The last year has been a series of almost unrelenting lessons about the fragility and unpredictability of conditioned existence and if I ever had any idea that I was somehow more developed or above loss and gain due to my practice it is clear that I was mistaken. Like a rudderless ship I find myself blown about the open water by the Eight Worldly Winds but just knowing that there is a safe port (the Triple Gem) is enough to keep me going.
Posted by: Michael | 06/19/2014
Attached
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Sangha, Theravada, Tisarana | Tags: Dhamma, perserverance, Tisarana, triple gem
Posted by: Michael | 06/19/2014
The Power of Sympathy
169. And what is the power of sympathy? There are these four bases of sympathy: generosity, kind speech, doing a good turn and treating all equally. The best generosity is generosity with the Dhamma. The best kind speech is teaching the Dhamma again and again to a good and attentive listener. The best good turn is inciting, encouraging and establishing the ways of faith in those without faith, the ways of virtue in the unvirtuous, the ways of generosity in the mean, and ways of wisdom in the foolish. The best equal treatment is the equality between Stream-Winner and Stream-Winner, between Once-Returner and Once-Returner, between Non-Returner and Non-Returner, and between Noble One and Noble One. This is called the power of sympathy.
Anguttara Nikaya IV.362
Posted by: Michael | 06/17/2014
Sustaining the View
In certain Tibetan traditions they talk about maintaining a view of all phenomena which (I imagine) is informed by the wisdom of emptiness. Although my understanding of those traditions is indeed limited I think that it wouldn’t be completely incorrect to say that the continuity of my own practice depends heavily on maintaining a certain perspective in the course of the day. Once I forget about any of the five subjects for frequent recollection (aging, sickness, death, separation and our ultimate responsibility for our lives) I quickly drift off into unskillfulness.
There is nothing new about this realization and I have written about it ad nauseam but I am still struck by how quickly and how completely the mind can change. It truly is the ultimate chameleon and it is no wonder that we have been stuck iin samsara from beginingless time as a result of its unruliness. Now, while I have the chance, may I train it. May I use all manner of reminder, of teachings and of supports to help me remember the Dhamma and keep me from losing my way in an eternity of wanderings on.
Posted by: Michael | 06/16/2014
Meeting with Adversity
It seems that I just cannot get any relief from the spoiled fruits of my past kamma and that every time I think a storm has past and we can begin to rebuild another one comes in to swamp me and carry what remained out to sea. You could say that I have a choice at this point but I really don’t: it’s not as if I can just shrivel up and blink away into oblivion. Knowing that there is no escape the best I can do is let the truth of the way things are (not in any ontological or metaphysical sense mind you) sink in and make whatever preparations I can to affront the crisis at hand. No it doesn’t feel good but if I let my mind dwell on the feelings of loss and defeat all I will do is weaken myself.
In the face of adversity the best thing I can do is be grateful for what I have, make much of my gains and skills and press forward unflaggingly.
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Practice at Work, Theravada
Posted by: Michael | 06/16/2014
Four Qualities
166. The Lord said: “Words that have four qualities are well-spoken, not ill-spoken, faultless, not blamed by the wise. What four? Concerning this, one speaks words that are beautiful, not ugly; one speaks words that are right, not wrong; one speaks words that are kind, not cruel; one speaks words that are truthful, not false.”
The virtuous call beautiful speech the foremost,
Secondly comes right speech, not wrong,
Thirdly come kind words, not cruel,
And fourthly comes truthful, not false speech.
Then Venerable Vangisa moved from his seat, put his robe on one shoulder, joined his hands and said: “Something occurs to me, Lord.” Then Venerable Vangisa spoke these words in praise of the Lord:
One should utter only words
Which do no harm for oneself
Or cause harm to others,
That is truly beautiful speech.
Speak kind words,
Words rejoiced at and welcomed,
Words that bear ill-will to none;
Always speak kindly to others.
Truthful speech is of the immortal.
This is an eternal law.
The virtuous stand firm on words
That are truthful, useful and right.
The Buddha speaks words that lead
To the winning of security,
The ending of sorrow, and the attaining of Nirvana.
Truly, this is the speech supreme.
