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 wish to do an action with the mind, reflect upon that same mental action thus: “Is this action I wish to do with the mind an unhealthy bodily action with painful consequences and painful results?” If, upon reflection, you know that it is, then do not do it; if you know that it is not, then proceed. (MN 61)

Reflection We are familiar with the expression Think before you act. Here it is suggested, Think before you think! It is not as hard as it sounds. The idea is to pay attention to intention, that function of the mind that decides what to do next or points the actions of the mind in a particular direction. Is it really a good idea to go back over what you should have said in that argument last week? Probably not. Choose a different path. Daily Practice By getting in touch with the workings of your intentions, you gain access to the rudder of the ship, so to speak. Learn to notice, not only what you are thinking but also what you are planning. Much of the time we have no access to this, as things are moving so fast or we are so reactive that we don’t feel we are in control of ourselves. But there is an executive function in the mind, and we can learn to notice what it has in mind to do. 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 Tricycle /// 3 Teachings

 

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August 22, 2024 The Necessity of Confidence   Given that one of Buddhism’s three marks of existence is the lack of any unchanging, permanent self, it might seem contradictory that self-confidence is such an important quality for Buddhist practice. But an inner strength and stability is necessary to endure all of life’s ups and downs—all the suffering inherent in existence. Trust in one’s own ability is necessary for moving along the path of awakening—for cultivating wholesome qualities and seeking wisdom.  One way to develop confidence is through direct experience, which the Buddha emphasized as a requirement of clear seeing. Instead of encouraging blind faith, the Buddha encouraged “coming and seeing for oneself,” or ehipassiko, which both requires confidence and instills it.  Many of us, though, aren’t starting from neutral, and must first overcome deeply-rooted self-doubt and lack of self-worth. Meditation teacher Tara Brach, who calls this the “trance of unworthiness,” lays out a four-step practice for separating ourselves from these unkind and untrue thoughts, so that we may move beyond them to find spaciousness and peace. After loosening our attachment to negative self conceptions, we can go further to perceive the impermanent nature of reality and even our own selves. As meditation teacher Ethan Nichtern points out, although it sounds ironic, “You can’t develop self-confidence unless you accept the truth that there is no solid self.” No longer so tightly bound to our own images, we lose the urge to be defensive or self-critical, and an inner assuredness arises.   This week’s Three Teachings delve into the need for confidence in ourselves, our practice, and our capacity to awaken.

Refine Your Internal Compass By Carrie Tamburo Read more about the Buddha’s direction to know the truth for oneself, found in the Discourse to the Kalamas, and how that can help us practice with confidence in this Spanish-language teaching (translated into English).

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Get a True Taste of Peace By Tara Brach Loosen the grip on your self-image. We can learn to let go of our negative conceptions of ourselves when we realize that they’re real but not true.

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Navigate Life’s Vicissitudes with Trust and Resilience With Ethan Nichtern Learn about weathering the eight worldly winds—pleasure and pain, praise and blame, fame and insignificance, and success and failure—to develop confidence in the face of life’s challenges.

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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) The monks at Kosambi had taken to quarreling and brawling and were deep in disputes, stabbing each other with verbal daggers. They could neither convince one another nor be convinced by others; they could neither persuade one another nor be persuaded by others. The Buddha then said to them: “What can you possibly know, what can you see, that you take to acting like this? It will lead to your harm and suffering for a long time.” (MN 48)

Reflection This is such an incisive question: What can you possibly know or see to make you act like this? We think it must be something compelling for someone to turn against their own best interests and harm themselves. What higher purpose justifies this? These brawling and quarreling people were not only stabbing each other with verbal arrows, but by doing so they were also inflicting a lot of harm upon themselves. Daily Practice The next time you are engaged in an argument with someone, stop and look inward, examining your state of mind and body. Notice the physical tension and the harsh emotional attitude of the moment. Now ask yourself: Does the issue under dispute really require inflicting damage on myself? Can you feel the harm and suffering involved in such agitated and aversive emotional states? Let it go; you’ll be better off. 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: Intention Above Effects

 

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Intention Above Effects I believe that as long as it’s done with care, nothing is futile. And so you do the best you can and relieve the suffering that you can, and you know that nothing is going to last forever. William deBuys, “Finding Grace Amid the Grief” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Awakening Together By Ruth King Embracing social and political issues in the dharma hall Read more »

Via Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation // The Raft: Waves and Water

 

Inspiration from the International Plum Village Community August 2024

"There are two dimensions to life, and we should be able to touch both. One is like a wave, and we call it the historical dimension. The other is like the water, and we call it the ultimate dimension, or nirvana. We usually touch just the wave, but when we discover how to touch the water, we receive the highest fruit that meditation can offer."

Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is This Moment

Ultimate Self Please enjoy this poem by Sister Dang Nghiem from her new book, The River In Me: Sometimes I think I am a mighty wave, Rising above all other waves. Sometimes I think myself a forgotten wave, Dying down before I am noticed. Today, I am reminded that My ultimate self is the water. Higher waves, lower waves, Large waves, single waves, We all return to our ultimate self, The water. View book

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

 

By acting compassionately, by helping to restore justice and to encourage peace, we are acknowledging that we are all part of one another.

- Ram Dass -

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