Friday, May 5, 2023

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

 


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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)

Food is of two kinds: to be cultivated and not to be cultivated. Such food as causes, in one who cultivates it, unhealthy states to increase and healthy states to diminish, such food is not to be cultivated. But such food as causes, in one who cultivates it, unhealthy states to diminish and healthy states to increase, such food is to be cultivated. (MN 114)
Reflection
Here is an approach to food we are probably unfamiliar with. The issue is not what kind of nutrients the food provides but what kind of emotional states the consumption of it evokes. What is unhealthy here is greed, not sugar or cholesterol. If eating kale—to randomly pick a healthy food—were to provoke greed and lust for more, that would be encouraging sensual misconduct. Even if the food is healthy, greed is unhealthy and bad for you.

Daily Practice
Practice mindful eating by cultivating an attitude of equanimity when you eat. Some things taste good, some things taste bad. You are not forced to relish one and detest the other. Take your attention off the object of taste itself and place it instead on the experience of eating it. The problem with pleasure and displeasure is that they provoke craving, either for or against the object. Try remaining attentive but unattached. 

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

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Via White Crane Institute

 


Magnus Hirschfeld's Institute of Sex Research
1933 -

On this date in Berlin, the Nazi Youth of the Deutsche Studentenschaft made an organized attack on Magnus Hirschfeld's Institute of Sex Research. The "Institut für Sexualwissenschaft" or Institute for Sexology was a private sexology research institute which included a research library and a large archive, and included a marriage and sex counseling office. In addition, the institute was a pioneer worldwide in the call for civil rights and social acceptance for Homosexual and Transgender people. A few days later the Institute's library and archives were publicly hauled out and burned in the streets of the Opernplatz. Around 20,000 books and journals, and 5,000 images, were destroyed. Also seized were the Institute's extensive lists of names and addresses of LGBT people. In the midst of the burning, Joseph Goebbels gave a political speech to a crowd of around 40,000 people.


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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

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Via Facebook / Empathy

 


Via Facebook

 


Thursday, May 4, 2023

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Mental Action

 


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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 upon that same mental action thus: “Has this action I have done with the mind led to the affliction of another?” If, upon reflection, you know that it has, then tell someone you trust about it and undertake a commitment not to do it again. If you know it has not, then be content and feel happy about it. (MN 61)
Reflection
We are used to hearing that Buddhist teachings encourage us to stay in the present moment, and this is true of meditation generally. But it is also appropriate to learn from the past, and reflecting on your past actions is one way to do this. Notice that actions include mental actions, so even what you have thought in the past is to be investigated to see if any of it has caused harm to another person.

Daily Practice
Think back on the quality of your thoughts directed toward other people in the recent past. Have you felt jealousy, ill will, or repressed anger, for example? Have you plotted in some small way to undermine the success of someone, even if you did not put the plan into action? This is intrinsically unhealthy and potentially harmful behavior, and bringing such thoughts to light by confessing them to a friend can be helpful.

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

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Questions?
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Via Daily Dharma: Deep Trust Leads to Deep Love

 Whether the relationship is romantic, familial, or between a teacher and a student, deep trust nurtures deep love. 

Mark Unno, “The Buddha of Infinite Light and Life”


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Wednesday, May 3, 2023

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)

When one speaks hurriedly, one’s body grows tired and one’s mind becomes excited, one’s voice is strained and one’s throat becomes hoarse, and the speech of one who speaks hurriedly is indistinct and hard to understand. (MN 139)
Reflection
This is a simple and straightforward suggestion for how to speak more effectively. Hurried speech is a form of harsh speech and is to be abandoned whenever possible. When you look, you can see how strained people can get when they rush their words, and you know what this feels like when you do it. Speedy action of body, speech, or mind supports restlessness, while taking your time is conducive to calming body and mind. 

Daily Practice
Put this guideline for right speech into action today and see what effect it has on your mind and body and on the people with whom you speak. Slow down your speech. Take your time to say what you mean with care. See if you can craft words that “go to the heart” rather than speaking harshly. Notice also when the speech of others is indistinct or hard to understand, and learn from this the effect of your own speech.

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.

© 2023 Tricycle Foundation
89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003

Via Daily Dharma: Creating Fertile Ground for Insight

 A curious, connected mind is poised for insight. This is also the mind that is in awe of this fathomless universe, that can read patterns, make choices, play with language, and use concepts while knowing that the map is not the territory.

Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, “Finding Freedom”


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Via LGBTQ Nation Daily Brief // 7 LGBTQ+ athletes who came out & changed the game

 


Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation //Words of Wisdom - May 3, 2023 💌


 

"When I look back on the suffering in my life, this may sound really strange, but I see it now as a gift. I would have never asked for it for a second. I hated it while it was happening and I protested as loudly as I could, but suffering happened anyway. Now, in retrospect I see the way in which it deepened my being immeasurably." 

- Ram Dass -

The GOP Is In A Death Spiral | George Takei’s Oh Myyy

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

RIP Dear Gordon Lightfoot // Seven Island Suite

 

Seven islands to the high side of the bay, 'cross the bayTo the sunset through the blue light of a fiery autumn hazeWe went walking on the high side of the bay on a chilly mornAnd we saw how leaves had fallen on the beds where trees were bornAny man in his right mind could not fail to be made awareAny woman with a gift of wisdom would not seek her answers there
Seven islands to the high side of the bay if you're looking westTo the sunset you can see it, all in fiery autumn dressAnytime would be the right time to come up to your bed of boughsAnybody with a wish to wander could not fail but to be aroused
Living high in the city, guess you think it's a pretty good wayYou get to learn but when you get burned you got nothing to sayYou seem to think because you got chicken to go you're in luckFortune will not find you in your mansion or your truckBrothers will desert you when you're down and shit out of luck
Look around at the morning, guess you're doing the best you canSurely you know that when you go nobody gives you a handThink of the air you're breathing in, think of the time you wasteThink of the right and wrong and consider the frown on your face
It's time you tried living on the high side of the bay, you need a restAny woman or a man with a wish to fade away could be so blessedFortune will not find you in your mansion turned to goldBrothers will desert you when your nights turn long and cold
If you feel it you better believe it, you're gonna see it, so you really knowIt is rising like a feather, dipping and dancing from belowThere's a new wave that is breaking in the wake of a passing shipEvery nation's gonna be shaken, put it together, don't let it slip
It's time you tried living on the high side of the bay, you need a restAny man or a woman with a wish to fade away could be so blessed
Seven islands to the high side of the bay, 'cross the bayTo the sunset through the blue light of a fiery autumn hazeTo the sunset through the blue light of a fiery autumn haze