Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given

 

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RIGHT LIVING Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Taking What is Not Given Taking what is not given is unhealthy. Refraining from taking what is not given is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning the taking of what is not given, one abstains from taking what is not given; one does not take by way of theft the wealth and property of others. (MN 41) One practices thus: “Others may take what is not given, but I will abstain from taking what is not given.” (MN 8) On seeing a form with the eye, one does not grasp at its signs and features. Since if one left the eye faculty unguarded, unwholesome states of covetousness and grief might intrude, one practices the way of its restraint, one guards the eye faculty, one undertakes the restraint of the eye faculty. (MN 51)

Reflection This is not a practice for shutting out the world but for gaining some control over what enters and influences your mind. Just as you don’t eat everything that you encounter, so also you need not see, hear, touch, or think everything that is capable of being discerned. Some objects impinge on the senses with such force that they cannot be ignored, but most of what we experience we seek out, driven by desire. We need not do this. Daily Practice Even with visual experience, we do not always have to take in more than what is immediately presented to the eye. Practice seeing something, acknowledging it, and then letting it pass away without chasing after its details and associations. We can take what is given to sight, and only what is given, and then move on to the next moment. In this way we are not dragged into entanglements we don’t choose, and we remain free. Tomorrow: Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States One week from today: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures 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: When Words Fail Us

 

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When Words Fail Us We cannot discuss the truth. And words cannot express it. They can only ever point us to the present moment experience of the now. Matthias Esho Birk, “When Is a Word Dead?” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

How to Meditate While Raising Kids By Sumi Loundon Kim Caring for young children doesn’t leave much room for meditation unless you allow your practice, and yourself, to evolve. Read more » Crows Are White Directed by Ahsen Nadeem After decades of living a secret life, a filmmaker travels to a strict Japanese monastery in search of guidance but the only monk who will help him prefers ice cream and heavy metal over meditation. Crows Are White is an exploration of truth, faith, and love, from the top of a mountain to the bottom of a sundae. Watch now »

Via FB \\ English Literature

 

Pity the nation whose people are sheep,

and whose shepherds mislead them.

Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced,

and whose bigots haunt the airwaves.

Pity the nation that raises not its voice,

except to praise conquerors and acclaim the bully as hero

and aims to rule the world with force and by torture.

Pity the nation that knows no other language but its own

and no other culture but its own.

Pity the nation whose breath is money

and sleeps the sleep of the too well fed.

Pity the nation — oh, pity the people who allow their rights to erode

and their freedoms to be washed away.

My country, tears of thee, sweet land of liberty. 

~Lawrence Ferlinghetti

 

(Book: Ferlinghetti's Greatest Poems https://amzn.to/49qBP5s)

(Art Credit: Lesley Oldaker)

 

#ad #americanliterature #Great #poetry

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, an American poet and co-founder of the City Lights Bookstore and publishing house, published "Pity the Nation" in his collection "A Coney Island of the Mind" in 1958. While Ferlinghetti did not write "Pity the Nation" himself, he included it in his collection, showcasing his admiration for Gibran's work and highlighting the poem's relevance to contemporary social and political issues. Ferlinghetti's connection to the poem lies in its inclusion in his influential collection.

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Verbal Action

 

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RIGHT ACTION Reflecting Upon Verbal 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 verbal action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61) When you wish to do an action with speech, reflect upon that same verbal action thus: “Would this action I wish to do with speech lead to both my own affliction and 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 Habits of speech follow the same principles as habits of body and mind. Whatever you practice doing, you learn to do, and however you practice speaking, you learn to speak that way. If you speak well of others, are kind in your intentions, and always take care to say only what is true, your character will be molded in that direction. The opposite is also true, and it is not hard to pick up unhealthy and hurtful habits of speech. Daily Practice Practice mindfulness of speech. This means speaking with conscious awareness rather than reacting automatically to what others say or venting the first emotion to surge into your mind. Reflect on the effect your words are likely to have on others before you let fly, and take care not to do harm to yourself or others. In fact, any time you are harming others with your words, you are also harming yourself. Speak carefully. Tomorrow: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given One week from today: Reflecting upon Mental 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: Cultivating Communal Joy

 

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Cultivating Communal Joy  I think that the practice and cultivation of joy, especially communal joy, is essential, and we will never last if we don’t practice the values of the world we yearn for as we struggle and work for that world.  Jungwon Kim, “Joy and Sorrow, Love and Rage” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Differentiating ‘the Silent Treatment’ from ‘Noble Silence’ By Tara Anand A Buddhist couples therapist breaks down communication, kindness, and the skillful use of silence in relationships. Read more » Crows Are White Directed by Ahsen Nadeem After decades of living a secret life, a filmmaker travels to a strict Japanese monastery in search of guidance but the only monk who will help him prefers ice cream and heavy metal over meditation. Crows Are White is an exploration of truth, faith, and love, from the top of a mountain to the bottom of a sundae. Watch now »

Via White Crane Institute // Eugene, Oregon!

 

Noteworthy

1978 -

In Eugene, Oregon residents voted to repeal an ordinance banning discrimination against Gays and Lesbians by a 2-to-1 margin. Eugene, Oregon, people. Eugene!

 

 

 

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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

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