80. That which is called thought, mind or consciousness arises and disappears continuously both day and night. Just as a monkey swinging through the trees grabs one branch, letting it go only to grab another, so too that which is called thought, mind or consciousness arises and disappears continuously both day and night.
Samyutta Nikaya II.93
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Yesterday while talking to a Dhamma friend at the Dana for Ven. Thanissaro I realized something about my practice: unless I work on getting the mind to fix and settle down on a single point the rest of it is pointless.
So, in pursuit of that aim I make the aditthana to stay with one object die the first 30 minutes of every session, doggedly pursuing it until I achieve singleness of preoccupation or the bell sounds.
Posted in Aditthana, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Formal Meditation | Tags: concentration, determination, patience, single pointed
76. These four states conduce to the growth of wisdom; these four states are of great help to one who has become human. What four? Association with a good person, hearing the good Dhamma, wise attention, and behaving in accordance with Dhamma.
Anguttara Nikaya II.245
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Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: association with the wise, kalyanamittas
Sitting in meditation this morning I was overcome by the disorderly state of the mind. Worries and machinations, anger and resentment and a general serve of dead and negativity overwhelmed the mind. Mostly, the things I kept returning to are so beyond my control that it makes no sense to hurt myself over them. Presidential elections. Oil spills. Overpopulation. What can I do about them?
As a test I will try to be as mindful as possible of the negativity as it arouses today and simply watch it size and cease where possible. When is to hard I will use the strategies recommended in the Vitakka Santana sutta to deal with them and so try to keep the mind healthy and strong by feeding it a better diet.
This weekend I had the opportunity to co-host a Dhamma talk and meditation session with Ven. Suddhāso and I hope it will be the first of many. I am so fortunate to be in the position note where I am regularly meeting with bhikkhus to hear them teach and spend time with them. But, today’s post really isn’t about that at all. Rather it has to do with a question I posed to the venerable concerning my own practice.
I asked specifically about buddho practice and he shared his interpretation of the techniques as one which brings about clarity by means of frustrating the discursive mind. As such he reminded me of a fact that I have already known but was sweeping under the rug: there is nothing special about the word buddho. It holds no magical power being what we imbue it with and I practiced with it enough to know that, as much as I would wish it otherwise, it does not have the same affective oomph as some other words. So, I have made the choice to switch to the word “peace” and, although it will eventually be worn down to the point of meaninglessness, for now it produces an instant sense of warmth and wellbeing. Wish me luck and I’ll let you know how it goes.
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Formal Meditation, Meditation Word, Theravada | Tags: parikamma, Peace, suddhaso
There’s little else that gives me so much joy as sharing the Dhamma with my kids. My five year old is too young to get very fast beyond akusala and kusala kamma but that’s more than enough to start with. My son, however, has always been interested in the deeper workings of the Dhamma and has always enjoyed learning about the jatakas and the background stories for the Dhammapada verses. It really is a joy to see him piecing together his understanding of the world and I am heartened that he had the Dhamma as a guide to do so.
Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Parenting, Theravada | Tags: buddhadhamma, children, Kids, religion
68. Wherever these five are found, whether in a king or a farmer, a general, a village headman, a guild master, or leaders of the clan, growth may be expected and not decline.
What five?
Take the case of a clansman who with wealth acquired by work and effort, gathered by strength of arm and sweat of brow, justly obtained by lawful means honours, reveres, venerates and respects his parents. They in turn regard him fondly with thoughts of love, and say: “Long life to you and may you be protected.”
Thus for one who regards his parents fondly, growth may be expected and not decline. The same is also true for his wife and children, servants and workfolk; the same obtains for those who work his fields, and his tenants, and also for the gods; the same applies to recluses and Brahmins. When he regards them fondly, they will say: “Long life to you and may you be protected.”
Anguttara Nikaya III.76
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This morning in the mad rush to get out of the house my wife was again in the position of micromanaging all of us to ensure that the morning proceeded as planned. Obviously, trying to keep such a tight lid on everything is stressful and one can’t always keep their cool.
So, as she was trying to get my lackadaisical eight year old to do what was necessary friction resulted and he started to mimic her in a show of defiance. At some point she said some things that seemed pretty hyperbolic so I smirked and she then turned to me, placing the blame on me for my son’s disrespectful behavior. In short, because I don’t take thinks as seriously she thinks I’m teaching him to make fun of her.
Now I’m not going to offer a defense, I’m just going to take what she says as the truth of the situation that needs to be acknowledged and worked with. It is absolutely clear that I want my son to respect his mother and even if I don’t necessarily believe my behavior is solely to blame for his actions I do believe that changing the way I relate to get during times of duress could help heal the rift and demonstrate to him that his mother’s today is no laughing matter.
Relationships are tough and despite the fact that it doesn’t always feel good or fair I need to find a way to teach my son respect and restore my wife’s confidence in my intentions. Failing that, I need to feel that I tried my best.
Despite the fact that things are lining up well to support my practice I am paying through a period where much of the formal training through walking and sitting meditation is only happening due to will power. In fact, it feels like an act of will just to write this. And, yet, I know that this too shall pass.
This morning I knew it would be best to spend some time cultivating metta bhavana and was relieved that I could feel the upswelling of warmth as I wished myself well. I think a lot of snafus happening has to do with bodily fatigue and a strong craving to experience states of concentration. Where there is craving, that’s is clinging and so on through becoming into birth and suffering. Knowing this may I cultivate equanimity and ever move forward along the path.
65. Once, the Lord dwelt among the Sakyas in the Park of the Banyan Tree at Kapilavatthu, and while there, Mahanama the Sakyan came to him and asked: “How, Lord, does one become a lay disciple?”
“When one has taken refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, then one is a lay disciple.”
“How, Lord, is a disciple virtuous?”
“When a lay disciple abstains from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and drinking intoxicants, then he is virtuous.”
“How, Lord, does one help oneself but not others?”
“When one has achieved faith, virtue and renunciation, when one longs to see the monks, to hear the good Dhamma, to be mindful of the Dhamma once heard, when one reflects on it, knows it in both the letter and the spirit and walks in conformity with it, but one does not strive to establish such things in others, then one helps oneself but not others.”
“Then how, Lord, does one help oneself and others also?”
“When one has oneself achieved faith, virtue, and renunciation and strives to establish such things in others, when one longs to see the monks, to learn the good Dhamma, to be mindful of the Dhamma once heard, when one reflects upon its meaning, knows it in both the letter and spirit and walks in conformity with it and strives to establish such things in others, then one helps both oneself and others also.”
Anguttara Nikaya IV.219
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Cattāri Brahmavihārā 