Wednesday, August 16, 2023

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)

Disputes occur when a person adheres to their own views, holds onto them tenaciously, and relinquishes them with difficulty. Such a person dwells disrespectful and undeferential toward others, causing harm and unhappiness for many. If you see any such root of a dispute either in yourself or externally, you should strive to abandon it. And if you do not see any such root of dispute either in yourself or externally, you should practice in such a way that it does not erupt in the future. (MN 104)
Reflection
If you look around you will easily see that so many of the disputes taking place in the world are rooted in the human tendency to become attached to views and opinions. It is natural for people to disagree, but it is neither necessary nor inevitable for them to argue about it. Views are learned ways of organizing our understanding of the world, and when held lightly they are beneficial, but they can easily become a source of trouble.  

Daily Practice
Notice when you see people attached to their views, when they are holding on to them tenaciously, and when they relinquish them with difficulty. Next, notice when you do these things yourself. Try looking at things from different points of view, if only to train your own mind to become more agile and avoid getting locked in to particular perspectives. Notice how many things can be seen from many different points of view.

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

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Via Daily Dharma: Accepting Pain

Accepting Pain

Whether the pain is physical or emotional, we long for a release. In our attempt to get away from it, we limit our capacity to feel it, thinking that will protect us. Instead, it limits our capacity to feel at all.

Sebene Selassie, “Belonging in the Body”


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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation \\ Words of Wisdom - August 16, 2023 💌

 

"Every religion is the product of the conceptual mind attempting to describe the mystery."

- Ram Dass -

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Compassion

 


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RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Compassion
Whatever you intend, whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will become the basis upon 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)

The far enemy of compassion is cruelty. (Vm 9.99)
Reflection
In a moment of compassion, cruelty is impossible, and when cruelty is present there is no room for compassion. As opposite emotions, these two always compete for a spot in the mind. Whichever is raised into conscious awareness from its unconscious latency will have the greatest impact on the mind stream that follows. When we are able to cultivate compassion over cruelty, we can train our minds toward healthy and happy states.

Daily Practice
Put aside some time each day to think of the suffering of others, perhaps just before or just after meditating, and allow yourself to feel compassion in your heart rather than pity or despair. Also, any time you catch yourself feeling mean-spirited or hurtful, immediately take note of that and see if you can replace the incipient cruelty with its antidote, authentic compassion. In these ways you guide your mind in a noble direction.

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

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#DhammaWheel

Questions?
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Via FB // RISSHO ANKOKU-RON (Tratado Sobre A Propagação Da Paz Em Todo O País Através Do Estabelecimento Do Verdadeiro Dharma) Parte 6

 

