Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Via Daily Dharma: The Gift of Awakening

 

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The Gift of Awakening

Each time we sit down, we honor and affirm our own gift of awakening, our own inherent ability to wake up.

Laura Burges, “Living from the Inside Out”


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The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu on the Joy of Laughter
By Douglas Abrams
The so-called mischievous brothers share how humor can break down social barriers and connect any two people.
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Tuesday, January 30, 2024

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 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) 

The function of compassion is not bearing the suffering of others. (Vm 9.94)
Reflection
Compassion is an emotion to be felt, a "trembling of the heart in the presence of suffering." Its opposite emotion, cruelty, can come in strong or very subtle forms and involves the mind being unmoved in the face of suffering. Allowing yourself to be moved by compassion (as opposed to merely bearing or tolerating it) has a gradually transformative effect, softening the hardness of the mind and heart and allowing the habit of compassion to develop.
Daily Practice
Open yourself to the suffering of others. There is no shortage of opportunity for doing this in our world. But instead of noticing a tragic event or an injustice and then moving on to something else, allow your attention to linger on the suffering for a while. Open your mind and body to the unpleasantness of attending to suffering. It is okay to feel the pain of suffering without immediately trying to fix it. We learn and grow from this.
Tomorrow: Refraining from Malicious Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Appreciative Joy

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Questions?
 Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.
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Via Daily Dharma: The Inheritance of Impermanence

 

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The Inheritance of Impermanence

Our only inheritance is impermanence and the truth that conditions will rise and fall. 

Jessica Angima, “Doubt Is My Best Friend”


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No Mud, No Lotus
Interview with Michael Imperioli by James Shaheen
Actor Michael Imperioli discusses his Buddhist practice and whether he believes that liberation is possible in this lifetime.
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Dhamma Wheel
365 Days of Practice to Your Inbox
Commit to a year of contemplative study with Tricycle’s first-ever daily email course, created by Buddhist scholar Andrew Olendzki.

Powerful Tibetan Great Compassion Mantra In Sankrit 108 Times | Mantra O...

Via White Crane Institute \\ Coretta Scott King

 

Coretta Scott King
2006 -

Coretta Scott King died in Rosarito Beach, Mexico on this day. The great civil-rights activist and tireless supporter of Gay Rights succumbed to complications from a stroke and ovarian cancer. In arguing against a constitutional amendment banning Gay marriage King said, "Gay and Lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriage."

In 2003, she invited the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to take part in observances of the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. It was the first time that an LGBT rights group had been invited to a major event of the African American community. King said her husband supported the quest for equality by LGBT people and reminded her critics that the 1963 March on Washington was organized by Bayard Rustin, an openly Gay civil rights activist.



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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 DharmaShop. \\ Om Mani Padme Hung the mantra of compassion

 



The Mantra of Compassion

Om Mani Padme Hung is an ancient mantra that has been practiced for thousands of years. It is widely believed to contain the essence of the entire Buddhist teachings within its six syllables. Known as the "Mantra of Compassion," it represents the path to enlightenment and the altruistic intention to achieve it for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Breaking Down the Six Syllables

Each syllable of the mantra carries a unique vibration and meaning, together creating a powerful energy that purifies the mind and the environment. Let's take a closer look at each syllable:

  1. Om: Om is the sacred sound of the universe, embodying the essence of existence. It represents the three aspects of the Buddha - body, speech, and mind, and the three jewels of Buddhism - Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

  2. Mani: Meaning "jewel," Mani represents the altruistic intention of a bodhisattva to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.

  3. Padme: Translating to "lotus," Padme symbolizes wisdom and purity. Just as a lotus flower grows in muddy water, yet remains untainted, we too can rise above the mud of ignorance and attachment to attain enlightenment.

  4. Hung: The final syllable, Hung, signifies the indivisibility of method and wisdom, and the unity of emptiness and compassion.

The Transformative Power of Om Mani Padme Hung

Reciting Om Mani Padme Hung is a powerful practice that can purify negative karma, develop compassion, and accumulate merit. It is said that the mantra's vibrations can purify the mind of the six realms of existence, bringing us closer to enlightenment.

When reciting the mantra, focus on cultivating a compassionate heart, dedicating the merits of the practice to the welfare of all sentient beings. It is believed that reciting the mantra with genuine compassion and loving-kindness can bring immeasurable benefits to oneself and others.

Incorporating the Mantra into Daily Life

Om Mani Padme Hung can be practiced in various ways, such as:

  • Reciting the mantra verbally or mentally during meditation
  • Spinning prayer wheels inscribed with the mantra
  • Hanging prayer flags or displaying artwork containing the mantra
  • Wearing jewelry or accessories featuring the mantra

No matter how you choose to incorporate Om Mani Padme Hung into your daily life, remember to maintain a compassionate intention and dedicate the merits to the benefit of all beings.

In Conclusion

Om Mani Padme Hung is a profound and transformative mantra that encompasses the essence of the Buddhist teachings. By practicing the mantra with a compassionate heart and the altruistic intention to benefit others, we can purify our minds, accumulate merit, and progress on the path to enlightenment.

If you'd like to bring the powerful energy of Om Mani Padme Hung into your life, we invite you to explore our collection of mantra-inscribed jewelry, prayer wheels, and other sacred items at Dharmashop. May your journey be filled with love, compassion, and wisdom.

Until next time, may all beings be happy, may all beings be safe

Great Compassion Mantra (with words)

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Monday, January 29, 2024

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Via The Tricycle Community \\ Meditation Month

 

Where to Find Joy and How to Cultivate It
By Christina Feldman and Jaya Rudgard
Joy is not dependent upon having ideal or perfect conditions in our lives. Rather, joyfulness is a quality that is inwardly born and generated, possible in all moments.
Read more »
 Opening the Heart of Great Compassion: The Path of Shin Buddhism
By Mark Unno
Watch this Dharma Talk by fourteenth-generation Shin Buddhist priest Mark Unno about the concept of compassion in Shin Buddhism.
Watch now »

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

 

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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)

When one does not know and understand odors as they actually are, then one is attached to odors. When one is attached, one becomes infatuated, and one’s craving increases. One’s bodily and mental troubles increase, and one experiences bodily and mental suffering. (MN 149)
Reflection
The classical teaching of the noble truths is described in this text by cycling through all six sense spheres one by one, pointing to how suffering arises and ceases in countless individual experiences. Suffering is not a broad concept, but an intimate and fleeting experience. Every time you are experiencing something and craving it in some way, you are creating a micro-event of suffering. Today we are considering suffering in relation to the sense of smell.
Daily Practice
Smell is perhaps the least used of all the senses, but it is not to be overlooked as a field for practice. Are you capable of smelling odors without at the same time saying to yourself on some level: “This one is good"; "This one is bad"; "I want more of this one"; "I want this one to go away"? This is the invitation to practice. See if you can experience odors simply as what they are and not in relation to your desire for or against.
Tomorrow: Cultivating Compassion
One week from today: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering

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.
© 2024 Tricycle Foundation
89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003