A personal blog by a graying (mostly Anglo with light African-American roots) gay left leaning liberal progressive married college-educated Buddhist Baha'i BBC/NPR-listening Professor Emeritus now following the Dharma in Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Picking Up the Pieces in a Postapocalyptic World Vajra Chandrasekera in conversation with James Shaheen
In this episode of Tricycle Talks, Tricycle’s
editor-in-chief, James Shaheen sits down with Sri Lanka-based novelist,
Vajra Chandrasekera, to discuss the weaponization of religious myths in
Sri Lankan Buddhism, and why he describes himself as an “unbuddhist.”
Malicious speech is
unhealthy. Refraining from malicious speech is healthy. (MN 9)
Abandoning malicious speech, one refrains from malicious speech. One
does not repeat there what one has heard here to the detriment of these,
or repeat here what he has heard there to the detriment of those. One
unites those who are divided, is a promoter of friendships, and speaks
words that promote concord. (DN 1) One practices thus: “Others may speak
maliciously, but I shall abstain from malicious speech.” (MN 8)
Reflection
There is so
much malicious speech in the world these days, speech that is intended
to divide and promote discord. It is valuable to recognize what it is,
to be aware of it when it occurs, and to undertake a commitment to
refrain from speaking maliciously yourself. Let’s not contribute to the
problem but instead work actively in the other direction, not only
refraining from wrong speech but also promoting right speech.
Daily Practice
Even though
others may speak maliciously, make it an ongoing practice to be a person
who does not speak with malice. When the tendency comes up to return
like for like in your speech, catch that with mindfulness and decide on a
different course of action. Commit to being someone who speaks to unite
those who are divided and utters only words that foster concord.
Practice being a promoter of friendships with all you say.
Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Verbal Action One week from today: Refraining from Harsh Speech
Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel
...I can disagree with a political leader’s actions. I can legislate. I
can do civil disobedience if I think what they support is wrong. I can
disagree with actions that are not compassionate. But I want to keep my
heart open. If I don’t, I am part of the problem, not part of the
solution. And that’s just not interesting enough. That’s what the inner
work is—to become part of the solution.
So going around being angry at everything and everybody is a cheap pie.
It really is. You don’t have to act out of anger in order to oppose
something. You can act to oppose something because it creates suffering.
You can become an instrument of that which relieves suffering, but you
don’t have to get angry about it.
Social action does not have to be pumped up by righteous indignation or
anger. That’s working with the dark forces. That’s working with fear.
You can work with love. You can oppose somebody out of love. You can do
social action out of love. And that’s the way you win the whole war, not
just the battle...
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Whatever you intend,
whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will
become the basis on which your mind is established. (SN 12.40) Develop
meditation on compassion, for when you develop meditation on compassion,
any cruelty will be abandoned. (MN 62)
Reflection
Compassion is a
mental factor that can be developed, much as you might develop a muscle
in the gym. It takes time, constant repetition, and working with
successively heavier weights. The more time you spend caring for those
who are in pain, and the more challenging the objects of your compassion
(even people you don’t like!), the stronger and more compelling your
inclination toward compassion will become.
Daily Practice
Practice
cultivating the intention to care for those who are suffering. Plan ways
of helping others and develop a tendency toward compassion. When you do
this, compassion will become the basis on which your mind is
established. That is to say, it will become easier and more natural for
you to feel compassion as you train your mind in that direction.
Eventually it will be difficult to have a thought of ill will toward
anyone.
Tomorrow: Refraining from Malicious Speech One week from today: Cultivating Appreciative Joy
Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel
Mindfulness
practice is a source of courage that allows us to slow down and to look
deeply at the fear and discrimination present inside ourselves. When we
can sit with ourselves, and love both the most magnificent parts of our
being and the more uncomfortable truths that we embody, we give way for
profound transformation.
Brother Pháp Hũ’u, “The Path to Transforming Generational Suffering”
Mission Joy Directed by Peggy Callahan and Louie Psihoyos
Hilarious
banter, deep wisdom, and life lessons from two legends. Our November
FIlm Club pick is a celebration of love and laughter in the face of
adversity.