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 awakening factor of equanimity. (MN 141)

Reflection We all have the capacity for generosity, kindness, and wisdom. Some would even say these are more fundamental to our nature than their harmful opposites: greed, hatred, and delusion. All these mental and emotional traits remain dormant until one or another of them is roused into becoming an active mental or emotional state. Instead of waiting passively to see what emerges, take the lead and call up the good stuff. Daily Practice Take a few moments from time to time to “stir up energy” and develop one or more of the healthy states that lie sleeping as healthy traits in your unconscious mind. Make them conscious by deliberately invoking generosity or kindness or equanimity, and see how you can induce these states more or less at will. It is a healthy skill to learn. Arousing equanimity is particularly useful in situations where you are challenged. Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and Abiding in the Third Jhāna One week from today: Maintaining Arisen Healthy States 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 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) Mental states cognizable by the mind are of two kinds: those to be cultivated and those not to be cultivated. Such mental states as cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to increase and healthy states to diminish, such mental states are not to be cultivated. But such mental states as cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to diminish and healthy states to increase, such mental states are to be cultivated. (MN 114)

Reflection Because of the basic principle that what you attend to will flourish and what you neglect will atrophy, the issue of what internal states you cultivate becomes a matter of great importance. Some patterns of thought encourage the growth of mental and emotional states that contribute to our overall well-being, while others have the opposite effect, digging us deeper into the hole, so to speak. It helps to see and understand this.  Daily Practice Sensual pleasures are alluring, and all things being equal, we don’t want to live such an austere life that we deny ourselves simple pleasures. But we all know there are dangers here, and our best defense is knowing what to cultivate and what not to cultivate. Look into this matter directly, and see for yourself what states of mind are healthy and unhealthy for you. Then undertake a commitment to cultivate your own health. Tomorrow: Developing Unarisen Healthy States One week from today: Abstaining from Intoxication Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via Daily Dharma: Everything Is the Path

 A round of chores is not a set of difficulties we hope to escape from so that we may do our practice, which will put us on the path. It is our path.

Gil Fronsdal, “Evaluate Your Meditation”

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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 have done an action with the mind, reflect on that same mental action thus: “Was this action I have done with the mind an unhealthy bodily action with painful consequences and painful results?” If, on reflection, you know that it was, then tell someone you trust about it and undertake a commitment not to do it again. If you know it was not, then be content and feel happy about it. (MN 61)

Reflection One of the great innovations of Buddhist psychology is the recognition that all thoughts and emotions are a form of action taken by the mind, and as such all create karma—that is to say, they are causes that result in effects. So even if you think harmful thoughts without saying or doing anything, they will have a harmful effect on you, if not on others. This is why Buddhists care so much about nurturing the quality of their minds. Daily Practice Look objectively and honestly at the way your mind works. If you notice you have been thinking or imagining things that could cause painful consequences, such as images of retribution against someone or plans for revenge, be aware of it and recognize that such mental activities are harmful. Acknowledge to someone you trust that you are thinking like this, recognize it as unhealthy, and commit to changing this activity in the future. 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 Daily Dharma: Illuminating What’s Already There

 It’s remarkable what we can see when we stop and turn the light of awareness on the things we take for granted. 

John Brehm, “The Sacred Pause: How Poetry, Like Meditation, Can Disrupt the Habitual Momentum of the Mind”

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Manifesto / / SBEM

 

Via Daily Dharma: What Is Discipline?

 Our core is wisdom and compassion, and discipline is the way—through skill and carefulness—that we align our actions with our fundamental dignity.

Phakchok Rinpoche, “Maintaining Meditation Discipline”

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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) It is a mistake to return anger with anger. Not giving anger for anger, one wins a double victory. One behaves for the good of both oneself and the other person. Knowing well the other’s anger, be mindful and remain calm. In this way you are healing both yourself and the other person. (SN 11.14)

Reflection This call for calm in the face of anger is timeless—and timely. Anger can be an effective emotion, but it is also toxic. Not only can things escalate and get seriously out of hand when you return anger with anger, but cultivating anger has a corrosive effect on your own heart and mind. If you regard the angry person as caught up by a hostile force, you can feel compassion for them rather than anger. This contributes to healing both of you. Daily Practice Make a point of remaining calm when someone else is angry and see what it feels like. You may feel the impulse to get angry in return, but you can recognize that this is an impulse you can abandon when it arises. By not giving in to anger when it is provoked by others, you are not only protecting yourself from the harmful effects of the toxic emotion but also helping the other person, who often, like you, is a victim of anger. 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 - October 19, 2022 💌

 
 

“As long as I stay mired in the drama, all I’m doing is digging everybody’s hole deeper along with me. And so I see it as a place to work on myself. It’s not bad, it’s not good; of course, we’re going to get stuck, that’s why we took human incarnation. If you weren’t ever going to get stuck, you wouldn’t have taken birth here. That’s your work.”

 

- Ram Dass -


From Here & Now Podcast - Ep. 210 – A Love Invulnerable to the Winds of Change

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 on 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 is like a mother with a son who is young, for she just wants him to long enjoy the benefits of youth. (Vm 9.108)

Reflection Appreciative joy is what lovingkindness transforms into when we witness something good and beneficial happening to another person, just as it turns to compassion when we see harm being done. Appreciating the good fortune of others is a readily available source of joy, as there are many blessings that can be counted. You can choose to focus on the harm or the good in the world around you and thereby feel either joy or sorrow. Daily Practice Practice focusing on the good things around you, the many ways other people can experience good fortune and well-being. Notice how your mind is uplifted when you appreciate the positive aspects of others' experience. This is a skill that can be developed with practice. It is not about shutting out the misfortunes that abound in the world but about balancing them with recognizing the many blessings that also exist. 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.

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Via Daily Dharma: Compassion Versus Empathy

 A key distinction between compassion and empathy is that in empathy, the focus is on the problem or the need, and the response is primarily emotional. With compassion, the focus is not just on the problem, but also the solution. It’s a more empowered state.

Thupten Jinpa, “The Power of Awareness and Compassion to Transform Our World”

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The Noble Eightfold Path