Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 10/30/2017

Kwan Se Um

For the past few weeks I’ve been having an exceptionally difficult time cultivating feelings of metta in my heart. This morning I decided to spend some time reciting the Korean name of Avalokiteshvara or Quan Yin. Why? Well, I have faith in the existence of innumerable unseen beings in celestial realms and I think of these celestial bodhisattvas as belonging to those realms. The Lord Buddha didn’t describe many of the beings by name but he certainly spoke of their existence so it’s quite possible that later practitioners met with and discovered the names and aims of these beings. So much for my cosmological underpinning and rationale.

The surprising thing about this morning was that, having formed the intention to ask for Kwan Se Um’s help in cultivating metta and karuna, there was a marked change. I could literally feel the light and kindness arising where it had been a cold and dry desert of feeling ink moments before. No, it’s not incontrovertible proof but it’s good enough for me to continue to call for help when outs needed and to petition for the succor of others.

May all beings have happiness and the causes for happiness.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Karuna, Kwan Se Um, Metta, Seon, Theravada

Posted by: Michael | 10/28/2017

Happy Uposatha- Making the Best of It

There have been times when I have thought about how much better my practice would have been had I not married and had kids. I often look back on the time before I married and wonder at the stupidity and pleasure-obsessed person I was. But, am I really so different now?

Here is the perfect opportunity to practice brahmacariya and yet I find myself more resentful than appreciative most times. It’s becoming clearer every day that the problem is not my wife, nor my marriage but my own kilesas.

What would be the perfect scenario? Intimacy every day until we die in forty years when we’ve bound ourselves ever tight to the skein of craving and becoming? Is that what I want? Is that with resentment and burning desire? No, clearly it is not and it’s time to start acting in line with what little wisdom I have.

Mauy we all weaken the fetters that bind us to rebirth, aging and death. May we practice rightly with wisdom and compassion.

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Posted in brahmacariya, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Family Life, Nekkhama, pañña, Parenting, Sila, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: celibacy, intimacy, kilesas, marriage, suffering

Posted by: Michael | 10/26/2017

Tonglen and a Planet-sized Nebula of Suffering

This morning, after my half hour of zazen I turned to the brahmaviharas. After chuckling through a handful of people I ended up easing into tonglen. At first I was breathing in the suffering of individuals and sending them ease and light, then I began to turn to areas like my apartment. Before I knew it I was breathing in the sufferings of all beings obviously the planet.

Initially, there was a ton of fear and trepidation: how could one small being like myself take over the suffering of billions of beings? The insects dying by the millions as a result of mass produced poisons, the millions of children dying from cholera and famine, the fish and marine life suffocating in the ever-growing hypoxic zones of the oceans. I felt as though I was being crushed under it all. But, somewhere a voice told me to keep going. The conviction to just stick with it arose. And I did.

What happened next wasn’t extraordinary but the pain began to ease and, as I exhaled light and metta, I gained a confidence that, regardless of how small I was, I could still help. The amazing thing was simply that the sense of futility and hopelessness had gone. Sabbe satta sabba dukkha pamuccantu!

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Karuna, Metta, Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism | Tags: compassion, loving-kindness, suffering, Tonglen

Posted by: Michael | 10/25/2017

Preparing for the End

When the end comes will I be ready? There is so much to fear and to regret in these times, so much to mourn but will these attachments help when this luge is wrested from our grasp? The fact is that we cannot how to change samsara as our spoons or of control, impelled by forces so much greater than ourselves.

The question then becomes, will I be able to help. When things get bad will I be ready to provide solace and offer whatever I might have? Or, will I close in on myself in pain?

May I practice renunciation now that I vs more easily do without when it becomes a necessity. May I push myself beyond the bounds of endurance and comfort so that I may learn to kindle the spark of compassion and wisdom amidst the flames of hell.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Metta, Sila, Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism, Zen | Tags: Armageddon, compassion, death, suffering

Posted by: Michael | 10/24/2017

No Time to Lose

Last night I had the presence of mind and the fortitude to rise myself to do a half an hour of walking meditation and then about fifteen minutes of chanting before going off to bed. It was painful at first but I’m beginning ever more certain that there’s simply no time to lose. People can say what they will and downplay my fears but it’s becoming clearer to me that conditions suitable for formal proactive could disappear at any time. Yes, this has always been true regardless of larger, macro phenomena but it nite seems like the world as we know will soon be completely inhospitable to human civilization.

I won’t go on about this point though. What is important to me is that I make formal proactive a priorty, especially until I can find the time for an extended retreat again. What that looks like to me is a solid two hours of formal practice every day. This can be split up into prostrations, sitting meditation ave waking meditation but I’m going to ensure that this happens daily. When the time comes to face sickness and death I want to be as ready as possible. Also, it’s my deepest desire to attain stream entry in this life but there’s no forcing that. Just consistent practice on and off the cushion.

