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Wednesday 03. November - Public Talk:Stay young in body and mind

Wednesday, 03. November 2010 - 19.30h

Public Talk in Pagoda Phat Hue/ Frankfurt

How old and fit we are is influenced by our consciousness. And with will power, one can move a lot. Can’t we decide to be young and keep our lively energy? Does the menopause for women has to come so early and does men have to loose their strength so quickly? Awaken your orginial energy!

Costs: € 12,-

No seat reservation!

Please still Sign up: 069-48 44 98- 50 (Mo-Fr 9.00 – 15.30h)

Info: Tel: 069 ▪ 48 44 98 -50 ǀ info@phathue.de

Qi Touch shares with Chance To Grow e.V.

ONLY IN OCTOBER: Wellness for good!

The spa and massage department Qi touch at the health center of the Pagoda Phat Hue shares 10 percent of the revenue in October for the children’s aid project CHANCE TO GROW eV supporting children in Vietnam. Do yourself a favor and support children at the same time!
Information: www.frankfurt-teilt.de

Monastery Festival in ‘Buddha’s Way’

Even before he opened the monastery festival with a little speech, our abbot, Zen Master Thich Thien Son, thanked all people who contributed making this festival possible. “A Buddhist monastery in the Odenwald is unusual,” he says. The more he is pleased that so many people came with curiosity and interests, creating this beautiful atmosphere of the festival. “We came here and learned from each other. We supported each other and where interested in an exchange. Therefore, I want to express our gratitude with all my heart, gratitude towards the support of the mayor and the community, the institutions of the region and the people who have welcomed us so warmly and support us in every way. We are very happy with the openness that we get here and we hope very much that we can also contribute to the enrichment of this region. “His thanks also applied, of course, especially the Vietnamese community and zen-students, who made the project “Buddha’s way” possible through their support. Even a bus from Höxter near Stuttgart came a long way to join this happening. A project like the vision of “Buddha’s Way” is only possible and successful through the support and vision of many helpers, says the abbot, who is addressed with Thay, born 1967 in Vietnam.
With eight years he was ordained and trained as a monk. 10 years ago he came to Frankfurt with nothing but two suitcases and the order to establish a Vietnamese community in Frankfurt. He started in an apartment and in his opening speech to the monastery festival he described how they slowly built the pagoda in Frankfurt, what very quickly grew from a small apartment to a big buddhist center. “I started with meditation courses, but then more and more people came who were very ill and sought help and we started to massage and acupuncture. The number of patients has grown steadily and we have found very soon that we cannot help as we want. And that was the moment, in which in me came up the wish to have a place to give people from far away the possibility of accommodation and treatment, or even longer therapies. Our Pagoda in Frankfurt is too small. ” He struggled to find a suitable place and suddenly they met the former clinic in the Odenwald. “That was exactly what we needed, but it cost € 9 million - of course that was out of reach for us.”

Still Thay expressed his interest in and waited. And his vision was apparently blessed with good fortune: he waited until the whole building cost only 1.7 million€ and with the support of the Vietnamese community and a number of Zen students, he could raise a sum of 800,000 € “Our wish is always to serve the needs of the people that they can develop. And this wish, if we look closely, has always helped developed so much.” Now the health center is there, but there are still a lot of renovation and rehabilitation works needed, but we hope to show during the Monastery Festival the potential of opportunities in this place and we hope that it can be a place of development for the people of the region and also from far away: Monastery, seminar house and health center - a place of vitality and zest for life.

Even if the monastery at the moment is only partly opened and still in process of renovation, for this afternoon, it did not look like it at all: The building is decorated festively and on the grass under the trees are colorful food stalls with delicacies and exotic drinks - the attractions are vegetarian sushi and dumplings, this can be enjoyed iced coffee or alcohol-free cocktails with fruit as they can supposedly be bought in Vietnam on every street corner. It already feels like being on holiday and the weather and the friendly atmosphere is doing a good side to that you feel very relaxed. And yet there is so much to see: small stations set up everywhere, where you can experience what is happening in the monastery, in the seminary building and in the health center of Buddha’s Way.

