Via Daily Dharma: Staying Present with Practice

 

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Staying Present with Practice When we start to practice meditation, we may be astounded by how often our mind is off musing and how rarely we are awake to the basic realities of life. But soon the practice quiets our mind, and we begin to understand the difference between staying present and spinning out into fantasy. Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, “The Power of an Open Question” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

A Letter from My Future Self, Encouraging Me to Practice By Lama Karma Buddhist teacher Lama Karma shares a letter to himself offering reassurance and guidance in motivating him to practice again. Read more »

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 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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Chakra Work

 

Via White Crane Institute \\ Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day

 

Noteworthy Buddha 2022 - Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day is a Mahayana Buddhist holiday celebrated in East Asia. By some it is celebrated on 8th of February, but by most on 15th of February. It celebrates the day when the Buddha achieved Parinirvana, or complete Nirvana, upon the death of his physical body.

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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: Transforming Attachment

 

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Transforming Attachment In Vajrayana the most important technique is transformation. Instead of cutting something like attachment out, you transform it. Instead of the difficult, disciplined way of pushing something down, suppressing it, cutting it out—instead, you work with that, play with that, and then try to transform it. Gelek Rinpoche, “A Lama for All Seasons” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Finding the Words An Interview with Joseph Goldstein by Amy Gross In his seventy-fifth year, a surprising thing happened to meditation teacher Joseph Goldstein: He began writing poetry. Read more »

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation \\ Words of Wisdom - February 7, 2024 💌

 

The melodrama of fanaticism is a form of spiritual materialism; you make spiritual life into something else to acquire, like a new car or television set. Just do your practices; don't make a big deal out of them. The less you dramatize, the fewer obstacles you create. Romanticism on the spiritual path is just another attachment that will have to go sooner or later.

-Ram Dass -

Via GBF: The Diamond Approach: Knowing Ourselves from the Inside Out" with Trip Weil

The latest dharma talk from Trip Weil is now available for listening.  

The Diamond Approach incorporates some aspects of psychology to look at what causes our suffering, obscures our innate qualities, and stands in the way of personal freedom.

In this talk, Trip Weil examines a key aspect he sees that the Diamond Approach shares with Buddhism: one calls it the super-ego, and the other speaks of the demon Mara.

He explores how there are two kinds of suffering: that which leads to more suffering and that which can guide us to the end of suffering.

He points out that the super-ego or any part of us that says we don't deserve freedom and can't be free is a trap. Our true work is to realize who and what we really are. In this sense, awakening isn't a reward, it's a result of our practice and our encounters with suffering and doubt.
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Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast player or the GBF website: 

https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/the-diamond-approach-knowing-ourselves-from-the-inside-out-trip-weil/

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