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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 joy. (MN 141)

Reflection Buddhism sometimes gets a reputation for not being joyful enough, with all the emphasis on suffering and the calm emotional balance of equanimity. There may be only the hint of a smile on the face of a Buddha statue, but we can be assured that inwardly the Buddha is experiencing great joy. Joy is one of the seven awakening factors and is therefore a beneficial capacity to develop. Make an effort to stir up joy; it is good for you. Daily Practice The way to develop the arising of joy that has not arisen on its own is by rousing the will or generating an intention to be joyful. This is done by thinking of something, either through memory or imagination, that you find joyful. Even when fleeting, a joyful moment is a moment devoid of its opposite mental states, such as unhappiness or dejection. The effects are amplified greatly if you are able to sustain joy for some time. 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 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) Flavors cognizable by the tongue are of two kinds: those to be cultivated and those not to be cultivated. Such flavors as cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to increase and healthy states to diminish, such flavors are not to be cultivated. But such flavors as cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to diminish and healthy states to increase, such flavors are to be cultivated. (MN 114)

Reflection How easy it is for some of us to misbehave among sensual pleasures associated with the tongue and flavors! We are used to hearing that some foods are better or worse for our physical health because of their nutrients and/or toxins, but here we are being told that some flavors arouse unhealthy states such as greed and hatred, while some do not. We should learn to look at the impact of what we eat on the mind as well as the body.  Daily Practice Try looking at your eating experience as a series of choices, not only of what you eat but also of the quality of mind with which you are eating. An easy example is eating something that tastes so good that craving for more arises in the mind. Whether it is raw kale or a sugar doughnut is not the point, nor is it necessary to stop eating it. What is important is learning to eat without the co-arising of greed. Try this out in your own experience. 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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Via Daily Dharma: Reconsider the “Self”

 

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Reconsider the “Self”

What we think of as our “self” is shaped by our time, our culture, and our circumstances.

Judith Hertog, “Journey to Tibet”

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