Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 05/13/2013

Karuna Bhavana and Tonglen

The video above is a nice introduction to the traditionally Tibetan Buddhist practice of tonglen which I have come to see as nothing other than the formal practice of karuna bhavana. Since I first heard of tonglen many years ago I was inspired to experiment with it but for one reason or another would give it up before it became a habit–something which I am now beginning to think was a shame.

I think much of that had to do with my attachment to the idea that, because it is not found in the Pali Canon, it wasn’t an authentic or legitimate practice. If it is not already obvious I am now beginning to rethink that stance and am more and more comfortable with a heteropraxy informed by an orthodox understanding of the Dhamma. In other words, where I see practices in other lineages or traditions that inspire me and seem not to contravene the Teachings I am less and less afraid to experiment with them simply because they are not Buddha vacana.

I will try to flesh out how I am using this practice in the next few posts but it seems to me to be quite an elegant and effective way to cultivate maha-karuna for oneself and all beings. Of course, there are many variations to the practice of tonglen and some immediately appeal to me whereas I have less affinity for others so will concentrate on the former since I don’t intend to do an exhaustive review of them all. Finally, if anyone has links or resources to share with regard to techniques for cultivating any of the brahma viharas I would be grateful for them.

May all beings be free from suffering!

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Posted in Buddhism, Dhamma, Formal Meditation, Karuna, Theravada | Tags: Buddhism, Dharma, Gautama Buddha, Lineages, meditation, religion, Religion and Spirituality, spirituality, Tibetan Buddhism, Tonglen

Posted by: Michael | 05/12/2013

The Greatest Teacher

So, not to put too fine a point on it but last night I was completely overcome by ill-will and aversion to the point that I lash out in word and in thought. I am still btrying to work out exactly what happened despite the half-knowledge that it will be a futile effort but I can certainly say that I failed by the only measure that means anything to me: the Buddhadhamma.

When one considers the Simile of the Saw it brings one’s shortcomings in to greater focus and reminds us of just how far we have to go. Harsh words are one thing but imagine trying to keep a heart full of loving-kindness towards the beings who were literally sawing one’s limbs off. Obviously there’s much work to be done.

So, what have I learned? Beyond the fact that I need to apply myself with ever more effort and vigor I have learned more about my weaknesses. I learned that when I am tired I need to redouble my mindfulness and that I need to try to open my heart especially to those who feel hurt by me. Shutting down only makes a situation worse and does nothing to cultivate the heart.

I offer this as a confession and a resolve to do better by maintaining awareness and trying to keep my heart open. May all beings be happy!

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Posted in Buddhism, Dhamma, Forgiveness, Karuna, Metta, Theravada | Tags: anger, confession, failure, forgiveness, ill-will

Posted by: Michael | 05/11/2013

Dwelling on the Goodness of Others

Yesterday was a furious, headlong dash through the city, to the airport and onto New Orleans for my step-brother’s wedding. For the most part we will be suffounded by swarms of people that we have never met before and my first inclination whenever I meett new people is to immediately judge and categorize them. Add the fact that most of them will be drinking, loud and boisterous and I am certain that my habitual response would be one of aversion and negativity. Being that seeing the goodness of others is the proximate cause of metta, I undertake to dwell only on the goodness of all who I meet today.

May all beings be happy!

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Posted in Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Karuna, Metta, Mudita, Theravada | Tags: karuna, metta, mudita

Posted by: Michael | 05/10/2013

The Practice at Home

I completely lifted the title of today’s post from a Ven. Thanissaro talk i just had the good fortune to find (listen to it here: http://dhammatalks.org/Archive/130414_Practice_at_Home.mp3) and it was just the thing I needed to hear now. I have been feeling pretty sorry for myself and that, combined with the anxiety of flying to a wedding in New Orleans tonight and leabving our kids here with their grandprents, have combined into a low-grade emotional fever of sorts. Nonetheless, even at times like these my saddha (read: faith in the Dhamma) gets me through and reminds me to get back onto the straight and narrow.

The idea, as expounded in the talk, that the household life offers ample opportunity to practicee the paramis and to stretch ourselves is one that has really invigorated my practice and given me renewed hope in the face of challenges. I find that when I allow my mind to reduce the Buddhadhamma to a one-dimensional, meditation-only paradigm I suffer immensely for it as do those around me. By helping myself, I help others but I too often forget that by helping others, I help myself. Thank you to all who read, comment and lurk for your practices, your thoughts and your encouragements.

