Sunday, October 23, 2022

Via White Crane Institute // AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS

 


Augusten Burroughs
1965 -

AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS, American writer, born; an American writer, known for his bestselling memoir Running with Scissors (2002), which spawned a feature film of the same name. Burroughs is the son of poet and writer Margaret Robison and the late John G. Robison, head of the philosophy department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His mother sent him to live with her psychiatrist’s family in western Massachusetts.

His books are published by St. Martin's Press (hardcover) and Picador (trade paperback). Some of his childhood experiences were chronicled in Running with Scissors; the book spurred a June 2005 lawsuit in which the Turcotte family of Cambridge, Mass., whom Burroughs had disguised and renamed the "Finch" family in the book, claimed that various family members — particularly the deceased Dr. Rodolph Turcotte, Burroughs' former legal guardian — were defamed by the book's portrayal of the eccentric Finch family. The family recently settled with Sony over the film adaptation, which was written and directed by Ryan Murphy and stars Joseph Cross as Burroughs. In August, 2007, the Turcotte family settled with Burroughs, who emerged victorious, being required only to make trivial word changes in the memoir's front matter. Burroughs lives in New York City, and Amherst, Mass., with his partner of many years, Dennis Pilsits, and their French bulldogs, Bentley and The Cow.


|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 Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - October 23, 2022 💌

 
 

“As far as young people using chemicals, my reflections about it are, as I’ve looked over the last 30 years, that it’s important that you become somebody before you become nobody. And people that try to become nobody too soon lose their ground. That is, they forget their zip code.” 

- Ram Dass -


From Here & Now Podcast - Ep. 210 – A Love Invulnerable to the Winds of Change

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Manhood


 

Via Adam and Andy


 

Via Daily Dharma: Meet Judgment with Discipline

 Judging the quality of your practice can lead to doubt, giving rise to procrastination and resistance. Remind yourself that, whenever resistance arises, the best way to overcome it is by simply continuing to practice. 

John Yates (Culadasa), Matthew Immergut, “Six Ways to Prepare for Meditation”


CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Developing Unarisen Healthy States

 

RIGHT EFFORT
Developing Unarisen Healthy States
Whatever a person frequently thinks about and ponders, that will become the inclination of their mind. If one frequently thinks about and ponders healthy states, one has abandoned unhealthy states to cultivate healthy states, and then one’s mind inclines to healthy states. (MN 19)

Here a person rouses the will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts the mind, and strives to develop the arising of unarisen healthy mental states. One develops the unarisen awakening factor of equanimity. (MN 141)
Reflection
We all have the capacity for generosity, kindness, and wisdom. Some would even say these are more fundamental to our nature than their harmful opposites: greed, hatred, and delusion. All these mental and emotional traits remain dormant until one or another of them is roused into becoming an active mental or emotional state. Instead of waiting passively to see what emerges, take the lead and call up the good stuff.

Daily Practice
Take a few moments from time to time to “stir up energy” and develop one or more of the healthy states that lie sleeping as healthy traits in your unconscious mind. Make them conscious by deliberately invoking generosity or kindness or equanimity, and see how you can induce these states more or less at will. It is a healthy skill to learn. Arousing equanimity is particularly useful in situations where you are challenged.

Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and Abiding in the Third Jhāna
One week from today: Maintaining Arisen Healthy States

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions?
Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.



Tricycle is a nonprofit and relies on your support to keep its wheels turning.

© 2022 Tricycle Foundation
89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003

Friday, October 21, 2022

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures

 

RIGHT LIVING
Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures
Sensual misconduct is unhealthy. Refraining from sensual misconduct is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning sensual misconduct, one abstains from misbehaving among sensual pleasures. (MN 41) One practices thus: “Others may engage in sensual misconduct, but I will abstain from sensual misconduct.” (MN 8)

Mental states cognizable by the mind are of two kinds: those to be cultivated and those not to be cultivated. Such mental states as cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to increase and healthy states to diminish, such mental states are not to be cultivated. But such mental states as cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to diminish and healthy states to increase, such mental states are to be cultivated. (MN 114)
Reflection
Because of the basic principle that what you attend to will flourish and what you neglect will atrophy, the issue of what internal states you cultivate becomes a matter of great importance. Some patterns of thought encourage the growth of mental and emotional states that contribute to our overall well-being, while others have the opposite effect, digging us deeper into the hole, so to speak. It helps to see and understand this. 

