Via Daily Dharma: Forget the Self

 

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Forget the Self To study the self—your thoughts, etc.—is to forget the self. And to forget the self is what? It’s to be enlightened by all things. Charlotte Joko Beck, “Life’s Not a Problem” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Cancer, Samatha, and the Art of Stopping By Cat Shteynberg Faced with a terminal illness, a practitioner and working mother imparts a lesson on how to rest with intention. Read more »

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Intoxication

 

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RIGHT LIVING Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Intoxication Intoxication is unhealthy. Refraining from intoxication is healthy. (MN 9) What are the imperfections that defile the mind? Negligence is an imperfection that defiles the mind. Knowing that negligence is an imperfection that defiles the mind, a person abandons it. (MN 7) One practices thus: “Others may become negligent by intoxication, but I will abstain from the negligence of intoxication.” (MN 8) There are these two worldly conditions: praise and blame. These are conditions that people meet—impermanent, transient, and subject to change. A mindful, wise person knows them and sees that they are subject to change. Desirable conditions do not excite one’s mind nor is one resentful of undesirable conditions. (AN 8.6)

Reflection The “worldly winds,” you will recall, are those conditions that are inevitably found in the world, things it is useless to object to or resist, and the best course is to learn how to adapt and live with them. Praise and blame are among these inevitable worldly conditions. No matter what you do, there are times you will be praised, justifiably or not, and there are times you will be blamed, justifiably or not. It is best to accept this. Daily Practice One thing that helps in dealing with praise and blame is not to take things personally. Having yourself be the focus of everything can be seen as a kind of intoxication, distorting your perception of things as they actually are. Remind yourself that conditions are transient, that peoples’ opinions are subject to change, and that they may not praise or blame you with any real understanding of who you are or what you had in mind. Tomorrow: Maintaining Arisen Healthy States One week from today: Abstaining from Harming Living Beings Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via Three Teachings on Expectation from the Tricycle

 

Browse our online courses » July 31, 2025 Take the Ache Out of Attachment   “Lower your expectations and you won’t be disappointed.” This may be tried and true advice, but it’s not very satisfying until you ask why it works. Hopes or goals aren’t the problem; attachment to them is. And attachment is inherent in expectations. The Buddha was clear on this: The source of suffering, he said in the four noble truths, is attachment, or craving and aversion. Recognizing the impermanence of all phenomena, we understand that attachment will inevitably lead to disappointment. But simply carving out space—time or distance—from our attachments can loosen their hold. As Korean Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim says, “When we take a broader view, the present slump can be seen as the trough of a wave, which sinks down to gather the energy it needs in order to rise again. It’s thanks to these low points that, when we’re again riding the crest of the wave, we’re able to be humble rather than arrogant, and to have the wisdom not to get carried away.” This week’s Three Teachings offers guidance on maintaining hope and determination without suffering from unhelpful attachments. Forward today's teachings to a friend » Lessons from Life’s Low Point By Haemin Sunim Haemin Sunim praises the power of perspective, and also reminds us that unmet expectations can be an opportunity to cultivate compassion.  Read more » Taking the Ache Out of Attachment By Ven. Thubten Chodron Ven. Thubten Chodron offers a practice for helping us work with craving, reminding us that “it is not realistic to expect external objects to be a lasting source of happiness.” Read more » We Can’t Always Get What We Want (and That’s Alright) By Vanessa Zuisei Goddard Zen teacher and writer Vanessa Zuisei Goddard digs into the different types of craving, and points out that the truth of impermanence doesn’t just compel us to avoid expectation, but that it also allows us to enjoy what we have—for now.  Read more »

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Via Daily Dharma: The Freedom to Evolve

 

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The Freedom to Evolve Compassion releases others from your struggle to make them conform to your wishes. There is a great deal of kindness in giving others the freedom to evolve naturally as they are—and a lot of patience involved in that. Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, “3 Basic Laws of Nature That Can’t Be Ignored” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Shiro Tsujimura’s Exploded Forms By Sarah Fleming Contemporary ceramist Shiro Tsujimura combines traditional Japanese styles of pottery with avant-garde sensibilities, aspiring to bring out the mu of each vessel he creates. Read more » The Work of Not Knowing Marie Howe in conversation with James Shaheen In this episode of Tricycle Talks, Tricycle’s editor-in-chief, James Shaheen, sits down with Pulitzer Prize winner Marie Howe to discuss how poetry can help us cultivate attention and devotion to the ordinary. Listen now »

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Social Action

 

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RIGHT ACTION Reflecting Upon Social 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 social action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61) One reflects thus: “I shall initiate and sustain mental acts of kindness toward my companions, both publicly and privately.” One lives with companions in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, blending like milk and water, viewing each other with kindly eyes. One thinks thus: “It is a gain for me, it is a great gain for me, that I am living with such companions in the spiritual life.” (MN 31)

Reflection Of the three kinds of action recognized in Buddhist teaching, mental acts are more important than verbal and bodily actions because we say and do things only after we think them. The system of cause and effect generated by our thoughts is called karma, and we create either healthy or unhealthy karma not only by acting and speaking but also with every mental action. Attending to the quality of the mind is so important. Daily Practice In the privacy of your own mind, practice thinking good thoughts about people. This can be a kind of guerilla lovingkindness practice, in which you send friendly and benevolent thoughts to people without them knowing you are doing so. See what a good effect this has on your own mind. The people you direct your kindness to do not need to be aware of your thoughts; you only have to generate them to reap the benefits. Tomorrow: Abstaining from Intoxication One week from today: Reflecting upon Bodily Action Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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