Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 12/23/2017

What Is Practice?

For as long as I have practiced in this life I have viewed it as an all or nothing affair. I either succeed and win liberation or I fail by falling far short. Needless to say, I fail every time I get up from the cushion or turn off the timer. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

I’m beginning to gain more faith in the idea that what I’m doing when I’m practicing is more akin to wearing ruts into the mind. I’m beginning to think of it as a way of orienting the heart towards certain ways of behaving so that there’s more of a probability that it will act in line with the Dhamma than not. It’s not black or white but maybe it is a constant admixing of white to black so that the gray is ever lighter.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: inclination, intention, practice

Posted by: Michael | 12/21/2017

Small Victory

Today as I was walking thru Union Square, an attractive woman caught my eye. But, this time, rather than simply being dragged around by my eyes, I felt a weariness arise. The thought that this desire would end in nothing more than agitation arose vividly before the mind’s eye and it was much easier to simply put the craving for more pleasant visual forms down.

Have I uprooted this likes a? Hardly, but it is a small victory to be built upon no less.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Sensual Desire, Theravada | Tags: craving, dispassion, tanha

Posted by: Michael | 12/20/2017

Remembrance

It occurred to me recently that I often times forget which training rules I’m observing on a daily basis, especially as the day runs on. Specifically, if I tend to forget if I’m observing brahmacariya or eating before noon. It served to me that simply by taking sometime in the middle of the day to recite my commitments I might strengthen my resolve and practice. I hope to make it a practice to recite my commitments daily after my midday meditation and to dedicate the merit as I’m inclined.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Sila, Theravada | Tags: recollection, remembrance, resolve

Posted by: Michael | 12/19/2017

Finding Peace

In between the hourly outrages, the atrocities we commit upon one another as the myriad, petty humiliations and irritations of the household life, I have first and last to remember to incline my heart towards peace. What good is any of this striving and suffering if not dedicating to unbinding, to compassion, to release? If everything I do all day long is an attempt to scurry away from pain or snatch at pleasure, what good is this life?

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: compassion, intention, release

Posted by: Michael | 12/18/2017

Rectitude

It seems to me that, in these times of increasing authoritarianism, any resistance must be based on a foundation of ethics and a transcendent morality that takes into account the karmic repercussions of any action undertaken. In many ways, I would imagine my own part in the resistance as taking its inspiration from Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement. In other words, any type of action to protect the innocent and advocate for the rights of the vulnerable must be undertaken in the basis of a life lived faithfully through the Five Precepts. What’s more, the brahmaviharas have to be ones constant companion and ones only tool and armament when confronting would-be aggressors. The real question now is whether I’m truly committed.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Metta, nonviolence, Theravada | Tags: authoritarian, fascism, Resistance

Posted by: Michael | 12/16/2017

Taking Care

Why is it so hard for me to see that everything I give as a father and husband is generosity practice? Is it because I think it should simply be done as a matter of course? Is it because it doesn’t “feel” special? I suspect it has something to do with that but it’s also got to do with the fact that I didn’t wake up early enough to do formal practice. Yes, I managed to sneak in five minutes between laundry and kid-ferrying but all that was really worth was quelling my OCD.

Today is an even day so I hope to follow the breath in what is sure to be a hectic day spent with kits and engaged in the vagaries of housework. Wish me luck.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: childcare, chores, housework

Posted by: Michael | 12/15/2017

Theravadin Monks Speak Out

From a blog I follow.

Great Middle Way

15135887_1262871007107107_8379974597916121676_n Buddhists are encouraged to love all living beings and not to restrict their love only to human beings. They should practice loving kindness towards every living being. The Buddha’s advice is that it is not right for us to take the life of any living being, since every living being has a right to exist. Animals also have fear and pain as do human beings. It is wrong to take their lives. —Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera

Some Buddhists maintain that the Buddha never said we should be vegetarians, and that monks may eat whatever is offered to them, as long as they do not see, hear, or suspect that the animals, fish or fowl were killed especially for them; if they so see, hear or suspect, they are forbidden to eat the flesh. But this standpoint is totally indefensible, as anyone who looks at things a little objectively…

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Posted in Dhamma

Posted by: Michael | 12/14/2017

Don’t Believe

I had one of those interesting realizations a few minutes ago during my formal practice. As I was meditating, thoughts that I am failing o renounce sense pleasures, that I am continually infatuated with their pursuit kept arising and tormenting me. I found myself starting to make resolves based on these thoughts, giving into the unskillfulness and believing them.

And then, seemingly from nowhere, I recalled that I didn’t have to listen, I didn’t have to believe them. After all, they are just thoughts that arise and cease like mists from the fields in the morning or clouds racing across the sky at night. Why put my faith in them if they would only weaken me and bring me low? If one is gong to identify with anything why identify with base thoughts? So, for now at least, I’ll keep putting down what is not useful and remain true to my ultimate aims.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Seon, Theravada | Tags: Awareness, mindfulness, skillfulness, thinking, thoughts

Posted by: Michael | 12/12/2017

Ebb and Flow

Slowly I feel the energies reform and I am able to practice again ever more in the style and with the intensity to wick I have become accustomed, and yet, there is much to be learned from this most recent illness. In the space of a few days my formal practice feel apart and my mind sunk to levels of aversion and desperation out had not visited in some time. And for what reason? Largely because I got a cold and my routine was disrupted. How fragile a thing this practice of mine has proven to be.

Not only do I how to practice with ever more ardor now but to also practice more in so-called daily life. I have failed to do so and allowed inertia to carry me away but I will now make a concerted effort to practice during my commute and throughout the day. How?

During walking, standing or sitting by starting with the breath on even days and with the brahmaviharas on odd days. By observing the half hourly mindfulness bell and spending a minute sending metta one I hear it. I hope to add more later but for now I feel I’ve bitten of enough.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Metta, Theravada | Tags: breath meditation, loving-kindness, mindfulness

Posted by: Michael | 12/11/2017

A Pause

In the last week I’ve traveled to Atlanta fur my uncle’s funeral and caught a bad cold. As a result of the stress and sickness, it’s been all I can do to keep my head above water. Not being able to breathe through my nose makes meditation next to impossible so I haven’t managed to sit more than fifteen minutes. And now I find myself standing on a platform in Brooklyn with trains cancelled in both directions due to a bomb at Port Authority.

Life can become instantly unrecognizable at any time. May we make the best of it.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: death, funeral, impermanence