Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 02/22/2013

The Economy of Merit – Anumodana

As I was walking out the door I happened to check my mail and found a letter from Dhammadarini bhikkhunis which was in recognition of a small donation I had made last year. I was at once touched and ashamed for in the letter it thanked me for my contribution of $5 for 2012. My first thought was that they had almost certainly spent almost half that on the anumodana card and photo of the nuns going on pindapat but then I reflected on that which may have been the point: recognizing the importance of dana and the merit made through giving trumps any considerations of profit and loss. Being a (reluctant) businessman myself it is hard to view any exchange without quickly running through a mental balance sheet to determine if it makes economic sense. In this case, the nuns’ anumodana letter clearly was a net loss for them in terms of revenue but, in the economy. of merit, I think neither party ended the year in the red.

May we all give freely in order to perfume the heart!

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Posted in Dhamma | Tags: anumodana, Puñña

Posted by: Michael | 02/21/2013

Thronging Humanity

Strange but as I boarded the bus for the first leg of the journey to Brooklyn I was struck by the fact that I hadn’t been on a bus or train for a week. That in itself is no big deal but the throngs of humanity are what really threw me off. You would think that after almost a decade of uninterrupted Manhattan living I would be used to this but I’m not. If anything, the more sensitive I have become the more of an impact it can have. So, as I wend my way to BK may I find my grounding in the breath and look upon all beings with a heart of sympathy.

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Posted in Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Parenting, Theravada | Tags: brooklyn, manhattan, public transit, social anxiety

Posted by: Michael | 02/20/2013

Upekkha – Equanimity and Fear

Abhaya mudra

With my family flying up and down the coast these recent weeks I have found myself wracked with worry and fear on more than one occasion. When the fear first starts to rise up from my solar plexus, through my chest and closes up my throat I am bewildered and panicked (this is the way, incidentally, that the Lord Buddha characterizes the worldling’s reaction to suffering) but I have learned enough to stay with it and not try to purposely obfuscate the feelings or run from them. This is not, of course, say that I need torture myself but rather I can acknowledge the fear and let it do its thing while I gather my contemplative resources to deal with the issue. In this case, upekkha seemed to be just the perception needed to help me understand the suffering and find a way through it.

For those who are as yet unfamiliar, upekkha means equanimity and is traditionally understood in the Theravada as being the supreme brahma vihara. It is the divine abode which prevents karuna from becoming unbearable, metta from becoming undue attachment and, for me at least, complements mudita in that both are based on the realization that intentional action (kamma) produces results. That being so, I can worry about my wife and kids all I want but their kamma will (largely) determine what happens to them regardless of how I feel about it. And, given that we only have so many precious breaths to breathe and our mental energies aren’t infinite, why squander them on fears which only serve to weaken the mind and don’t lead to release?

Pheww! That got too technical rather quickly but I hope I’ve made myself understood. I have just really been impressed with the potency of upekkha qua a reflection on the efficacy of kamma in helping me to let go of situations over whih I have no control. Rather than worrying about those outside of me I should return my attention to the intentions upon which I am acting now, in this moment, as this is where the kamma to which I will fall heir is being made.

KAMMASAKKOMHI KAMMADAYADO KAMMAYONI
KAMMABANDHU KAMMAPATISARANO,
YAM KAMMAM KARISSAMI KALYANAM
VA PAPAKAM VA TASSA DAYADO BHAVISSAMI

A Lesson in Equinimity (philroberts76.wordpress.com)
Equanimity- Calmness of Temper. (godlyvirtues.wordpress.com)
Equalizing Our Attitudes toward Ourselves: Overcoming Self-Hatred (video + audio + transcript) (BerzinArchives.com)
The Four Limitless Qualities (lunaticchick.wordpress.com)

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Posted in Buddhism, Dhamma, Karuna, Metta, Mudita, Parenting, Theravada, Upekkha | Tags: abhaya, brahmavihara, Celiac plexus, fear, Gautama Buddha, India, Kerala High Court, LOrd Buddha, mudita, Paradip, Sister Abhaya murder case, Theravada, Thiruvananthapuram, upekkha, Yoga

Posted by: Michael | 02/20/2013

Coarsening of the Mind

Despite my lukewarm efforts to prevent it from happening today I fell prey to the uposatha-boomerang effect. My poor, coddled mind just was too over-wrought by the renunciation and restraint I exercised for the space of 24 hours and today I indulged in sense pleasures from which I normally try to abstain. And, thankfully, I was able to see the results directly in tonight’s sit.

