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Via Daily Dharma: Each Moment is Absolute

Each Moment is Absolute

It doesn’t matter what the contents of the moment are; each moment is absolute. That’s all there is, and all there ever will be. If we could totally pay attention, we would never be upset.

Charlotte Joko Beck, “Attention Means Attention”

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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 all five arisen hindrances, one abides having abandoned all five arisen hindrances. (MN 51)

Reflection If you are often restless, you are practicing restlessness and training yourself to become more restless. The same goes for the other hindrances of sluggishness, sense desire, ill will, and doubt. These mental factors will all arise from time to time; when they do you have the option to indulge them and thereby strengthen them or to abandon them and weaken them. Gradually diminish these unhealthy states by letting go when they arise. Daily Practice When the mind is temporarily free of the influence of the hindrances, it naturally becomes calm, unified, and clear, and thus more capable of seeing with insight. Pay attention to the quality of your inner life, and when one of these hindrances arises simply notice it and let it go. All things that arise in the mind will pass away if you do not “stick” to them by either welcoming them or rejecting them. Just let them pass through.  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: Compassion Combats Fear

Compassion Combats Fear

Fear thrives in the absence of mutual understanding and diversity, and it is a poisonous weapon. But there is an antidote: compassion. Compassion combats fear. Gyalwang Drukpa, “How to Combat Fear”  CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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 thinking a mental object with the mind, one does not grasp at its signs and features. Since if one left the mind faculty unguarded, unwholesome states of covetousness and grief might intrude, one practices the way of restraint and guards the mind faculty in that way. (MN 51)

Reflection Are you using your mind as a tool to think thoughts, or does it feel like your mind is driving the thoughts you think and you have little control over the process? Mindfulness is a way of re-establishing a sense of empowerment in the midst of our thinking processes. It is not a matter of suppressing thoughts but of influencing how much you grasp onto or resist the processes of your mind. Non-grasping is a form of protection.  Daily Practice Practice watching what arises and passes away in your mind as a kind of parade that marches by, without getting stuck on the content of each thought. Watch it approach, but then let it recede. Each thought is different, each is interesting, but there is no reason to grab hold of any thought and try to hang onto it or prevent it from leaving. Take what is given, but refrain from making more of what is happening by holding on. 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: Small Moments Count

Small Moments Count

Instead of trying to build the perfect world according to this or that ideology, put your attention in how you live and interact with others in each moment of the day. Ken McLeod, “Lessons From a Master Spy” 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 have done an action with speech, reflect on that same verbal action thus: “Was this action I have done with speech an unhealthy bodily action with painful consequences and painful results?” If, on reflection, you know that it was, then tell someone you trust about it and undertake a commitment not to do it again. If you know it was not, then be content and feel happy about it. (MN 61)

Reflection Speech is such an important form of action, especially in our modern world of constant communication. It helps to think of speaking words as a form of planting seeds— something we want to do with care and with the hope of good fruits arising in the future. It is helpful to reflect on what seeds you have sown, and it is a blessing to be able to look back on what you have said to someone and feel content and happy about it. Daily Practice Reflect on what you have said to others from time to time, especially soon after saying it, and check in on whether your communication has been harmful or helpful. If you feel that something is “off” in some way, do not hesitate to share your concerns with a trusted friend and look for ways to repair the damage. Taking care of our healthy relationships is a form of right action, and attending to our speech is a way of doing this. 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: Love and Pain

Love and Pain

Let me love this life as best as I can.  Vidyamala Burch, “From Fighting to Flourishing” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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