Daily Practice
Sensual pleasures are alluring, and all things being equal, we don’t want to live such an austere life that we deny ourselves simple pleasures. But we all know there are dangers here, and our best defense is knowing what to cultivate and what not to cultivate. Look into this matter directly, and see for yourself what states of mind are healthy and unhealthy for you. Then undertake a commitment to cultivate your own health.

Tomorrow: Developing Unarisen Healthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Intoxication

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions?
Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.



Tricycle is a nonprofit and relies on your support to keep its wheels turning.

© 2022 Tricycle Foundation
89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003

Via Daily Dharma: Everything Is the Path

 A round of chores is not a set of difficulties we hope to escape from so that we may do our practice, which will put us on the path. It is our path.

Gil Fronsdal, “Evaluate Your Meditation”


CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Mental Action

 

RIGHT ACTION
Reflecting Upon Mental 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 mental action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61)

When you have done an action with the mind, reflect on that same mental action thus: “Was this action I have done with the mind 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
One of the great innovations of Buddhist psychology is the recognition that all thoughts and emotions are a form of action taken by the mind, and as such all create karma—that is to say, they are causes that result in effects. So even if you think harmful thoughts without saying or doing anything, they will have a harmful effect on you, if not on others. This is why Buddhists care so much about nurturing the quality of their minds.

Daily Practice
Look objectively and honestly at the way your mind works. If you notice you have been thinking or imagining things that could cause painful consequences, such as images of retribution against someone or plans for revenge, be aware of it and recognize that such mental activities are harmful. Acknowledge to someone you trust that you are thinking like this, recognize it as unhealthy, and commit to changing this activity in the future.

Tomorrow: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures
One week from today: Reflecting upon Social Action


Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions?
Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.



Tricycle is a nonprofit and relies on your support to keep its wheels turning.

© 2022 Tricycle Foundation
89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003

Via Daily Dharma: Illuminating What’s Already There

 It’s remarkable what we can see when we stop and turn the light of awareness on the things we take for granted. 

John Brehm, “The Sacred Pause: How Poetry, Like Meditation, Can Disrupt the Habitual Momentum of the Mind”


CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Manifesto / / SBEM


 

Via Daily Dharma: What Is Discipline?

 Our core is wisdom and compassion, and discipline is the way—through skill and carefulness—that we align our actions with our fundamental dignity.

Phakchok Rinpoche, “Maintaining Meditation Discipline”


CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Harsh Speech

 

RIGHT SPEECH
Refraining from Harsh Speech
Harsh speech is unhealthy. Refraining from harsh speech is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning harsh speech, one refrains from harsh speech. One speaks words that are gentle, pleasing to the ear, and affectionate, words that go to the heart, are courteous, and are agreeable to many. (DN 1) One practices thus: “Others may speak harshly, but I shall abstain from harsh speech.” (MN 8)

It is a mistake to return anger with anger. Not giving anger for anger, one wins a double victory. One behaves for the good of both oneself and the other person. Knowing well the other’s anger, be mindful and remain calm. In this way you are healing both yourself and the other person. (SN 11.14)
Reflection
This call for calm in the face of anger is timeless—and timely. Anger can be an effective emotion, but it is also toxic. Not only can things escalate and get seriously out of hand when you return anger with anger, but cultivating anger has a corrosive effect on your own heart and mind. If you regard the angry person as caught up by a hostile force, you can feel compassion for them rather than anger. This contributes to healing both of you.

Daily Practice
Make a point of remaining calm when someone else is angry and see what it feels like. You may feel the impulse to get angry in return, but you can recognize that this is an impulse you can abandon when it arises. By not giving in to anger when it is provoked by others, you are not only protecting yourself from the harmful effects of the toxic emotion but also helping the other person, who often, like you, is a victim of anger.

Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Mental Action
One week from today: Refraining from Frivolous Speech

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions?
Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.



Tricycle is a nonprofit and relies on your support to keep its wheels turning.

© 2022 Tricycle Foundation
89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003