Report: Donations for Myanmar

Petra Kühl visited the pagoda on 6 May 2010 and reported on the situation in Myanmar following Cyclone Nagris. Almost two years have passed since Cyclone Nargis in Burma, devastated much of the Ayeyarwaddy Delta, the Mon state and the larger environment of Yangon. There were estimated 130 000 deaths, and many people lost their families, homes and farms, their existence.

Many people followed the call for donations and Pagoda Phat Hue could hand over a sum of 10,000 € Donations to Petra Kühl who works locally for relief and reconstruction of houses and villages. 10,000 € are enough to make a small village with 20 houses rebuild! On the 6th May, she visited the pagoda and told Thay Thich Thien Son and Christina Blaschke from Chance to grow eV about the aid projects and the ongoing work. Petra Kühl has lived 12 years in Myanmar, speaks the language and knows the country.

Each of the aid projects has been initiated and organized directly by her so that she can guarantee that the donations arrive without problems and are used for their determination. So far she finished about 15 projects successfully as a project officer of several Buddhist organizations. For this they visited the devastated areas and watched for themselves the situation in order to decide how the donations would be the most beneficial.

In the first auxiliary phase immediately when the disastrous cyclone hit the regions the hardest, it was important to prevent famine and death in the difficult period after the storm.
In the second relief phase the reconstruction of destroyed houses was done. For a house one has to expect costs about 350 – 500€, depending on the availability of used materials for building. The funds were also used in the form of basic food, clothing and medicines.

Also the facilities of a hospital in Laputtam, one of the major disaster areas, could be supported. The building of the hospital was not seriously damaged by the cyclone and there was a senior doctor and a few nurses who had survived the disaster. But help was needed because important equipment and instruments were missing. A generous donation was put to good use and has been a great help for the whole region.

But still even today, two years after the disaster, the devastating situation is: many people still have no roof over their heads. If one considers that only the collected donations of the pagoda were able the reconstruction of a small village, we see, how much is possible, with the wish to help people. It is indescribable, that we could help so much!

We are very happy and pleased that this support was possible. Especially we have to thank by Petra Kühl and her tireless efforts, who worked tirelessly committed to help the people in the disaster areas. Thanks to her experience on the ground, the money could be used in the most direct and effective way.

The Pagoda Phat Hue would like to express gratefulness once again to all donors - through their donations, so many families could get help! We often forget how much we can give with a little! In the words of Petra Kühl: “The suffering people of Burma are forever connected with you through your help!” We are happy if you would like to continue to support the projects you want! Petra Kühl will report us regularly on the situation in Myanmar.

Integral Health Center for TCM ‘Buddha’ Way’

We cordially invite you to join us this Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010 at 3 p.m. to join us at our new center, Phat Dao (Buddha’s Way), for the GRAND OPENING of our Integral Health Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine. We will answer questions about our monastery, our seminars, our health center, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Of course, you can also take the opportunity to schedule an appointment for a TCM/Acupuncture treatment.

At the same time and on-site, we will also offer consultations with a Qi Gong and Tai Chi instructor and a nutritionist. We will offer the opportunity to participate in a short meditation session and a Qi Gong exercises (Qi Gong is offered every Monday, starting Jan. 25, at Buddha’s Way; meditation every Wednesday).

We look forward to your visit!

And Nagarjuna Drew His Sword of Wisdom

During our 2009-2010 Winter Retreat, Ven. Thich Thien Son gave 9 days of teachings on the teachings and life of the famous Buddhist scholar Nagarjuna, who lived between 150-250 CE. Like none other, Nagarjuna solidified and revitalized Buddhism in many areas with new impulses.

