Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 01/11/2019

Cultivating Thought

I the eye of the storm I had enough presence of mind and free time to listen to a Dhamma talk by Ajahn Achalo last night while washing the dishes. The main takeaway for me was how we are constantly giving our minds food for thought (literally) so it’s no wonder we can get the mind to settle. I spent an hour this morning trying to meditate but it was more a long daydream than anything else. But, I keep at it because there’s no better choice.

What I can do though is drastically reduce my intake of media. No more paranormal podcasts, books not directly related to the Dhamma or anything that sparks proliferation. At least for a month because I really need the tranquillity and presence of mind now.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Nekkhama, Theravada | Tags: media, restraint, thinking

Posted by: Michael | 01/10/2019

Blaming Others

“As all the great Mahayana masters…have emphasized, blaming others for our unhappiness only exacerbates our own misery. Such compulsive blaming is a form of entrapment that is not only self-perpetuating but that robs us of our power and free will.
The practice of lojong is a kind of strength training for the mind, a practice that will make us feel less like a victim and more like the author or architect of our own life. By identifying ourselves as the victim, we give power to others, but when we refuse that role, we take the power back.”

-Traleg Kyabgon

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Posted in Bodhisattvayana, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Lojong, Tibetan Buddhism | Tags: Blame, power, victimhood

Posted by: Michael | 01/08/2019

Returns

My wife and children came back yesterday and within ten minutes of my having picked them up from the airport, my wife was screaming at the top of her lungs, slamming my seat and even tugged my arm as I drove.

My sin: saying that we needed to save a certain amount of money before another vacation was possible. I thought that by giving a concrete number and providing a rationale (if we intend to find a new apartment we need first, last and deposit) she would understand better. It wouldn’t be a vague thing that they could be intended as means to prevent her from having a vacation with the kids. Suffice it to say I was wrong. And, it’s only gone downhill from there. One minute she’s telling me she wants to leave and find a better partner and the next she’s raging about family vacations?! Sheer lunacy. I’m not going to empty the garbage bag of my life onto the floor and pick through it. I just have to up my patience and try to remain calm.

May I never marry again.

In every lifetime may I purely pursue the Dhamma for the benefit of myself and others.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Family Life, Theravada | Tags: arguments, divorce, marriage

Posted by: Michael | 01/06/2019

Happy Uposatha

Today is the uposatha and I’m yet plagued by this laziness and, at times, nihilism. When I read the suttas on deeper subjects like dependent origination I feel at both of of my depth and hopeless that I may never understand. But, I realize that these thoughts are impermanent so I try not to give them too much importance.

As I recently counseled a friend, we have an eternity of kilesa bhavana to overcome so why would I expect it to be easy? Why should I understand paticca samuppada easily? Why would concentration develop with ease in the midst of the home life? I need to be resolute and realistic. If I really want to make progress perhaps I need to go forth but until then I’ll keep trying to saw through this mountain with a feather.

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Posted in Aditthana, Anicca, Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: determination, Perseverance, realism, resolute

Posted by: Michael | 01/06/2019

Laziness

Yesterday was my birthday and, despite this blaring symbol of the relentless march of time, I’ve really had to force myself to meet my practice commitments. In the past few weeks I’ve come up with the following which are pretty faithful to the practices I’ve been undertaking for the last six years:

Cold Shower
Refuges, Precepts & Practice Aspirations
30 minutes anapanasati
30 minutes brahmavihara practice
15 minutes contemplating 5 Subjects for Frequent Recollection
15 minutes tonglen
30 minutes walking mediation
108 Om Mani Padme Hum recitations
108 Om Maitri Mahamaitri Maitriye Svaha recitations
108 Om Pra Mani Dhani Svaha
recitations
108 Namo Amitofo recitations
108 Prostrations to Lord Buddha
36 Tonglen Apiration recitations
Radiate metta while waking and falling asleep
20 minutes of Dhamma Study (Samyutta Nikaya)

I would say the only major difference is that I have been able to meet my goals for a few weeks whereas it used to be that I would come up with this aditthana and then let them drop after a day or so. So, that’s progress. In addition to the above, I hope to memorize my refuge, precept and aspiration booklet so it is always with me. I figure that unless and until I have it completely memorized I won’t allow myself to change it.

