Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 12/17/2014

Inner Metta

After listening to a talk by one of the monks at Abhayagiri on the way he practices metta I can’t away with two things that I have been experimenting with in my own practice: the idea of not getting to send out metta and the realization that metta doesn’t have to feel good to be effective.

At first glance these two ideas may seem contradictory because when you bring the object of your metta in to your heart it feels as if you’re actually concentrating and strengthening the metta and, thereby, experiencing more warmth and peace. But, since we only work on the causes and are advised to let the effects look after themselves it is only an apparent contradiction.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Metta | Tags: living-kindness, meditation

Posted by: Michael | 12/15/2014

Uposatha Aftermath

Yesterday’s observance was well worth the effort and I am keen to begin following it regularly one again. Perhaps the one thing that I find myself to be working on more than any other is the fair of Right Effort.

You see, I have a habit of pushing too hard and rationalizing it as being skillful means when, in fact, it just seems to push me towards burning out. So yesterday, when I began to feel overwhelmed I took stock and handled myself with care. What this amounted to in practice was either cultivating a pleasant breath and relaxing around the tension or simply reflecting on self-compassion rather than pushing through as obstinately as a bull.

At the end of the day, having respected my limits while following the update precepts, I felt lighter and more content than I have for some time. May I remember this lesson well and act wisely for my own true welfare.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Uposatha | Tags: metta, self-compassion

Posted by: Michael | 12/14/2014

Happy Uposatha | Rebirth

It’s the uposatha again and it will be the first in a long while that I am observing. In many ways, I really feel like I have been born anew to the practice and my life. I feel a renewed zeal and energy coursing through me and the desire to commit myself to Dhamma study and bhavana has returned where it had ebbed away for the past few months. Observing this and the constant arising and passing away of phenomena not only gives me faith in the teachings of the Lord Buddha and his disciples but serves as the best possible reminder that time is short and that the appropriate conditions for effective practice can fall apart at any time.

Accenti Sutta (Samyutta Nikaya I.04)

The Bhagava was staying at Savatthi.. .The deva stood at a suitable place and spoke thus in verse in the presence of the Bhagava:

“Time passes by days and nights pass by swiftly. The stages of life progressively pass by. He who sees these (three) dangers of death should perform meritorious deeds that bring happiness.”

The Bhagava said:

“Time passes by days and nights pass by swiftly. The stages of life progressively pass by. He who sees these (three) dangers of death and wishes for the peace (of Nibbana) should forsake the worldly objects of Craving (i.e., the three states of existence).

May we heed the words of both the devata and the Lord and practice rightly so as not to have wasted this precious human life. Sukhita hontu!

Leave a Comment

Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: Agriculture, Dharma, Gautama Buddha, Haridwar, India, Indo-Asian News Service, Kathmandu, LOrd Buddha, Lumbini, Mahabodhi Temple, Maya Devi Temple, Narendra Modi

Posted by: Michael | 12/14/2014

Study and Meditation

I hope you all find this post as useful as I did. Check out this kalyana-mitta’s blog if you have time as well.

Vajra Vehicle

Buddha Maitreya
“Meditation would be useless if reality could be perceived through mere study; and the teaching would be useless if one could practice meditation without having studied.”

[From the Mahayanasutralamkara as taught by Buddha Maitreya ]

View original post

Leave a Comment

Posted in Dhamma

Posted by: Michael | 12/13/2014

The Little Things

Feeling inspired once more to deepen my practice so the first thing I did this morning after waking up was head to my altar and recite the refuges and precepts. No, it’s not a huge thing and it doesn’t take more than tn minutes but it certainly changed the tone and direction of my entire day.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: little thigs, wake up ritual

Posted by: Michael | 12/12/2014

Semipermeable Membrane of Self

I have been working with a few themes lately but mainly the following three: loving-kindness, acceptance and forgiveness. What is funny about this is that, as I work with them, I begin to see how the line between self and other becomes blurred. How the feeling of forgiveness can just sort of spill over and out of oneself into everything one sees and feels. But it’s not just forgiveness that finds its way through, its just about everything else as well. The more I practice the more I see this but that doesn’t mean (unfortunately) that it gets any easier.

As some of you may I know, I have decided to focus my practice on my family first as that is where I most often get into trouble. It’s really here that my contemplations on forgiveness have been most needed and effective. Not a day goes by where I don’t feel the need to seek forgiveness for something I’ve done and to forgive my wife and kids for this or that perceived failure. And you would think that wisdom would suffice by now to see through the anger, the irritation but it doesn’t quite yet. At best I am becoming quicker to forgive and to beg pardon. So until I start to develop some sense may I learn to forgive everything, accept anything and love everyone better.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Anatta, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Forgiveness, Metta, Parenting, Theravada | Tags: acceptance, forgivness, love, not-self, semipermeable membrane

Posted by: Michael | 12/11/2014

Two Things

201. I have learned two things: not to be content with good states one has already developed, and not to give up trying. Without giving up, I keep trying and think: “Gladly would I have my skin, bones and sinews wither and my flesh and blood dry up, if only I can struggle until I win that which can be won by human effort.” It was by earnest endeavour that I won enlightenment and the highest freedom from bonds.

Anguttara Nikaya I.49

Leave a Comment

Posted in Dhamma | Tags: Anguttara Nikaya, buddha vacana, effort

Posted by: Michael | 12/09/2014

Sending and Taking

Seems that I have one more circled back to the practice of tonglen after reading a few chapters of a book by Thrangu Rinpoche which explain the practice in terms even an inveterate Theravadin can understand. In short, the practice of taking on another’s sufferings and giving them all the goodness in your life had no impact in terms of kamma. You can no more give away your merit than you can take away their pain. But, and this is key, your heart does not know that. Setting this clearly for the first time I am inspired to add tonglen back the the repertoire of heart practices I work with regularly. Sabbe satta sukhita hontu.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Karuna, Metta, Theravada | Tags: compassion, heart, Tonglen