22. Whoever follows the Dhamma
Should take no drink or encourage others to drink,
Knowing that intoxication is the result.
Because of intoxication,
The fool commits evil deeds
And makes others negligent too.
So, avoid this root of wrong,
This folly loved only by fools.
Sutta Nipata 398-399
Posted in Buddha, Dhamma, Sila, Theravada | Tags: alcohol, drinking, fifth precept, folly, intoxicant
21. If a fool was sitting in an assembly hall, in the main street or at the crossroads and people were to talk about him, and if he were one who broke the five precepts, he would think: “These people are talking about me because I have done these things.” This is the first kind of anguish and dejection that the fool experiences here and now.
Again, a fool might see the king arrest a thief or wrongdoer and punish him. And upon seeing this, the fool would think: “The king is punishing this wrongdoer. Now, I have done these things also, so if the king were to know about me, he might punish me also.” This is the second kind of anguish and dejection that the fool experiences here and now.
And again, while the fool is sitting in a chair, or lying on a bed or on the ground, those evil deeds that he has formerly done with body, speech or mind come to rest on him, lie on him, settle on him, just as when at evening, the shadows of the great mountain peaks come to rest, lie and settle on the ground. At such times, the fool thinks: ” Oh indeed, what is lovely has not been done by me, what is skillful has not been done, I have made no refuge against the fearful. There is a place for those who have done no good, only evil, and to there I will go.” And so he grieves, mourns, laments, beats his breast, cries and falls into disillusionment. This is the third kind of anguish and dejection that the fool experiences here and now.
Majjhima Nikaya III.163
Posted in Buddha | Tags: buddha vacana, majjhima nikaya
I feel like my uninspected, working definition of equanimity is a passive state that is the result of spiritual practice rather than an attitude one can take towards the vicissitudes of life. And though I’m sure that the perfection of equanimity is something that comes about as a result of serious practice, I wonder how much this understanding serves me is it remains the only way I relate to upekkha. In other words, of equanimity is always something beyond and can never be felt or cultivated now then it is a concept which is about as useful as an inflamed appendix; good for nothing until it decides to date up and kill you.
Obviously I must have something wrong here. Equanimity is listed as the biggest of the ten paramis and everywhere in the sites we are urged to cultivate dispassion so it seems that we can and should incline the mind towards equanimity. What does that look like in my life? Simply becoming aware of an impulse to cling to an outcome whether through fear or longing and to employ skillful perceptions that help me to see through the craving. It means forcefully restraint myself. It means being mindful and vigilant.
Posted in Buddha, Dhamma, Upekkha, Uposatha | Tags: equanimity, right effort
As I have been experimenting with the practice of tonglen, I have found that there is one particular approach that resonates with me. Rather than attempting to take on someone else’s suffering in some kind of masochistic practice aimed at purifying my own kamma (and this itself is likely a complete misunderstanding of the practice) I have found it much more effective as a way to gain more empathy and understanding of whoever I am practicing with. In short, I don’t try to visualize there suffering in the traditional manner of a black, only substance which I such out of them on the in breath and return as white light on the exhalation. As beautiful as this practice is it simply leaves me cold. Instead I have been using it to contemplate the way a particular person might be experiencing dukkha on the inhalation and send them goodwill and kindness on the out.
I am sure there are those who would say I’m not really practicing tonglen and I might have to agree with them but that’s quite besides the point. Any practice or provisional view that helps to cultivate the brahmaviharas and friends my connections with my brothers and sisters in birth, sickness, adding and death is a practice I intend to develop, labels be damned.
Posted in Karuna, Metta, Tibetan Buddhism | Tags: giving and taking, sending and receiving, Tonglen
18. One who is wise and disciplined,
Kindly always and intelligent,
Humble and free from pride –
One like this will win respect.
Rising early and scorning laziness,
Remaining calm in time of strife,
Faultless in conduct and clever in actions –
One like this will win respect.
Being able to make friends and keep them,
Welcoming others and sharing with them,
A guide, philosopher and friend –
One like this will win respect.
Being generous and kindly in speech,
Doing a good turn for others
And treating all alike –
One like this will win respect.
Digha Nikaya III.
Posted in Buddha, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: buddha vacana, digha nikaya, respect
17. There are these four kinds of happiness to be won by a householder who enjoys sense pleasures from time to time and when occasion offers. What four? The happiness of ownership, the happiness of wealth, the happiness of freedom from debt and the happiness of blamelessness.
