Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Harming Living Beings

 

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RIGHT LIVING Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Harming Living Beings Harming living beings is unhealthy. Refraining from harming living beings is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning the harming of living beings, one abstains from harming living beings; with rod and weapon laid aside, gentle and kindly, one abides with compassion for all living beings. (MN 41) One practices thus: "Others may harm living beings, but I will abstain from the harming of living beings." (MN 8) A layperson is not to engage in the livelihood of trading in living beings. (AN 5.177)

Reflection In the ancient world there was a lot of abuse and exploitation of people through servitude and slavery. The Buddha recognized this as a toxic enterprise and steered his followers away from participating in such practices. Yes, wealthy Buddhists had servants, but many texts emphasize the importance of treating them well, including paying them fairly and giving them time off and medical support. Daily Practice Take stock of how much harm to others is generated from your chosen field of livelihood. See what measures might be taken to treat people more fairly, reduce inequality, and actively promote the common good. In particular, if you find yourself engaged in an industry that is systemically and systematically abusive, take steps to change professions. Causing harm to others or yourself is not healthy.  Tomorrow: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States One week from today: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via GBF // "The Alchemy of Generosity" with Kevin Martin

Alchemy is all about transformation, and there is nothing in our practice more transformative than generosity - toward both ourselves and others.

In this talk, Kevin Martin shares that what we do on the cushion is the most generous thing we can give to ourselves. Our practice can help us disrupt personal karma by making us more curious about the deeply held beliefs and patterns that imprison us. 

Sharing the dharma is also a great act of generosity toward others. Putting our knowledge into action is even more powerful. It takes courage to apply the dharma in order to disrupt the conditions in the world that give rise to suffering.

Kevin goes on to explore cultivating a generous heart. This can include the courage to express our genuine self, which extends to others the freedom to be themselves.
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Listen to the full talk on your favorite podcast player or our website:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/the-alchemy-of-generosity-kevin-martin/

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Bodily Action

 

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RIGHT ACTION Reflecting Upon Bodily 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 bodily action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61) When you wish to do an action with the body, reflect upon that same bodily action thus: "Would this action I wish to do with the body lead to the affliction of another?" If, upon reflection, you know that it would, then do not do it; if you know that it would not, then proceed. (MN 61)

Reflection How much of our bodily action is intentional, done with full awareness, and how much of what we do is done out of habit? Seeing what you do as you do it, as when you observe yourself in a mirror, is one of the metaphors used for mindfulness.  Daily Practice Practice acting with full awareness. Even simple tasks like breathing and walking and eating can be fields for training the capacity for mindfulness. Then the ability will be available when more ethically challenging situations arise. It is a matter of becoming more sensitive to the implications of acting, and being more aware of everything we do. In this way we can plant healthy fruit, rather than just dealing with whatever arises.  Tomorrow: Abstaining from Harming Living Beings One week from today: Reflecting upon Verbal 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: Gratitude Transforms

 

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Gratitude Transforms Gratitude for things to clean can sweeten the task, transforming a chore into a joy-filled communion with beloved items that support your life and enliven your home. Paula Arai, “Healing Glistens on Carefully Washed Windows” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Enlightenment Is Broadway By Matthias Esho Birk Matthias Esho Birk explores what it means to be in love with Zen, how each and every moment is an opportunity to awaken, and stripping away the ritual to find Zen at the checkout line. Read more »

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - February 21, 2024 💌

 

Look at your relationships, and notice at which point you figure that you have too much to lose to let go into The One. I have sat in relationships and watched with horror that what I wanted I couldn’t have. Because what I wanted was getting in the way of it. My desires with regard to the relationship were getting in the way of sharing awareness with another human being, which was going to be the ultimate intimacy. My yearning for intimacy was making me grab for intimacy relationally. And it was destroying the exact thing I wanted.

- Ram Dass -

  Excerpt from Ram Dass Here & Now – Ep. 134 – Relationships and Living Impeccably

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from False Speech

 

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RIGHT SPEECH Refraining from False Speech False speech is unhealthy. Refraining from false speech is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning false speech, one dwells refraining from false speech, a truth-speaker, one to be relied on, trustworthy, dependable, not a deceiver of the world. One does not in full awareness speak falsehood for one’s own ends, or for another’s ends, or for some trifling worldly end. (DN 1) One practices thus: "Others may speak falsely, but I shall abstain from false speech." (MN 8) Such speech as you know to be true and correct but unbeneficial, and which is welcome and agreeable to others—do not utter such speech. (MN 58)

Reflection Speaking truthfully is a habit that can be learned, even if we have previously learned the habit of speaking untruthfully. It is a matter of bringing full awareness to your speech and its consequences. Often there may appear to be a short-term benefit from speaking falsely, but the Buddha is pointing out the long-term harm that false speech does to your character. In the long run the lack of integrity is unhealthy. Daily Practice This passage is urging us to speak only when what we say is likely to have a beneficial effect on another person or on the situation at hand. It is not enough to say things that are agreeable to others, even if they are true. Flattery, for example, might have an unbeneficial effect on someone by inflating their sense of themselves. Practice speaking only those words that are going to be helpful. Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Bodily Action One week from today: Refraining from Malicious Speech Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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