Guest Contributors – Sheryl Low
Article submitted by Sheryl Low
[TO BE VOTED ON! The article or video with the most number of views by 21 April 2013 will win a Manjushri statue!]
Submitted article for “BLOG COMPETITION: Invite back a Manjushri statue!”
I first come in contact with Dharma through participating in 100 Million Mani Recitation Retreat during late 2010, and then followed by visit to a Tibetan centre and some encounters with respectable Rinpoches. I remember that at that time I could hardly pronounce the word ‘Rinpoche’.
Ever since then, Dharma comes into my life and I elaborate briefly below how Dharma has benefited my life in four principle ways:
I searched for answers to my life, and this I found through Dharma teachings. While I am still an early learner of Dharma, I feel that answers to my life questions lie within precious Buddhism books such as Lamrim. Buddhas have given us all the teachings that we need for our lives. Prior to knowing Dharma, so much time has been wasted on conventional channels such as mediums, card readings or fengsui. All these things gave me only temporary solutions or satisfaction, something that I ran for and held onto so strongly for the hope that they gave me, and which got burst time and again like bubbles. They are like sink-holes. I should have worked on my own karma, read more dharma books and transformed my mind, because these are what makes results permanent. Now I rely on the Three Jewels, for they give me true reliance.
Karma is quite a centre topic to BuddhaDharma. After having come to understand more about Dharma, I learn the importance of purification of negative karma and accumulation of merits. I have learnt that karma explains the inequalities in people in many aspects, from wealth, health, look and to all things about ourselves and in our surrounding. I have learnt to be more aware of my own conduct, because everything that I do is a cause and there is an ensuing result. Karma is constantly looking at me and this understanding leads me to be more conscious of my own actions, because ultimately I am the creator of my own destiny and this is so important in the long run.
While I am still pretty elementary in my Dharma learning, in suitable cases I share my Dharma knowledge and do whatever that I believe Dharma can help to my friends and animals that I come across. These may seem to be benefits for them, but when I have more knowledge and capabilities, I can do something in needy situation, rather than feeling and acting helplessly. It is beautiful to be able to share with my friends the truth in our lives, such as impermanence and karma. And it is beautiful beyond words to know how to chant some mantras and blow them on animals knowing that this will benefit them if not in this life then it will be the next. Being able to create and provide benefits for others can be very satisfying.
Dharma brings me peace and this I feel is the highest gift that I receive from accepting Dharma in my life. This sense of peace comes from basic things such as admiring at Buddha statues or images or simply smelling the fragrance exuding from the incense, I am deeply grateful that I have now found a place where I can rest my mind after so much of the twists and turns. Everything in life can be so illusionary, now we have it the next moment it is gone, and this can be so scary, especially that we tend to rely on things that we all thought will be with us forever. No, things do not happen this way. Everything in life can go off like sands in our hands; they will leave us. There is no other thing than Dharma in this world that can give people eternal peace because of the true reliance and the compassion of the Buddhas.
I believe in the importance of Guru Devotion and trust that this will lead me to receive Buddha’s blessings. Buddha’s blessings and thinking about my Guru give me peace, because they are the truth and they are compassionate beings. I cannot go wrong with this.
Now looking back at the path that I have walked through, I am amazed at how things come and fit together like jigsaw puzzles in such a beautiful way that I am now led to Dharma, which I am so grateful for. Dharma has benefited my life through providing me answers to my life, making me more aware of my own actions, allowing me to know more ways of helping people as well as animals and giving me internal peace and true reliance. Last but not the least, I see myself extremely fortunate to be able to cross path with Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and to have him as my Guru, this is my greatest blessing in this life.
** All pictures provided here are taken by myself. I provided the original copies as separate attachments for you in case the pictures do not look sharp on this word document.
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Nice.
“I have learnt to be more aware of my own conduct, because everything that I do is a cause and there is an ensuing result. Karma is constantly looking at me and this understanding leads me to be more conscious of my own actions…”
I really like what you said and couldn’t agree more. Thank you for sharing your thoughts Sheryl and I wish for you to continue to find peace in Dharma.
Thank you Cliff for your comments. Yes, karma is constantly looking at us and recording our actions, even if we try hide them.
What does it mean? We have to continue to do good and avoid doing those bad, because we reap what we sow.
Thank you for reminding me on this.
I wish you great happiness in life!
[…] Sheryl Low […]
Hi Sheryl,
Very inspiring Testimony on your Spiritual path. Ever since Steven Chew introduced me to Dharma, I have found peace and happier in life too.
Taking this opportunity to thank you for sharing your Dharma knowledge with me.
May Lord Manjushri be with you to benefit all Living Beings in the southern region.
Thank you Mr Tan for reading and commenting on my post. I am glad to read that you find peace and happiness in life after having accepted Dharma in your life.
I wish you much more happiness and fulfillment in life.
