Via Daily Dharma: Loss Is Just Loss

Loss itself is not a gift; loss is just loss. Pain is not okay just because we can grow from it. We never need to be blown apart just because we can learn from the act of piecing ourselves back together.

Teri Dillion, “Making Our Own Jewels”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Tricycle // Podcast

 

Podcast: Getting Close to the Terror
With Ocean Vuong

In our latest episode of Life As It Is, Buddhist poet and novelist Ocean Vuong sits down with co-hosts Sharon Salzberg and James Shaheen to discuss his latest collection, Time Is a Mother, which explores grief, loss, and survival.

Via Queerty // George Takei issues stark warning following the SCOTUS leak

 

Via Facebook // Exposing homophobia and intolerance online

 

O Buda de Ibiraçu

 

O Buda de Ibiraçu é o maior do ocidente e segundo maior do mundo, perdendo apenas para uma estátua em Hong Kong, que tem 42 metros. Siga-nos no Instagram @belezascapixabas

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 speaks hurriedly, one’s body grows tired and one’s mind becomes excited, one’s voice is strained and one’s throat becomes hoarse, and the speech of one who speaks hurriedly is indistinct and hard to understand. (MN 139)

Reflection

This is a simple and straightforward suggestion for how to speak more effectively. Hurried speech is a form of harsh speech and is to be abandoned whenever possible. When you look, you can see how strained people can get when they rush their words, and you know what this feels like when you do it. Speedy action of body, speech, or mind supports restlessness, while taking your time is conducive to calming body and mind.

Daily Practice

Put this guideline for right speech into action today and see what effect it has on your mind and body and on the people with whom you speak. Slow down your speech. Take your time to say what you mean with care. See if you can craft words that “go to the heart” rather than speaking harshly. Notice also when the speech of others is indistinct or hard to understand, and learn from this the effect of your own speech.

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.

Via Daily Dharma: Actualize Your Realizations

 Realization needs to be actualized. And having realized the fact that there’s no separation, an imperative arises to reach out to take care of things. That’s compassion. We take care of things because everything is this very body and mind itself. What we take care of is another question.

Jeff Zaleski, “Straight Ahead: An Interview with John Daido Loori”

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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - May 4, 2022 💌

 “Even though we find ourselves afraid, and not feeling peaceful, and less than fully loving and compassionate, we must act. There is no way you can be in an incarnation without acting. We cannot wait until we are enlightened to act. We all hear the way in which our silence is itself an act of acquiescence to a system. That is as much an action as walking. Since we must act, we do the best we can to act consciously and compassionately.

But in addition, we can make every action an exercise designed to help us become free. Because the truth that comes from freedom, and the power that comes from freedom, and the love and compassion that come from freedom are the jewels we can cultivate to offer to our fellow sentient beings for the relief of their suffering.”

- Ram Dass -

From a conversation with Daniel Ellsberg, 1983

Via Lion’s Roar // Reimagining School Through a Buddhist Lens

 

Reimagining School Through a Buddhist Lens

Susan Yao explores how Buddhist principles could help us reimagine the American school system.

Via FB

 

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)  Appreciative joy succeeds when it makes discontent subside. (Vm 9.95)

Reflection

The third brahma-vihara, appreciative joy, is not mere joy. It is the gladness that arises when you witness or contemplate the good fortune and happiness of another being. It is a celebration of all that is good in the world, an appreciation of healthy enjoyment itself. If you allow yourself to experience this often, your mind will naturally incline toward this state. It is impossible to feel any discontent when you genuinely feel good about others.

Daily Practice

This is a practice the world needs greatly, and it is deeply healing to the wounded heart. Living beings abide together in such profound interdependence that when relationships are fused with appreciative joy rather than discontent, the entire system becomes healthier. Practice celebrating the good things you see around you every day and use appreciative joy as a powerful antidote whenever you feel discontent.

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.

Via Daily Dharma: Let Your Eyes Adjust

 Zen practice involves finding and dwelling in emptiness. It’s like a person who goes into a dark room from a lighted hallway. When you look around at first, it’s absolutely black, but if you stay in that room, you begin to be able to operate. You begin to be able to see.

Kurt Spellmeyer, “Seeing in the Dark”

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Via New York Times

 

Via Tumblr// Humus

 

Via Daily Dharma: Unmasking the Ego-Mind

 When you challenge ego-mind, be firm but gentle, penetrating but never aggressive. Just say to your ego-mind, “Show me your face!” When no mind shows up saying, “Here I am,” ego-mind will begin to lose its hold on you and your struggles will lighten up.

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, “Searching for Self”

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right View: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering

 

RIGHT VIEW
Understanding the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering

What is the cessation of suffering? It is the remainderless fading away and ceasing, the giving up, relinquishing, letting go, and rejecting of craving. (MN 9) When one knows and sees thoughts as they actually are, then one is not attached to thoughts. When one abides unattached, one is not infatuated, and one’s craving is abandoned. One’s bodily and mental troubles are abandoned, and one experiences bodily and mental well-being. (MN 149)

Reflection

Since suffering is caused by craving, the cessation of craving brings about the end of suffering. We have seen how this works for each of the sense modalities, and now we turn to the mind as the sixth pathway of experience. We are attached to certain thoughts—usually the ones that feel good—and we struggle against others, which results in a lot of mental troubles. We gain well-being by letting go of both forms of craving.

Daily Practice

Right view can be a practice in itself, a practice of gaining insight into the nature of our experience. Seeing thoughts as they actually are, as arising and passing conditioned events, helps us get free of attachment to them. Thoughts are not wrong, but we suffer in direct proportion to our infatuation with them. Craving can be relinquished, if only for a moment. Abandon bodily and mental troubles and get free—if only for a moment.

Tomorrow: Cultivating Appreciative Joy
One week from today: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Mosteiro Zen da Vargem

 

About GBF

 

Inclusivity

As practicing Buddhists, we cherish the unique potential of each individual, and each individual’s unique mission in the world that only they can accomplish. We believe that each person has the ability to contribute positive value to society in their own unique way.  

GBF welcomes people of all races, backgrounds, and gender and sexual identities: BIPOC, men, women, LGB, Trans People, differing educational and economic backgrounds, and differently abled.  

 

“Do the best you can until you know better. 

Then when you know better, do better.”

– Maya Angelou

 

Our Practice

As a Buddhist organization, GBF undertakes the study and practice of living with mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom toward all beings, including those with whom we don’t agree. We do not experience this as being weak or passive. On the contrary, Buddhism is a path of courage, discipline, and deep commitment to truth and right action. Living with mindful awareness requires we first examine our own hearts and minds to become aware of unconscious internal biases and assumptions; in order to avoid the very dynamics of division and objectification which we strive to end. 

Courage, compassion, and a commitment to truth are required to acknowledge our thoughts and feelings, and self-discipline is required to change, regardless of the guilt and shame we may feel in identifying our own prejudices against others, based on race, gender, social class, etc. This is a practice of turning toward greed, hatred, and ignorance, in order to end the unnecessary suffering that they cause to ourselves and others. It is a path based on the disciplined application of moral principles of non-harm, development of community, and liberation for all beings – not just those who are privileged.

 

Via LGBTQ Nation // Same-sex marriages have happened on every continent now after Antarctic ceremony

 

The two men were the first same-sex couple to marry in Antarctica.