Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 02/14/2017

Perfection of Generosity at Home

For some time I have help the view that my practice means nothing if it doesn’t bring visible results at home. Although I still have much work to do, it seems that a low hanging fruit of the home life is unstinting generosity.

Nowhere else is the opportunity to serve so obvious or frequent. Not more than five minutes passes while I’m at home that my wife or kids doesn’t ask for something. And, as much as I hate to admit it, I often meet these requests with resentment and annoyance.

So, seeing how short life IS add knowing that most of mine is spent with my family or at work I make the aditthana to give whatever is asked for (as long as out causes no harm) with a heart warmed by a reflection on the benefits of generosity.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dana, Dhamma, Parami, Theravada | Tags: Family Life, generosity, marriage, perfection

Posted by: Michael | 02/13/2017

Recollection of Death for the Planet

I read a report last night that asserts that we may only have nine more years until human life becomes unsustainable on this planet. Unfortunately, this is the second such report I’ve read and has to do with the rapidly heating oceans and phytoplankton’s inability to survive the rising temperatures. And without them, we have no oxygen.

So, in shock and fear on the one hand but tempered with the realization that death will come regardless. No, I don’t want to see my children and loved one’s dying before me but what choice do I have if that’s my kamma? Every day who knows how many children die of sickness or starvation in front their parents. Why am I different?

Ten years seems to be the outer limit for our continued existence on the planet and I intend to make the most of it by training the heart as well as I can.

May I let go of all ideas of gain and loss.

May I be undeterred by praise and blame.

May I regard all beings with sympathy and affection.

May I train to be ready to meet death with a clear, still mind.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: apocalypse, Armageddon, death, phytoplankton

Posted by: Michael | 02/12/2017

Be Like a Flower

Be like a flower that gives its fragrance even to the hand that crushed it.

~Imam Ali (AS)

Today, seemingly out of the blue, my wife got angry with something I said and brought out the well-worn threat of divorce.

At this point it had lost some of its immediate impact but it would be a horrible thing to endure, not least for my kids. But, this is samsara after all. If she chooses to take that path then I intend to support her until the kids are grown and strike out on their own or until she find someone else. If, of course, a divorce actually comes to be.

As the world falls apart around me, I find myself ever more concerned with the purity of my own conduct and intentions. I chose this lay life and ask of its attendant suffering si why make it worse by running away from my responsibilities and creating more akusala kamma?

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Islam, Theravada | Tags: divorce, marriage, sacrifice

Posted by: Michael | 02/10/2017

Forgiveness Practice

Every night now,a party of my evening practice, I have been dedicating tinge to reflecting on the harm I have caused in the course of the day. Using a mall of either 36 or 108 beads I dip one round each for harm I have caused by body, speech and mind respectively. I try to recall particular instances and then ask for forgiveness from the party harmed.

You might think that doing this is simply depressing and would cause me to dwell in negativity but the opposite has been the case. In fact, I find myself being more mindful throughout the day so I can catch my slip-ups and recall them later so I can ask forgiveness of them. Word? Maybe so but it is helping to bring more heedfulness into my life so it is only a good thing.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Forgiveness, Theravada | Tags: harm, heedfulness, mindfulness, sati

Posted by: Michael | 02/09/2017

Pleasant Speech

Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.

Speak only endearing speech, speech that is welcomed.

Speech when it brings no evil to others is pleasant. Truth, indeed, is deathless speech: This is an ancient principle.

The goal and the Dhamma — so say the calm — are firmly established on truth.

The speech the Awakened One speaks, for attaining Unbinding, rest, for making an end to the mass of stress: That is the speech unexcelled.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Dhamma | Tags: Pleasant SPeech, right speech, Subhasita Sutta

Posted by: Michael | 02/08/2017

Brother’s Keeper

How to meet the anger and apparent ignorance of my compatriots who seem so willing to sacrifice the well-being of “others” in exchange for an imagined safety. I read their comments. I see the invective dripping from every sentence and I wonder if these erstwhile Christians have never thought about the duties of love and charity placed upon them by their teacher.

I am beginning to see that convincing and persuading the cult-like followers of the 45th president is a futile and dangerous pursuit: all it had done is engender aversion in my own heart. Better to leave then alone and carry on with life, supporting those that I feel have the interests of the many in mind.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: cult, politics, trump

Posted by: Michael | 02/07/2017

Confession

Last night a bicycle delivery man ran a red light and almost ran over my son. I’m disappointed to report that I screamed at him, shouting “You’re supposed to stop at a red light!”

Maybe a pecadillo in the eyes of most but it revealed to me just how much work has yet to be done.

May I be forgiven for speaking in anger and may I be indulgent and forgiving of all beings I meet.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Confession of Fault, Dhamma, Parenting, Theravada | Tags: anger, children, confess, shouting

Posted by: Michael | 02/06/2017

Confronting the Defilements

There’s a verse from the Eight Verses for Transforming the Mind that covers the aspiration to strongly confront destructive mind states due to the harm they will cause both oneself and others. This morning, one of my employees with whom we have been having problems called out again for the second day in a row at the last minute. My first reaction was anger. I was tempted to just move on and allow it to fester there but perhaps prompted by the Eight Verses I took an alternate approach ave have decided to meet out head on and cultivate the antidote.

How must this person be feeling to put their own job on the line? How angry, hurry and resentful must they be? And, alternatively, what if they ready are suddenly ill? What horrible kamma must be ripening for them now to get ill after having disrespected their employers the last day before they called out.

I have decided to work with this aversion and ill will towards my employee until it is no longer a burning ember in my heart. Let’s see how it works out.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Forgiveness, Metta, Theravada | Tags: anger, employees, ill-will, resentment

Posted by: Michael | 02/05/2017

Futuwwah

Futuwwa Initiative

Futuwwah means opposing and arguing little, being fair; preventing errors in oneself and not criticizing the errors in others; lowering one’s ego; being pleasant both to the old and the young, doing good deeds, giving good advice, and accepting advice; loving one’s friends, and bearing peacefully with one’s enemies. These are the visible aspects of the path that are sufficient for us to know until we are able to hear and tell about the truths of futuwwah.⁽⁴⁾

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Posted in Dhamma, Islam, Sila | Tags: adab, compassion, courage, Futuwwa, Mercy, sufism

Posted by: Michael | 02/03/2017

Metta for the Despot

My idea of what engaged Buddhism might mean for me has gone through a rather quick, if not involuntary, evolution in the last few months. I see now that my view of engaged Buddhism was more a product of my own privilege than anything else. When all else is taken care and one has the freedom to pursue the Dhamma as one sees fit, then there is no reason to make a concerted effort trying to effect change in the outer world. Of course, what is unbearable for one may be of little consequence to another so I can’t speak about shoulds and oughts of an imagined engage Buddhism.

For me, it is coming to mean a practice that cultivates the heart, opens to all beings with a special interest in those who would do me and mine harm. It is about bearing witness and protecting the vulnerable without could’ve but with my body if necessary. Engaged Buddhism is truly an affair of the heart ave it’s ever a work in progress.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: enemy, engaged Buddhism