Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Frivolous Speech

 

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RIGHT SPEECH Refraining from Frivolous  Speech Frivolous speech is unhealthy. Refraining from frivolous speech is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning frivolous speech, one refrains from frivolous speech. One speaks at the right time, speaks only what is fact, and speaks about what is good. One speaks what is worthy of being overheard, words that are reasonable, moderate, and beneficial. (DN 1) One practices thus: "Others may speak frivolously, but I shall abstain from frivolous speech." (MN 8) When a person commits an offense of some kind, one should not hurry to reprove them but rather should consider whether or not to speak. If you will be troubled, the other person will be hurt, and you can help them emerge from what is unhealthy and establish them in what is healthy, then it is proper to speak. It is a trifle that you will be troubled and they will be hurt compared with the value of helping establish them in what is healthy. (MN 103)

Reflection The teachings on right speech are encouraging us to take the matter of communication more seriously than we often do. Often a lot of chattering is not conveying anything important, and it has a tendency to be distracting, making us less attentive. Speaking carefully about what is true and good brings greater value to our speech and renders it more worthy of being overheard. Daily Practice The example offered in this passage suggests that we should not jump to reprimand someone when they have committed some small offense. Pausing to consider whether to speak up breaks the momentum of a quick, reflexive reaction. It may turn out to be appropriate to speak, but the key issue is whether it would be helpful to do so. Note that whether speaking up would be troublesome or might hurt the other person is a trifle in comparison to the benefit of “helping establish them in what is healthy.” Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Social Action One week from today: Refraining from False Speech Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via Daily Dharma: Community Is Everything

 

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Community Is Everything  Community is where we find our power. And it can also assuage our sense of loneliness and powerlessness. There’s a wonderful anecdote where Ananda asks the Buddha, “Good friendship is half the spiritual life, isn’t it?” And the Buddha replies, “It’s the whole thing.” Rebecca Solnit, “It’s Not Too Late” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

What We’re Reading By Wendy Biddlecombe Agsar, Frederick M. Ranallo-Higgins The latest in Buddhist publishing, from a collection of short essays that shows the depth of meaning that mindfulness can add to our lives to timeless practice companions. Read more » Buddhist Film Festival Presented by Tricycle March 15-24, 2024 We invite you to join us for our first-ever Buddhist Film Festival from March 15-24, offering five feature-length films, five short films, and a live screening and Q&A with filmmaker Lana Wilson! Get your ticket » Follow Us Forward today's wisdom to a friend »

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - March 13, 2024 💌

 

One way to get free of attachment is to cultivate the witness consciousness, to become a neutral observer of your own life. The witness place inside you is simple awareness, the part of you that is aware of everything — just noticing, watching, not judging, just being present, being here now.

The witness is actually another level of consciousness. The witness coexists alongside your normal consciousness as another layer of awareness, as the part of you that is awakening. Humans have this unique ability to be in two states of consciousness at once. Witnessing yourself is like directing the beam of a flashlight back at itself. In any experience — sensory, emotional, or conceptual — there’s the experience, the sensory or emotional or thought data, and there’s your awareness of it. That’s the witness, the awareness, and you can cultivate that awareness in the garden of your being.

-Ram Dass-

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Equanimity

 

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RIGHT INTENTION Cultivating Equanimity 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 equanimity, for when you develop meditation on equanimity, all aversion is abandoned. (MN 62)   The proximate cause of equanimity is seeing ownership of deeds. (Vm 9.95) Having tasted a flavor with the tongue, one is neither glad-minded nor sad-minded but abides with equanimity, mindful and fully aware. (AN 6.1)

Reflection The phrase “seeing ownership of deeds” refers to karma. Recognizing that everything that happens is a matter of cause and effect gives rise to equanimity. It is not raining to spoil your picnic, your toothache is not a form of punishment, and you are not having a bit of luck because you deserve it. When we regard things as the result of conditions rather than as entangled in our own sense of self, equanimity begins to develop.  Daily Practice Cycling through the senses, we are practicing today with the tongue and flavors. The aim is to use this sense modality to cultivate equanimity, the state of mind that does not favor pleasure or oppose displeasure. As you eat your food, see if you can relate to the taste with a neutral reaction. Acknowledge the tastiness if it tastes good and be aware of the bad taste if it is bad, but practice looking at each evenly. It is what it is. Tomorrow: Refraining from Frivolous Speech One week from today: Cultivating Lovingkindness Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via Daily Dharma: Embracing Our Inner World

 

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Embracing Our Inner World  When we bury a feeling, we hold it inside and it festers, but if we develop our ability and courage to feel, we can come to a recognition that our inner feeling-world is not something we have to fear and run from. Scott Tusa, “How to Be in the Body (Without Jumping Out of Your Skin)” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Sacred Sites: The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas By Carmen Kohlruss Seeded two decades ago, A Tibetan Buddhist peace garden continues to flourish under the care of a Tibetan diaspora within the domain of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on the Flathead Reservation in Arlee, Montana. Read more » Buddhist Film Festival Presented by Tricycle March 15-24, 2024 We invite you to join us for our first-ever Buddhist Film Festival from March 15-24, offering five feature-length films, five short films, and a live screening and Q&A with filmmaker Lana Wilson! Get your ticket » Follow Us Forward today's wisdom to a friend »