Walking down 14th St to Union Square I slowly became aware of the torrent of thoughts that was battering down whatever sense of freshness and light the new Spring morning was offering up. I realized that, in a very real and important way, my task as a hunter of happiness was simple: guard and control the mind so it dwells only on what it useful and wholesome. Of course following through in the course of one’s day is never quite as simple or seemingly effortless as a momentary realization (which, itself, is the result of much effort and practice) but these moments of clarity do help light the way. So, may we dwell upon only those resolves and perceptions which brighten the mind and guard ourselves from the three poisons. May we be heedful, steadfast and resolute in our thought, speech and deed.
A Purpose in Mind
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Parenting, Practice at Work, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: heedfulness, mindful, sati sampajanna, skillfulness
Buddha Vacana ~ Approaching the Awakened One
98. Even if one should seize the hem of my robe and walk step by step behind me, if he is covetous in his desires, fierce in his longings, malevolent of heart, with corrupt mind, careless and unrestrained, noisy and distracted and with senses uncontrolled, he is far from me.
And why? He does not see the Dhamma, and not seeing the Dhamma, he does not see me.
Even if one lives a hundred miles away, if he is not covetous in his desires, not fierce in his longings, with a kind heart and pure mind, mindful, composed, calmed, one-pointed and with senses restrained, then indeed, he is near to me and I am near to him.
And why? He sees the Dhamma, and seeing the Dhamma, sees me.
Through physically close behind,
If one is acquisitive and restless,
How far is that turbulent one from one at peace,
That burning one from one cooled,
That hankering one from one content!
But thoroughly understanding the Dhamma,
And freed from longing through insight,
The wise one, rid of all desire,
Is calm as a pool unstirred by the wind.
How close is that peaceful one to one at peace,
That cool one to one cooled,
That content one to one content!
Itivuttaka 91
Practicing with One’s Children
Maybe it s a sign of spiritual maturity or maybe it’s just because of the circumstances of my life but I find myself viewing Dhamma practice less and less as a solitary pursuit and more as an way to live my life as a father, husband and employer as skillfully as possible. Granted, I said “viewing” the practice as such because I haven’t quite yet cobbled together just how that might be accomplished in practice.
Case in point: today finds me at home with my son who seems to have succumbed to the same stomach bug that had my three year old daughter up all night Saturday puking her guts out. Luckily (if one can say that) he has only had some diarrhea and cramping but it is uncomfortable for him nonetheless. So, what does practice look like here? What is an uposatha day with a sick kid look like? So far it has been about trying to stay with the breath as much as possible while discharging my other fatherly and work duties. We shall see what today brings but I wanted to wish you all a happy uposatha all the same. Sukhi hotu!
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Alchemy of the Heart
This morning as my wife, children and thoughts raged around me and threatened to tempt me into acting or speaking in anger I found myself formulating this question: “how can I trransform the dross of anger, spite and resentment into the pure ore of compassion, of metta?” I must admit that no insight or answer was forthcoming but I was able to restrain my speech and hand from harm. And, maybe it is in the furnace of patient endurance that the heart softens and its impurities melt away. Or maybe not. Regardless of the truth of the matter it seems to me that patient forebearance is absolutely essential if I am to make any progress on the path as well it should be if we hearken to the words of the Lord Buddha who called it the highest virtue and austerity.
May we all grow in the Dhamma and melt our hearts in the flames of patient endurance.
Compassion and the Breath
Although I have been primarily focusing on the breath as my main practice I have lately been reminded of the importance of purposefully cultivating compassion as well although i , to be honest, I can’t really pinpoint what it was that triggered the memory. Regardless of how it came about, I find myself facing a familiar conundrum: how to squeeze in enough time to focus on more than one subject of meditation. Having only recently been able to gain some traction I am afraid that I will overburden myself by taking on too much. And yet, I simply don’t feel I can afford to leave compassion out of my practice for fear of how I will end up behaving towards myself and all those around me.