Thank you for spending 2 hours to write this comment. 🙂
Dear Sheryl
Thank you for taking time to openly share your experience in Dharma and the benefits you have derived from it. There are no flaws in Dharma and it is only our lack of practice to be blamed if we are not deriving any benefits from it. So i rejoice very much to read your article. I wish you much success in your spiritual journey.
Thank you Pastor Susan to read and comment on my post admist your busy schedule. I agree that there is no flaw in Dharma. If we see flaw in it, it is because of our own delusion.
I wish you great happiness in your Dharma journey too.
谢谢sheryl 分享妳学佛的经验与感受。我相信妳学佛的经历能够帮助很多刚开始踏上学佛路程的人！我认同，生命的确是痛苦和无常的，我们有幸能在今世遇见我们尊贵的上师詹杜固人仁波切 和闻得佛法，我们应当好好珍惜和把握这一个机会好好的修习仁波切教导的佛法与法门，以便能够成为利己也利他的人。愿妳在修行的路上顺利无障碍，所有的愿望都能够实现！
Thank you for your comments, June. I believe that I have so much to learn than to share. Dharma is the ultimate truth, and we are all here to learn and practice.
I agree with 2 points you mentioned: That life is unpredictable and things are impermanent. Nothing will be with us forever, this may sound sad, but if we look at this with another len, it teaches us to cherish what we have now, discipline us when we are on top of hill and comfort us when we in low pit, because things do not stay with us forever. They will change.
Second, it is truly what a precious opportunity for us to have Tsem Tulku Rinpoche to be with us so close. We must have done something so right to have this in this life time.
I too wish you great happiness and fulfillment in all things in your life.
A very inspiring write up and has “touched” my heart!
Thank you Gladys for viewing my post and your words here.
I am glad that my words have touched your heart. 🙂
Wow, thank you Sheryl for the above writing. It is honest and encompasses many key points that helped me reflect on my Dharma journey as a fellow student.
I agree with every points of wisdom you shared on.
There are so many things our minds grow attached to in desperation for a “reality” and comfort zone to hold onto. However, in my Dharma journey, I had the good fortune to have some of my fixed beliefs shattered, freeing my thoughts and the new views I am able to consider and contemplate on. I thank Rinpoche deeply for the opportunity to experience such liberation and will continue to work hard to further train my way of thinking.
Another very powerful point that inspiring is we are “the creators of our own destiny”. With this view, we are able to make the changes we want in our lives without needing to be victims of those around us. How often we tend to blame others, including God, for our circumstances. If we believe in karma, we will understand and accept that we have caused the effects of our lives through the actions of our body, speech and mind.
I hope you will be able to win yourself a Manjushri statue to to further enhance your progress to understanding and practice of Dharma.
Hi Li Kheng, thank you for viewing my post and your comments.
I am glad to read that you already have some of your fixed beliefs shattered away from you. They dont go away unless you let them, so you have made a great effort, and you are open to new ideas and views. This is very nice.
Dharma journey is not easy, because we are not doing the typical things that the society wants us to. May we learn and grow together.
I understand that Tsem Tulku Rinpoche is Emanation of Lord Manjushri, what can beat receiving Lord Manjushri statue from Lord Manjushri? 🙂
It is truly wonderful the way you share your love story with Dharma Sheryl, and it literally should feel like the way you described. Although you say you are new to the Dharma you seem to have a good grasp if it already and I see that in your last paragraph where you stated how you are seeing that all things “fit together”. If in this life, you have the great fortune to meet your own Maha Guru and the Dharma, then it can only be because you created the karma to receive these treasures in this life. Those of us who have tasted Dharma cannot go back to the usual way of looking at things. In this post, you are giving a powerful testimony to what Dharma has done for you and in that way, you draw others to the Three Jewels as well. How meritorious your words are.
Thank you for sharing and may Manjushri be with you life after life and may your Dharma down the Lamrim bring you much liberating answers and joy. May you come to know Tsem Rinpoche better and receive much blessings. One of the most effective ways to purify our negative karma is to serve our Guru well with our Dharma work.
I am grateful to have met Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, although I guess forever I can never know what I have done to have created such great merits in this life.
We rush in and out of a myriad different mundane things in life and time passes us by so quickly, before we come to know, we are near our death bed. Dharma teaches us many things. What else we can rely on than Three Jewels?
It is not being humble, I am truly very elementary in my Dharma learning and practicing. So much to learn, but at the very least, I have started my journey and I hope that with accumulation of more knowledge and experiences, I can provide benefits for others and to encourage others to embark on this journey.
Oh yes, I need Lord Manjushri. I need so much wisdom. 🙂
Thank you for your words. I appreciate.
Dear Sheryl Low,
Thanks for sharing your dharma path with us and I can feel your sincerity on learning and practice dharma. Your apply what you learn on dharma help those animals you love that great. Cheers!
