Thursday, August 14, 2025

Via Daily Dharma: Connecting with the Universal

 

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Connecting with the Universal

From a nondual perspective, our heart is the nexus that connects the personal with the universal. It is the hub that connects our personal “child-consciousness” with the universal “mother-consciousness.”

Radhule Weininger, “The Cave of the Heart”


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Karma and the Energy of Will
By Joanna Macy
In an excerpt from her landmark work, World as Lover, World as Self, the late ecodharma leader presents a powerful teaching on actively shaping one’s karma.
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Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Malicious Speech

 

RIGHT SPEECH
Refraining from Malicious Speech
Malicious speech is unhealthy. Refraining from malicious speech is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning malicious speech, one refrains from malicious speech. One does not repeat there what one has heard here to the detriment of these, or repeat here what he has heard there to the detriment of those. One unites those who are divided, is a promoter of friendships, and speaks words that promote concord. (DN 1) One practices thus: “Others may speak maliciously, but I shall abstain from malicious speech.” (MN 8)

Disputes occur when a person adheres to their own views, holds onto them tenaciously, and relinquishes them with difficulty. Such a person dwells disrespectful and undeferential toward others, causing harm and unhappiness for many. If you see any such root of a dispute either in yourself or externally, you should strive to abandon it. And if you do not see any such root of dispute either in yourself or externally, you should practice in such a way that it does not erupt in the future. (MN 104)
Reflection
If you look around you will easily see that so many of the disputes taking place in the world are rooted in the human tendency to become attached to views and opinions. It is natural for people to disagree, but it is neither necessary nor inevitable for them to argue about it. Views are learned ways of organizing our understanding of the world, and when held lightly they are beneficial, but they can easily become a source of trouble.  
Daily Practice
Notice when you see people attached to their views, when they are holding on to them tenaciously, and when they relinquish them with difficulty. Next, notice when you do these things yourself. Try looking at things from different points of view, if only to train your own mind to become more agile and avoid getting locked in to particular perspectives. Notice how many things can be seen from many different points of view.
Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Verbal Action
One week from today: Refraining from Harsh Speech

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 Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.
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Via Daily Dharma: Look at Our Own Minds

 

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Look at Our Own Minds

We don’t need a psychic to tell us what our future experience will be—we need only look at our own minds. If we have a good heart and helpful intentions toward others, we will continually find happiness.

Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, “Putting Down the Arrow”


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Traveling the Bodhisattva’s World
By Kosho Uchiyama Roshi
Soto Zen monk Kosho Uchiyama Roshi recounts episodes from the life of Chinese patriarch Bodhidharma in a teaching on faith and compassion.
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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation //

 


You can't push yourself into enlightenment. You can only wait for grace.
 
- Ram Dass

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Compassion

 

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RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Compassion
Whatever you intend, whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will become the basis upon which your mind is established. (SN 12.40) Develop meditation on compassion, for when you develop meditation on compassion, any cruelty will be abandoned. (MN 62)

The far enemy of compassion is cruelty. (Vm 9.99)
Reflection
In a moment of compassion, cruelty is impossible, and when cruelty is present there is no room for compassion. As opposite emotions, these two always compete for a spot in the mind. Whichever is raised into conscious awareness from its unconscious latency will have the greatest impact on the mind stream that follows. When we are able to cultivate compassion over cruelty, we can train our minds toward healthy and happy states.
Daily Practice
Put aside some time each day to think of the suffering of others, perhaps just before or just after meditating, and allow yourself to feel compassion in your heart rather than pity or despair. Also, any time you catch yourself feeling mean-spirited or hurtful, immediately take note of that and see if you can replace the incipient cruelty with its antidote, authentic compassion. In these ways you guide your mind in a noble direction.
Tomorrow: Refraining from Malicious Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Appreciative Joy

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions?
 Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.
Tricycle is a nonprofit and relies on your support to keep its wheels turning.
© 2025 Tricycle Foundation
89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003

Via Daily Dharma: We Are Not Separate

 

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We Are Not Separate

Though feelings of isolation can compound our suffering and sense of being overwhelmed or inadequate, the bedrock truth is that we are not separate. The separation we feel in our daily lives is artificial, a construct of our minds.

Brother Phap Xa and Brother Phap Luu, “Connecting with the Root of Our Being”


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Awakening with an Algorithm
Interview by Philip Ryan
Jundo Cohen discusses ordaining AI chatbot Emi Jido.
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Monday, August 11, 2025

Via Daily Dharma: Turn to Freedom

 

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Turn to Freedom

When we turn away from the difficult, when we close down from the difficult, we close down from freedom. Every experience of pain, every experience of craving, every experience of fear and confusion is a gate to freedom.

Anshin Devin Ashwood, “Craving, Compulsions, Habits, and Freedom”


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How The Blue Cliff Record Came to Be
By Joan Sutherland
Uncover the origins of the world’s oldest koan collection. 
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