Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 11/28/2016

Taking a Moment

In more ways than obe I have never needed to take a moment to quietly survey my mind and heart than now. As much as I am driven to write about and think about the horrors being perpetrated against my country, the world, its ecosystems and its people I really do know that any hope of change begins here.

That’s why this morning after I changed my refuges, precepts and aspirations I decided to take a minute or two to ask what was happening in the heart. Which defilement was dominating the mind? Quickly, I had decided that if it were delusion I would spend the time in anapanasati, if it were hatred then I would cultivate the brahmaviharas and if greed then I would do asubha meditations. In this way I felt I really wss preparing the mind as well add I could for the day ahead. This morning it happened that delusion (which manifested as a kind of neural, apathy in the mind) was the dominant defilement so I chose anapanasati. Toward the end I ran through some body contemplation as he’d had begun to bubble up.

It may be an imperfect solution but when guerrilla practice is called for then I can think of nothing better for it.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Formal Meditation, Theravada | Tags: guerrilla Dhamma practice, nonviolence, satyagraha

Posted by: Michael | 11/27/2016

Success

“Truly successful is the one who purifies [their self]” (Qur’an, 87.14)

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Posted in Buddhism, Dhamma, Islam | Tags: Quran, success

Posted by: Michael | 11/26/2016

The end of the world

Maybe it’s just me but it really seems like things are coming to a rapid end. Sea ice in the arctic is continuing to melt despite it being winter. Trump is president. Corporations and the government are running roughshod over the rights of water protectors at Standing Rock while the last hospital in Aleppo was just bombed. Time will tell but the desperation and pain of the world is almost too much to bear. Sabbe satta sabba dukkha pamuccantu.

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Posted in Dhamma

Posted by: Michael | 11/25/2016

Dhammapada Verse 130

Sabbe tasanti dandassa

sabbesam jivitam piyam

attanam upamam katva

na haneyya na ghataye.

Verse 130: All are afraid of the stick, all hold their lives dear. Putting oneself in another’s place, one should not beat or kill others.

The Story of a Group of Six Bhikkhus
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (130) of this book, with reference to a group of six bhikkhus.
After coming to blows the first time, the same two groups of bhikkhus quarrelled again over the same building. As the rule prohibiting beating others had already been laid down, the group of six threatened the other group with upraised hands. The group of seventeen, who were junior to the chabbaggis, cried out in fright. The Buddha hearing about this laid down the disciplinary rule forbidding the raising of hands in threat.
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 130: All are afraid of the stick, all hold their lives dear. Putting oneself in another’s place, one should not beat or kill others.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: Dhammapada, nonviolence, satyagraha

Posted by: Michael | 11/22/2016

Passive Resistance

[P]assive resistance is… obtained by self-suffering, self-purification. Violence ever fails.

Passive resistance is always moral; never cruel. And any activity which fails in this test … is undoubtedly not passive resistance.

I’m continually impressed by Gandhi’s writings and an finding much solace there. Yes, as a Hindu his aims and understandings about liberation may differ but it is the self same commitment to living life by the rule of universal love and sympathy.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma | Tags: Gandhi, India, Resistance, satyagraha, universal love

Posted by: Michael | 11/21/2016

Activism

I keep returning to the idea, the long-cultivated assumption, that out it’s one thing to be a follower of the Lord Buddha and something else entirely to advocate for and defend the rights of people being targeted for hatred and oppression. And although I still hold the view that this should largely be the case for monastics, the idea is falling flat on its face in light of our new, fascist America.

Clearly, I consume a largely vegan diet, try to limit my conspicuous consumption and support any number of environmental and conservation initiatives. So, why is it any worse to use my gains and free time as a lay person to champion the causes of the downtrodden? It really seems to me that the real concern is to keep my mind and hearty on an even keel. Sympathetic to all. The hater and the hatred. The oppressor and the oppressed. And, luckily, the Dhamma gives us the tools to do so.

May all beings be free from suffering!