And what is the happiness of ownership? Concerning this, a householder has wealth acquired by energetic striving, won by strength of arm and sweat of brow, justly and lawfully won. When he thinks of this he feels happiness and satisfaction.
And what is the happiness of wealth? Concerning this, a householder has wealth justly and lawfully won, and with it he does many good deeds. When he thinks of this he feels happiness and satisfaction.
And what is the happiness of freedom from debt? Concerning this, a householder owes no debt large or small to anyone, and when he thinks of this he feels happiness and satisfaction.
And what is the happiness of blamelessness? Concerning this, the noble disciple is blessed with blameless action of body, speech and mind, and when he thinks of this he feels happiness and satisfaction.
Anguttara Nikaya II.68
I have volunteered to be a manager for the Thursday night class at DNYMC and I also get the benefit of the teachings as well as the gift of being able to serve. The theme for the class is “Making the Path” and we have been concerned with clarifying just how the Lord Buddha envisioned the goal (at least in the Pali canon) and how we see our practice in relation to it.
At one point in the class the teacher asked us what kind of experiences we have had that have given us a taste of what release might be like, what the happiness of Nibbana might feel like. He gave the oft quoted example of the young Siddattha spontaneously entering jhana when in his garden and other examples of happy occurrences which alluded to the happiness of release from him past. I replied that I really couldn’t think of any except for once on retreat. Like a good teacher he took me to task and, though I won’t bore you with more details, suffice it to say that he helped to correct my perception.
In short, these intimations of Nibbana that we all have are not necessarily moments of ecstasy and trumpeting seraphim but can be pretty ordinary despite their import. As an example of one of these petite analogs of liberation he gave the example of the feeling one gets when offering a gift, doing service or otherwise being compassionate. This struck a chord with me as a flood of memories of those times when I have been generous, loving and otherwise altruistic rushed through me and made me realize that, yes, I know this feeling of release.
Granted, these moments of happiness brought about by selfless acts are still conditioned but they are good for the heart and offer tantalizing insight into the possibility of release. May all beings taste the happiness of compassion, love and generosity!
Posted in Dhamma, Karuna, Theravada | Tags: compassion, love. service, Nibbana
16. Greed is to be slightly blamed but it is slow to change. Hatred is to be greatly blamed but it is quick to change. Delusion is to be greatly blamed and it is slow to change.
Anguttara Nikaya I.199
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Theravada | Tags: defilements, kilesas, three poisons
14. Mahali said to the Lord : “Sir, what is reason, what is the cause of doing, of committing an evil deed?
“Greed, hatred, delusion, not paying proper attention and wrongly directed thoughts-these are the reasons, these are the causes of doing, of committing an evil deed.”
“Then what, Sir, is the reason, what is the cause of doing, of committing a beautiful deed?”
“Generosity, love, wisdom, paying attention and rightly directed thought-these are the reasons, these are the causes of doing, committing a beautiful deed.”
Anguttara Nikaya V.87
The last two days my wife had been away assisting a woman in labor as a doula so I have been responsible for all of the child care. Unfortunately, I don’t feel that I have kept my cool and have resorted to a lot of voice raising and threats of various forms of punishment. Suffice it to say that I can and must do better but that really isn’t the point of today’s post.
What I wanted to post about today is a ritual I would like to start in my home in order to assuage the pain we cause each other simply by living together. In short, every night before we go to bed I would like for each of us to ask and give forgiveness of one another for the harm we have done by speech or deed. I know that the Bhikkhu/ni Sangha has a formal forgiveness ceremony they use when parting company and I have been inspired by this but also by the feeling that I want to make amends, if only in words, for hurting those I love.
Posted in Forgiveness | Tags: making amends, requesting forgiveness
13. If beings knew as I know the results of sharing gifts, they would not enjoy their use without sharing them with others, nor would the taint of stinginess obsess the heart and stay there. Even if it were their last and final bit of food, they would not enjoy its use without sharing it, if there were anyone to receive it.
Itivuttaka 18
Posted in Dana, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: generosity, sharing gifts
Improving Lives through Generosity
A hub for the music, culture, knowledge, and practice of Irish stick-fighting, past and present.
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 