I say “thankfully” because it seems to me that seeing the causal relationship between abasing the mind and what kind of results that brings is the only way to change a behavior. Will power, even when it’s strong enough, simply doesn’t have the same staying power. I smoke for abut 14 years straight and for most of those years it was a 2-pack a day of Marlboro Reds habit. BUt, when I found out my wife was pregnant I quit the cigarettes and even the gum that was supposed to help me quit the cigarettes. The 3-months that followed were a nightmare where I was physically, emotionally and mentally assaulted by earth-shaking paroxysms of craving but being with that was the best gift I could have ever given myself. I have never wanted a cigarette again unlike so many of my friends who have quit but seem to teeter on the brink.

So, yes, tonight’s sit as compared to this morning’s was horrible but well worth the effort. May we all learn to see more clearly and renounce the easy and unskillful out of true love and in service of our highest happiness!

Biden Blames Violence on ‘Coarsening of Our Culture’ (cnsnews.com)

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Posted in Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Formal Meditation, Gratitude, Nekkhama, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: Cigarette, Daily Mail, health, nekkhama, Philip Morris USA, Shopping, Smoking cessation, Substance Abuse, Tobacco, vipassana

Posted by: Michael | 02/19/2013

Happy Uposatha – The Value of Khanti

Today has been a great observance day. I have had two long formal sits and not broken or tarnished any of the atthasila at all (so far)–and all this despite working like a dog all day. I have been fortunate enough to work from home for the last several days and, with the exception of going to the meditation group last night, haven’t had much in the way of contact with anyone. I really think that the absence of sampapphalapa (frivolous talk) and seclusion along with tight sila and a steady diet of Thanssaro Bhikkhu’s Dhamma talks and the autobiography of Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo has completely energized my practice. Not to make too much of it but I’m having sittings on par with those I had only previously experienced during the only 7-day silent retreat I’d ever done.

Anyway, please forgive my exuberance because the real point that I wanted to get to was this: tonight as I sat down for what I intended to be 45 minutes of anapanasati I could immediately feel the mind rebelling. I felt tired and worn out from working 10-plus hours in front of a computer screen but there’s simply no way I could let such a golden opportunity pass: I mean how many uposatha days do I get to observe where I can devote myself so completely? Anyway, I set my intention, tried to brightten the mind and just dove in…and them after a scant 10 minutes I felt as if I had had enough. I was simply too tired so I opened my eyes, put my hands in anjali and as I was about to bow to the Buddha-rupa I thought of the forest ajahns and how they were so fierce when it came to the Dhamma. I realize in a flash that I had no hope of ever being truly happy if I didn’t overcome my minor discomfort now and stick with it.

Now, it wasn’t as if the rest was easy but in the end I did experience a lot of sukha and piti and, even better, I felt as if I had achieved something so hrd to wind: mastery over the mind if only for a moment. Something about the determination and the willingness to patiently endure the sleepiness took the bite out of it and it wasn’t long before the fog had cleared. Let us who have met with the Buddhadhamma strive while we have the strength and make an island refuge that no flood can overtake! Bhavatu sabba mangalam!

Happy (Imperfect) Uposatha (khalilbodhi.wordpress.com)
Happy Uposatha…Maybe (khalilbodhi.wordpress.com)
Happy Uposatha – The Last Observance of 2012 (khalilbodhi.wordpress.com)

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Posted in Aditthana, Buddhism, Formal Meditation, Khanti, Theravada | Tags: Anapanasati, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dharma, Gautama Buddha, Religion and Spirituality, Theravada, uposatha

Posted by: Michael | 02/17/2013

Offering Service and the Ego

It’s been another somewhat brutal day of weekend working but I have managed to be kind enough to myself and sit a few times. I was asked to help out by facilitating the Sunday night class as my teacher and a large number of people in the group are on retreat. Of course I am glad to help but I have admit that I have been feeling a lot of anxiety over it for reasons I’m not quite sure of. I have actually done this exact thing for my teacher once before and didn’t experience this kind of trepidation but that’s the trouble with anicca isn’t it?

