The Beautiful Side of Ugly
Posted in Dhamma | Tags: asubha, patikulamanasikara
True Integrity
The longer I practice, the more I find this to her true. Tragedies can occur but nothing has quite the destructive power of a moral failure. Silā and the way of the Noble Ones (which is more inclusive in my mind than the basic precepts) is not solely the dot to the path but is post and parcel of the path itself.
May I always strive to improve my character and observe silā.
The Power of the Atanatiya Sutta
Posted in Dhamma
Do Things You Hate Everyday
Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice. – William James
I keep forgetting to post here because I am busy sharing quotes on other platforms. What ends up happening isn’t all bad but I don’t really get a chance to give my own take. Although the quote above is a paraphrase it is a practice that I intend to take up starting immediately.
For about two weeks things between my wife and I had improved drastically but, sadly and all too predictably, they have now plummeted back into the hell realms. Part of it is her disappointment with me and how she views my contributions to raising the kids and familial duties. She may be right and she may have had enough. I really don’t know anymore but what I do know is that I have no excuse to rest on my laurels and stop striving to be better and do better.
I see that much of my life is involved in arranging circumstances so that I can hide from or avoid things I hate. Things like parking, dealing with people, talking about things. So, in that spirit I will only consider a day to have been w0rthwhile if I have undertaken two things which I am loathe to do.
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Parami, Theravada | Tags: pushing oneself, William James
Nalagiri
Searching this morning for inspiration I found this beautiful image of Lord Buddha befriending the raging elephant Nalagiri with the strength of his mettā. Over the years my appreciation of Lord Buddha only grows. What a beautiful being and how fortunate we are to have known him through his teachings.
The Buddha reached forward with his right hand and laid it on the elephant’s brow. “Ambho, Nalagiri,” he said. “You are safe now, my friend.”
https://www.google.com/amp/s/buddhas-brain.com/2011/02/08/nalagiri/amp/
Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Metta, Theravada | Tags: Devadatta, loving-kindness, Nalagiri
Happy Uposatha – More Maitreya
The Venerable Ajahn Achalo and I have been exchanging images of Ariya Metteyya (Maitreya) as he resides in Tusita as an aide in visualization practices. The above is the latest he sent me. Wishing you all every good blessing!
Namo maitriye!
Mantra of Maitreya Buddha’s promise:
NAMO RATNA TRAYAYA NAMO BHAGAVATE
SHAKYAMUNIYE / TATHAGATAYA / ARHATE SAMYAKSAM
BUDDHAYA / TADYATHA / OM AJITE AJITE APARAJITE /
AJITAÑCHAYA HA RA HA RA MAITRI AVALOKITE KARA KARA
MAHA SAMAYA SIDDHI BHARA BHARA MAHA BODHI MANDA
BIJA SMARA SMARA AHSMA KAM SAMAYA BODHI BODHI
MAHA BODHI SVAHA
Posted in Dhamma | Tags: Maitreya, Metteyya, visualization
Aspiration to be Reborn with Metteyya
May I be reborn in the city of Tusita, the beautiful
dwelling-place of the gods at a time when Lord Metteyya has taken his penultimate birth.
May I listen to the preaching of Lord Metteyya and develop the paramis under him for a long time.
When this Great Being is born in the charming city of Ketumatī as the Buddha, may I be reborn with the three noble root-conditions in a Brahman family.
May I make offerings to that Great Sage of invaluable robes of the finest sort, alms, dwelling-places and medicines in abundance.
May I undertake the life of a bhikkhu in the dispensation and illumine that noble (institution), being the possessor of potency, mindful and well-versed in the Tipiṭaka.
May he predict (of me), “This one will be a Buddha in the future.”
And may I offer gifts to the Buddhas who will come one after the other and (receive sure prediction) from
them too.
May I fare on in repeated births, give food and other things that are desired like a wish-conferring tree.
May I fulfil all the perfections of morality, renunciation, wisdom, and so forth, and having attained the summit of the perfections, become an incomparable Buddha.
May I preach the sweet Doctrine which brings bliss to all beings, liberating the whole world
with its Devas from the bondage of repeated births.
May I guide them to the most excellent, tranquil Nibbāna.
Posted in Bodhisattvayana, Buddha, Buddhism, Pure Land, Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism | Tags: Ariya Ajita, Maitreya, Metteyya, usita
Where’s the Bathroom
I have spent much of the last year focusing on the development of skills that are largely physical in nature. And, although I have learned a lot about myself and don’t regret this journey, I feel that it has been somewhat of a detour. Luckily, with Sifu Mizner’s approach to tai chi I think I have found an art that supports my practice.
May we all find our true refuge in this life.
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada, Tisarana | Tags: Ajahn Chah, refuge, Sifu Milner, tai chi
What Am I Practicing?
For a little over a year I have been practicing Kenpo and Muay Thai and, as I am wont to do, I’ve gotten more and more attached to it. In addition, I have become increasingly attached to the way in which my body has begun to look as a result of the conditioning and exercise routine I have put myself under. And, it was only tonight that I realized that I had developed an unhealthy obsession with it. All of which brings me to my point: what am I practicing anyway?
I have to admit that I have gained a tremendous amount of satisfaction and learned a lot about determination and willpower through this journey but the martial arts of Kenpo and Muay Thai are fundamentally about harming others. In fact, this morning I had a twenty minute consultation on Skype with one of the head instructors of Sifu Adam Mizner’s HME school of taijichuan and it was incredibly valuable for helping me to get to the realization that blossed later in the day.
In short, the martial arts are about killing and harming and, as Paul (the instructor) said, they weren’t made to help their practitioners live longer or better lives. That conversation and the Dhamma desana that I listened to later by Sifu Adam have put me firmly on the path of training in the HME school as my main practice of the arts. Of course, I have made a commitment to follow through with my Kenpo training but I will do so without the added worry of needing to become more forceful and aggressive as to do so seems akusala.
Posted in Dhamma
Imperturbability
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Upekkha | Tags: equanimity, imperturbability, Nyanaponika Thera
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