May I recall that the paramis cannot be cultivated in isolation. Without irritation how can one practice patience? Without temptation how can one practice sila? May I never cease to perceive all obstacles and challenges as the stepping stones to Liberation. May I always guard my heart against aversion and hatred and may I recognize that all beings have the potential to become buddhas.
Posted by: Michael | 08/20/2017
Challenges
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Khanti, Parami, Sila, Theravada | Tags: daily life, liberation, perfections
Posted by: Michael | 08/19/2017
Provoked
Let one not boast or speak with ulterior motive,
not engage in insolence or speak quarrelsome words;
not engage in deception or knowingly cheat;
not judge or despise others for their
life,
discernment,
precepts,
or practices.
Provoked with words from another,
let one not respond harshly,
for one who retaliates is not calm.
~ SN 4.14 (Tuvataka Sutta)
Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: judgement, Retaliation, samyutta nikaya, Tuvataka Sutta
Posted by: Michael | 08/16/2017
Meat, Milk and Eggs
I’ve been an on again, off again vegan for years but I think the time has come when I need to commit more strongly to giving up meat, milk products and eggs. I’ve largely gone without eating meat for years but have had a much harder time giving up cheese. And yet, how can I live a life dedicated to compassion and non-harm with integrity if I’m willing to profit from the suffering of animals to do so?
I’m sure most people must realize that cows have to be forcefully impregnated in order to keep them lactating on a consistent basis. But, I order to ensure that we get all of their milk, their calves are taken from them at birth. What’s worse is that the males are immediately slaughtered while the females are pressed into a life of painful slavery. And, one they’re done being used they too go straight to the slaughter. Conditions for egg laying hens are notoriously atrocious as well so it goes without saying that I’ll be striking eggs from the menu too.
But, I’ve done this all before so how can I know I’ll be successful. I can’t. I hope to include an aspiration not to cause suffering through the pursuit of taste in my daily practice however. If I can just keep their suffering to the fore I know I’ll be able to resist my own cravings for sense pleasure. Sabbe satta sabba dukkha pamuccantu!
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Karuna, Sensual Desire, Theravada | Tags: animal, animal rights, compassion, dairy, eggs, meat, vegan
Posted by: Michael | 08/15/2017
Goodwill without Exception
Here’s an excellent Dhamma talk by one of my favorite bhikkhus. Happy uposatha!
Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Metta, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: Dhamma talks, goodwill, loving-kindness, Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Posted by: Michael | 08/15/2017
Service without Expectation
This morning I woke up, ad usual, before the rest of my family and was ready to be out the door by 7am. But, as I was readying myself to leave I recalled that my wife had wanted to take my son to surf camp which meant she needed to get up at seven. So, not wanting to awaken the baby I sent her a text and, shortly thereafter, she replied that she did need to get up.
I woke the kids, got them breakfast, got them ready and changed the baby. Somewhere in here I found out that I had forgotten my wife had a dentist appointment so I would need to be home early for that. I checked to see if there was anything last minute that needed to be done and left. Unfortunately, she wasn't happy with that and made it be known.
So here it is: we live in an imperfect world and unfortunately my duties aren't solely to my wife. I have job as well and need to make sure I'm fulfilling those obligations to earn my salary. Then there are the kids too.
For some reason, I often operate under the mistaken and half-conscious assumption that service and charity should also mean lack of conflict. Clearly, however, when one is burdened by duties on multiple fronts it's always a balancing act. I wish I could devote myself solely to meeting the needs of my kids or my wife but that's just not the world we live in.
The alternative: to serve with kindness and accept blame in silence knowing that the expression of displeasure is a symptom of a deeper suffering. And, lest I forget, I should be truly taking joy in the good kamma I'm making and then dedicating the merit to all suffering beings. In this way, even when I'm faulted for not doing enough I can keep my heart from going sour and stop myself from repaving the road to hell and perdition.
Posted by: Michael | 08/15/2017
Service without Expectation
This morning I woke up, ad usual, before the rest of my family and was ready to be out the door by 7am. But, as I was readying myself to leave I recalled that my wife had wanted to take my son to surf camp which meant she needed to get up at seven. So, not wanting to awaken the baby I sent her a text and, shortly thereafter, she replied that she did need to get up.
I woke the kids, got them breakfast, got them ready and changed the baby. Somewhere in here I found out that I had forgotten my wife had a dentist appointment so I would need to be home early for that. I checked to see if there was anything last minute that needed to be done and left. Unfortunately, she wasn't happy with that and made it be known.
So here it is: we live in an imperfect world and unfortunately my duties aren't solely to my wife. I have job as well and need to make sure I'm fulfilling those obligations to earn my salary. Then there are the kids too.
