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 the healthy state, 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 energy awakening factor. (MN 141)

Reflection The mental and emotional states that are healthy, leading away from suffering and toward greater clarity of understanding, do not always arise on their own and sometimes need a little help. In the sequence of awakening factors, investigation of states naturally gives rise to energy, because everything becomes so interesting, but the development of energy can also be instigated and encouraged as a deliberate practice.  Daily Practice Interesting how it is put in the text: that we need to stir up energy to develop energy. What this is pointing to is that sometimes we just have to reach down and decide that we will bring more energy to bear on a given situation. Perhaps it is blinking the eyes to overcome drowsiness or gritting the teeth boost our willpower to avoid a temptation. Energy is a factor that can be weak or strong. Here we practice strengthening it. Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and 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 Daily Dharma: Listen With Your Whole Self

Listen with your body, your heart, your eyes, your energy, your total presence. Listen in silence, without interrupting. Fill any spaces of silence between you with love. 

Beth Roth, “Right Speech Reconsidered”

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

 

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

Reflection Misbehaving among sensual pleasures can include various forms of harmful sexuality, such as exploitation, causing humiliation, or sexual predation. It can also include all sorts of activities that are not sexual but involve sensual gratification. Our ability to inhabit a sensory and sensual world is not in itself a problem. The problem is that our senses can so easily lead us into attachments and aversions that cause difficulties. Daily Practice This practice is about the skillful use of the sense apparatus. Notice when sensory stimulation leads to craving and thus to grasping behavior. This is the path to suffering, as our senses lead us to wanting things we cannot have or hating things that are unpleasant. Notice also that there are ways to engage the senses that do not automatically lead to craving and grasping, and thus do not lead to suffering. Explore this. 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: Practice Is Simple

Without trying to do something, we simply practice, in the same way as when we are hungry, we eat; when we are tired, we rest. 

Maurine Stuart, “Our One and Only Commandment”

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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 upon that same mental action thus: "Has this action I have done with the mind led to my own affliction?" 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 So much of what we do is never revealed in speech or bodily action. All mental activity is also a form of action and has karmic consequences. It is also the case that we can cause harm through our patterns of thought, including harm to ourselves. Karma is simply the workings of cause and effect, and every action we perform is accompanied by an internal mental intention, which is the focus of today’s practice. Daily Practice Here is an opportunity to look over some of your own mental patterns of activity and see if there have been any that contribute to self-harm. Perhaps there are ways you criticize yourself too harshly or undervalue your capabilities or secretly sabotage yourself. This is the sort of thing one often shares with a therapist, but it can be equally healing to share these mental actions with a good friend or someone else you trust.  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: What Meditation Really Is

 Munindra, a 20th-century Indian teacher from Bengal, taught that if a meditator is sitting and he knows that he is sitting, then he is meditating.

Charles Genoud, “The Body as Presence”

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Via Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM 2023) //24-26 March 2023 // Lumbini, Nepal

Namaste Sir/ Madam,

Greetings from Buddhist International Travel Mart. 

It is my pleasure to inform you that we are organizing The Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM 2023) on 24-26 March 2023 at Lumbini, Nepal.

BITM is an annual market event aimed at promoting Nepalese Buddhist pilgrimage tourism. It is organized by the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, the Nepal Tourism Board, and other travel trade organizations. The main goal of the Mart is to exlore the potential for Buddhist pilgrimage tourism in Nepal, with a focus on promoting Buddhist heritage sites such as Lumbini and the Kathmandu Valley.

The Mart provides a platform for business-to-business opportunities between foreign travel operators and Nepalese sellers, offering a chance to exchange and promote Nepalese tourism products and destinations. It also aims to diversify and decentralize Nepalese tourism, which is currently focused on adventure tourism.

The Mart will benefit the local people, tourism entrepreneurs, and related businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and transport companies. Buyers, sellers, national tourism organizations, bloggers/vloggers, media, sponsors, and volunteers can all participate in the event. The event will feature B2B meetings and an inauguration ceremony with spiritual speeches and address by travel experts.

The expected outcomes of BITM 2023 include an increase in tourist arrivals, a niche tourism product, diversification of Nepalese tourism, and support for the livelihood of local people. The Mart will establish Nepal as a premium Buddhist pilgrimage and spiritual destination.