I really think a lot of this fear has everything to do with expectation and ego. This seems to be the case because when I am able to consider this as being a form of dana without worrying about what I will do and how I will appear it actually seems like something good that gets me inspired to practice. When I turn my attention to how my chanting will sound or what/if I should say anything to help guide the meditation immediately brings up fear and aversion (well, I guess fear is aversion but you get my point). So, there’s thee answer: set and return to the intention to offer this service to my teacher and the group out of love and kindness and let my kilesas sort it out on their own. Sukhi hotu!

Impermanent and Permanent!!!!! (ptsdawayout.com)
Free from Fixed Mind (shambhala.com)
The Season of Impermanence. (elephantjournal.com)

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Posted in Buddhism, Dana, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: Alternative, Anxiety, Buddhism, Disorders, Gautama Buddha, health, impermanence, meditation, Mental Health, travel, Yoga

Posted by: Michael | 02/16/2013

Busyness

I have spent the greater part of the lat few days working ridiculously long hours because of issues at my company which I won’t describe in any detail. Nonetheless, suffice it to say that we are facing a cash crunch which we can only remedy by getting more of our product to market. Cue the interminable string of 14 hour days. So, rather than being able to devote more tie to the practice I find myself with less time to practice and a gnawing anxiety prodding me on to work ever longer hours. What is interesting is that II have watched a gradual darkening and cramping of the mind to the point where I have forgotten about the breath entirely for hours at a time and even neglected to post yesterday at all. And, when I actually sit down for formal meditation my poor mind is awash in endless thoughts about work, anxiety-driven nightmare fantasies about every worst-case scenario imaginable and even horrifying scenes that I’ve seen on online video game ads or YouTube. It’s as if the mind has returned to its former untrained and incredibly crude in the space of a few days’ time and it is certainly not a pleasant experience. Maybe this is what is meant by that line in the Karaniya Metta Sutta that says one who wants to practice the path to peace should be “unburdened by duties.”

So, as I sat for my formal meditation period this morning and watch alternating waves of planning for work and macabre phantasmagoria crash through my mind I realized I needed something a bit more potent than simply reflecting briefly on my generosity for a fw seconds to brighten my mind. Gratitude was what immediately went to and I soon realized I was reflecting on the gifts of the Ti-sarana and most especially on the endless kindness, compassion and generosity of the Lord Buddha. In a way I suppose that my object had shifted from the breath to Buddhanussati and this was precisely what I needed to lift my mind from the fog. Anyone who has ever played with meditation knows that there’s no such thing as a silver bullet but being able to reflect on the virtues of the Lord Buddha help to energize the mind and clear away the tendrils of sloth, torpor and darkness that were wont to envelop the mind.

After meditation I felt like I yet wanted to dwell on the Ti-sarana and happened to open my chanting book to the Mahā Jayamaṅgala Gātha which I will include in full below:

I’m BUSY! (newevangelizers.com)
Can Busyness Become an Idol? (familyandfaithmatters.wordpress.com)
Giving Up Busyness for Lent (stephencherry.wordpress.com)
Day 3 (cutpaste.typepad.com)
Exploring Busyness: Are You Too Occupied to Notice? (andreblunt.wordpress.com)

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Posted in Buddhism, Daily Practice, Formal Meditation, Gratitude, Mudita, Theravada | Tags: dhammacakkappavattana sutta, Dharma, Gautama Buddha, God, health, Jesu, Karaniya Metta Sutta, LOrd Buddha, meditation, metta sutta, Mind, YouTube

Posted by: Michael | 02/15/2013

Forgiveness and Freedom from Aversion

I have often caught myself slipping into metta directed towards myself when I meditate on forgiveness. My forgiveness practice has evolved into a tripartite reflection that I usually do with my 108-bead cedar mala (not that the number or tree has any real significance to me, I’m just describing it as it actually is) wherein the first round is dedicated to offering myself complete forgiveness and the second and third are for offering forgiveness to those who have hurt me and asking forgiveness of those who I have harmed. As a prelude, I think it’s a nice idea to use the traditional formula requesting forgiveness from the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha but I really am inspired by such things. Just in case you are to, I present it in full below:

Kāyena vācā cittena
Pamādena mayā kataṃ
Accayaṃ khama me Bhante
Bhūri‧pañña Tathāgata.