It seems therefore that the real issue lies more in the way I relate to the practice and the expectations I put on myself than anything else. May I gow in my knowledge of Right Effort and practice ardently and yet with a heart sensitive and tender to all dukkha whether it be mine or that of another.
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Formal Meditation, Karuna, Theravada | Tags: compassion, Dukkha, formal practice, karuna, practice
Buddha Vacana ~ The Luminous Mind
91. The mind is luminous, but it is stained by defilements that come from without. Ordinary folk do not realize this, so they do not cultivate the mind. The mind is luminous, but it can be cleansed of defilements that come from without. This the noble disciples understand, so they do cultivate the mind.
Anguttara Nikaya I.10
I have often puzzled over these verses and have been unsure of how to understand them in light of the teaching of anatta.
I could attempt to fashion an understanding solely on the strength of my own reasoning but this kind of question seems best fit to be brought to one’s teachers and peers and to be allowed to resonate in one’s mind until wisdom begins to arise.
Meeting with Aversion
It is a Monday and I have been at work all day. It is admittedly quite late but I was surprised to receive a call (in the end two calls) from my wife during which she was shrieking almost unintelligibly at me telling me to come home and asking why I hadn’t earlier. Now, I have had several reactions to this and I continue to cycle through them but my first reaction was shock and dismay. I realized that whatever was afoot was bad news and there would be no easing into the evening at home.
The next thought that rose up was indignation; why should I be subjected to this abuse? I began to fume but almost immediately was struck by the sheer comedy of her shrill screeching. And, finally, I arrived at what I know is the most appropriate response of all: compassion and empathy.
Surely she must be having a hard time of it for her to call me and literally plead for help. So, be things as they may and despite my own aversion to the situation, I will try to meet tonight with as much compassion and equanimity as possible.
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Dukkha, Karuna, Parenting, Practice at Work, Theravada | Tags: aversion, compassion, Dukkha, marriage
Buddha Vacana ~ Like Writing on Water
89. There are three types of people in the world. What three? One who is like carving on a rock, one who is like scratching on the ground, and one who is like writing on the water.
What sort of person is like carving on a rock? Imagine a certain person who is always getting angry and his anger lasts long, just as carving on a rock is not soon worn off by wind, water or lapse of time.
What sort of person is like scratching on the ground? Imagine a certain person who is always getting angry but his anger does not last long, just as scratching on the ground is soon worn off by the wind, water and lapse of time. And what sort of person is like writing on the water? Imagine a certain person who, even though spoken to harshly, sharply, roughly, is easily reconciled and becomes agreeable and friendly, just as writing on the water soon disappears.
Anguttara Nikaya I.283
May we all be as writing on the surface of water!
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Forgiveness, Karuna, Parenting, Practice at Work, Theravada | Tags: anger, Buddhism, suffering
Fear and Practice
I have been on edge for months but am slowly coming back to my senses. I say slowly because even now I feel the tumor of fear and anxiety in my chest that now and again grows to constrict my whole body with its steel-strong tendrils. I never realized just how dangerous fear could be but have begun to understand it is much moore than just a harmless idiosyncracy or a secret and guarded weakness. Be all that as it may, each day I try a little harder, remembering to be kind to myself when I can and reminding myself why I practice in the first place: to be free of this fear and suffering.
May we all learn what it means to look after our true welfare.
Buddha Vacana ~ Strive
86. Whatever has had to be done by a teacher out of compassion, for the welfare of his disciples, I have done for you. Here are the roots of the trees, here are the empty places. Meditate, do not be slothful, do not be remorseful later. These are my instructions to you.
Majjhima Nikaya I.46
Funny how I am able to ignore such poignant and simple advice. Why is it that I find it so hard to work for my own welfare? When I am able to pausse for even a moment and feel what comes up I get the sense that perhpas I just don’t care enough for myself to do what is entailed. May I take the exhortations of the Lord as an invitation to make a way towards Nibbana.
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