Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States

 

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RIGHT EFFORT Abandoning Arisen 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) Abandoning doubt, one abides having gone beyond doubt; unperplexed about healthy states, one purifies the mind of doubt. (MN 51) Just as a person, laden with goods and wealth, who undertakes a long journey across a dangerous wilderness, would make it safely through with their goods to safety, so would one rejoice and be glad about the abandoning of doubt. (DN 2)

Reflection Our text likens doubt to the insecurities felt while undertaking a dangerous journey, something that would have been commonplace to the merchants of ancient India. It is a sense of uneasiness around vague but real threats, and the image describes very well what today we might call anxiety. Might anxieties be regarded as unhealthy states, and might it be possible to simply abandon them, as described here? Daily Practice Notice when you feel anxious about or wary of little things in your daily experience, and see if you can just abandon them. I'm not referring to a diagnosed anxiety disorder here but to the many small worries we have that might respond to this sort of approach. Ask yourself if these doubts are helpful, and when you realize they are not, see if you can let go of them simply by deciding "not to go there” just now.  Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Feeling and Abiding in the Second Jhāna One week from today: Developing Unarisen Healthy States 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: Reconciliation Is a First Step

Reconciliation Is a First Step

Reconciliation is not an end point of practice. It is a beginning place for continuing to free your heart.  Phillip Moffitt, “May All Things be Reconciled” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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

 

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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) On touching a bodily sensation with the body, one does not grasp at its signs and features. Since if one left the body faculty unguarded, unwholesome states of covetousness and grief might intrude, one practices the way of its restraint, guards the body faculty, and undertakes the restraint of the body faculty. (MN 51)

Reflection The sense of touch is so basic, so intimate, and so alluring a feature of embodied existence that we generally cannot help reaching for what feels good and recoiling from what feels bad. Yet by doing this we are in a way taking more than is given, as we try to leverage the raw sensations and manipulate the next moment into something more favorable for us. This is, in fact, the source of most of our problems. Daily Practice Practice regarding the physical sensations that constantly flow from your body to your mind with detached curiosity. Some feel good, some feel bad—interesting! Resist trying to shape the next moment into something other than what it will naturally become by grasping for more gratification or pushing away any discomfort. This ability to be with what is, rather than yearning for something else, eliminates most suffering. 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 Daily Dharma: Attitude Matters

 

Attitude Matters

The attempt to look at your attitude—what you are feeling and thinking and the frame that holds it, is one of the routes to freedom. John Tarrant, “In the Wild Places” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Verbal Action

 

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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 are doing an action with speech, reflect upon that same verbal action thus: “Is this action I am doing with speech an unhealthy bodily action with painful consequences and painful results?” If, upon reflection, you know that it is, then stop doing it; if you know that it is not, then continue. (MN 61)

Reflection Speech is a form of action, and all actions have their consequences. Using mindfulness as a kind of mirror, pay attention to the effect your verbal actions have on those you speak to, as well as the effect they have on your own mental and emotional states. If you detect that people are being harmed by what you say, or if you notice your own mood turning toward the unhelpful spectrum, then stop saying what you are saying. Daily Practice A careful speaker is consciously aware of what they are saying while they are speaking and also takes notice of how their words are affecting others. Practice speaking carefully. It takes some extra effort to both compose your words and reflect upon them, as with a mirror, but it is worthwhile effort. Words are like seeds, and as the discourse reminds us, “However the seed is planted, in that way the fruit is gathered.” 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 Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Malicious Speech

 

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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) If anyone should speak in disparagement of something, you should not be angry, resentful, or upset on that account. If you were to be angry or displeased that would only be an impediment to you, and then you could not recognize whether what they say is rightly said or not rightly said. If others should speak in disparagement of something, then you are to explain what is incorrect as being incorrect. (DN 1)

Reflection Speech is a two-way street, and the practice of right speech includes the ability to listen well in addition to speaking well. When you are the recipient of malicious speech—words that are intended to attack and wound and induce anger in you—it is a practice in itself to resist the temptation to take offense and lash out with your own malicious speech. Equanimity is the tool to use here, allowing you to not take things personally. Daily Practice Practice listening to the words of others, especially those that are critical of you or that disagree with opinions you hold dear, without taking them personally. Notice when the reflex of self-defense rears up; notice how it inclines you to resist what is being said and even to want to attack the person saying it—and then use the power of equanimity to regard the content objectively, without being automatically triggered into aversion. 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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