Thanks to his solid foundation in the Buddhist scriptures, especially the Abhidhamma, his studies in the consciousness-only school, as well as his deep insight into the Indian psychology and philosophy of the Vedas and Upanishads, he used his sharp intellect to give Mahayana Buddhism a new and sustainable direction. His teachings are the cornerstone of the so-called Middle-Way (Madhyamika) School, which still influences Tibetan and Zen Buddhism.

The two main concepts encountered again and again in Nagarjuna’s texts are: emptiness (shunyata) and duality.

Duality determines our everyday life: day and night, happiness and suffering, and poor and rich are just some examples of dualistic pairs.

Why do we need this constant and pervasive duality?

We need it in order to distance ourselves from each other. Only by being different can we express and define ourselves. Our self feeling crucially hinges on whether we are better or worse than our peers. Given the impression that someone is just like us, we will not rest until we find some feature to distinguish ourselves from one another.

Equality has a dangerous affect on our ego. The underlying fear of losing one’s self in a nondescript mass occurs at the surface of our consciousness. For example, “Yes, we are both therapists, but my clients are much more difficult than yours.” Only in the division do we feel our alleged identity and individuality. We can position ourselves. The illusion of uniqueness gives us a sense of security and a right to existence.

So, are we all equal, and simply don’t realize it? Nagarjuna would say: We are not all alike nor do we differ from each other. An example is: you plant a mango seed. Eventually, a tree grows and a ripe, juicy mango appears on the vine. Is the mango the same as the seed? Is it different? We can understand that the seed and the fruit are not identical, but they are also not completely different.

The seed is the precondition for the fruit. This leads us to another widespread law in Buddhism: things arise in mutual dependence. In other words, every occurrence is conditioned.  Cause and effect determine the dynamics of our being.

What does this mean for our daily lives?

As long as we adhere to certain beliefs and concepts, we create the conditions for the emergence of the dualistic opposite pole. That is, if we constantly ask our man, “Do you love me?” We produce a result described by Nagarjuna’s law of duality, that is, the energy of the opposite pole. The more we yearn for love, the more we produce the partner’s desire for separation from us, via hatred and anger. Because, love and hate are the dualistic expression of the same energy. Both forms of expression are about the connection - in the case of love, she seeks it, and in the case of hate, it is rejected.

How can we get out of this duality and let her go?

The pivot point of our self-created duality is assumption. Our head is full of assumptions about the world and the nature of things. With assumptions, we define our existence. An example: if we define our relationship with friends by the fact that we are useful to them, then if we are not useful to them, that would jeopardize our friendships.

The process of letting go only works if we let go of our assumptions on the spiritual as well as the physical level. For example, someone wants to separate from his partner. He realized the relationship is not good for him, because he only felt controlled. His head tells him, “I want to end the relationship.” On the physical level, however, there is the longing - for companionship and security. As long as we stick to our assumptions on the material level, we will not be able to let go completely.

Consequently, our assumptions trigger intense feelings of fear and resistance from within us. But, herein lies our big chance - if we can identify and change our beliefs with intellectual training, we can liberate ourselves from our inner prison. We are suddenly in a position to not only see the dirt in front of us on the road, but the blooming flowers along the roadside. Our field of vision in magnified many times over.

Emptiness, then, according to Nagarjuna, is to be free of solid assumptions. Because only then can we practice openness and impartiality in every moment of our life. If we are open and have trained our six senses, we see things as they really are, beyond duality: empty of self-adhesive substance that is transitory, and therefore, changeable.

New Year’s Wishes from “Buddha’s Way” in Odenwald

Come New Year’s Eve, we, the monks and nuns of Pagoda Phat Hue, all participants of the winter retreat, and all inhabitants of Buddha’s Way Retreat Center, found ourselves in a large circle in the Buddha Hall. In the middle stood a Buddha statue surrounded by flowers, candles and decorations. The atmosphere of the Buddha Hall was marked by reflection and tranquility, as that was how we decided to experience the coming of the new year.