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Karuna, Metta, Mudita, Theravada, Upekkha | Tags: Activism, conservation, environmentalism, vegan

Posted by: Michael | 11/20/2016

The Election of Hate

I ran across an insightful and well-written article that I wanted to share. It’s a good reminder of what my friend, the Venerable Dhammadipa wrote to me yesterday, and represents a path forward. Here is an excerpt and the link to the whole article below:

We’ve got to stop acting out hate. I see no less of it in the liberal media than I do in the right-wing. It is just better disguised, hiding beneath pseudo-psychological epithets and dehumanizing ideological labels. Exercising it, we create more of it. What is beneath the hate? My acupuncturist Sarah Fields wrote to me, “Hate is just a bodyguard for grief. When people lose the hate, they are forced to deal with the pain beneath.”

http://charleseisenstein.net/hategriefandanewstory/

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: Dhammadipa, ELection, hatred, Misogyny, Racism, trump

Posted by: Michael | 11/19/2016

Non-Violent Communication

Image result for nonviolent communication

So much of this moment is about communicating our fears, hopes, wants and hoping to get through to the other side. I know I’ve been guilty of failing to communicate effectively, so much so that my business partner (who voted for Trump) refuses to discuss politics with me at all anymore. And, that’s a truly sad loss because once the lines of communication are broken there is no hope of coming to understand one another.

I ran into a post today about NVC or non-violent communication and wanted to share it with you both as a way to practice Right Speech and as a means of activism through conversation. I hope we can all put these strategies to use to help everyone see that we’re all human and all want the same things: to be happy, safe, protected and loved.

http://qz.com/838321/nonviolent-communication-the-scientifically-proven-step-by-step-guide-to-having-a-breakthrough-conversation-across-party-lines/

May all beings live in peace and safety!

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Sammā Vācā, Theravada | Tags: Activism, Nonviolent Communication, Resistance, right speech, trump

Posted by: Michael | 11/18/2016

Satyagraha

I’ve decided to start reading up on Gandhi’s nonviolent movement by reading a collection of his essays and letters. I have always eschewed political activism and I now believe that was largely due to my privilege (yep, I said it). Really, when your like it’s comfortable and undisturbed by prejudice, oppression and hate things like safety and freedom of expression seem superfluous. Sadly, my generation is now finding out they’re not.

Gandhi represents the polar opposite of the fascists who have taken control of our government. Principled, honest, self-abnegating. The power of his virtue is what lead the Indian people to greatness. I hope that, through studying him and others like him, I can make for myself a path towards liberation that confronts oppression with compassion and a courageous heart.

This morning, I had yet another chance to hone my skills when I saw a young man and woman in a physical altercation. I ran across the street (stupidly) and approached them yelling at him to stop. They separated, she walked ahead with him following herb and both of them ignoring me. I followed behind determined not to allow the fight to start up again. Fortunately for all of us, a cop car was parked on the side of the road and she stopped on front of it and began to make her case. I took that a my cue to leave. I hope I would have reacted with patience and forbearance if I needed to get involved physically so I hope to continue to practice to ensure that I have the best chance to do so if necessary.

Things seem to have soured here and I see more violence and animosity everyday. Let’s hope that it’s just my perception though and that I’m just imagining it.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: domestic violence, nonviolence, satyagraha

Posted by: Michael | 11/17/2016

Practicing with Oppression

Everyone wants happiness. No one wants suffering. This is the view that I need to return to and recall at all times. I tocan’t afford to forget it, especially as things appear to be turning for the worse. The anger at “others” needs to be reframed as anger directed you the eradication of ignorance in oneself. And, although I haven’t been Christian for years, this morning in meditation the verses “forgive them Father for they know not what they do” sprung to mind and echoed there in the darkness.

They know not what they do. Whether out if hate, ignorance or desire, all beings want happiness and not suffering. Forgive me for rambling but I’m feeling frayed at the edges.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Forgiveness, Theravada | Tags: Jesus, trump, verses