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Via Daily Dharma: Unwavering Tranquility

 

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Unwavering Tranquility

By realizing the nature of existence as impermanent in a subtle sense, we can cultivate an unwavering tranquility amid life’s fluctuations.   Uffe Damborg, “Gleaning Insight from Inconceivable Matters” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

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

 

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RIGHT VIEW Understanding the Noble Truth of Suffering When people have met with suffering and become victims of suffering, they come to me and ask me about the noble truth of suffering. Being asked, I explain to them the noble truth of suffering. (MN 77) What is suffering? (MN 9) Bodily pain is suffering: bodily pain; bodily discomfort; painful, uncomfortable feeling born of bodily contact. (MN 9)

Reflection We don’t need much help in understanding this point—that suffering can present itself in the form of bodily pain. A natural reaction to this pain is to resist it, push it away, or find a way to either avoid it or avoid being aware of it. While pain is an inevitable part of the human situation, the Buddha teaches that we can modify how much we suffer when experiencing pain by how much awareness we bring to the experience. Daily Practice When you are in pain, try turning toward it and observing it with interest rather than resenting it or trying to avoid it. It is happening, so it won’t help to deny it. Look pain in the face and examine its texture and how it presents itself in your experience. See when it is sharp or dull, fleeting or constant, pulsing or steady. Turning toward the actual sensation of pain is the first step toward mitigating the suffering it brings. Tomorrow: Cultivating Lovingkindness One week from today: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Origin 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 GBF \\\ "Leading with a Friendly Heart" – Sean Feit Oake

 Another dharma talk is now available on the GBF website, podcast and YouTube channel:

Leading with a Friendly Heart – Sean Feit Oakes

How can we maintain a compassionate heart in a world defined by conflict?

Sean Feit Oakes shows us how we can use the Brahma Viharas—the “immeasurable” states of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity— to provide an internal sanctuary from the “poisons” of greed and hatred.

He explains that the Buddha taught these practices as the essential foundation for wisdom, inviting us to radiate a boundless friendliness that offers an escape from suffering within our own hearts.

Using the story of the “wounded king” Ajata Satu, Sean illustrates how even those burdened by terrible past actions can find solace through ethical living and metta (friendliness). He suggests transforming our “inheritance of toxicity” by leading with warmth in all areas of life:

• Universal Friendliness: Bringing a “benevolent” heart to every mundane interaction.
• Compassion: Allowing the heart to “quiver” or shatter in response to suffering rather than turning away.
• The Difficult Person: Wishing ease even for those who cause harm, acknowledging their basic desire for happiness.
• Self-Kindness: Shifting one’s internal dialogue to be tender and supportive—even calling oneself “sweetheart”—during difficult inner work.

By invoking this “boundless” friendliness, Sean argues that we can heal our own internal karma and ripple that change out into the community.

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Enjoy 900+ free recorded dharma talks at https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/

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Via FB /// Baha'u'llah's words - and hopes:

Bind ye the broken with the hands of justice, and crush the oppressor who flourisheth with the rod of the commandments of your Lord, the Ordainer, the All-Wise.

 

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation //Words of Wisdom - April 12, 2026 🌻 Inbox

 

"I invite you, when you are caught in your stuff and your heart is closed, to reach out to find someone else who is suffering. To be there with them for a moment. What I find when my heart is closed is that the purity of their heart pulls me out of myself very quickly. For those of you who have gotten caught in individualism and separation, the act of serving another human being is a doorway back into your connection to the universe. Their real need pulls you out of yourself."   Source: Ram Dass Here & Now - Ep. 125 – Embracing the Mystery

Via Daily Dharma: Five-Minute Meditation

 

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Five-Minute Meditation

The wildness of mind that we experience when we sit quietly, noticing our body and breathing for five minutes, is the result of everything we’ve been doing before those five minutes. Gaylon Ferguson, “Fruitless Labor”  CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Mindfulness and Concentration: Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects and the Fourth Jhāna

 

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RIGHT MINDFULNESS Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects 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 doubt is internally present, one is aware: “Doubt is present for me.” When doubt is not present, one is aware: “Doubt is not present for me.” When the arising of unarisen doubt occurs, one  is aware of that. And when the abandoning of arisen doubt occurs, one is aware of that. One is just aware, just mindful, "there is a mental object.” And one abides not clinging to anything in the world. (MN 10)

Reflection As we cycle through the five hindrances as arising and passing mental objects, we come to the last one, doubt. Some doubt is healthy, but this is the sort of doubt that prevents you from seeing clearly and is an obstacle to further progress along the path. It may take the form of self-doubt or doubting that you are practicing correctly. In meditation you can just be aware doubt is there, and let it go without buying in to what it is saying. Daily Practice The next time you feel the kind of doubt that impedes your ability to function well, take some time to examine it phenomenologically. That is to say, pay careful attention to what it feels like and how it is arising and passing away each moment, and learn to recognize it as just another mental factor that comes and goes. Understanding the transient nature of doubt gives you power to “ride out” its influence on your mind. RIGHT CONCENTRATION Approaching and Abiding in the Fourth Phase of Absorption (4th Jhāna) With the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief, one enters upon and abides in the fourth phase of absorption, which has neither-pain-nor-pleasure, and purity of mindfulness due to equanimity. The concentrated mind is thus purified, bright, unblemished, rid of imperfection, malleable, wieldy, steady, and attained to imperturbability. (MN 4) Reflection The four stages of mental absorption described in the system of jhānas culminate with the attainment of a profound and imperturbable equanimity. In this state the mind is free of both craving and aversion, neither favors nor opposes any mental object, and is able to simply regard things as they actually are, undistorted by our projections and fears. Notice also that such equanimity has the effect of purifying mindfulness. Daily Practice Sitting quietly and allowing the mind to become more and more peaceful, progressively more unified, and gradually steadier will eventually culminate in the quality of mind described here. This is not a transcendent state but rather a natural, immanent state of mind. See if you can allow your mind to become still like tranquil water and watch the mind reflect whatever comes before it without distortion.  Tomorrow: Understanding the Noble Truth of Suffering One week from today: Establishing Mindfulness of Body and Abiding in the First Jhāna 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. Donate »

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Thank you Ed!

I recently found out a mentor, academic\professional father figure of mine passed away. 

THANK YOU ED, You are and will always be an eternal example for me... 

I can truthfully say that without your mentorship there would not be a Prof. Orey. Your countless acts of patience with me, your civility, kindness, mentorship and guiding are eternally appreciated.  

Your guiding me thru departamental politics, learnign to avoid snakes and lions... Helping juggle my schedule, going through promotion, and encouraging me when things were tough. The times we spent in our office hours just playing board games and discussing mathematics. The card games and poker club, Bay to Breakers, sharing ideas... my heart is full and so very grateful! 

Your coaching of me, especially as a young father was essential.

When I went through a rather dramatic brake up and I was still in Brasil, "he who shall not be named" came to your office (by then you were Department Chair) and he demanded that you fire me, you told him that "if we fired people who divorced we loose 1/2 the faculty". Your civil calm, gentle way of telling people to f#"k off was a lesson forever learned as well. Your helping  me thru that tough time, your helping Milton with his masters... well there are just no words. 

My last  contact with you was after surviving cancer, and trying to decide if I should retire or keep going... you encouraged me to keep going, and I will!

I can say that how I work with students and colleagues, especially now as I reach the end of my career, I use your example, strength through deep kindness and respect.

E=mc²

Thank you dear Prof Arnsdorf!