Friday, November 11, 2022

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given

 

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)
Reflection
The precept against stealing is carefully worded and yields a more precise definition than we are used to. In order for taking something to be acceptable, it has to be deliberately given by one person or group to another. This precludes things that we “find,” and repudiates the phrase “finders keepers.” The effect of this higher standard is that we are careful to seek permission rather than assuming something belongs to us. 

Daily Practice
Practice being scrupulous about the matter of giving and taking. Try applying this higher standard to little things in your life and see if it makes any difference. Wait for someone to invite you to go first; place lost objects aside to be reclaimed by their owner; don’t take offense unless you are sure it was intended as such. There are many ways to practice this; it is a matter of losing the habit of reflexively putting yourself first.

Tomorrow: Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures

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Thursday, November 10, 2022

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Verbal Action

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)
Reflection
We take action every moment, either with the body or with speech or with the mind. Verbal action can have big consequences and needs to be wielded carefully. Every word uttered is a seed planted that will yield fruit whether we are aware of it or not. Speech as a form of action may not be a familiar concept, but when we look at it this way we may be inclined to be more attentive to it and more careful of how we speak. 

Daily Practice
Reflect on the impact of your speech not only by noticing how others react to your words but also paying attention to how your words affect you. Hear what you are saying as you say it. Notice whether you are planting good seeds or bad. There are times for silent meditation, but the habit of awareness developed in silence can and should be applied to verbal action, where it becomes a mindfulness practice in its own right. 

Tomorrow: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given
One week from today: Reflecting upon Mental Action

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Via Daily Dharma: The Antidote to Self-Criticism

 Having appreciation for yourself, for the world, and for your life is really important. Why? Because we all have basic innate goodness. 

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, “The Antidote to Self-Criticism”


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Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Malicious Speech

 

RIGHT SPEECH
Refraining from Malicious Speech
Malicious speech is unhealthy. Refraining from malicious speech is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning malicious speech, one refrains from malicious speech. One does not repeat there what one has heard here to the detriment of these, or repeat here what he has heard there to the detriment of those. One unites those who are divided, is a promoter of friendships, and speaks words that promote concord. (DN 1) One practices thus: “Others may speak maliciously, but I shall abstain from malicious speech.” (MN 8)
Reflection
There is so much malicious speech in the world these days, speech that is intended to divide and promote discord. It is valuable to recognize what it is, to be aware of it when it occurs, and to undertake a commitment to refrain from speaking maliciously yourself. Let’s not contribute to the problem but instead work actively in the other direction, not only refraining from wrong speech but also promoting right speech.

Daily Practice
Even though others may speak maliciously, make it an ongoing practice to be a person who does not speak with malice. When the tendency comes up to return like for like in your speech, catch that with mindfulness and decide on a different course of action. Commit to being someone who speaks to unite those who are divided and utters only words that foster concord. Practice being a promoter of friendships with all you say.

Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Verbal Action
One week from today: Refraining from Harsh Speech

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Via Daily Dharma: Helping Others Grow

 Every time I can take something that’s hurting, something that’s toxic, something that’s out of balance, and actively participate in its transformation, that act will help me to grow.

Julia Butterfly Hill, “My Teacher, The Tree”


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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - November 9, 2022 💌

 
 

“The predicament with loving is the power of the addiction of the practice of loving somebody, of getting so caught in the relationship that you can’t ever arrive at the essence of dwelling in love. Imagine that you are cut off in your heart from love, so you feel hungry. What that hunger is, is the hunger to come home, to be at peace, to be feeling at one in the universe, where lover and Beloved merge. It’s the place to feel fulfilled, fully in the moment.”

- Ram Dass -


From Here & Now Podcast - Ep. 178 – The Path of the Heart

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Compassion

 

RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Compassion
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 compassion, for when you develop meditation on compassion, any cruelty will be abandoned. (MN 62)
Reflection
Compassion is a mental factor that can be developed, much as you might develop a muscle in the gym. It takes time, constant repetition, and working with successively heavier weights. The more time you spend caring for those who are in pain, and the more challenging the objects of your compassion (even people you don’t like!), the stronger and more compelling your inclination toward compassion will become. 

Daily Practice
Practice cultivating the intention to care for those who are suffering. Plan ways of helping others and develop a tendency toward compassion. When you do this, compassion will become the basis on which your mind is established. That is to say, it will become easier and more natural for you to feel compassion as you train your mind in that direction. Eventually it will be difficult to have a thought of ill will toward anyone.

Tomorrow: Refraining from Malicious Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Appreciative Joy

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Via Daily Dharma: Wisdom Promotes Compassion

 Just as ignorance promotes anger, the inverse is also true: Wisdom promotes compassion.

Allison Aitken, “What’s Wrong with Anger?”


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Monday, November 7, 2022

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right View: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering

 

RIGHT VIEW
Understanding the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering
What is the origin of suffering? It is craving, which brings renewal of being, is accompanied by delight and lust, and delights in this and that: that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for being, and craving for non-being. (MN 9)
Reflection
These are the three flavors of craving: strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate. Craving can take the form of 1) wanting more of the physical sensations and other sensory inputs that feel good and wanting to avoid those that feel bad. It can also take the form of 2) aching for things that are not happening to happen or 3) yearning for things that are happening to stop. All three forms of craving inevitably give rise to suffering.

Daily Practice
Look for the truth of this in your own experience. Any time you are suffering, even slightly, look into the causes of it. There will be something that you want to hold on to because it feels good and you are afraid of it slipping away. Or there will be something that you want to have happen or come into being. Or something you wish would just disappear. Suffering is created anew each moment from these forms of craving.

Tomorrow: Cultivating Compassion
One week from today: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering

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Via Daily Dharma: Enjoy Sitting

Finding a way to enjoy just sitting is key. Sitting meditation is a refuge, not a test.

Narayan Helen Liebenson, “The Refuge of Sitting”


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