For some reason, I often operate under the mistaken and half-conscious assumption that service and charity should also mean lack of conflict. Clearly, however, when one is burdened by duties on multiple fronts it's always a balancing act. I wish I could devote myself solely to meeting the needs of my kids or my wife but that's just not the world we live in.
The alternative: to serve with kindness and accept blame in silence knowing that the expression of displeasure is a symptom of a deeper suffering. And, lest I forget, I should be truly taking joy in the good kamma I'm making and then dedicating the merit to all suffering beings. In this way, even when I'm faulted for not doing enough I can keep my heart from going sour and stop myself from repaving the road to hell and perdition.
Posted by: Michael | 08/14/2017
Discipline and Compassion
What to do with children, your own or in your sphere of influence, who consistently demonstrate a lack of respect for their elders? What to do when they engage in outright disrespectful speech and physical violence towards their caretakers? Thankfully, I'm not speaking about my own kids but others on our extended family with whom we interact on a somewhat regular basis.
In this case it seemed that the parent is unwilling to chastise the child and instead had decided to take issue with the adult. Frankly, out seems like the most compassionate thing to do is simply to withdraw from the situation and refuse to spend any more time with the family members until it an agreement is made that disrespectful speech from a cold to an adult will be swiftly condemned. I'm not suggesting that they be punished in any particular way, just that ours made clear that such behavior is unacceptable.
Am I wrong? Am I thinking clearly? I am dooming my best to cultivate a mind free of aversion for either of the parties here but it seems like such a dysfunctional situation is a breeding ground for kilesas.
Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Family Life, Karuna, Parenting, Theravada | Tags: children, compassion, discipline, disrespect
Posted by: Michael | 08/13/2017
By Love Alone
Na hi verena verāni sammantīdha kudācanaṃ
Averena ca sammanti esa dhammo sanantano.Hatreds never cease through hatred in this world; through love alone they cease. This is an eternal law.
Our society seems to be intent upon ripping itself apart at the moment and although I am clearly of the view that racially motivated hatred is wrong and must be both resisted and called out for what it is I am not of the opinion of the violence is the answer. May we reflect on the Teachings of the Blessed One and allow his Dhamma and Vinaya to be our anchor and signposts along the way.
Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Metta, nonviolence, Theravada | Tags: Dhammapada, hatred, loving-kindness, nonviolence
Posted by: Michael | 08/12/2017
Rejoice in Goodness
For as long as I can remember I have had a conflicted relationship with so-called positive thinking. Maybe it’s because I didn’t want to feel or appear naive or maybe because I really just don’t believe that simply thinking positively about life will bring anything more than delusion and disappointment, but for a long time I have resisted anything that was anywhere in the neighborhood of the optimism and hope. But, as is so often the case, it appears my muddied understanding has caused me a lot of unneeded suffering yet again.
Rather than blindly believe “everything’s gonna be alright” or that “everything will work out fine” and await the inevitable ensuing heartbreak, it seems to me purposely focusing on the perceptions of what is good in others and in oneself is a supreme survival skill. Focusing on goodness and rejoicing in it doesn’t mean that one posits that the good is all that exists. No need to work ourselves into the knotted fetters of theodicy that our theistic brothers and sisters must struggle with.
Rather, and perhaps especially, we can cultivate an appreciation of goodness, virtue and kindness in a world filled with pain, aggression and ugliness. We can make it our job to discover fresh and hidden blooms of moral beauty and integrity that flower in the shadows all around us. At least, I know that this is exactly what I need to begin doing if I hope to make of this life more than a mockery of the Dhamma.
May we all rejoice in the paramis in ourselves and others and ever grow in the Dhamma until we attain liberation.
Posted in Abhaya-cariya, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Mudita, Parami, Sila, Theravada | Tags: appreciative Joy, perfections, rejoicing, theodicy
Posted by: Michael | 08/11/2017
Tightrope
The practice can certainly feel like walking a tightrope at times. Or navigating a minefield. Or carrying a bowl filled to the brim with oil and trying not to spill a drop. Regardless of the metaphor, I had my first opportunity to test my resolve this morning and it was striking just how mundane it ease and how willing I seemed to loosen my resolve.
I won't go into the minutiae but there is this to be taken from it: this untrained mind is ready to slip its yoke and drop back into familiar patterns at a moment's notice.
I have resolved to take the path of service as a means of cultivating the brahmaviharas and to prepare the mind for true and liberating wisdom. Yet, at its very first test, I was ready to throw it all away. And for what? So that I could enjoy the spoiled fruit of resentment? Clearly, it is I and no one else who is deficient in understanding and compassion.
May I keep close watch on the mind as one would watch a child playing by a busy street so that it is not swept up and carried away or smashed asunder by the barreling and wayward traffic of its thoughts.
Posted in Abhaya-cariya, Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Family Life, Theravada | Tags: compassion, Mind, resolve, service
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