Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Intoxication

 

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RIGHT LIVING Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Intoxication Intoxication is unhealthy. Refraining from intoxication is healthy. (MN 9) What are the imperfections that defile the mind? Negligence is an imperfection that defiles the mind. Knowing that negligence is an imperfection that defiles the mind, a person abandons it. (MN 7) One practices thus: "Others may become negligent by intoxication, but I will abstain from the negligence of intoxication." (MN 8) One of the dangers attached to addiction to intoxicants is waste of money. (DN 31)

Reflection Like the other ethical guidelines, the one for sobriety is couched in language that can be interpreted narrowly or broadly. It mentions abstaining from fermented and distilled drinks but warns specifically against the state of negligence that comes from their consumption. It is thus implied that we can also consider a number of other substances and behaviors that lead to intoxication or dull the senses and induce negligence. Can you think of any?   Daily Practice When the texts specifically warn us off intoxication, they focus on the adverse effects of drinking and similar pursuits. Here we find the simple and straightforward truth that addictive habits waste money. Consuming alcohol and other addictive substances is not couched as a moral failing but as an unskillful way to live. Take an inventory of what you regularly spend money on and reflect on whether these are healthy or unhealthy habits. Tomorrow: Maintaining Arisen Healthy States One week from today: Abstaining from Harming Living Beings Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via Daily Dharma: The Responsibility of Lovingkindness

 

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The Responsibility of Lovingkindness When we think of lovingkindness or love as an ability, it's inside of us. It's ours. Other people certainly may ignite it or inspire it or threaten it, but ultimately it is ours. It also means that if it's our ability, it's also our responsibility. Sharon Salzberg, “Real Life” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Social Action

TRICYCLE      COURSE CATALOG      SUPPORT      DONATE RIGHT ACTION Reflecting Upon Social 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 social action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61) One reflects thus: "A person who acts in hurtful ways is displeasing and disagreeable to me. If I were to act in hurtful ways, I  would be displeasing and disagreeable to others. Therefore, I will undertake a commitment to not act in hurtful ways." (MN 15) Reflection The classical teachings list three modes of action—body, speech, and mind—not four. Social action is not a category in the ancient texts, but it is an important aspect of our modern world, and the Buddha had plenty to say about how to act among others. The same principles apply: reflect carefully on how you interact with others and learn to behave in ways that are healthy and bring about healthy relationships. Daily Practice One of the best things we can learn from others is how not to act. Whenever we see something in others that is disagreeable to us, we can take the opportunity to refrain from acting the same way ourselves. Instead of blaming others or feeling insulted by them or putting our energy into rebuking them or trying to change them, none of which is useful or likely to be successful, let’s learn instead what not to do ourselves. Tomorrow: Abstaining from Intoxication One week from today: Reflecting upon Bodily 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. Donate » © 2023 Tricycle Foundation 89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003

Via Daily Dharma: Meditation’s Insights on Identity

 

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Meditation’s Insights on Identity  When we meditate, we develop a creative awareness that enables us to see that we are a flow of inner conditions meeting outer conditions. We begin to discover the fallacy in reducing our identity to any one of the conditions that form us. Martine Batchelor, “The Woman in the Photograph”  CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Via Gay Wisdom for Daily Living //

 