Sutta Nipata 450-454
Posted by: Michael | 06/13/2014
Never Enough
It is as if I just do not learn and, as a result, am constantly shocked when the things of the world don’t go my way. Yes. This is why we practice but it never feels any less shocking to see the myriad ways dukkha manifests. So, once one crisis has been averted and I feel I have learned how to live on the edge of the abyss over which our lives are constantly suspended I forget. And it all seems to begin anew.
Only clear seeing through the eyes of wisdom seems to me to be able to provide a true release from bondage. But, where do they sell those?
Posted by: Michael | 06/12/2014
Happy Uposatha – Dharma Tour Edition
Happy uposatha! I woke up today feeling out of sorts and a little ill but have decided to undertake the observance despite that. Once again (as it alwways seems to be of late) I find myself worrying about business matters but I have the distinct advantage of being able to see around it. No longer does this recurrent source of anxiety block out everything else and I am able to continue the practice not only in spite of the lay life blues but because of them.
But, I digress. Without realizing that I had done so, I made the decision to attend an intro night at the Chogye Zen Center by my house which coincides with the uposatha. Years ago I did a retreat with them and attended their 5:20am meditation, bowing and chanting sessions. I liked the people well enough but was eventually put off by my own ideas of what the Dhamma should be as well as my own misgivings about scandals that had involved their founding teacher decades ago. I won’t get into that here but you may Google the controversy if you like.
Anyway, as part of my plan to expand my views and to become less judgemental I have decided I would like to practice with theKwan Um Sangha and eventually take precepts with them. It seems to me that they have grown as an organization as a result of the missteps of their founder and I appreciate their commitment to group action in the interest of serving others.
Will I be “less Theravada” if I do so? My heart says no but the fear is certainly there but it is just that: fear. In this life at least I will always believe in the primacy of the Pali canon and turn to the bhikkhu sangha as the ultimate arbiters and interpreters of Buddha-vacana but the Dhamma is as varied as those who practice it so I see no reason not to practice with Buddhists of all stripes. And, this is especially true when doing so helps me to overcome unskillful patterns of though and speech I have been unable to dislodge otherwise.
Posted by: Michael | 06/11/2014
Samma Vayamo
In so many ways, this distillation of Right Effort is my crib sheet for the practice. Maybe it’s laziness, maybe it’s a sheer lack of wisdom but I often return to the formula for Samma Vayamo as my yard stick of the practice. I don’t wish to say too much today as I would rather let the words of the Lord Buddha resonate in our hearts. May we find true happiness through the Dhamma.
162. There are these four perfect efforts. What four? Concerning this, one generates desire to prevent the arising of evil unprofitable states that have not yet arisen. One makes an effort, sets going energy, lays hold of and exerts the mind to this end.
One generates desire for the abandoning of evil unprofitable states that have already arisen. One makes an effort, sets going energy, lays hold of and exerts the mind to this end.
One generates desire for the arising of profitable states that have not yet arisen. One makes an effort, sets going energy, lays hold of and exerts the mind to this end.
And one generates desire for the persisting, the non-confusion, the further development, the increase, cultivation and fulfilment of profitable states that have already arisen. One makes an effort, sets going energy, lays hold of and exerts the mind to this end.
Digha Nikaya II.313
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: buddha vacana, right effort, samma vayamo
Posted by: Michael | 06/10/2014
Summer Dharma Tour
Posted by: Michael | 06/09/2014
Nuts and Bolts Practice
This morning as I prepared myself and, later, the kids for the day I noticed that it was steadily raining. I didn’t make too much of it but in the back of my mind the seed of aversion was taking root and by the time I reached my daughter’s school I was not only drenched but completely loathing the rain and being wet. I was surprised by the strength of my reaction to the rain and the sensations but I had just enough presence of mind to avert to the aversion but the kamma was too strong and my practice too weak to fabricate any wholesome response or perception.
So, what’s the point in writing about this apparent failure? Well, simply to point out that this is exactly where my practice should be taking place and, incidentaly, my awareness of the aversion was a success if we are to label it at all. Last night’s Dhamma talk at DNYMC was great as it was about just this type of practice and has prompted me to take a closer look at what I am doing with my mind off the cushion.
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: daily practice, heedfulness
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