Via The Tricycle Community \\\ Three Teachings on De-Cluttering

 

Support the Tricycle community with a donation » April 2, 2026 Simplify and Open Up    Many of us can relate to the sight of clutter piling up on a desk or in a corner of the house: a slow build of obligation to be dealt with at some undetermined time. When the objects or documents we think we might need but haven’t given a home start to add up, we might notice a low, persistent hum of irritation. It may become more difficult to settle our minds in meditation or move freely from one task to the next.  If any of this rings true, this week’s Three Teachings might offer the motivation you need to do a little spring cleaning. A professional organizer offers guidance for finding a place for your most-used objects and tips for shedding the rest. A Japanese Buddhist monk explains the cultural and spiritual significance of cleaning, and a writer reflects on the spaciousness she uncovers when she really attends to her attachments and lets go of the theoretical future that keeps her accumulating stuff.  “There are no guarantees we’ll make it to breakfast,” writes Tina Lear. “It takes courage to see all that — to know that this is it, right here, and there’s nothing else. But when we do, then letting go … is not such a problem.” It becomes a practice. Forward today's teachings to a friend » Unclutter Your Life by Erasing Your Future By Tina Lear After revealing the possessions she refuses to let go of even when she knows she should (including old issues of Tricycle and herbal tinctures to get her community through an apocalypse— “It’s OK. You can laugh,” she says), writer Tina Lear reminds us to forget about a theoretical future and live fully now because “the world is ending all the time.”  Read more » Unstuff Your Life By Andrew Mellen Author and professional organizer Andrew Mellen helps us examine attachment and lays out a plan for clearing clutter and forming new habits. Read more » The Mindfulness of Tidying Up By Shoukei Matsumoto  An excerpt from the new book Work Like a Monk: A Buddhist Guide to Embracing What Matters reveals the importance of clean surroundings for settling our minds and nurturing awareness of interbeing. Read more » Follow Us

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Mental Action

 

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RIGHT ACTION Reflecting Upon Mental Action However the seed is planted, in that way the fruit is gathered. Good things come from doing good deeds, bad things come from doing bad deeds. (SN 11.10) What is the purpose of a mirror? For the purpose of reflection. So too mental action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61) When you are doing an action with the mind, reflect upon that same mental action thus: “Does this action I am doing with the mind lead to the affliction of another?” If, upon reflection, you know that it does, then stop doing it; if you know that it does not, then continue. (MN 61)

Reflection Being mindful allows us to gain access to the flow of internal mental states that might otherwise be overlooked. Insight develops as you are able to reflect upon the quality of your thoughts and understand their impact on yourself and others. Becoming aware of mental states is one thing; understanding their quality—their level of healthiness or unhealthiness—is another. This is the practice described here. Daily Practice Whether or not your mental and emotional states cause affliction to yourself and others is something about which you can develop an intuitive sense. It is not about examining the question intellectually and conceptually but about accessing an inner appreciation for what is helpful and what is harmful. If your attitude feels off in some way, abandon it and turn to something else. Use your own wisdom to guide yourself along the path. Tomorrow: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures One week from today: Reflecting upon Social Action Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Harsh Speech

 

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RIGHT SPEECH Refraining from Harsh Speech Harsh speech is unhealthy. Refraining from harsh speech is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning harsh speech, one refrains from harsh speech. One speaks words that are gentle, pleasing to the ear, and affectionate, words that go to the heart, are courteous, and are agreeable to many. (DN 1) One practices thus: “Others may speak harshly, but I shall abstain from harsh speech.” (MN 8) When one says, “All those disengaged from the pursuit of self-mortification have entered upon the right way,” one thus extols some. But when one says instead, “The disengagement from the pursuit of self-mortification is a state without suffering, and it is the right way,” then one is not extolling anyone but simply stating the truth. (MN 139)

Reflection The principle we reviewed earlier about criticizing the negative actions of people rather than criticizing them as people also applies in the positive direction. It is better to extol, to praise, positive words and deeds than to extol the person. While the negative comments lead to protective defensive behaviors, the positive comments could result in an increase of pride and conceit. Daily Practice Praising someone for being a great person boosts their sense of self, and while this may be a good thing in the case of the developing egos of youngsters, it is not something encouraged for Buddhist practitioners. By all means extol the value and benefit of benevolent words and deeds, for example, but practice the habit of not feeding people’s view of self, lest you contribute to their self-aggrandizement. Help people be humble. Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Mental Action One week from today: Refraining from Frivolous Speech Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation \\\ Words of Wisdom - April 1, 2026 🌻

 

"These thoughts of fear are thoughts of the ego and will not help you on the spiritual path, they weigh you down. When you journey to the place of the witness, you see that these thoughts are not helping and then you embrace them with love, because the witness is in the soul and the soul is loving awareness."   Source: Ram Dass Here & Now - Ep. 117 – Being Mindful Now

Via Daily Dharma: Know Your Own Mind

 

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Know Your Own Mind If you discover how you oppress yourself, your uncontrolled mind will disappear. Knowing your own mind is the solution to all your problems. Lama Thubten Yeshe, “Your Mind Is Your Religion” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Renunciation Without a Category By Amnuaypond Kidpromma, PhD Ajarn Tritrinn, a transgender Thai renunciant, is carving a new path for monasticism beyond gender norms. Read more »