Via Daily Dharma: Wishing All Beings Well

 Our ability to wish well impartially is connected to our ability to let go of the fixed views that cause distress to arise in the mind. 

Sylvia Boorstein, “The Whole of the Path”

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given

 

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) There is a gift, which is a great gift—pristine, of long standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated—that will never be suspect. Here a noble person gives up taking what is not given and refrains from it. In doing so, one gives freedom from fear, hostility, and oppression to an immeasurable number of beings. (AN 8.39)

Reflection This is the precept against theft, which you will notice is broadly stated to include a wide range of behaviors we might not consider stealing. There are many subtle ways we might take what is not freely offered, including exploiting the labor of others who may be unfairly remunerated. We might also take from others non-material things, such as time, ideas, credit, power, and freedom. Be careful not to do this.  Daily Practice Making a commitment to act with integrity regarding the property of others is another way of giving the gift of harmlessness to all beings. Practice being more attentive to when something is freely offered and when it is not. "Finders keepers" does not apply to Buddhist ethics. Think how grateful you are when someone returns something you left behind. Take up the habit of paying it forward, preferring to give rather than take. 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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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Verbal Action

 

RIGHT ACTION Reflecting Upon Verbal Action However the seed is planted, in that way the fruit is gathered. Good things come from doing good deeds; bad things come from doing bad deeds. (SN 11.10) What is the purpose of a mirror? For the purpose of reflection. So too verbal action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61) When you wish to do an action with speech, reflect on that same verbal action thus: "Would this action I wish to do with speech lead to my own affliction?" If, on reflection, you know that it would, then do not do it. If you know that it would not, then proceed. (MN 61)

Reflection Verbal action is as important a matter as bodily action, for much harm and much good can be done with words. Reflecting on verbal action involves being attentive to cause and effect, considering whether what you want to say may cause harm to you or to someone else. The truth of the phrase "Bad things come from uttering bad words" is plainly evident in the world around us. Let's not contribute to it.  Daily Practice This is a practice familiar to us as "Think before you speak." It is simply a matter of establishing and maintaining some space between what comes to mind and what goes out into the world as speech. This moment of reflection brings care to the process. Practice speaking slower and more thoughtfully. Practice also placing yourself in the position of the hearer and imagine how your words might be received by others. Tomorrow: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given One week from today: Reflecting upon Mental Action 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: Real Compassion

My compassion is not me being a nice guy. My compassion is me realizing who I am and knowing that having a heart of love for all creatures, all beings, even a blade of grass, is true to who and what I am.

Norman Fischer, “We Are Our Relationships”

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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)  When others address you, their speech may be timely or untimely. . . . One is to train thus: "My mind will be unaffected, and I shall utter no bad words. I shall abide with compassion for their welfare, with a mind of lovingkindness, without inner hate." (MN 21)

Reflection The second category of right speech is refraining from malicious speech, which has a lot to do with setting people against one another and causing divisions. Such speech involves harmful intentions and is therefore unhealthy. Notice the final phrase of the text, wherein one undertakes to personally refrain from such speech even though others may do it. The practice here is to change your own behavior, not that of others. Daily Practice Pay attention to the speech you hear around you and see if you can identify malicious speech when you hear it. Then listen for when you yourself engage in such speech, often inadvertently. Finally, undertake a commitment to refrain from malicious speech. This is particularly challenging when you are interrupted by untimely speech, but such episodes provide an opportunity to practice not being thrown off by the impropriety of others.  Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Verbal Action One week from today: Refraining from Harsh Speech Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via White Crane Institute // THORNTON WILDER

 

Died

Thornton Wilder

1975 -

THORNTON WILDER, American playwright died (b. 1897); In 1926 Wilder's first novel The Cabala was published. In 1927, The Bridge of San Luis Rey brought him commercial success and his first Pulitzer Prize in 1928. From 1930 to 1937 he taught at the University of Chicago.