First, we meditated together, and then divided into smaller groups - we were close to 50 people. In the smaller groups, each person shared their funniest, favorite or most significant event of the last year. They remembered the beautiful encounters, the deep and touching conversations, and small moments of great happiness. Although the person speaking could not experience the moment again, they could experience the joy and laughter of his or her audience. After this, our hearts joined as we participated in a traditional Asian tea ceremony.

Many of you probably already know that a tea ceremony gives space for people to come in contact in a special, open and honest way. You meet each other in deep respect, profound gratitude, and with an open heart. You give your counterpart a cup of tea, bowing low to the person, touching your feet, legs, arms, elbows, hands and forehead to the ground. The receiver opens his hands, ready to receive the love and openness of the person closing their hands, who reopens them with love and benevolence.

Then, comes the time to express what is not possible to express in normal everyday conversation - the deepest and most honest gratitude, repentance, kindness, and wishes for the future. These are things that we take for granted in everyday life, and the states are difficult to express in words. The frame of the tea ceremony, the honest form of the bow, and the pouring of the tea, open our hearts to the words that we normally find difficult to let naturally flow from our mouths.

During a 2 hour stretch, on New Year’s Eve, we had the possibility to give such words, touching moments, and intimacy to our friends, loved ones, and fellow sentient beings. To come in contact with one another in a deep way. It was a wonderful evening, and all those present took advantage of the rare opportunity, which may present itself only two or three times a year.

Finally, we acknowledged ourselves, all together, holding hands, in a big circle. Equal rights, without distinction, and we sent out the positive achievements of the retreat into the evening’s night. And to all those who were about to celebrate the New Year around the world, too. To all those who live in poor conditions, who suffer, and who are not influenced by love, who are not bestowed with such happiness and privilege as us. And then, Thay Hue Nghi had the opportunity to express wishes for the New Year, 2010. Remember the wishes, because we want to share them with all of you, and wish you to share them with all other sentient beings…

May all sentient beings be happy.

May all humans take some of the wholesome energy accumulated in 2009 into the new year, 2010.

May we have a lot of power in the new year.

May we learn that it is possible to live together without distinction - in harmony and openness. For here, we are one circle, and have made this possible.

I did not get to pour tea to everyone tonight. That is why I now wish everyone good health, strength and joy for the new year.

May we develop respect for ourselves and for everything around us.

May we develop loving-kindness for ourselves and cultivate it in this world.

May all people make space for themselves - inside and outside.

May we all be able to cherish the beautiful moments of life and our time together with our loved ones.

I wish everyone a happy new year, 2010.

The Pagoda Phat Hue Sangha Wishes All Our Friends a Merry Christmas Season

Some weekends ago, with the temperature well below zero and the weather brisk, the Pagoda Phat Hue Sangha drove to downtown Frankfurt to provide the homeless with sandwiches, hot tea, coffee, hot noodle soup, and, most importantly, jackets.

Regardless of whether someone took our support or was already supplied, we had the feeling that we got more from the homeless than they from us. Their smiles, the looks in their eyes, their open hearts, warmth and directness deeply touched us all.

We believe that such moments are the most beautiful gifts, especially in our modern world, when many people search out gifts for their loved ones, instead of simply meeting with their family and friends to make them happy.

No matter what gift we select, as soon as we take a little time for our family and friends, as soon as we are there for people, for those we love, as soon as hearts touch each other, as soon as people feel intimately connected, then one can open for another being the best gift in the world.

Chrtistmas is a celebration of love, thus we wish for ourselves to develop all our faculties to their limits, so that we can give more love to fellow sentient beings.

May all sentient beings find peace. May all sentient beings be happy.