Bhavatu sabba mangalam!

The Buddha Wasn’t Kidding – Really (fireunbound.wordpress.com)
Whose Kamma Is It, Anyway? A Reflection on a Visit to Skid Row (dharmadialogue.wordpress.com)

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Posted in Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dana, Dhamma, Formal Meditation, Gratitude, Metta, Parenting, Practice at Work, Theravada | Tags: ample opportunity, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dharma, Faith in Buddhism, good fortune, home mp3, household life, kamma, meditation, New Orleans, paramis, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Theravada

Posted by: Michael | 05/09/2013

Forever Starting Over

I am beginning to notice that I have a tendency to over extend myself and suffer eventual failures when I am simply unable to bear the burden. Whether big or small all set-backs in the realm of the will all seem to share one characteristic in common: they can only be overcome with kindness, compassion and forgiveness. This is especially true when the it is uncompromising hardness that landed one in the situation to begin with. So, dispensing with all of the conceptual stuff that I get so easily hung up on my task for today will be to soften and forgive myself so that I may begin again.

May we remember that we practice to put an end to suffering and that the Dhamma is about letting go and not building up.

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Posted in Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Forgiveness, Karuna, Metta, Theravada | Tags: compassion, failure, forgiveness, kindness

Posted by: Michael | 05/08/2013

Nivarana Meditation

Last night was the penultimate class in a series on breath meditation I have been taking with my teacher and it gave me much to ponder and to experiment with. For whatever reason, after the period of guided meditation (during which I was repeatedly overcome by sleep) most of the questions and observations that were shared had to do with the hindrance of dullness. In many respects the discussion resembled many I have heard before but, for some reason, the idea that we could try and be aware of the quality of the sleepiness struck me in a way it hadn’t before and it almost seemed to me that I should take the inevitable arising of the hindrances as a challenge and a spur to practice.

So it was that the idea quickly formed and coagulated in my mind that I should make a point of meditating in situations that would actually increase the likelihood of the hindrances to arise so I could learn to deal with them and, in the case of sleepiness, actually increase my time spent on the cushion each day.

By the end of the class I was fully charged and ready to give it a go but wanted to run my idea by my teacher first and, when I did so, I got an answer that is consistent with his style. In essence he, quite rightfully, noted that there are hindrances enough so why go looking for them? He said he would rather I spend time trying to cultivate good concentration and, if I wanted to meditate during such times perhaps walking meditation would be a better choice. All very good and sensible advice which I very well may follow but I am nothing if not stubborn and I just don’t see any harm in my idea. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if my teacher wins out in the end.

So, a brief run-down of my pig-headed plan is this: every night from 10 to 10:35 I will practice anapanasati with an understanding that I will most likely be working with thina-middha. Last night was my first attemtp and it went well although, after waking up at 4:15am I am a little tired and had to do the last 45 minutes of my morning anapanasati walking. Still, how better to practice with sloth and torpor and cultivate viriya parami?

May all beings awaken from the sleep of ignorance!

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Posted in Aditthana, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Formal Meditation, Theravada | Tags: Anapanasati, hindrance, meditation, nivarana, sleepiness, sloth and torpor, thina-middha

Posted by: Michael | 05/07/2013

Viriya Parami

My focus on service and dana parami in the last sevral weeks has, to my surprise, required me to take a much closer look at the other ten paramis and viriya parami in particular. For those who may not be familair the paramis are a late addition to the Theravada and/or Pali Buddhist tradition which constitute a kind of buddhology and outline of the qualities necessary to achieve Buddhahood that most associate solely with the Mahayana. Unlike the six paramitas of the Mahayana schools, there are ten perfections in the Pali tradition with viriya having no counterpart in the former and meaning “perfection of energy.”

In the past, I haven’t given overmuch thought to viriya parami as it just seemed so obvious. Perhaps due to a defect in my understanding or forgetfulness I was relying on a conception of viriya (and of all the paramis for that matter) which omitted one key component: karuna. Without a commitment to compassionate action none of the paramis make much sense and this is especially so with viriya. I keep finding that the practice requires so much energy whether it has to do with rousing myself at night to meditate or working up the energy to clean up the house for my wife. All of it is service. All of it is practice. None of it gets done if one is slack in effort. So, with that in mind, it has been an eye-opener to watch the ebb and flow of energy in my daily life and in my formal practice and realize just how often I allow myself to melt into sloth and torpor. What I hve found is that I am more inclined to do so during “daily life” especially when I have done “my share” whatever that means. There’s no question, however, that this sloth works against me just as much in formal meditation as it does in life so overcoming it is a must.

