Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Developing Unarisen Healthy States

 

RIGHT EFFORT
Developing Unarisen Healthy States

Whatever a person frequently thinks about and ponders, that will become the inclination of their mind. If one frequently thinks about and ponders healthy states, one has abandoned unhealthy states to cultivate healthy states, and then one’s mind inclines to healthy states. (MN 19) Here a person rouses the will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts the mind, and strives to develop the arising of unarisen healthy mental states. One develops the unarisen joy-awakening factor. (MN 141)

Reflection

Happiness is a skill that can be learned, and it can be practiced again and again as a living presence. We are all capable of experiencing happy and healthy states of mind, but sometimes we need to remember to experience them as a conscious and deliberate act. At any point, we can in principle draw out of a pool of latent tendencies the active manifestation of a positive state such as joy, thus waking it up and bringing it to life.

Daily Practice

Try the exercise of deliberately cultivating joy as an active and present state of mind. This does not mean pretending to be joyful as a kind of false overlay to feelings that are not joyful. It means consciously developing actual joy and allowing it to replace whatever other feeling might be in the mind at the moment. Joy is accessible; it is just a matter of remembering to get in touch with it as a living emotion.

Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and Abiding in the Third Jhāna
One week from today: Maintaining Arisen Healthy States

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Via Daily Dharma: Finding Another Side of Life

 When we are in a spiritual community, perfect or not, we see ourselves more clearly. We see the depth of our pain and rage while bowing or offering incense and flowers. We move so slowly that what is in our bodies cannot be overlooked. Over time, you begin to see another side of yourself, another side of life.

Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, “A Glimpse of the Unseen”

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures

RIGHT LIVING
Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures

Sensual misconduct is unhealthy. Refraining from sensual misconduct is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning sensual misconduct, one abstains from misbehaving among sensual pleasures. (MN 41) One practices thus: "Others may engage in sensual misconduct, but I will abstain from sensual misconduct." (MN 8) Relationships are of two kinds: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated. Such relationships as cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to increase and healthy states to diminish, such relationships are not to be cultivated. But such relationships as cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to diminish and healthy states to increase, such relationships are to be cultivated. (MN 114)

Reflection

As with so many other aspects of our lives, the relationships we foster and the company we keep can be considered healthy or unhealthy, based on whether or not they help us see more clearly and whether they bring about more or less suffering. Since we influence one another so significantly, it is important for our own well-being to nurture healthy relationships and steer away from those that are unhealthy.

Daily Practice

See for yourself whether any particular relationship in your life is predominantly healthy or unhealthy. Do this not by some sort of conceptual analysis but by noticing whether states of yearning, resentment, and confusion increase or decrease when you are engaged with this person. Also note whether states of sharing, caring, and understanding increase or decrease. This is the actual measure of health or unhealth in relationships.

Tomorrow: Developing Unarisen Healthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Intoxication

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Via Daily Dharma: The Mindfulness of Gratitude

 Constantly expressing gratitude for things such as the common conveniences of modern life helps us develop a broader and deeper insight into the unique and wondrous gift of life itself. The mindfulness of gratitude brings the attitude achieved on the meditation cushion to the hectic circus of ordinary life.

Rev. Dr. Kenji Akahoshi, “The Efforts of Others”

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Via White Crane Institute // On this date Germany's PARAGRAPH 175 was finally revoked

 

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1994 -

On this date Germany's PARAGRAPH 175 was finally revoked. Originally adopted in 1871, Paragraph 175 was a provision of the German Criminal Code that made homosexual acts between males a crime. The statute was amended several times. The Nazis broadened the law in 1935 and increased §175 StGB prosecutions by an order of magnitude; thousands died in concentration camps, regardless of guilt or innocence. East Germany reverted to the old version of the law in 1950, limited its scope to sex with youths under 18 in 1968, and abolished it entirely in 1988. West Germany retained the Nazi-era statute until 1969, when it was limited to "qualified cases"; it was further attenuated in 1973 and finally revoked entirely in 1994 after German reunification.

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Gay Wisdom for Daily Living from White Crane Institute

"With the increasing commodification of gay news, views, and culture by powerful corporate interests, having a strong independent voice in our community is all the more important. White Crane is one of the last brave standouts in this bland new world... a triumph over the looming mediocrity of the mainstream Gay world." - Mark Thompson

Exploring Gay Wisdom & Culture since 1989!
www.whitecraneinstitute.org

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Mental Action

 

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 wish to do an action with the mind, reflect upon that same mental action thus: "Would this action I wish to do with the mind lead to the affliction of another?" If, upon reflection, you know that it would, then do not do it; if you know that it would not, then proceed. (MN 61)

Reflection

It is the nature of living beings to act. Every moment some sort of action is called for. Even when we are physically remaining still and silent, the mind is acting. Even deciding not to act is a mental act. Much of the time it seems as if our mind is thinking us, rather than we are thinking our mind. But with heightened awareness it is possible to open up more space for influencing with our intention the direction our mind takes.

Daily Practice

This teaching is inviting us to participate in our mental life with some sort of awareness and freedom of choice. Notice thoughts arising and passing away much as you would watch bodily sensations arise and pass away. As you become more aware of your intentions, examine whether they are healthy or unhealthy, helpful or unhelpful. See if you can at least catch up with your mind—and maybe even get a step ahead of it.

Tomorrow: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures
One week from today: Reflecting upon Social Action

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Via Daily Dharma: Wielding Patience Against Anger

 Patience is the only thing that defeats anger. Don’t be disappointed if you can’t do it right away. Even after years of practice you may find that you’re still losing your temper. It’s all right. But you will also notice that the power of anger has weakened, that it doesn’t last as long, and does not as easily turn into hatred.