Sri Lanka trip: Feb. 24 - March 10, 2010

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, godparents, and interested parties,

Following our harmonious and impressive journey of the year past, we plan to visit our godchildren and their parents once again in 2010. Also again, we plan to visit some sights of interest in Sri Lanka. We, the people of Sri Lanka, invite you to acquaint yourself with our nature, people and culture.

Itinerary for Travel to Sri Lanka, Feb. 24 - March 10

February 24 - Takeoff from Frankfurt a.M. airport at 2:20 p.m. on Sri Lankan Airlines.

February 25 - Arrive at 4:30 p.m. in Colombo and travel to the hotel Jetwing Blue Oceanic in Negombo. Spend the rest of the day acclimating to our host country.

February 26 - Travel overnight to Polonnaruwa and stay, until March 1, in the Royal Lotus hotel.

February 27 - 28 - Meet the godchildren from this region and participate in ceremonies. Visit kindergardens and schools in Mahadamana and Hingurakgoda, which are supported by the Karuna Samadhi Assocation. Visit the ruins in Polonnaruwa.

March 1 - March 4 - Stay in the Paramitha meditation center (Paramitha International Buddhist Center), in Kadugannawa. Visit the orphanage in Kadugannawa, also supported by Karuna Samadhi Association. Following a period of meditation, travel to the temple in Kandy.

March 5 - Travel to the highlands and stay overnight in the Jetwing hotel.

March 6 - March 9 - Travel to Galle, meeting the godchildren of the region, enjoy recovery time at the beach, with massage, etc. Stay overnight in the Koggala Beach hotel. After a trip to Yakkala, dine and drive to the airport.

March 10 - Return flight to Frankfurt a.M. leaves at 12:15 a.m.

Following our travels, there is the possibility to stay a few extra days on the beach in Unawatuna and/or the meditation center in Paramitha. Those choosing to spend extra time in Sri Lanka are responsible for arranging their travel and hospitality needs.

Travel Costs (per person, flight price not included): €700 - € 900: double room €700, single room € 900. The prices contain overnight accomodation, breakfast and dinner, travel throughout Sri Lanka and travel fees. Travel throughout Sri Lanka refers only to transportation within the country and not the cost of flying to/from Sri Lanka.

Since we are occasionally invited into homes and temples for meals, we ask that you take approximately €50 with you for donation offerings.

We are not able to provide travel, accident and health insurance, so if you are interested in these, we ask that you make the proper arrangements yourself.

The number of participants is limited to 15 persons.

We will try, as time permits, to meditate and listen to Dharma talks during our journey.

Bhante Punnaratana and Francis Samarawickrama will be present throughout the entire trip and will be able to answer questions.

Please register by November 30, 2009 via e-mail: karuna@phathue.de

Half of the travel price is due by November 30, 2009 to the following bank account:
Punnaratana Rathmale, account No. 0837471500, BLZ 100,800 00 Dresdner Bank.

The remainder costs are to be paid by December 20, 2009.

I look forward to hearing from you and remain in Karuna sympathy and Karuna Compassion,

Your Bhante Punnaratana

Karuna Samadhi Sends Tool Donations to Sri Lanka

Every winter Karuna Samadhi sends a container of donated tools to Sri Lanka. This shipment supports several workshops in which young people can receive training and sponsorship from Karuna Samadhi. In Sri Lanka, this type of training is a rare commodity.

Karuna Samadhi would like to teach the young people a skill that is useful not only during school years, but afterwards, as a vocation, as well. This is where your donations can make a difference. Your donations alone can make learning a skill or trade possible for young people in Sri Lanka.

We welcome both new and used tools, and ask that you contact us so that we may inform you of what the workshops need, so that your tool(s) donation will be effective.

DELIVERY PERIOD: PLEASE DROP OFF YOUR DONATION IN THE BEGINNING TO MIDDLE OF DECEMBER (the container will be sent to Sri Lanka in the middle of December).

Thank you for your help!
Thank you for your assistance!!

Contact us by e-mail at: karuna@phathue.de