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Be Willing to Commit Calming and stilling are the willingness to commit to just being wholeheartedly present in one moment at a time, to commit to one breath, to commit to the sense of our feet touching the ground. To know this, we begin to train the mind. Christina Feldman, “Blindfolding Mara” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

The Long Night of Life By Jack Kerouac In an essay from The Buddhist Years: Collected Writings by Jack Kerouac, a new collection of previously unpublished writings, the Dharma Bums author recalls his own introduction to the dharma and realizations about suffering. Read more »

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Appreciative Joy

 

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RIGHT INTENTION Cultivating Appreciative Joy Whatever you intend, whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will become the basis upon which your mind is established. (SN 12.40) Develop meditation on appreciative joy, for when you develop meditation on appreciative joy, any discontent will be abandoned. (MN 62)  The near enemy of appreciative joy is ordinary joy. (Vm 9.100)

Reflection The “sublime state” of appreciative joy does not simply mean joy as a pleasant mental feeling or the emotion of uplifted joy. It is not just feeling good but feeling good in a particular set of circumstances—when you observe or contemplate good things happening to others. Ordinary joy is self-referential, while appreciative joy is more universal and focused on the good fortune of others. Daily Practice Learn to discern the different ways joy can manifest in your experience. In particular, see if you can get a good felt sense of what the special quality of appreciative joy feels like. This is the emotion of feeling good about good things happening to other people. Practice calling to mind the goodness of others, and then settle into the emotion of wishing them well and appreciating their success in a way that is not about you. Tomorrow: Refraining from Harsh Speech One week from today: Cultivating Equanimity Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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