“Each morning after you wake up, try to shape your thinking in beneficial ways before you begin your day. You can think, for instance, ‘May my body, my speech, and my mind be used in a more compassionate way, so that they become a service to others.’ This is something I usually do. It makes life more meaningful. Likewise, examine your mind in the evening before you go to bed. Review the way you spent your day, and check whether it was worthwhile.”
Long Live His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
“The Middle Way: Faith Grounded in Reason”
Posted by: Michael | 03/26/2019
Upon Waking
Posted in Bodhisattvayana, Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Karuna, Tibetan Buddhism | Tags: compassion, Dalai Lama
Posted by: Michael | 03/25/2019
The Bodhisattva Ideal
Posted by: Michael | 03/22/2019
The Garden of Compassion
“Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom.
–Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi“
I’m not sure how exactly this quote should be understood but, for me, it has always meant that we find the germ of compassion in the heart of our suffering. Whether it’s in the suffering of being criticized by others or the suffering of loss, every form of dukkha had the potential to teach us view wise compassion is ever an appropriate response.
May I meet dukkha with wisdom and compassion. May I understand its nature and practice the path to put it to rest.
Posted in Bodhisattvayana, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Karuna, Theravada | Tags: compassion, Rumi
Posted by: Michael | 03/21/2019
We Are All on Death Row
[S]eeking revenge is self-defeating. Since death is definite and the time is indefinite, wanting to harm others makes no sense. It is like the squabbling of prisoners condemned to death.
Transforming Adversity into Joy and Courage: An Explanation of the Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas
How silly is it never to have seen this before? We are all condemned to death here and yet we would spend our time quarreling with one another?
May we do our best to give away whatever we have that can be of aside or give succor.
Posted in Bodhisattvayana, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Karuna, Lojong, mahayana, Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism | Tags: 37 Practices of the Bodhisattva
Posted by: Michael | 03/20/2019
Happy Uposatha – El Refugio
I’ve recently discovered Bhikkhu Nandisena, a monk I believe is from Argentina. There’s been a dearth of Spanish and Italian language Dhamma talks on the internet and I’m happy to have found this ajahn. It makes sharing the Dhamma with my kids much easier and I find that different aspects are emphasized in each language whether it’s a result of the structure of the language of the way my mind perceives them. ¡Feliz uposatha!
Posted by: Michael | 03/19/2019
Everything is Uncertain
How quickly things change. Last night, waiting on the platform for the train I get a call: is my wife and she’s crying, telling me how she can’t do this anymore and that she’s leaving. I’m not quite understanding at this point since she had texted me a few times throughout the day and everything seemed fine. She goes on: she can’t take our disrespectful kids, the stress of school and all of my problems and she’s going to leave, tonight. I tell her to wait until I get home.
In an instant my mind goes to how I’ll figure out childcare without her and other logistical issues but I keep reminding myself to be patient and calm and that there is no need to try to figure out all out now. In fact, I realized just how fluid the situation was so I stayed with buddho and metta.
I get home to a house full of crying kids and wife (the two year old was happily oblivious however) and take some time to listen to everyone. My wife is convinced that my anxiety is the problem so I have agreed to go see anyone she picks for the third time in our marriage. I have no faith in paying a stranger to talk about my problems but if it saves my kids and my wife from really bad decisions I’ll do it.
Who knows what today will bring but I’m pretty confident I won’t have been able to plan or prepare for it any better than by staying grounded in the present.
Posted in Anicca, Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Family Life, Theravada | Tags: counseling, divorce, marriage
Posted by: Michael | 03/18/2019
Taking on Suffering
I picked up my father in law from the airport lady night and when we got to his house we ate dinner together. He comes from a culture where the food is served with lots of hot peppers as condiments and, as much as I love them, I know I should leave them on the table. Once again I failed to take my own advice and I’ve had an upset stomach all morning.
Not sure what it is about this kind of pain but it can feel particularly debilitating. Still, I had the inspiration to dedicate my suffering as a substitute for the suffering of all beings in general and in particular to those with similar ailments. And, despite an initial feeling of being overwhelmed and dizziness, it actually send to have belief to give meaning to the senseless suffering.
May this pain serve as a substitute for the postings of all beings. May I experience this pain so that other beings may be freed of their own.
Posted by: Michael | 03/17/2019
In Memoriam: Michael Todd Berg
Aniccā vatha sankhārā
Uppāda vaya dhamminō
Uuppajjitvā nirujjhanti
Te san vūpa samō sukhō
A friend of mine suddenly passed away on the 10th. We just found out yesterday so I fear I missed a week where our dana and dedications of merit may have been of more benefit. Notwithstanding, I have reached out to monks I feel would be willing to perform a dana for him.
If you have a practice I would ask that you dedicate merit to him. If you don’t, please consider doing something good or generous in his honor.
https://www.jellisonfuneralhome.com/notices/Michael-Berg
Comments Off on In Memoriam: Michael Todd Berg
Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dana, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: Anicca vata sankhara, dedication of merit, in memoriam, Michael Todd Berg, obituary
Posted by: Michael | 03/15/2019
The Buddhavamsa – The Chronicle of the Buddhas
Ajahn Achalo just uploaded a wonderful talk he gave at Bodh Gaya on the path to buddhahood and spoke at length on the Buddhavamsa. I have been meaning to read it and have just uploaded a copy to Scribd here:
Posted in Dhamma
Posted by: Michael | 03/14/2019
Happy Uposatha – Fasting
May I never break my commitment to serve and care for all beings.
May I never abandon beings in anger, lust or delusion.
May I always keep my precepts pure.
As part of my renewed commitment to be of more use and service to all beings (as well as myself) I am taking up the practice of dry fasting on Mondays and Thursdays again. And, although it should be no big deal, or never ceases to amaze me how quickly I can be reduced to desperation simply through denying myself food and drink. Clearly, if I have any pretense of helping others in times of catastrophe and difficulty, this kind of fasting provides fertile ground for working on my aditthana and viriya.
My most recent 42 hour liquid fast really helped me to see just how much this life is determined by our thoughts. When I was eighteen years old and in the prime of my life I never could have imagined going without food for a day let alone meditating every morning. As Arya Shantideva had said, there is nothing that does not become easy through practice. May I be sure to practice only the good so that it becomes easy for me.
Posted in Bodhisattvayana, Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Fasting, Islam, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: dry fasting, intermittent fast, shantideva
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