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Dawning of Dhamma
Dawning of Dhamma website aims to share Dhamma videos, Dhamma notes, articles and books written by Sylvia Bay.
Poems & Sharings by Sylvia Bay
Dawning of Dhamma
The realisation of Dhamma is like sunrise. You start out in pitch darkness. You see nothing. You are clueless. Your ignorance makes you blind.
When you start to practise along the correct path, and understanding grows, the darkness that envelops your mind will begin to fade. Dhamma concepts begin to make some sense. You know you may not have gotten it but you know enough to be able to tell what is or is not Dhamma. Just as you can make out the forms and shapes enough to avoid the dangers and troubles, when dawn's first light start to cast faint, weak glow upon the land and dissipate the shrouding darkness.
At some point, as your understanding of Dhamma matures, every concept that once perplexed you will start to make sense. Their place in the whole teaching, their role, their purpose, their meaning, will all become clear. The process of realisation is literally like the dawn of a new day: the whole landscape of reality is now bathe in the light, clear, obvious and beautiful.
Just as you cannot exactly pinpoint when night turns to dawn, you may not be completely sure when Dhamma has truly taken root in an irreversible way. But you will know when it is day break. That the night is past and the sun has arisen.
A Practitioner's Prayer
May my faith in the Buddha and Dhamma never waver, however daunting life's journey is, as long as Samsara lasts.
May I have sight of the ariya sangha, the wonder of which would inspire my practice and strengthen my faith.
May I have the relentless discipline to keep my mind pure: purging all akusala thoughts while preserving the Kusala ones.
This is so that sparks of insights can ignite and give rise to the warm glow of wisdom.
May I be aware of the present, to remember each arising and to note its cessation.
Recalling such experiences clearly is critical for growth of wisdom.
May my mind be still and present, in the now, sustained but effortlessly.
May it be content and happy, non judging, just seeing.
May I develop the wisdom to know how to navigate my practice.
As I learn to understand the mechanics of the mind: let there be the wisdom to know what I'm seeing and how to let things cease.
Do not be attached
To anything that is seen.
Whatever that arises,
That surely must cease.
Each moment is conditioned,
Upon another before.
This is impermanence.
Just an eternal Law.
That which is ever changing,
Is innately unsatisfactory.
In essence there is nothing
Worth holding and grieving.
Wisdom is when
The mind let go
Of the belief in an I.
And hold not to things,
That it maintains are Mine.
Wisdom is when
It let go of views
That were once so dear,
Including that mind-made delusion
That is the Self.
When the mind is content,
And ask for nothing,
Being no one,
And going nowhere.
There lies the bliss
Of just being
Quietly knowing
Gently is.
Meditation
For one who seeks the meditative state,
Much work is needed to prepare the mind,
To break it out of bad habits,
To want, to own, to search and hunt.
Learn to have no expectations, no wants,
No going somewhere,
Or being someone.
No past, no future,
No mental constructs,
Let go of planning,
And rest in the breathing.
Maintaining focus,
Keep mind sharp and steady,
Know that there's watching,
Know arising, falling.
Know when it's leaning towards subtle straying.
Leash it gently,
Keep it in line.
Firmly but patiently,
Just watch roving mind.
A moment will come,
When the mind stops tugging.
And began to settle into a quiet abiding.
Note this moment:
Note the knowing.
It is the stillness of no one being.
The mind becomes soft.
The heart feels light.
A smile is formed.
Body delights.
A subtle vibration,
Perhaps gentle rocking.
Odd physical sensations,
Are just normal happenings.
Cessation
Mountains of bones
Ocean of tears
Life after life
We are still here.
When will this end?
It all depends
Is there the wisdom
To let things rest.
To let go of wanting
That relentless hunting
To sit in abiding
And enjoy just being.
Life’s quiet rhythm
A gentle throbbing.
Mind’s silent watching
Eventually ceasing...
Timeless
Serene abiding
Time just passing
No past no future
A peaceful knowing
A smile for the moment
Joy in space
Grateful for the Dhamma
Timeless grace.