Nawang Gehlek Rimpoche, “Anger and Patience”

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Via BBC Outlook // The priest leading the fight for LGBT rights in Poland

 

Via Sounds True // Thich Nhat Hanh

 

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Beloved teacher and author Thich Nhat Hanh passed away peacefully on January 21, 2022, at the age of 95. Thay, as he was known to his students, launched so many of us at Sounds True on our journeys into the miracle of deep presence.

If Thay touched your life in some way, we hope you’ll take a moment to breathe, and then to appreciate and remember him with us.

In celebration of his life and teachings, please enjoy a complimentary copy of his 6-hour audio program Living Without Stress or Fear. 

 

Download here >> https://bit.ly/3fKWE10

Via Via FB/ Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda: The Original

 

On this Day in the Life of Paramhansa Yogananda

March 9, 1936

 

Swami Sri Yukteswar, Yogananda’s guru, entered his mahasamadhi in Puri, India, while Yogananda was in Calcutta. Yogananda arrived on March 9th.

 

As Paramhansa Yogananda wrote in chapter 42 of Autobiography of Yogi: "I entered the ashram room where Master’s body, unimaginably lifelike, was sitting in the lotus posture—a picture of health and loveliness. A short time before his passing, my guru had been slightly ill with fever, but before the day of his ascension into the Infinite, his body had become completely well. No matter how often I looked at his dear form I could not realize that its life had departed. His skin was smooth and soft; in his face was a beatific expression of tranquillity. He had consciously relinquished his body at the hour of mystic summoning."

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Sri Yukteswar, Incarnation of Wisdom 

 

Yogananda said that Swami Sri Yukteswar was a gyanvatar, an incarnation of wisdom.

Born to a wealthy business man and his wife on May 10, 1855, in Serampore, India, he was given the name Priya Nath Karar. In time he became a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, whom he called “the greatest yogi I ever knew.”

 

The great saint Mahavatar Babaji asked Sri Yukteswar to write a book on…

(read more at https://www.sriyukteswar.com/)

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - March 9, 2022 💌

 
 

In our relationships, how much can we allow them to become new, and how much do we cling to what they used to be yesterday? - Ram Dass

Via FB

 

Via Lion's Roar -- Tenzin Palmo: “There is nothing” a woman can’t accomplish

Dominique Butet and Olivier Adam profile Tenzin Palmo, the nun who is changing the role of women in Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Translated from French by Susan Maneville.

Via FB -- van Gogh is Bipolar

 

TO BE BORN WE NEED:

 

2 parents

4 grandparents

8 great grandparents

16 great grandparents

32 great great grandparents

64 Penta Grandparents

128 Hexa Grandparents

256 Hepta Grandparents

512 Octa Grandparents

1024 Enea Grandparents

2048 Deca Grandparents

 

Through these last 11 generations we have 4 ancestors, all of them were born about 300 years before you were born or mine.

 

Take a moment and think:

Where did you come from?

- How many battles have you fought?

- How many times were you hungry?

 

How many arguments did you have?

 

- How much change have our ancestors survived?

 

On the other hand, how much love, strength, joy and encouragement has left us?

 

How many of their survival instincts have each of them left in us so we can live today?

 

We only exist because of everything each of them has been through.

 

This should be an opportunity for all of us to honor our ancestors!

 

Goldregen Artwork Connolly

Why Ben Left His Baháʼí Faith Behind

Via Daily Dharma: Dewdrops on a Summer Morning

 The things of this world are as fragile as dewdrops on a summer morning. So you must entrust yourself not to these things, but to immeasurable life, which is our home ground.

Interview with Taitetsu Unno by Tricycle, “Even Dewdrops Fall”

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Harsh Speech

 

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 engaged in the pursuit of self-mortification have entered upon the wrong way," one thus disparages some. But when one says instead, "The pursuit of self-mortification is a state beset by suffering, and it is the wrong way," then one is not disparaging anyone but is simply stating the truth. (MN 139)

Reflection

Certain words or phrases that appear harsh are simply part of the natural vocabulary of different social groups, and are not necessarily spoken harshly. But notice how certain ways of speaking are accompanied by a harsher mental state. Certain words bring with them a particular emotional tone, and this draws our mind into harsher places than necessary. Learning to see and avoid this can be helpful.

Daily Practice

In the example given in this passage, notice the difference between criticizing a person and criticizing the person’s behavior. When you disparage someone, you invite a defensive measure such as a counterattack; when you disparage their actions, you give the person room to distance themselves from their behavior. Try this for yourself. See if you can develop the habit of criticizing actions instead of people. It is not as harsh.

Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Mental Action
One week from today: Refraining from Frivolous Speech

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Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Appreciative Joy

 

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 manifestation of appreciative joy is elimination of discontent. (Vm 9.95)

Reflection

It turns out that feeling good about the success or well-being of other people is good for you. The natural inclination of the self is toward selfishness, which is aimed at getting what we want and need. This is a useful function up to a point, but if we are ever to evolve beyond it, we need to reverse the process and cultivate care and concern for others. Wishing them well and celebrating their good fortune is a good place to start.

Daily Practice

Keep on the lookout today for what happens to other people and wish them well when you see or hear of someone having good fortune. This is actually an excellent remedy for your own discontent. If you are not happy about your lot in life, you can immediately lift yourself into a better state by taking joy in the good fortune of others. Rather than resent their success you can use it to help raise your own mood.

Tomorrow: Refraining from Harsh Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Equanimity

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Via Daily Dharma: Allow Yourself to Be Loved

 Being cared for is what drives our ability to care for others. Without being open and vulnerable to receive care, our ability to care for our children, family, patients, students, and others is built on a fragile foundation.

Lama John Makransky and Brooke D. Lavelle, “Sustainable Compassion for Those Who Serve”

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