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Ram Dass – Here and Now – Ep. 199 – The Continuity of Consciousness
May 04, 2022 In this dharma talk from 1975, Ram Dass talks about how a taste of awakening makes it possible for us to tune into the...

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  Mindrolling – Raghu Markus – Ep. 438 – The Human and The Wild with Susan B. Eirich
May 06, 2022 This week on the Mindrolling podcast, Raghu Markus invites Susan B. Eirich, Ph.D. to share her wisdom on the connections between the wild and...

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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 equanimity awakening factor. (MN 141)

Reflection

If you just “go with the flow” of your own mind and let whatever happens happen, often you will drift in the direction of unhealthy or unskillful states. You may have noticed this from time to time. This is why effort is important and right effort is a friend rather than an adversary. When we consciously develop helpful qualities of mind, such as mindfulness and equanimity, we are better off in the long run.

Daily Practice

Equanimity is the last of the seven factors of awakening and completes the preceding series of mindfulness, investigation of states, energy, joy, tranquility, and concentration. Equanimity is the culmination of skillful states of mind because it neutralizes craving, occupying the midpoint between its two forms, greed and hatred. Equanimity is in the middle where one gazes upon what is happening without entanglement.

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

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Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Daily Dharma: The Art of Dharma

 The practice of dharma is akin to the practice of art. With the tools of ethics, meditation, and understanding, one works the clay of one’s confined and anguished existence into a bodhisattva. Practice is a process of self-creation.

Stephen Batchelor, “A Democracy of the Imagination”

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SORRY, YOU'RE NOT HAMILTON - RANDY RAINBOW

Ferdinand the Bull - full short film

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) Food is of two kinds: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated. Such food as causes, in one who cultivates it, unhealthy states to increase and healthy states to diminish, such food is not to be cultivated. But such food as causes, in one who cultivates it, unhealthy states to diminish and healthy states to increase, such food is to be cultivated. (MN 114)

Reflection

Here is an approach to food we are probably unfamiliar with. The issue is not what kind of nutrients the food provides but what kind of emotional states the consumption of it evokes. What is unhealthy here is greed, not sugar or cholesterol. If eating kale—to randomly pick a healthy food—were to provoke greed and lust for more, that would be encouraging sensual misconduct. Even if the food is healthy, greed is unhealthy and bad for you.

Daily Practice

Practice mindful eating by cultivating an attitude of equanimity when you eat. Some things taste good, some things taste bad. You are not forced to relish one and detest the other. Take your attention off the object of taste itself and place it instead on the experience of eating it. The problem with pleasure and displeasure is that they provoke craving, either for or against the object. Try remaining attentive but unattached.

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

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Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Daily Dharma: The Fruit of Giving

 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”

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The Supreme Court Doesn't Give A Damn What The Public Wants | How Gullib...

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 have done an action with the mind, reflect upon that same mental action thus: “Has this action I have done with the mind led to the affliction of another?” If, upon reflection, you know that it has, then tell someone you trust about it and undertake a commitment not to do it again. If you know it has not, then be content and feel happy about it. (MN 61)

Reflection

We are used to hearing that Buddhist teachings encourage us to stay in the present moment, and this is true of meditation generally. But it is also appropriate to learn from the past, and reflecting on your past actions is one way to do this. Notice that actions include mental actions, so even what you have thought in the past is to be investigated to see if any of it has caused harm to another person.

Daily Practice

Think back on the quality of your thoughts directed toward other people in the recent past. Have you felt jealousy, ill will, or repressed anger, for example? Have you plotted in some small way to undermine the success of someone, even if you did not put the plan into action? This is intrinsically unhealthy and potentially harmful behavior, and bringing such thoughts to light by confessing them to a friend can be helpful.

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

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Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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”

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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
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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