Hi Chong Hin, thank you for your comments, I appreciate. May we progress in our learning and practicing of Dharma together.
Dear Sheryl, glad to know that Dharma bring so much benefit towards your life , friends and animals. This is our great fortune can be able to meet Tsem Tulku Rinpoche in this life and able to receive His Holy’s Dharma teaching.May all your doubts being clear, all your obstacles being removed, all your wishes come true !
Thank you Grace for your comments.
The benefits that Dharma can bring to me should be more, but because I have yet to know more about Dharma, I am only reaping the a small portion of it, somehow knowing too that there can also be pains along the way.
Beside humans, I am so glad that I can do something for animals. Talking about benefits, I hope that my pet dog can derive some benefits out of me from my daily sadhana and my blowing of mantras on her. She is always very alert when I chant Lord Manjushir’s mantra, because I always do that on her foods. I hope that she can meet you one day, than you can try this on her. I guarantee to you that you will laugh out loud.
She is in her senior age and I wish to be able to bring her anything that is good so that she can become a human and to meet, learn and practice Dharma in her next life. Who knows, maybe she can be next to Lord Manjushri much more faster than me?
Dear Sheryl Low,
Thank you for sharing your spiritual journey so far. I love how you described it with such simplicity and depth. It is beautiful that you have found answers and peace within the Dharma. I am glad you have applied what you know and it has made a difference in your mind as it had for many others as well.
It is always beautiful read about people’s spiritual path because we can see similarities in all our paths and what you learn along the way can be an inspiration for someone like me or I can relate that to other people so they too will have their own spiritual journey as well. I always like to read about people’s spiritual journey because I relate it to mine and I can share it with others as well so it will help them. Thank you and all the best to you succeeding in winning that Manjushri statue.
Thank you David for your comments.
I am glad that my such simple article can receive praises from you, knowing that you are such a great writer with lots of Dharma knowledge. I will pick up more Dharma knowledge, although the depth and width may still be so shallow as compared to yours. Too bad, I come to know Dharma only recently.
I have yet to read your video as I have been having internet problem. Will come to that and yes, I wish that you can win Lord Manjushri statue too, I know you like Lord Manjushri. 🙂
Dear Sheryl,
Wow! It was like reading a book. You wrote well and it was very easy to imagine how you are feeling. Thank you for such inspirational post.
Yes, everything is impermanent. All that I ever thought was happiness was actually unhappiness!
And yes, being able to meet and take refuge from Rinpoche is the greatest blessing for me too and I am sure many others as well. I cannot imagine myself going back to the same old pathetic life and thank Buddha I dont have to… How truly Blessed! May you always be Blessed by the 3 Jewels.
PS. lovely pictures…
Thank you Tenzin IIhamo for your comments. I feel that my writing is very basic, but am glad to read that it does convey my feelings.
Isnt Dharma nice? It makes us realised the truth, even though it can be very painful.
I wish you to have continual blessings from The Three Jewels too.
p/s I would be interested to know who you actually are? 🙂
Wow Sherly, nice sharing… Thanks for sharing ur beautiful expression to Dharma.
I totally agree with u that Guru Devotion is the most important part for us as a student. The stronger Guru Devotion we have, can make the easier Dharma path for us to go…
May u always bless by 3 jewels and hope ur wishes will come true soon… Good luck…
Lim, thank you for your comments. Somehow when I look at this article again, I feel that this so ‘kindergarden-grade’, I cant write something deep yet, but these are my thoughts about Dharma as at now.
I wish you the best too, that your wishes will come true. I am glad to have you as my Dharma friend. We will certainly not know each other if there is no Dharma, or Kechara.
Beautiful write up, Sheryl. I am very glad to hear how Dharma has changed your life. Thank you for sharing it with everyone here as I am sure many readers will be inspired to practice Dharma once they know how Dharma can benefit them to be a more balanced individual. Never stop sharing how Dharma has benefited you, this is something that all Dharma students should keep in mind.
It is wonderful to know that you’re also sharing your Dharma knowledge with others. No matter how small or big our knowledge is on Dharma, it will benefit others always. Also, when we share the Dharma we are creating the causes to receive more and deepen our understanding in Dharma. It is also not only create the causes for us to benefit others but it is actually the very action of bringing others one step closer to Enlightenment.
Thank you Sarah for your comments. I am glad to have met Dharma while I am still physically and mentally able to do something. I am blessed in this sense.
If my memory serves me right, my grandmother took refuge only before she passed away. If this is true, how much she has missed out? And I am so sorry for not being able to give her anything dharmically while she was alive. Different people come to meet and accept Dharma through different reasons and under different circumstances. As long as we all learn and try our best to practice Dharma, we will have not wasted our short lives.
Yes, it is truly good to have met Dharma. I find peace, reasons and happiness through givings to others.
Thank you for reading my article and putting your comments. I wish you well.