Given the fact that, after my adolescence, everything has been careening towards decadence and death, it’s only right that I take this life and its opportunities more seriously. Death stalks me like a hunter after its prey so how can I afford to waste any time? How can I afford to be lazy when all is aflame?

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Posted in Aditthana, Bodhisattvayana, Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism | Tags: aspirations, laziness, Practices, precepts, refuges

Posted by: Michael | 01/03/2019

A Cure for Temptation

This antidote to unskilfull behavior probably relies on my faith-type personality but I figure I’ll share of it might possibly help even one person.

There is a particular sense pleasure that I have indulged in and that has the potential to become an outright breach of silâ. Not finding satisfactory ways to deal with it otherwise, in sheet desperation I made the aspiration last night “May I be struck dead if I do x.” And it worked.

Call it superstition, call it gullibility but the thought that I may be struck dead doing some ignoble thing is enough, for now, to keep temptation at bay.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Sensual Desire, Taṇhā, Theravada | Tags: restraint, temptation

Posted by: Michael | 01/03/2019

Verses for Today

One of the things that I’d like to accomplish this year is to memorize my refuges, precepts and aspirations that I chant in the morning. For some time I have used my phone as a prayer book of sorts but this has any number of disadvantages.

I’m able to make it through the Tisarana, Pali precepts and the Pali paramis but I get hung up on the Eight Verses for Training the Mind. So, each day I will take a verse until I have made my way through the whole book. It takes about fifteen minutes to recite at full speed so we’ll see how long it takea. Today we have the following:

5. Whenever someone out of envy
Does me wrong by attacking or belittling me,
I will take defeat upon myself,and
And give the victory to others.

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Posted in Bodhisattvayana, Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Karuna, Lojong, Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism | Tags: determination, eight verses for training the mind, Tonglen

Posted by: Michael | 01/02/2019

Daily Practice for the New Year

Some time ago I had made an asseveration that I would meditate for two hours everyday. Unfortunately that didn’t quite work out for me at that time. Bieber,with the help of some habit trackers and kids of experimentation I have now successfully managed to work in two hours of formal meditation even if it is not all at the same time. I intend to update my daily practice commitment page shortly but here is how I have been passing my days:

30 Minutes Anapanasati
30 Minutes Brahmaviharas
15 Minutes Contemplating the Five Recollections
15 minutes Tonglen
30 Walking Meditation
108 Prostrations to Lord Buddha
108 Om Mani Padme Hum
108 Om Maitri Mahamaitri Maitriye Svaha
108 Namo Amitofo
36 Recitations of Tonglen Aspiration
Cold Shower
20 Minutes Dhamma Study (Samyutta Nikaya)
Brahmacariya
Radiate Metta as I fall asleep and while waking

Working with these practices I find my mind is much more compassionate and pliable. There’s still much to be done and I try have great struggles to overcome unskilfull desires but I’m in a much better place as a result of trying to maintain these commitments.

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Posted in Bodhisattvayana, Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Karuna, Maranasati, Metta, Mudita, Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism | Tags: aditthana, asseveration, practice commitment

Posted by: Michael | 01/01/2019

Happy New Year — Ajahn Jayasāro

Happy New Year Jayasaro

“Heedful 2019: Take nothing for granted” – New year’s blessing from Ajahn Jayasāro from r/Buddhism

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: Ajahn Jayasaro, heedfulness, New Year, Thai Forest

Posted by: Michael | 12/30/2018

Happy Uposatha – Lust

Then the Venerable Vaṅgīsa addressed the Venerable Ānanda in verse:

721 “I am burning with sensual lust, My mind is engulfed by fire. Please tell me how to extinguish it, Out of compassion, O Gotama.” 502 [The Venerable Ānanda:]

722 “It is through an inversion of perception That your mind is engulfed by fire. Turn away from the sign of beauty Provocative of sensual lust. 503

723 “See formations as alien, As suffering, not as self. Extinguish the great fire of lust; Don’t burn up again and again. 504

724 “Develop the mind on foulness, One-pointed, well concentrated; <406> Apply your mindfulness to the body, Be engrossed in revulsion. 505

725 “Develop meditation on the signless, And discard the tendency to conceit. Then, by breaking through conceit, You will be one who fares at peace.” 506

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Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Sensual Desire, Theravada | Tags: Amanda, lust, Vangisa