In 1938 he won the Pulitzer for drama for his plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth. World War II saw him rise to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army Air Force and he received several awards. He went on to be a visiting professor at the University of Hawaii and to teach poetry at Harvard. Though he considered himself a teacher first and a writer second, he continued to write all his life, receiving the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 1957 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963. In 1967 he won the National Book Award for his novel The Eighth Day. He died in his sleep, December 7, 1975 in Hamden, Connecticut, where he had been living with his sister, Isabel, for many years.

Wilder had a wide circle of friends and enjoyed mingling with other famous people, including Ernest Hemingway, Willa Cather, Montgomery Clift and Gertrude Stein. (Sensing any patterns here?) Although he never discussed his sexuality publicly or in his writings, his close friend Samuel M. Steward is generally acknowledged to have been his lover. This relationship is explored in the fascinating  biography of Steward, AKA Phil Andros, written by Justin Spring, Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor , Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade

For more on Secret Historian: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Historian-Steward-Professor-Renegade/dp/0374281343

Wilder’s father, Amos Wilder was a stern, teetotaling Congregationalist who expected his son to be scholar-athlete and a muscular Christian. When Thornton announced that he had been cast as Lady Bracknell in a school production of The Importance of Being Earnest, the senior Wilder informed him that he would rather that Thornton not play female roles. Papa would not absolutely forbid it, but he assumed that his son would want to honor his father’s wishes. Thornton reluctantly conceded, but later wrote to his father in China, “When you have changed your mind as to it, please notify.”

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Gay Wisdom for Daily Living from White Crane Institute

"With the increasing commodification of gay news, views, and culture by powerful corporate interests, having a strong independent voice in our community is all the more important. White Crane is one of the last brave standouts in this bland new world... a triumph over the looming mediocrity of the mainstream Gay world." - Mark Thompson

Exploring Gay Wisdom & Culture since 1989!
www.whitecraneinstitute.org

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Via Daily Dharma: Finding Faith

 First you go in faith to receive help from another, and then, in accepting this help, you find it in yourself. 

Reb Anderson, “In It Together”

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Via Lama Rod Owens // December 2022 Newsletter

 

A Monthly Online Gathering

Thursday, January 5th, 2023 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm UK | 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST | 10:00am - 11:00am PST

Free Radicals is a monthly online community practice space created specifically with our UK friends in mind - although everyone is welcome to join us.

Meeting on the first Thursday of every month, our next gathering will be on Thursday, January 5th, 2023 with Lama Rod. 

Closed Captioning and Audio Description will be available.

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Via Words of Wisdom - December 7, 2022 💌 Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation

 
 

All of the work that people did on their inner beings, now is the time when that work is valuable to the common good. If you can stand nowhere, if you even know of that potential, you can smooth out the rough edges that are going to happen. 

- Ram Dass -


From Here & Now Podcast - Ep. 119 – A Sense of Change Pt. 2

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Compassion

 

RIGHT INTENTION Cultivating Compassion Whatever you intend, whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will become the basis on 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)  Suppose there were a pond with lovely smooth banks, filled with pure water that was clear and cool. A person scorched and exhausted by hot weather, weary, parched, and thirsty, would come upon the pond and quench their thirst and their hot-weather fever. In just the same way, a person encounters the teachings of the Buddha and develops compassion, and thereby gains internal peace. (MN 40)

Reflection When lovingkindness encounters the suffering of another, it transforms into compassion. Compassion is defined as "the trembling of the heart in the presence of suffering," along with the urge to alleviate the suffering of other living beings. Actions that are motivated by compassion are always healthy, regardless of their outcome, and banish from the mind any impulse toward cruelty in that moment. Daily Practice The same metaphor is used to describe compassion as was used last week for lovingkindness: the cool, clear water of a forest pond encountered on a hot day by a person parched and thirsty. This conveys the sense that compassion is a naturally healthy mental state, providing a precious refuge from harsher emotions. See if you can experience the internal peace that comes from caring for the well-being of others. 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.

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