opens the orifices. It is always best to bundle up in the winter, and protect against spring and fall wind. Summer be sure to dry yourself off from sweating, or risk wind heat invasion. Just recently I was doing circle walking at 160 circulations, took about 45 minutes. It was in below zero weather, early in the morning. By the time I was done with the practice, I realized i was sweating. When i was walking to the bathroom to dry off, the cold temperature penetrated deep. Though I was warm as hell, steam radiating due to the differences in body and room temperature, cold is cold regardless, and once it mixes with sweat, it enters the pores and seeps deep into the body. I was ill for 4 days with deep wind cold due to seating in below zero weather. Nice. hahaha No chills, only phlegm build up, white phlegm, no fever either. Stuffy nasal passages and internal cold. Ginger and Brown sugar tea, along with loads of warm water kept it from changing into a heat sickness, which would have totally sucked. If it turned into heat, then bacteria would grow, and infection will manifest. Meditation, along with the ginger and brown sugar, warm water, and sweating it out under the covers got it out. It went deep, thus took a few days to get out. It was like a breeze leaving the body when it went out. Its just one example, but always cover up those orifices, and be sure to not sweat in extreme cold, and dry up at the first sign of liquid extraction...hahaha

I would say, changing the world, one peanut at a time.. .lol

Every time I look at that picture, I just can't help laughing my butt off.

You may be meaning 老师 Lao Shi, meaning teacher. Lao Zi, I never heard anyone use this in China...unless they wrote the DDJ. hahahahaha Many Northerners use Lao Shi more than Shifu. Southerns are more ept to use the more traditional mannerisms.

There are things that just will not happen in this world. Mastery in terms of being #1 in the manner of no one able to contend, no one able to beat up ( for sake of saying) just will not be. BUT if people actually held the idea of what you are saying, "true master is not a destination, but journey, a path." well, then we would be looking at someone in mastery of their own mind, perfecting their virtue and conduct. Ihaven't met many martial artists like that. Few and far between. Calling one "master" would be a nice way of making one feel good, in reflection of their proficiency in skill, and a sign of respecting their efforts. Yet, the term Shifu doesn't signify a mastery of anything, nor does it mean one has control of their disciples..and or other people. One of my friends posted an article on FB, which I can not get to being I'm in China. The jest of the article was stating how in the eyes of the law, and the eyes of overall modern society, a martial arts teacher is nothing more than a physical education coach, and any special commendations expected by the teacher, just because he has a title in the sports of what they teach, actually means nothing to the overall majority. Which I totally agree with...personally. Basically, don't let titles gas up your head, form your ego, and empower your views about yourself. If there was a cultivator who attained the realization of their inherent wisdom, and has overcome all inner and outer demons, overcome their own afflictions, and thus has left the cycle of birth and death, they are known as first in the world, and are undefeated, truly. They would be considered in mastery, thus worthy of such a title.

hahaha you thought I was going to speak about how people believe the choreography in the martial arts movies depicts the real applications in martial arts? No No, we should never destroy the dreams of many who watch a martial art movie and believe the whole story to be true, and "skills" shown to be actual. haha

MOST DEFINITELY! "Master" refereed to either a slave-owner, or someone who was extremely wealthy and hosted at home care takers, known as butlers. In Old England, the word "Master" was used for one who was head of household. Those who served under this household called the "head", "master", and because they were paid well, or at least sufficiently, they respected and kept honor to that person. It had nothing to do with skill. Orphanages in old times, would refer the owner, even schools, as "Headmaster" meaning one in control, or supervision of things. So translating "Shifu" to mean "master" is truly not it, and has thrown many off in the martial arts world in the west. One can call another a "master" of what they do, but it is out of respect, and insinuating there is a high level of proficiency.

A single mis-translation can take on into a whole different realm of comprehension. Pursuit of wisdom and truth...always an honorable path, and not instilled in the core methods of every single martial arts practice, only a few...and its dependent upon the teacher.