Via Daily Dharma: The Emptiness of Roles

 

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The Emptiness of Roles If the self is only conventionally and fundamentally empty at the core, then the same goes for our social roles. The streams of identity change over time; they deepen, dry out, or carve up a different path, but in the ocean of emptiness, none of those distinctions exist.  Kurt Spellmeyer, “Embracing Fluidity” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

His Life is Your Life By David Guy A new book offers a modern retelling of the ancient story of the Buddha.  Read more » Clarifying Dependent Origination With Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Watch an illuminating teaching from Sri Lankan Theravada monk Bhante Henepola Gunaratana on one of the Buddha’s most essential yet lesser-discussed insights into the nature of suffering and liberation. Watch now »

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right View: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering

 

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RIGHT VIEW Understanding the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering What is the cessation of suffering? It is the remainderless fading away and ceasing, the giving up, relinquishing, letting go, and rejecting of craving. (MN 9) When one knows and sees bodily sensations as they actually are, then one is not attached to bodily sensations. When one abides unattached, one is not infatuated, and one’s craving is abandoned. One’s bodily and mental troubles are abandoned, and one experiences bodily and mental well being. (MN 149)

Reflection Since craving is the cause of suffering, the ending of craving will bring about the end of suffering. This is both a general principle and a dynamic that happens in every moment of lived experience. We are aware of something different every moment, and when we either hold on to that object or push it away, we feel discontent. Observing it with equanimity takes away the affliction, and everything simply becomes interesting.   Daily Practice Sensations flow through your body in a constant stream. Some you like, some you don’t like. It is natural to feel attached to the ones that feel good and to resist and resent the ones that don’t, but this itself is the cause of suffering—attachment and aversion. Practice just observing each sensation without attachment, without infatuation, and see for yourself how mindful equanimity results in bodily and mental well being. Tomorrow: Cultivating Appreciative Joy One week from today: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via am Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - March 30, 2025 💠

 

"When I start to get angry, I see my predicament and how I’m getting caught in expectations and righteousness. Learning to give up anger has been a continuous process. When Maharaji told me to love everyone and tell the truth, he also said, 'Give up anger, and I’ll help you with it.' Maharaji offered me a bargain: 'You must polish the mirror free of anger to see God. If you give up a little anger each day, I will help you.' This seemed to be a deal that was more than fair. I readily accepted. And he’s been true to his end of the bargain. I found that his love helped to free me from my righteousness. Ultimately I would rather be free and in love than be right."

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Mindfulness and Concentration: Establishing Mindfulness of Feeling and the Second Jhāna

 

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RIGHT MINDFULNESS Establishing Mindfulness of Feeling A person goes to the forest or to the root of a tree or to an empty place and sits down. Having crossed the legs, one sets the body erect. One establishes the presence of mindfulness. (MN 10) One is aware: “Ardent, fully aware, mindful, I am content.” (SN 47.10)   When feeling a painful bodily feeling, one is aware: “Feeling a painful bodily feeling" … one is just aware, just mindful “there is feeling.” And one abides not clinging to anything in the world. (MN 10)

Reflection Painful bodily feeling is the most apparent aspect of our experience and is thus the easiest sensation with which to practice. Pain is not an elusive feeling tone. While it can be chronic and excruciating, most of the pain we feel is mild and fleeting. Both pleasure and pain are inevitable aspects of the human condition, and Buddhist practice does not encourage the pursuit of pleasure or the avoidance of pain. Daily Practice As part of the practice of mindfulness, you are invited to simply be aware of pain when it is present. This practice has nothing to do with the natural response of disliking the pain or wishing it were not there but involves simply being aware of the sensation with equanimity. Turn toward the painful sensation, take an interest in its texture, and hold it in mind without pushing it away. Fully aware of the pain, you can still be content. RIGHT CONCENTRATION Approaching and Abiding in the Second Phase of Absorption (2nd Jhāna) With the stilling of applied and sustained thought, one enters upon and abides in the second phase of absorption, which has inner clarity and singleness of mind, without applied thought and sustained thought, with joy and the pleasure born of concentration. (MN 4) Reflection The teachings around right concentration have to do with four phases of absorption, also known as jhānas. When the mind rests steadily on a single object of attention—which is quite difficult to do at first—it gradually disentangles itself from the various hindrances and becomes unified, peaceful, and stable. With this comes inner clarity and the dropping away of the internal use of language. Daily Practice You will know when you have entered into absorption of the jhānas because the state is accompanied at first with a great deal of physical and mental pleasure. The physical pleasure is described as being fundamentally different from any sensual gratification, and the mental pleasure comes naturally when the mind is free of the hindrances (phase one) and when it becomes concentrated or one-pointed (phase two). Tomorrow: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering One week from today:  Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and Abiding in the Third Jhāna 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: The Interconnectedness of All Beings

 

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The Interconnectedness of All Beings We rely on gifts from the universe to live (air, water, food). We live together with all things. Why is it necessary to think we’re superior? This is like our stomach thinking it’s more valuable than other parts of our bodies. Shohaku Okumura, “Education and Work” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Embracing Fluidity By Kurt Spellmeyer We’re all given roles, but we needn’t be confined by them.  Read more » Clarifying Dependent Origination With Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Watch an illuminating teaching from Sri Lankan Theravada monk Bhante Henepola Gunaratana on one of the Buddha’s most essential yet lesser-discussed insights into the nature of suffering and liberation. Watch now »