Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 10/22/2015

The Sickness of Suffering

295. Possessed of five qualities, a sick man is of much help to himself. What five? He knows what medicine is good for him, he knows the right measure in his treatment, he takes the medicine, he describes his illness to the one who nurses him out of kindness, saying: “In going, it goes like this; in coming, it comes like this; while there, it is like this,” and he is one who endures the various pains of the sickness.

Anguttara Nikaya III.143

Shared via Buddha Vacana for Android
http://www.buddhavacana.net

Leave a Comment

Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Theravada | Tags: Medicine, sickness, suffering

Posted by: Michael | 10/21/2015

Subjects for Contemplation

For some time, I have played with dedicating the different periods of meditation I do Theodore the course of the day to different subjects. In the morning I typically begin with 10 to 15 minutes of breath and then spend 30 to 45 minutes on the brahmaviharas. In the afternoon I generally stick with the breath and in the evening death contemplation.

Yesterday, I was struck by the idea to extend these contemplations and making them the focus of each third of my day. My idea is as follows:

From waking until 11am I will return the mind to the theme of the brahmaviharas whenever it is unfocused.

From 11am until 5pm I will keep the breath in mind.

From 5pm until I sleep I will turn the mind towards the recollection of death and the other four subjects for frequent recollection.

I have some concerns about forming the mind top a potentially darker reflection when my energy is low but this is typically the time that I obsess most about work and gain and nothing is better to dispel that than reflecting on the ultimate futility of samsaric gain. Also, what better way to shake off sloth and torpor than by contemplating the fact that we don’t have much time to lose.

For me, such a division of the day helps to clarify the matter of what I should be doing in the moment and does away with the confusion which normally overcomes me while the mind is unfocused.

Sukhitaa hontu!

Leave a Comment

Posted in Anicca, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Maranassati, Theravada | Tags: brahmaviharas, breath, death contemplation, Five Subjects for Frequent Recollection

Posted by: Michael | 10/20/2015

Putting Prose to Good Use

For most of my adolescence and adulthood I have been attracted to narratives which claim to be nonfiction. In fact, even though I have a master’s degree in Italian literature I never felt quite at home with the fiction of D’annunzio or the great romances of Manzoni and others. To me, art for art’s sake had always seemed worse than meaningless. And so, for a long time, I have been averse to anything that was even vaguely reminiscent of poetry.

But, throughout the years, I have discovered every now and then, intimations of the poetic in the suttas, parittas and certain phrases used as parikamma in meditation. Such was the case this morning when I was working with different metta phrases and adjusting them to see which elicited the best response in the moment. And it sends to me that it is here that true poetry lies and where it may have a use: the denotation of the phrases never changed but their arrangement and subterranean connections changed how they were felt with each breath. It seems to me then that when we work with directed thought and evaluation we are always already enmeshed in the complex web of kamma we have created from the infinite past.

May I learn to see faults first in my own understanding before imagining them to exist in the world. May all beings be free from suffering.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Dhamma | Tags: conditionality, kamma, poetry, prose

Posted by: Michael | 10/19/2015

A Respite

First, thank you to all of my kalyanamitta who sent me words of encouragement: it helped me more than you know. Secondly, I figured it was only right to report on the flow as much as the ebb. True to my intentions, and limited understanding of the Dhamma, by maintaining my resolve I have been able to see moments of stillness and peace again in my formal meditation that, at my worst points, I somehow believed were gone for good.

Simply returning to the most basic of breath counting and metta-karuna bhavana recitation has proven very effective in dealing with a scattered and weakened mind so I am thankful for the teachings and exhortations that have always encouraged me to sit no matter what.

May all beings be free from suffering and may they never lose faith in awakening.

