Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Developing Unarisen Healthy States

 

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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 Daily Dharma: Each Moment is Enough

Each Moment is Enough

A wonderful result of letting go is to experience each moment as being enough, just as it is. It allows us to be present for our experience here and now with such clarity and freedom that this very moment stands out as something profound.  Gil Fronsdal, “What We Gain When We Learn to Let Go” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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“I hope it is true that a man can die and yet not only live in others but give them life, and not only life, but that great consciousness of life.”

― Jack Kerouac

Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac

March 12, 1922 - October 21, 1969

 

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Faygele BenMiriam

1944 -

FAYGELE BENMIRIAM, was born on this day (d:2000) . A Seattle civil-service worker who made news in 1972 when he lost his job because he was gay, but who in 1978 convinced the U.S. Supreme Court to vacate the firing, wore his beliefs proudly. An ardent crusader for gay, racial and religious rights, he organized national men's meetings and took part in the 1987 Lesbian and Gay March on Washington, D.C.

He helped found Seattle's Gay Community Social Services, which opened the Gay Community Center and produced the first gay country-music album, "Lavender Country."

In 1971, with then-partner Paul Barwick, he was part of the first King County couple to apply for - and be denied - a license to marry someone of the same sex.

"Faygele never looked at things from a standardized viewpoint," said friend Duane West, who in the 1970s marched with benMiriam at an anti-gay-harassment rally at the home of Seattle police Chief George Tielsch. "From the early days he and others did a lot of work, and now police march in gay-pride parades."

Born John Singer in New York, Mr. benMiriam in 1973 changed his first name to Faygele — Yiddish for "little bird" and "gay person." He changed his surname to benMiriam — "son of Miriam."

Even in childhood he was an activist. He refused to pray with the rest of his class at public school in the 1950s. He attended several colleges, served as a Vista volunteer for civil-rights causes in the mid-1960s, applied for conscientious-objector status and served as an Army medic in Germany.

In 1970 he earned a liberal arts degree at City College of New York. He worked in a San Francisco bank before moving to Seattle. He got a job as a clerk-typist with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 1971, openly declaring his homosexuality. He got excellent work reviews but wore capes and dresses to work and was fired a year later. The American Civil Liberties Union took his case and they pursued it up to the Supreme Court.

The high court vacated his firing and ordered the Civil Rights Commission to reconsider in light of new federal civil-service regulations of 1975. Those regulations require that people not be disqualified from federal employment solely on the basis of sexual preference.

Mr. benMiriam got back pay but chose to work for the U.S. Department of Labor, from which he retired in 1995. He served on the National Board of the New Jewish Agenda, worked with the International Jewish Peace Union and was active in Kadima of Seattle. He loved baking and knitting gifts for others.

Faygele benMiriam died of lung cancer.

|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8| 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 |8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|

IQBC

IQBC - What it Means to Me | International Queer Buddhist Conference

International Queer Buddhist Conference October 27th, 2023 at 9:00am ET Online Lama Rod will offer the keynote on Real Change in Times of Apocalypse at the 3rd annual IQBC, founded by Dr. Jampa Wurst with the mission to create a safe space for all 2SLGBTQIA+ people. The virtual conference also includes music, film, art/drawing, social gatherings, and more.

The IQBC are meant to be a safe and protected space, no matter which sexuality, gender, color oder culture you belong.

For more information, visit our website:

https://iqbc.org

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) 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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Maturing into Ease

A mature practice offers us a wiser, more spacious way of being with every single thing our life offers, with clarity, wisdom, compassion, balance, and a deep sense of ease. It’s an unshakeable and profound okayness with things as they are.  Mark Van Buren, “Sitting with the Things I Came to Practice to Get Away From” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Mental Action

 

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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: Step Back and See

Step Back and See

To manifest wisdom means simply to step back and see—to reflect, inquire, be aware, be disciplined, and be focused not once in a while, but all of the time, moment to moment. This life is precious and fleeting. Pay attention. Seido Ray Ronci, “The Examined Life”  CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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