We hope that this Mart serves as a platform for you to showcase the country's products and in turn, connect with genuine buyers. Please note that there will be a first-come-first-serve seating arrangement for 50 buyers and 50 seller agents and organizations.

Please find this circular for your information. We are happy to know your interest for the event.

Regards,

Pramod Dahal

Member Secretary

Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM 2023)

Senior Vice President

Nepal Association of Tour & Travel Agents (NATTA)

P.O. Box:362, Gairidhara, Goma Ganesh, 

Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Tel: +977 1 4419409, 4418661 |  C: 9851031854

E-mail: bitm@natta.org.np | bitmnepal@gmail.com | bitmnatta@gmail.com | https://www.bitmnepal.com/ 

Namaste Sir/ Madam,

Greetings from Buddhist International Travel Mart. 

It is my pleasure to inform you that we are organizing The Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM 2023) on 24-26 March 2023 at Lumbini, Nepal.

BITM is an annual market event aimed at promoting Nepalese Buddhist pilgrimage tourism. It is organized by the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, the Nepal Tourism Board, and other travel trade organizations. The main goal of the Mart is to exlore the potential for Buddhist pilgrimage tourism in Nepal, with a focus on promoting Buddhist heritage sites such as Lumbini and the Kathmandu Valley.

The Mart provides a platform for business-to-business opportunities between foreign travel operators and Nepalese sellers, offering a chance to exchange and promote Nepalese tourism products and destinations. It also aims to diversify and decentralize Nepalese tourism, which is currently focused on adventure tourism.

The Mart will benefit the local people, tourism entrepreneurs, and related businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and transport companies. Buyers, sellers, national tourism organizations, bloggers/vloggers, media, sponsors, and volunteers can all participate in the event. The event will feature B2B meetings and an inauguration ceremony with spiritual speeches and address by travel experts.

The expected outcomes of BITM 2023 include an increase in tourist arrivals, a niche tourism product, diversification of Nepalese tourism, and support for the livelihood of local people. The Mart will establish Nepal as a premium Buddhist pilgrimage and spiritual destination.

We hope that this Mart serves as a platform for you to showcase the country's products and in turn, connect with genuine buyers. Please note that there will be a first-come-first-serve seating arrangement for 50 buyers and 50 seller agents and organizations.

Please find this circular for your information. We are happy to know your interest for the event.

Regards,

Pramod Dahal

Member Secretary

Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM 2023)

Senior Vice President

Nepal Association of Tour & Travel Agents (NATTA)

P.O. Box:362, Gairidhara, Goma Ganesh, 

Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Tel: +977 1 4419409, 4418661 |  C: 9851031854

E-mail: bitm@natta.org.np | bitmnepal@gmail.com | bitmnatta@gmail.com | https://www.bitmnepal.com/ 

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Via Wondering Wandering Thoughts //

 

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Harsh Speech

 

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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 disengaged from the pursuit of the enjoyment of sensual pleasures have entered upon the right way," one thus extols some people. But when one says instead, "The disengagement from the pursuit of the enjoyment of sensual pleasures is a state without suffering, and it is the right way," then one is not extolling anyone but is simply stating the truth. (MN 139)

Reflection One of the common patterns of speech that causes difficulty is the tendency to extol some people and disparage others. We judge and label people as good or bad, right or wrong, based on what they do and then use speech to overpraise some people and overly blame others. This leads to a form of harsh speech that is directed at individuals, who will naturally take it personally and respond by retaliating against the blaming.  Daily Practice Practice actively framing everything you see people around you doing as impersonal actions of body, speech, and mind rather than as qualities of the people as individuals. It is not that people are kind or cruel but their actions may be kind or cruel. Praising the person may elevate their sense of self and contribute to such things as inflated pride, while praising their actions will encourage further good action.  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 Daily Dharma: Choosing a Mindfulness Tool

 We need to know at different times in our day what element of mindfulness is really helpful to us. Is it investigative awareness? Is it learning to reframe our perceptions? Or is it learning to draw on the extended family of mindfulness: of kindness, compassion, and joyfulness? 

Christina Feldman and Jaya Rudgard, “The Many Shades of Mindfulness”

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