Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States

 

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RIGHT EFFORT Restraining Unarisen 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 to unhealthy states. (MN 19) Here a person rouses the will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts the mind, and strives to restrain the arising of unarisen unhealthy mental states. One restrains the arising of all five unarisen hindrances. (MN 141)

Reflection Having gone through the five hindrances individually—sense desire, ill will, restlessness, sluggishness, and doubt—we are now encouraged to work with all five of them as the opportunity arises. Instead of looking at each in turn and exploring how it might be inhibited from arising (not suppressed once arisen!), we allow ourselves to guard against any of them erupting by learning to avoid the conditions giving rise to them. Daily Practice The hindrances are a natural part of our everyday lives, but we need not feel at their mercy. They are mental qualities that obstruct our ability to focus and relax our minds, and they can be resisted with some understanding of what sets them off and how to avoid triggering them. Cultivating equanimity, for example, will inhibit the arising of sense desire and ill will. The other hindrances too have antidotes that can be deployed. Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Body and Abiding in the First Jhāna One week from today: Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via The Tricycle Community \\ Every Moment Is Your Practice

 

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October 4, 2025 The Path Is in Every Step Life’s journey isn’t just about reaching a destination; it’s about the path we take to get there. This theme lies at the heart of our October Film Club pick, Saffron Heart. Set in a Buddhist monastery in South India, the film follows Lobsang, a young monk who arrives at the monastery and becomes deeply homesick. Instead of sending him home, his wise and compassionate teacher offers him a different kind of path: a map-quest made up of eight puzzles that Lobsang must complete before going back home. Accompanied by upbeat original music by the director, Paul McLay, and captivating cinematography depicting both the lighthearted moments of childhood innocence and the more intensive monastic life full of teaching and practice, Saffron Heart is a moving exploration of transformation, resilience, and inner growth. Subscribers can stream the film now through October 31.   Watch the film »   Also this week: October’s Dharma Talk from Laura Bridgman explores compassion and the inner critic.    Read the winning poems from August’s Haiku Challenge.   A new month means a new teacher for our weekly meditation group. Join us on Monday at 11 a.m. ET with Zen teacher and priest Sensei Dhara Kowal.

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 The "Tyranny Shall Not Prevail" flag is a modern flag designed by JD Miller for history enthusiasts and patriots, featuring three oak leaves for strength and the phrase "TYRANNY SHALL NOT PREVAIL" to symbolize a commitment to liberty and resistance against oppression. The design pays homage to 18th-century revolutionary spirit, with a green field representing hope and the oak leaves symbolizing resilience, according to the Flags For Good and Flagmaker & Print websites.  

Design and Symbolism 

• Oak Leaves: A trio of oak leaves symbolizes strength, endurance, and resilience.
• Text: The declaration "TYRANNY SHALL NOT PREVAIL" serves as a rallying cry for liberty, justice, and resistance.
• Color: The green field of the flag represents hope, renewal, and a fresh start.
• Designer: The flag was designed by JD Miller.

Purpose and Audience 

• The flag is intended for history enthusiasts, patriots, and anyone committed to freedom, serving as a symbol of hope and determination.
• It's described as a timeless emblem of resistance to unjust authority.

Where to Find It

• The flag is available for purchase from companies like Flags For Good and Flagmaker & Print. 
• It can also be found on wholesale platforms like Faire and is also sold on Amazon. 

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Via Daily Dharma: Lightening Ourselves

 

Lightening Ourselves When we stop clinging to a fixed sense of “I,” we become freer to respond to each moment with presence and compassion. Our roles and relationships become lighter—less about performance, more about genuine connection. Santiago Santai Jiménez, “A Thought Experiment to Go Beyond Thought” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE Forward today's wisdom to a friend »

As a nonprofit organization, Tricycle depends on the generosity of individuals like you. Please make a tax-deductible gift here » A Position of Strength By Thanissaro Bhikkhu In this teaching, Theravada monk Thanissaro Bhikkhu imparts a timeless lesson on the relationship between stillness and action. Read more » The Buddha A Book Launch with Donald S. Lopez Jr. Join us at the Liederkranz Club on October 9, 2025 for a Q&A and book-signing to celebrate the publication of Donald S. Lopez Jr.’s The Buddha: Biography of a Myth. Sign up »

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Harming Living Beings

 

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RIGHT LIVING Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Harming Living Beings Harming living beings is unhealthy. Refraining from harming living beings is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning the harming of living beings, one abstains from harming living beings; with rod and weapon laid aside, gentle and kindly, one abides compassionate to all living beings. (M 41) One practices thus: “Others may harm living beings, but I will abstain from the harming of living beings.” (MN 8) What is wrong livelihood? Scheming, cajoling, hinting, belittling, pursuing gain with gain. (MN 117)

Reflection The Buddhist emphasis on non-harming goes beyond killing and encompasses all forms of “raising the rod to strike against” a living being. Beyond physical assault, this can also include various kinds of psychological or emotional abuse, as mentioned in this passage. When you hurt others in some way, you also damage your own heart and mind. Like thrusting a flaming torch into the wind, you hurt yourself more than the other. Daily Practice It is not healthy to engage in dishonest or manipulative behavior, and if you need to do this as part of your job, you should think about changing professions. This is not to make a moral judgment but rather to point out a simple fact: harsh and harmful states of mind damage not only others but also the person initiating them. Take an honest look at how you behave as part of your livelihood and make changes if appropriate. Tomorrow: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States One week from today: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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