A personal blog by a graying (mostly Anglo with light African-American roots) gay left leaning liberal progressive married college-educated Buddhist Baha'i BBC/NPR-listening Professor Emeritus now following the Dharma in Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Reflecting on impermanence is not meant to make us miserable. But without that sorrow of knowing nothing will last, we will never get anywhere on our path.
Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, “The Secret Strength of Sadness”
Gyalyum Chemo: The Great Mother Directed by Rosemary Rawcliffe
This month’s Film Club pick recounts the compelling life story of Dekyi Tsering, the mother of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Part of a unique trilogy known as Women of Tibet, the film takes us on a journey into the spiritual force of motherhood.
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 appreciative joy, for when you develop meditation on appreciative joy, any discontent will be abandoned. (MN 62)
Reflection
It is not uncommon to experience discontent. There are so many things we can feel we are lacking in our lives, so many things in the world not going the way we would wish, and so much with which we can find fault. Or we can move in the other direction, cataloging and celebrating what is good and right in our experience, especially when we seek out and notice when good fortune comes to other people.
Daily Practice
Get in the habit of taking note of the positive experiences of people around you and match it with an attitude of appreciation and wishing them well for their good fortune. Appreciative joy is not about rejoicing in your own situation but recognizing and appreciating the blessings experienced by others. If you do this, there will be endless opportunities for feeling good about things and no room for discontent.
Tomorrow: Refraining from Harsh Speech One week from today: Cultivating Equanimity
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