4 Comments

Posted in Aditthana, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Karuna, Metta, Theravada | Tags: awakening, faith, respite, suffering

Posted by: Michael | 10/18/2015

Burdened work Duties

I’ll make this short: I seem to be going through a period where my energy is ebbing and I am having a touch time simply checking of the various duties in my ropes add father, husband, kalyanamitta and business person. Naturally, this decrease in energy sends to result almost immediately in a mild depression which is only exacerbated by the stress of having over committed oneself. But, by not struggling too hard not giving way I how to ensure and cultivate goodness until the circumstances change.

2 Comments

Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Theravada | Tags: suffering

Posted by: Michael | 10/15/2015

A Lesson in Anger

Today we got off to a rough and late start. My wife woke up in a bad mood and took issue with everything i did. The kids didn’t listen and we left the house almost a full fifteen minutes later than usual. Then the busses were too crowded to get on so we decided to take a train which was then delayed.

Somehow, i didn’t completely lose my head.

But, as we stepped off the train to go to their school we noticed that a young woman was fighting with a much older lady as they struggled for control of the older one’s grocery cart. As they were right in our path i released my kids’ hands and stepped in to break them up. No, not the smartest thing to do but it seemed like i had no other choice.

In the end both ladies attempted to quickly plead their case to me (i must have said something to the effect of “Stop! What are you two doing!?”) but by that time it didn’t matter as i had quickly turned back to grab my kids.

There are lots of things to ponder about this but what struck me most was the fact that i could have just as easily been one of those women. How easily can we slip into anger and, without even intending to, end up in a similar situation. Simply recalling my most recent run in with the restaurnteure is enough to make me shudder. What would have happened if a male colleague had gotten in my face? Would someone else have broken it up or would we have ended up in jail?

The defilements are truly dangerous things and today’s lesson is one i hope not to squander note forget anytime soon. May we all love in peace and free of animosity!

Leave a Comment

Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Metta, Theravada | Tags: anger, defilements, fighting, kilesas

Posted by: Michael | 10/14/2015

The Enlightened Person

287. The enlightened person serves as a guide to the blind, showing them the right path. He gives the deaf signals by hand gestures, and in that way benefits them with good. He does the same with the dumb. To cripples he gives a chair vehicle or other means of conveyance.
He strives to develop faith in the faithless, zeal in the lazy, mindfulness in the confused, concentration in those whose minds wander, and wisdom in the dull. He strives to dispel sense desire, ill-will, sloth and laziness, restlessness and worry, and doubt in those obsessed by these hindrances.
He strives to dispel thoughts of sensuality, ill-will and violence in those oppressed by such thoughts. Out of gratitude to those who have helped him, he helps and respects them with the same or greater benefits in return; his speech is friendly and his words are endearing.

Cariyapitaka Atthakata 304

Shared via Buddha Vacana for Android
http://www.buddhavacana.net

Leave a Comment

Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: arahant, enlightened person

Posted by: Michael | 10/13/2015

Missteps

One misstep and you find yourself falling helplessly into the abyss of samsara. This past weekend reintroduced me to the plurality of samsaric experience: i discovered a good, Dhamma friend had died, hosted a monk and sponsored his teachings all the while my mother was visiting. You would think i would remain extra heedful under such conditions but i slipped (no precepts were broken in case you were wondering) and am now paying for it.

How to escape the depths of purgatory ? Metta and karuna of course. Sukhi attanam pariharami.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Karuna, Metta, Theravada | Tags: compassion, forgiveness, patience

Posted by: Michael | 10/12/2015

Death of a Friend

I found out a few days a go that one of my Dhamma friends was killed crossing the road by a drunk driver on Friday night. It is a reminder of just how quickly it can all be over. Fortunately, he was a virtuous and extremely generous person so I am confident that his rebirth will be a good one. Please dedicate the merit of your practice to my friend Ken if you have a chance. Sabbbe satta sukhitaa hontu!

1 Comment

Posted in Dhamma | Tags: anicca, Buddhism, death, Dhamma

Posted by: Michael | 10/11/2015