Via Daily Dharma: Why Change Shouldn’t Surprise Us

 

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Why Change Shouldn’t Surprise Us There’s no reason to be surprised by change. In fact, we should be suspicious of its absence, not surprised by its presence.  Malcolm Gladwell, “Why Change Shouldn’t Surprise Us” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Meet a Teacher: Achok Rinpoche By Philip Ryan A renowned lama explains the importance of keeping a flexible mind.  Read more » A Life in Shadows Directed by Edward A. Burger This month’s Film Club pick sheds light on an art of shadows. Witness the beauty of shadow puppet theater in Shaanxi Province, where farmers by day become performers by night—fighting to preserve an ancient tradition in the face of modernity.  Watch now »

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

 

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RIGHT VIEW Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering And what is the way leading to the cessation of suffering? It is just this noble eightfold path: that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right living, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. (MN 9) This is one thing proclaimed by the Buddha who knows and sees, accomplished and fully awakened: If a person abides diligent, ardent, and resolute, their unliberated mind comes to be liberated, their undestroyed toxins come to be destroyed, and they attain supreme security from bondage. (MN 52)

Reflection We come now to the fourth noble truth, the path. Defining suffering, understanding its source, and recognizing that it can be stopped (the first three noble truths) are relatively straightforward, but the path to accomplish the end of suffering is infinitely varied. Eight path factors are enumerated, but each culture, each generation, perhaps even each individual treads this eightfold path in a unique way. Daily Practice The promise of the path leading to the end of suffering is that the transformation of suffering is possible and attainable. Here we are told quite directly that the path is there and that it does lead to the goal of liberating the mind. But it takes effort, and a large part of the practice is learning to "abide diligent, ardent, and resolute." See what these words mean in your own experience and bring this commitment to all you do. Tomorrow: Cultivating Equanimity One week from today: Understanding the Noble Truth 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 White Crane Institute // GEORGE SANTAYANA

 

Born

George Santayana

1863 -

GEORGE SANTAYANA, Spanish novelist, born (d: 1952);  A philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist and a lifelong Spanish citizen, Santayana was raised and educated in the United States, wrote in English and is generally considered an American man of letters, even though, of his nearly 89 years, he spent only 39 in the U.S. He is perhaps best known as an aphorist, and for the oft-misquoted remark, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," from Reason in Common Sense, the first volume of his The Life of Reason.

It is frequently said that Santayana’s The Last Puritan is the best novel ever written by a philosopher. It is also one of the saddest novels in literature for it relates the story of a painfully unrequited love that was Santayana’s own.

The Harvard philosopher spent almost his entire life in love with an unresponsive heterosexual who, at times, couldn’t even remember his name. And it is this lifelong love — for Bertrand Russell’s brother Frank — that is reflected in The Last Puritan. What a beauty Santayana was! What a sad story!

 

 

Today's Gay Wisdom 2017 - The Wisdom of George Santayana Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. Never build your emotional life on the weaknesses of others. History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren't there. Friends are generally of the same sex, for when men and women agree, it is only in the conclusions; their reasons are always different. Tyrants are seldom free; the cares and the instruments of their tyranny enslave them. The Difficult is that which can be done immediately; the Impossible that which takes a little longer. Prayer, among sane people, has never superseded practical efforts to secure the desired end.

|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8| 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 |8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|

 

Via FB

 

Via BGF (Sunday 15.12.2024)

 

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Via GBF] \\ New Podcast: What Makes GBF Tick?

The audio recording for our Volunteer Appreciation Day is now available. 

Find it on your favorite podcast player or our website:

What Makes GBF Tick? – Volunteer Appreciation Day

A look under the hood of GBF, how things work, and those who keep it all together. 

COVID put huge strains on our group, and this is a time to recognize and thank the individuals who held up the roof beams and made GBF stronger in the process.

You'll be surprised at how much goes on behind the scenes and gain appreciation for GBF as an organization and sangha including:

• Lining up speakers
• Announcing & facilitating each meeting
• Setting up the recordings & Zoom equipment
• Hosting and providing refreshments
• Editing recordings & producing the podcast & YouTube channel
• Publishing and mailing the newsletter
• Planning semi-annual retreats
• Managing our social media presence
• Updating the website
• Publishing the member directory

We can use more help with the many facets of keeping the sangha strong, so listen and perhaps find a Volunteer role to suit you. Specific details about openings, their duties, and time commitments for each will be given along with roles perfectly suited for those on Zoom. For more information send an email to gaybuddhistfellowship@gmail.com

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Enjoy 850+ free recorded dharma talks at https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Mindfulness and Concentration: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and the Third Jhāna

 

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RIGHT MINDFULNESS Establishing Mindfulness of Mind 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 the mind is beset by desire, one is aware that "the mind is beset by desire." One is just aware, just mindful: "There is mind." And one abides not clinging to anything in the world. (MN 10)

Reflection The third establishment of mindfulness is mindfulness of the quality of mind manifesting in any given moment. It is awareness of awareness itself, in particular of whether or not awareness is influenced by the influx of greed, hatred, or delusion. We start here with desire, a common state that can in many cases be quite subtle and hard to see. Here we are practicing becoming conscious of something that is normally unconscious. Daily Practice Sometimes the presence of desire can be detected in our experience. This is not bad or wrong—just something to be noticed. For example, seeing an object is one thing, while seeing it with a tinge of desire, of wanting it, is another. Notice that wanting is simply a quality of mind that is sometimes present and sometimes not. We are not trying to change anything here, just to learn to see what is really happening. RIGHT CONCENTRATION Approaching and Abiding in the Third Phase of Absorption (3rd Jhāna) With the fading away of joy, one abides in equanimity; mindful and fully aware, still feeling pleasure with the body, one enters into and abides in the third phase of absorption, on account of which noble ones announce: "One has a pleasant abiding who has equanimity and is mindful." (MN 4) Reflection Some people move easily and naturally through the stages of absorption, but many people do not. This is not something to be forced if it does not come on its own, and we should never judge our progress against the schema of four jhānas. As we can see, mindfulness and concentration each involve the other, so at a certain point it becomes unnecessary and unhelpful to compare the two and distinguish two different practices. Daily Practice As you settle into the pleasant feeling tones of the second level of absorption, the pleasure gradually subsides and resolves into a state of equanimity or even-mindedness. The body still feels tranquil and at ease, but the mind becomes more balanced as it becomes more mindful and fully aware. Simply rest at ease, doing nothing and striving for nothing, and let the mind settle naturally. Tomorrow: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering One week from today: Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects and the Fourth Jhāna Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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