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Posted in Aditthana, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Formal Meditation, Theravada | Tags: determination, steam entry

Posted by: Michael | 10/23/2017

Smiling Practice

We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.

~Mother Teresa

Probably the simplest, if not altogether the easiest, way to connect with those around us and to offer metta is through our smiles. I have often found that a smile can immediately evaporate tension when one enters a room or crowded train full of strangers. But, in all honesty, it seems to take a little extra work and considerable practice to generate a real smile in more intimate settings. Nonetheless, a smile cuts through the entanglements of discourse and gets right to the heart of the matter so it seems to me that smiling practice its well worth the effort.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Cheerfulness, Dhamma, Metta, Theravada | Tags: loving-kindness, mother Teresa, smiling, Smiling Practice

Posted by: Michael | 10/23/2017

Afraid of Connection

I find my biggest stumbling block to cultivating and expressing metta to be the fear of connection. I’m not quite sure where out comes from but I do know that the sense of closeness and intimacy can be downright painful at times. More often than not odd simply awkward and uncomfortable but it’s still there and I have no idea why.

Yet, now that I’ve seen it, there’s no reason to continue to allow it to dominate my thighs and actions. Opening up, being vulnerable, feeling pain has never yet betrayed me. It has never once brought me low. May I do my best to open my heart to everyone I meet despite how uncomfortable and pained I may feel.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Metta, Theravada | Tags: awkward, loving-kindness, self-conscious, uncomfortable

Posted by: Michael | 10/21/2017

The Sufferings of Others

When I feel hunger may I always reflect on the hunger of millions of beings throughout the world before I eat. May I recall those who are dying of famine and do whatever I can to ease their suffering.

When I am thirsty may I always call to mind those who have no fresh water to drink before quenching my thirst. May I reflect on those who are forced to drink fetid, poisoned water just to survive and do whatever I can to ease their suffering.

When I am cold may I always call to mind those who no shelter before finding warmth. May I reflect on those who are forced to seek shelter in the open and do whatever I can to ease their suffering.

When I am hot may I always call to mind those who no shelter before seeking relief. May I reflect on those who are forced to endure sweltering heat in the open and do whatever I can to ease their suffering.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Karuna, Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism | Tags: cold, compassion, famine, heat, hungry, suffering, thirst

Posted by: Michael | 10/20/2017

Happy Uposatha – Obsession with Taste

This morning, despite having met my formal practice commitments, I’m feeling tired and uninspired. And, although I didn’t actually break the precept against playing music, I certainly had to goad my kids along this morning. In other words, it seems as if the mind is bucking its yoke and is looking for excuses not to observe.

Instead of blindly pushing through, I hope to bring a soft attention and inquisitiveness to the situation. What am I gaining if I decide not to observe? What do I give up by not giving up? Somewhere I know from past experience that there is so much more to be gained from the hosts and, truthfully, aside from eating after noon, there’s nothing much that I won’t already be observing simply as a matter of habit.

So, it seems to come down to food. My obsession with taste is one of my most difficult defilements and is part of the reason that I practice fasting on a regular basis over and above that which the lunar observances dictate. I have no answers but at least I’m beginning to get a clearer idea of the problem and what questions to ask.

May we all grow in virtue, merit and wisdom. Happy upstage!

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Posted in brahmacariya, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Nekkhama, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: greed, kilesas, obsession, taste

Posted by: Michael | 10/19/2017

Radical Loving-Kindness

May all murderers and killers be well, happy and peaceful. May they be free from suffering. May they rejoice in whatever merit they have made. May they meet with the Dhamma and practice it in this and all future lives.

May all thieves, tyrants and presidents be well, happy and peaceful. May they be free from suffering. May they rejoice in whatever merit they have made. May they meet with the Dhamma and practice it in this and all future lives.

May all cheaters, adulterers, molesters and rapists be well, happy and peaceful. May they be free from suffering. May they rejoice in whatever merit they have made. May they meet with the Dhamma and practice it in this and all future lives.

May all liars, deceivers and politicians be well, happy and peaceful. May they be free from suffering. May they rejoice in whatever merit they have made. May they meet with the Dhamma and practice it in this and all future lives.

May all drunkards and junkies be well, happy and peaceful. May they be free from suffering. May they rejoice in whatever merit they have made. May they meet with the Dhamma and practice it in this and all future lives.

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Posted in Abhaya-cariya, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Forgiveness, Metta, Sila, Theravada | Tags: criminals, drunkards, junkies, killers, liars, loving-kindness, murderers, politicians, rapists, thieves