Via Daily Dharma: Everything Is Essential

 

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Everything Is Essential A famous Buddhist sutra says that if one mote of dust were removed from the universe, the entire thing would collapse. That is the dharma attitude. Absolutely everything is essential. Larry Rosenberg, “Intimacy with the Present Moment” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

‘Refuge’ By Quan Barry Quan Barry’s poetry reckons with our simultaneous capacities for violence and transcendence—and what it means to find refuge in a world seemingly defined by war. Read more » Diversity Plaza Directed by Kesang Tseten Explore the vibrant lives of up to 75,000 Himalayans in Jackson Heights, Queens—the most linguistically diverse zip code in the U.S. Our latest Film Club pick directed by Kesang Tseten reveals how these communities honor their traditions while embracing new lives in America. Watch now »

Vis Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States

 

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RIGHT EFFORT Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States Whatever a person frequently thinks about and ponders, that will become the inclination of their mind. If one frequently thinks about and ponders unhealthy states, one has abandoned healthy states to cultivate unhealthy states, and then one’s mind inclines toward unhealthy states. (MN 19) Here a person rouses the will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts the mind, and strives to abandon arisen unhealthy mental states. One abandons the arisen hindrance of ill will. (MN 141)

Reflection Unhealthy mental states arise all the time. The causes and conditions for their arising have been forged in previous mind moments, and we have no direct conscious control over whether or not they arise. The practice of right effort has to do entirely with how we handle them once they have come up. In other words, we have no control over what hand we are dealt in each moment, but we have the power to play that hand more or less skillfully. Daily Practice The conscious mind cannot control what emerges from the unconscious, but it can exercise some influence over how we respond. Take, for example, ill will, which can manifest as annoyance, resentment, or hatred; practice the art of acknowledging it but choosing not to feed it. To abandon ill will is not to suppress it or block it but rather to see it, know it to be harmful, and abandon it—to let it pass through and wave farewell.  Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Feeling and Abiding in the Second Jhāna One week from today: Developing Unarisen 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 Daily Dharma: Finding Freedom

 

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Finding Freedom Within formality, we can find our perfect informal freedom. As our practice matures, we are able to find that freedom in every circumstance and make it available to others as well. Sojun Mel Weitsman, “Beyond Form and Emptiness” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Moving Toward Peace, Truth, and Beauty Ann Tashi Slater in conversation with Cheryl Strayed Ann Tashi Slater speaks with best-selling author Cheryl Strayed about the healing qualities of surrender and our power to be agents in our lives. Read more »

Via Medium // Why a new spirituality is on the way

 

Via Daily Dharma: Growing Over Grasping

 

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Growing Over Grasping Some people have the idea that practicing Zen or any religion is becoming God or Buddha, or even “becoming a good person.” But if you are grasping to become “enlightened,” it’s like putting icing over a mold of cow manure. Instead, we need to let our cow manure become compost. Barbara Rhodes, “Composting Our Karma” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Diversity Plaza Directed by Kesang Tseten Explore the vibrant lives of up to 75,000 Himalayans in Jackson Heights, Queens—the most linguistically diverse zip code in the U.S. Our latest Film Club pick directed by Kesang Tseten reveals how these communities honor their traditions while embracing new lives in America. Watch now »

ia 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) A person reflects thus: "If someone were to take from me what I have not given, that is, to commit theft, that would not be pleasing and agreeable to me. Now if I were to take from another what he has not given, that is, to commit theft, that would not be pleasing and agreeable to the other either. How can I inflict on another what is displeasing and disagreeable to me?" Having reflected thus, one abstains from taking what is not given, exhorts others to abstain from it, and speaks in praise of abstinence from it. (SN 55.7)

Reflection Another way of stating the Golden Rule, this text is simply pointing out the natural argument against misappropriating the property of others. It is not just that it is wrong and invites retribution but in an important way it is actually unhealthy. That is to say, theft damages the quality of our own character, thus contributing to our own suffering, as well as causing suffering in others. Daily Practice This precept against taking what is not given is a rich ground for practice, because it raises the bar for what is to be considered theft. How many things do we take that may not have been freely given? More than you might think. Look into this matter today and see if you notice how many things are coerced from others or taken without returning adequate compensation, and how often you assume you are entitled to something others have overlooked. 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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Zager & Evans - In the Year 2525

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - January 1, 2025 💠

 

"There was a major shift that occurred in the '60′s, the shift from what you call absolute reality, thinking that what you saw and what your thinking mind thought it understood was only one kind of reality. And there were other kinds of reality. William James, of course, had said that many years before, if you remember his quote, “Our normal waking consciousness is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different. We might spend our entire life without knowing of their existence, but apply the requisite stimulus and there they are in their completeness”. It’s interesting that William James said that when he was a professor at Harvard. I was thrown out of William James Hall for doing what he said."

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