Via Daily Dharma: Unselfish Generosity

To give unselfishly is at least momentarily to be free of ourselves, free of greed and attachments, resentments and hatreds, habitual and isolating acts of self-protection.

—Dale S. Wright, “The Bodhisattva’s Gift”

Via Daily Dharma: Welcome the Ongoing Flow of Emotions

We don’t have to attach so much meaning to what arises, and we also don’t have to identify with our emotions so strongly. All we need to do is allow ourselves to experience the energy—and in time it will move through you.

—Pema Chödrön, “Meditating with Emotions”

Via Lionsroar / Forum: Do You Believe in Miracles?

Forum: Do You Believe in Miracles?

Judy Lief, Ari Goldfield, and Glenn Wallis debate the supernatural in Buddhism.

Ari Goldfield: The main point is to work with the mind. The teachings talk about the common siddhis, or powers, and the extraordinary siddhis. The common siddhis are what we would call supernatural powers—flying, walking through walls, and so forth. The extraordinary siddhi is bodhichitta, to realize the true nature of mind and to practice love and compassion. That’s the real power we are looking for when we enter the dharma. The real miracle is when you can work with negative emotions by practicing on the path, and discover compassion and wisdom, the true nature of mind. Beyond that, it’s good not to pre-judge, because if you’re open to things and do not reject the possibility of other people having these experiences, one’s own experience becomes broader, and one becomes able to relate and connect with others with less judgment.

Via Lionsroar / Four Steps to Magical Powers

Four Steps to Magical Powers

Before you fully embark on the path of the bodhisattvas and buddhas, says Chan master Sheng Yen, you must first practice the four steps to magical powers. What are these steps and what are the magical powers you need?

In both the early Buddhist and Mahayana traditions, there are records of supernatural powers being used. But what did the Buddha do when he was hungry? Did he conjure up a feast or have one catered by a deity? No, he walked around with his alms bowl begging for food. After he attained buddhahood, he walked from village to village spreading the dharma. He didn’t fly through the air. He didn’t magically erect monasteries but instead relied on laypeople to build them and to sew robes for the sangha. Before entering parinirvana, he received an offering of food that was tainted. You would think that he would have used his supernatural powers to know the food was bad, but instead he ate it and became very sick. So even though the Buddha possessed supernatural powers, he did not use them in self-centered ways.

Via Daily Dharma: Take a Chance on Peace

A good community is needed to help us resist the unwholesome ways of our time. Mindful living protects us and helps us go in the direction of peace. With the support of friends in the practice, peace has a chance.

—Thich Nhat Hanh, “The Fertile Soil of Sangha”

Via Daily Dharma: Nothing but Awareness

Awareness is nothing special. It’s natural. In fact, it may be the most natural—the only natural—thing there is.

—Andrew Olendzki, “Keep It Simple”

Via Daily Dharma: What Really Is the Present Moment?

The present moment is not defined solely by letting go of past and future, nor by accepting and appreciating what arises right now, but by choosing in this very moment how we make sense of the world.

—Jack Petranker, “The Present Moment”

Via Ram Dass / Words of Wisdom - July 11, 2018

Over the years, in working with people who are grieving, I’ve encouraged them first of all to surrender to the experience of their pain. To counteract our natural tendency to turn away from pain, we open to it as fully as possible and allow our hearts to break. We must take enough time to remember our losses – be they friends or loved ones passed away, the death of long-held hopes or dreams, the loss of homes, careers, or countries, or health we may never get back again. Rather than close ourselves to grief, it helps to realize that we only grieve for what we love.

- Ram Dass -

Via Daily Dharma: Opposing Selfishness

Our goal is to help people think like Buddhists—to get rid of the poisons of the mind and selfish opinions. It’s not to judge but rather to see the other side of a situation, and to see the other side of people.

—Interview with Mauricio Hondaku by Marie Scarles, “Meet a Sangha: Nambei Honganji, Brazil Betsuin”

Via Daily Dharma: Find Your Home Within

Anyone can build a house of wood and bricks, but the Buddha taught that that is not our real home. Our real home is inner peace.

—Ajahn Chah, “Our Real Home”

Via Ram Dass / Words of Wisdom - July 8, 2018

When meditation works as it should, it will be a natural part of your being. There will no longer be anything apart from you to have faith in. Hope starts the journey, faith sustains it, but it ends beyond both hope and faith.  

- Ram Dass -

Via Daily Dharma: Prioritize Accomplishments That Last

The results of your actions can carry well past death, so make sure that you don’t sacrifice the goodness of your thoughts, words, and deeds to save things that will slip through your fingers like water.

—Thanissaro Bhikkhu, “What is True Safety?”

Via Daily Dharma: Be Wary of Distorted Perceptions

When layered, perceptions become distorted, sticky, and weighty. Essentially, we think we know something, then we are off and running—all based on past experiences, preferences, and beliefs. [But] usually . . . it’s all in our minds.

—Ruth King, “Mindful of Race”

Via Daily Dharma: The Power of Interdependence

When we consider that everything we experience results from a complex interplay of causes and conditions, we find that there is no single thing to desire or resent, and it is more difficult for the afflictions of attachment or anger to arise.

—H.H. the Dalai Lama, “Mahayana/Vajrayana Practice”

Happy Birthday, Tenzin Gyatso!

He’s the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a worldwide icon for peace, and the incarnation of the bodhisattva of compassion.

But Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, prefers to think of himself as a “simple Buddhist monk.” 

 

The Dalai Lama was born 83 years ago today to a farming family in Amdo, a northeastern Tibetan province. He was recognized as an incarnation of the former Dalai Lama when he was 2 years old, and started his monastic schooling four years later. He was awarded his geshe degree—the equivalent of a PhD—in 1959, and later that year was forced to flee to India to escape the Chinese invasion. This year the Dalai Lama, who recently said he expects to live another 15–20 years, will celebrate his birthday in Ladakh. After that, it's back to his typical schedule: up at 3 a.m. for meditation, listening to the BBC while he eats breakfast, and studying Buddhist texts and commentaries.

Via Daily Dharma: Transform Anger into Clarity

Anger is traditionally thought to be close to wisdom. When not projected outward onto others or inward toward the self, it gives us the necessary energy and clarity to understand what needs to be done.

—Thanissara, “Don’t Worry, Be Angry”

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Via Ram Dass / Words of Wisdom - July 4, 2018

 

We can’t mask impurities for very long. When we suppress or repress them, they gain energy. Eventually we all have to deal with our same old karmic obstacles. Maharaji used to enumerate them with regularity: kama, krodh, moha, lobh – lust, anger, confusion, and greed. It’s the spectrum of impulses and desires that condition our interior universe and our view of reality. We have to take care of this stuff, so we can climb the mountain without getting dragged back down.

This clearing out opens the door for dharma, for being in harmony with the laws of the universe on both a personal and social level. If you do your dharma, you do things that bring you closer to God. You bring yourself into harmony with the spiritual laws of the universe. Dharma is also translated as “righteousness,” although that evokes echoes of sin and damnation. It’s more a matter of clearing the decks to be able to do spiritual work on yourself.

- Ram Dass -