 
RISSHO ANKOKU-RON (Tratado Sobre A Propagação Da Paz Em Todo O País Através Do Estabelecimento Do Verdadeiro Dharma) Parte 6
"Você deve mudar sua fé e adotar a única boa ação do verdadeiro Mahayana, imediatamente."
O ponto principal das ideias do Ankoku-ron é tornar o país pacífico estabelecendo o verdadeiro Dharma. O conteúdo do verdadeiro Dharma é sobre religião e moralidade. Com relação à religião, o Budismo é o padrão para Nichiren Shonin e, para ele, o Budismo é a religião que ensina a harmonização e a unificação. Portanto, ele critica as fés de exclusão. Então, ele começou a apontar suas críticas para as ideias de "Nembutsu exclusivo" pregadas pelo Rev. Honen primeiro. O "Nembutsu Exclusivo" insiste que você nunca deve orar para outros Budas e divindades se você acredita no Buda Amida. “Descartar, fechar, selar, abandonar”, essas quatro palavras são usadas no Senjaku-nembutsu-shu (選択本願念仏集) de Honen. Ele diz que você deve abandonar o caminho do Bodhisattva e outras práticas difíceis e adotar a única fé. Em seguida, ele insiste gradualmente que você deve agradecer apenas ao Buda Amida. Esse é o caminho mais fácil, qualquer um pode fazê-lo, afirma ele. A afirmação de Nichiren é totalmente oposta a essa instrução. Não há nada inútil. Ele diz que é necessário abraçar todas as coisas e colocá-las em ordem, e que você deve adotar a fé unificada. Ele chama isso de "A única boa ação do verdadeiro Mahayana". Portanto, vários Budas, deidades e Bodhisattvas estão reunidos no Mandala Gohonzon. Ou seja, é a diferença entre henoteísmo(forma de religião em que se cultua uma única divindade, considerada suprema, mas sem negar a existência de outros deuses) e religião unida.
A escola da Terra Pura diz que o Nembutsu é adequado para pessoas comuns porque salva até mesmo uma pessoa perversa e uma pessoa estúpida. Nembutsu é o caminho fácil, e o Sutra do Lótus é o caminho difícil que é inútil para nós. Essa é uma ideia basicamente errada do ponto de vista religioso e moral. Se você quiser comprar algo, pode procurar algo que seja mais barato. No entanto, esse não é o caminho de uma religião. O espírito dos seres humanos tem possibilidades ilimitadas. Embora haja disparidade de riqueza e diferença de classe na realidade, não há discriminação entre ricos e pobres nem diferença entre os de alto nível intelectual e os de baixo nível, no que diz respeito ao espírito. E, para descobrir o valor ilimitado do espírito, existem religiões e moralidades. Diz-se que "a luz de uma vela de um homem pobre é superior à luz de dez mil velas de um homem rico". Como não há distinção entre os seres humanos em relação à religião, uma doação sincera de uma pessoa que não é rica tem muita mais virtude do que uma grande doação de um homem rico que se exibe. No mundo materialista, embora um homem pobre não seja páreo para um homem rico, e uma pessoa de baixa posição possa ser subjugada por uma pessoa de alta posição, você não precisa hesitar em nada quando se trata de crenças religiosas. Mesmo que esteja com um acadêmico distinto ou uma pessoa fabulosamente rica, sua sinceridade não precisa andar atrás dele. A religião deve lhe dar essa coragem.

Por Reverendo Sinyou Tsuchiya
 

Via FB


 

Via Daily Dharma: Be Kind to Yourself

Be Kind to Yourself

The way you treat yourself is one of the few things you control in life. There’s no reason to be anything but kind to yourself, in both your speech and your actions.

Toni Bernhard, “Self-Care in an Uncertain World”


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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Compassion

 


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RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Compassion
Whatever you intend, whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will become the basis upon 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)

The far enemy of compassion is cruelty. (Vm 9.99)
Reflection
In a moment of compassion, cruelty is impossible, and when cruelty is present there is no room for compassion. As opposite emotions, these two always compete for a spot in the mind. Whichever is raised into conscious awareness from its unconscious latency will have the greatest impact on the mind stream that follows. When we are able to cultivate compassion over cruelty, we can train our minds toward healthy and happy states.

Daily Practice
Put aside some time each day to think of the suffering of others, perhaps just before or just after meditating, and allow yourself to feel compassion in your heart rather than pity or despair. Also, any time you catch yourself feeling mean-spirited or hurtful, immediately take note of that and see if you can replace the incipient cruelty with its antidote, authentic compassion. In these ways you guide your mind in a noble direction.

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

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

Monday, August 14, 2023

Via FB // Matsuoka Roshi’s version of the Heart Sutra

 




Via Daily Dharma: Right Here and Now

 

Right Here and Now

The truth is, everything we could possibly need for joy, ease, wisdom, and compassion is right here and now, in the ordinary messiness of our lives. At some point, we finally realize this and learn to let go of the struggles and the wishes for some other life, and, with a sense of wonder and courage, trust-fall into our actual lives with a deep sense of radical acceptance.

Mark Van Buren, “Thanks for Everything. I Have No Complaints Whatsoever.”


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