Kāyena vācā cittena
Pamādena mayā kataṃ
Accayaṃ khama me Dhamma
Sandiṭṭhika akālika.
Kāyena vācā cittena

Pamādena mayā kataṃ
Accayaṃ khama me Saṅgha
Supaṭipanna anuttara.

Anyhow, as I was saying, about a quarter of the way through I realized that the opening of the heart to my own fallibility and the loving-acceptance of myself is nothing short of metta. This may not be news to anyone but to me it is kind of a big deal. I had often wondered why the Lord Buddha had never prescribed forgiveness as a theme for development but, until now, hadn’t understood that he didn’t need to–the brahma viharas include khama. I then moved on to forgiving others and realized this was simply the thought of avero homi, or may I be free from animosity. Metta, strikes again. I suppose the only aspect of the reflection the way that I have been practicing it that doesn’t easily fall under the divine abidings is asking for forgiveness, a topic which surely deserves more reflection.

In that vein, I ask your forgiveness if I have harmed you in any way, knowingly or unknowingly by body, speech or mind. May all being be happy and free of enmity!

Hope’s Partners – Forgiveness (hope4usnow.wordpress.com)
Crushing Violets… (angiebledsoe.wordpress.com)
Give Up the Grudge … for Your Heart (belmarrahealth.com)
Self forgiveness, why is it so important (barbierfamilly.com)

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Posted in Buddhism, Forgiveness, Formal Meditation, Theravada | Tags: avero homi, Buddha, buddha dhamma, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dharma, forgiveness, Gautama Buddha, khama, LOrd Buddha, loving acceptance, metta, opening of the heart, religion, Sangha, spirituality, Tathagata

Posted by: Michael | 02/13/2013

Airplanes and the 4NTs

My wife and kids are supposed to fly out this afternoon to visit her grandmother for a week in Florida. I don’t know myself to be overly sentimental about such things but I have been feeling strange all day because of this. So this is what is meant by the suffering of being parted from the dear and beloved.

I have been thinking a lot recently of what I would do in the event that my family were to die in an accident and my only consolation has been the thought that I would go forth. And although it is a good and noble plan I know that I would have to work through a lot of suffering before I was strong enough to do so. Whenever I have been struck by this particular fear, I have always turned to thoughts of ordination as my respite and refuge but I fear I may be doing so too glibly and somehow fooling myself that in doing so I would be able to side step grief and loss. Despite my misgivings, in order to put an end to suffering it really does have to be understood and tap dancing doesn’t do much to aid in seeing clearly.

May all of our loved ones be well, happy and peaceful! May the devas protect them and may they ever meet with Dhamma until the find true release!

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Posted in Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Parenting, Theravada | Tags: children, family, Four Noble Truths, marriage, suffering

Posted by: Michael | 02/12/2013

Fasting for Tuesday – Aditthana Practice

For some reason, when reflecting on today’s planned liquid fast the parami of aditthana or determination immediately sprung to mind rather than nekkhama which I would have expected. But, then again, it may very well be that resolve and determination came to mind precisely because there was so much resistance to fasting today. I suppose that is why the texts describe resolve as the basis for the development of the other perfections for without a firm commitment to cultivating skillful qualities, especially when you don’t feel like, it is almost certain that the kilesas would win the day.

Even now, an hour or so after I first wrote the above, I can feel my mind sputtering and flopping about like a fish out of water. And for what? Only because I have made the arbitrary determination to go without solid food for the day. And I guess that is the part of the practice that intrigues me: putting myself in situations that remove the myriad distractions of daily life to reveal the ever-present truth of dukkha. The fact that suffering lies so close to the surface of the skin of our ridiculously comfortable lives (at least, my life is ridiculously comfortable) and that it can be so easily provoked serves as good reminder for why I took up the practice in the first place. Then, too, are the tonic effects of renunciation (which I’ve mentioned before) and the idea of torturing one’s kilesas in order to cultivate the factor of Right Effort.

So, forgive for making so much of so little a thing but this just happens to be where I found myself today. May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness!

Here’s a link that might be helpful in understanding how aditthana is regarded by the tradition: http://arahan.tripod.com/adhitthana.html