May we all work to arouse energy and conviction to overcome our defilements!

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Posted in Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dana, Dhamma, Formal Meditation, Theravada | Tags: energy, kilesas, paramitas, viriya parami

Posted by: Michael | 05/06/2013

Sacca Parami

Last night I was fortunate enough to make it to the Sunday night meditation class and the theme was sacca parami or the perfection of truthfulness. As I was listening to the Dhamma talk which was given after the sitting I was more or less convinced that although I needed to work on samma vaca I the topic was of particular relevance to my practice at the moment. Oh, how wrong was I!

Once the formal proceedings were over we broke up and all began catching up with one another. Within the space of 5 minutes I had already made a negative, blanket generalization about people who use Facebook to one friend and told a few white lies to someone else. Only afterwards, as I was walking home, did I realize what I had done. And why? Inattention to be sure and a desire to impress others as well.

So, what can be done? I’m not sure exactly except to try to remain more mindful in daily life and to remember to pause before speaking and take at least a breath or two. I have been upset all morning over my wrong speech last night despite knowing better. I hope that my confession here will help to put to rest the regret and help to set me on my way to remedying the situation.

May we speak only out of love and concern for all beings!

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Posted in Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Forgiveness, Sammā Vācā, Theravada | Tags: compassion, confession, karuna, metta, sacca parami, samma vaca, truthfulness

Posted by: Michael | 05/05/2013

Dana Parami – Lethargy

As I try to refine my practice with regard to dana and service I keep finding that I run up against what appears to be lethargy and laziness. As of yet I can’t quite tell if what I am experiencing is actually the result of physical fatigue or is more psychological in nature but it is not as if I am not familiar with such states. I suppose what surprises m most of all (and only just now put two and two together) is the simple fact that the dullness, sloth and torpor I feel when trying to rouse myself to acts of service is exactly the same feeling I experience in formal meditation. For years I have had to contend with this articular nivarana and was never able to completely tease out where purely physical exhaustion end and thīna-middha ended. Fortunately much o that kamma seems to have ripened and I am not as often assailed by lethargy in my sitting but it was rough going for about 5 years straight.

Anyway, the only way I was really able to ge through it was simply to continue the practice in spite of how difficult it was since I wasn’t really able to alte the external circumstances–I simply had to get up at 4am to meditate otherise my kid (later, kids) would be up and about making it impossible to do much of anything. So, in that same spirit I will no longer allow the voices in my head to convince me that I deserve a rest from a hard week’s work when I have been asked or anything. Regardless of what my mind would ike me to believe the fact remains that I am a healthy and well-fed ma without any serious medical conditions and if my goal in thi life is liberation there’s no excuse for laziness.

May we all rouse the energy to practice for the benefit f ourselves and all beings!

Post Scriptum:

I guess this post really is about viriya parami after all but t’s interesting to see how each parami informs and completes the others so that there really is no linear progression.

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Posted in Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dana, Dhamma, Parami, Theravada | Tags: Alternative, brooklyn, Buddhism, Dharma, Fatigue (medical), health, meditation, nivarana, Religion and Spirituality, sloth and torpor, thina-middha

Posted by: Michael | 05/04/2013

Dana Parami – Saturday

Today looks to be one filled with activities as we criss-cross tourist-laden Manhattan and Brooklyn on buses and trains with kids in tow. I have to be honest and admit that, after a week of work, this is the last thing I usually want to do but the spirit of giving and serving has actually begun to creep into my habitual patterns and I am now beginning to be able to see and hold it in a different light.

Yes, the idea of commuting from Manhattan to BK and back with two little ones on trains filled to capacity will most likely never be something I enjoy in itself but seeing this as an opportunity to practice with my defilements and a chance to give my kids my undivided attention is a radical shift from my habitual self-centered and comfort seeking attitude. By simply inclining my mind towards generosity with my time and a willingness to sacrifice comfort I am discovering an infinitely more rewarding way of living the Dhamma in the midst of the household life. What’s more, the kilesas are really being given a run for their money as I put myself in situations that I would normally shrink away from because they were too stressful, anxiety-provoking or difficult.

May we all incline our minds towards self-sacrifice and service for the sake realizing the Dhamma!