Yule Santa with Antlers 2021 - WINTER SOLSTICE - In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice, sometimes known as Yule, occurs on or very close to this date. In the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the first official day of Winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs around this time. YULE is a winter festival celebrated in Northern Europe since ancient times. In pre-Christian times, Germanic pagans celebrated Yule from late December to early January on a date determined by a lunar calendar. During the process of Christianization and the adoption of the Julian calendar, Yule was placed on December 25, in order to correspond with the Christian celebrations later known in English as Christmas. Thus, the terms "Yule" and "Christmas" are often used interchangeably, especially in Christmas carols. In Denmark, Norway and Sweden the term jul is the common way to refer to the celebration, including among Christians. In these countries the highlight of the yule celebrations is the Yule Eve or Christmas Eve on December 24, which is when children get their Yule or Christmas presents by a character resembling Father Christmas called julemanden (Denmark), julenissen (Norway), or jultomten (Sweden). In Finland, it is called joulu, in Estonia jõulud, and in Iceland and the Faroe Islands jól. Yule is an important festival for Germanic neopagans, Wiccans and various secular groups who observe the holiday at the winter solstice (December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere, June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere). As with other holidays at this time of the year, it is about the shortness of the day and the long dark night, and it is celebrated, traditionally, with the burning of a log all night to keep the light or carry the light over the divide of the old year to the new. The burning of the Yule log, the decorating of Christmas trees, particularly with lights, the eating of ham, the hanging of boughs, holly, mistletoe, etc. are all historically practices associated with Yule. When the Christianization of the Germanic peoples began, missionaries found it convenient to provide a Christian reinterpretation of popular pagan holidays such as Yule and allow the celebrations themselves to go on largely unchanged, versus trying to confront and suppress them. The Scandinavian tradition of slaughtering a pig at Christmas (see Christmas ham) is probably salient evidence of this. The tradition is thought to be derived from the sacrifice of boars to the god Freyr at the Yule celebrations. Halloween and aspects of Easter celebrations are likewise assimilated from northern European pagan festivals.

|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|

White Crane Institute //

 Noteworthy

Arthur Wynn's First Crossword Puzzle

1913 -

ARTHUR WYNNE’S "word-cross", the first crossword puzzle, is published in the New York World. (A High Holy Holiday for this writer).

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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 Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Frivolous Speech

 

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RIGHT SPEECH Refraining from Frivolous Speech Frivolous speech is unhealthy. Refraining from frivolous speech is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning frivolous speech, one refrains from frivolous speech. One speaks at the right time, speaks only what is fact, and speaks about what is good. One speaks what is worthy of being overheard, words that are reasonable, moderate, and beneficial. (DN 1) One practices thus: "Others may speak frivolously, but I shall abstain from frivolous speech." (MN 8) When a person commits an offense of some kind, one should not hurry to reprove them but rather should consider whether or not to speak. If you will not be troubled, the other person will not be hurt, and you can help them emerge from what is unhealthy and establish them in what is healthy, then it is proper to speak. (MN 103)

Reflection The fourth category of right speech is refraining from frivolous speech. This is not meant to stifle us entirely or to reduce human expression to essential facts and nothing more; rather, it is an invitation to pay more careful attention to what we say. It is healthy to speak what is true, to speak about what is good, and to be moderate in our speech, even if other people are not. What can you say that is helpful? Daily Practice Has it ever occurred to you that some people speak just for the sake of speaking, or say anything and everything that comes to mind, or go on indefinitely repeating the same stories? See if you can notice yourself doing this from time to time. Practice being aware enough of your own speech patterns to notice whether you are always saying something useful or necessary or valuable. Sometimes it is better to stay silent. Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Social Action One week from today: Refraining from False Speech Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via Daily Dharma: Applying Compassion

 

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Applying Compassion Lovingkindness, goodwill, and compassion naturally arise from our meditation practice, but feeling compassion is not the end of the path. The next step is love in action.  Devin Berry, “Love in Action”  CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation \\ Words of Wisdom - December 20, 2023 💌

Every teacher, every life experience, everything you notice in the universe, is but a reflection of your attachment. It's the way it works. If there is nothing you want, there is nothing that clings, and you go through life free. Collecting nothing. You collect a sight, you collect a record, you collect a computer, you collect a relationship, you collect a teacher, you collect a method, just more clinging. Use them all. Be with them. Enjoy them. Live fully in life. But don't cling. Flow through it. Be with it. And as you are quiet and you listen and hear how it all is, then you will relate to all of it in a harmonious way, in a way in which there is not exploitation. Harmonious in the way you relate to the floor you're sitting on, to the person next to you, to the night air, to the world you have to live in.   - Ram Dass -

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