Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 07/26/2017

Facebook Fast

When Trump was elected I found myself in a horrifying and strange new peace and Facebook proved to be the best way to commiserate and organize. Over time, however, my participation has evolved and it has become little more than a soap box for me to screen my views to the world. I have, increasingly, felt uncomfortable with the very idea of posting there despite those few friends who encourage me to do so. Honestly, though, Facebook has become a one man ego show for me and that's not something with which I'm comfortable.

As a result, I'm going to refrain from making posts there for the time being. An initial day of thirty days seems suitable to begin with. Truly, if there are really pressing issues to be dealt with, the short form posts and link slinging off Facebook are likely not the best ways to deal with it.

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Posted in Buddhism, Dhamma, Fasting, Nekkhama, Theravada | Tags: ego, Facebook, trump

Posted by: Michael | 07/25/2017

Boundaries & Forgiveness

This morning a thought occurred to me: why don't I make an effort to truly let go of the hurts of yesterday, forgive as I would want to be forgives and move on without the burden? It seems such a simple thing but I have neglected to do it so often, choosing instead to impose an artificial limit on what I was willing " to take." This morning I have firmly decided that, having taken, I will not keep but will forgive all and start anew.

And yet, I'm not alone in this world and just because I'm willing to forgive doesn't mean others in my life are. In this respect, I have also decided that I can't allow the opinions of others to hide my actions. When someone has formed a negative opinion of you, it seems like the best you can do is to treat them as you would want to be treated. In other words, do fit then what you would wish someone would do for you, especially when it confess to household and familial responsibilities. After that, one you have satisfied your own conscience, simply refuse to take criticisms or negativity from them just as the Lord Buddha refused the abuse of Akkosa the Brahmin.

I feel that this is one area where I have been deficient and owe a lot to those in my life who have taught me just how empty praise and blame truly are. For so long I have wanted to seen like the good one, the responsible one that I've kept myself hostage to the viees and opinions of others. And, while it is important to listen wisely to the criticisms and suggestions of anyone in your life, it seems to me that trying desperately to please is a recipe for disaster.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Forgiveness, Theravada | Tags: boundaries, disagreements, home life, marriage, praise and blame

Posted by: Michael | 07/24/2017

Why Fast

Yesterday was the uposatha which means, among other things, that I tool no solid food after midday. Today is Monday, during which I have taken up the Islamic form of dating until nightfall. Since one of these requirements of the uposatha is that I not break fast until sunrise I have had to do without since Islamic fasting proscribes eating after the first light.

Why am I describing all of this? Better yet, why am I even doing it? For me, food has become one of the last refuges for sensual indulgence that I allow myself and suffice it to say that I often over-indulge. Fasting is one way to curb that tendency and yet there is more to it.

Aside from my ideas to prepare for the coming of rough times, the major reason why I fast is to strengthen my resolve and wherewithal. If I can maintain my practice and composure while stressed then surely I can do so under normal circumstances. Interestingly, I have also noticed a tendency to engage in depressive thinking when I realize I won't be eating for a dozen or so more hours. When I step back and consider it in the light of reason it seems silly but it is precisely this kind of reflexive thought that leads to mindless consumption.

I am compiling a list of petit ascetic practices to not only help me to toughen up but to highlight those areas on need of attention. You can find them above in the Daily Practice tab. May we all strive on ardently until we win a foothold in liberation.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Dukkha, Fasting, Islam, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: acesis, asceticism, endurance, toughness

Posted by: Michael | 07/23/2017

Happy Uposatha – Viriya Parami

Image result for ant carrying food

This straight and Noble Way has now been clearly shown:
Don’t hesitate, keep walking forward, and do not turn around.
Urge yourself to advance further by your own energy!
Only thus will you obviously approach, and attain Nibbāna!

Theragatha 637

Today is an uposatha day and I have spent the last two days practicing as much formal, seated meditation as I felt able. It is not often I have the opportunity to do so and I felt the need to ratchet up my effort. The only problem is that my legs have started to give me some pain. As a result, I decided that a good alternative would be to do some serious walking meditation.

For whatever reason, I have never been a great fan of walking meditation, perhaps because it’s always been harder to get into a state of concentration while doing it. At this point, however, I felt I had no choice. I decided to just do “bud-dho” with each step and after about a half-an-hour was no closer to saadhi. However, a voice in my head reminded me that viriya (energy, persistent effort) is not only a parami but also is a factor in the following:

the five spiritual faculties (indriya)

the five powers (bala)

the ten or six “perfections” (pāramitās)

the seven factors of enlightenment (bojjhaṅga).^[6]

So, whereas I may have previously thrown in the towel since I wasn’t “getting” what I wanted out of the practice I instead decided that I would finish the 50 minute session as a practice of viriya parami.

I’m grateful for today because the practice served as a great reminder that even though my samadhi is often non-existent it doesn’t mean I can’t work on other factors of the path.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Parami, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: effort, enery, manly effort, viriya

Posted by: Michael | 07/22/2017

Charity and Prejudice

Today I decided to use the entire day as a kind of solo metta retreat. Things have been going well and at a certain point I decided to head outside to buy some self-ashesive laminates to protect some chanting sheets I’d printed. I had decided that I wanted to help out any homeless people I saw with food or drinks so I set out with the intention in mind.

Within a half block I found the first group of people and I came up against my own wall of prejudice: “they don’t need help, they’ve already got food” or ” these are just runaway druggies from Long Island.” And so I made it all the way to Union Square before I decided the best thing to do would be to buy four bottles of water and then give them away. I think because I didn’t need to worry about what I would give, the fear and prejudice was gone: who doesn’t deserve water?

In the end, it was a joyful reprieve to be able to talk to and help (in a really small way) some of our less fortunate brothers trying to scrape by on the street. May I practice giving without prejudice and learn to give unstintingly.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dana, Dhamma, Parami, Theravada | Tags: charity, homeless, prejudice

Posted by: Michael | 07/21/2017

Abhaya-cariya Aspirations

May my speech be ever pleasant, never harsh, belittling or disparaging, even in disagreement. May I completely accept all criticism, knowing it is the result of my past kamma.

May I protect and care for all living beings. May I be a shield to the vulnerable and a friend to the downtrodden.

May I confess my shortcomings, forgive all wrongs and seek forgiveness for any harm I have done.

May I welcome adversity with joy, recognizing it as an unparalleled means for training the heart. May I seek out and wholeheartedly engage with situations and people that I find difficult and troublesome.

May I not complain about or find fault with any situation or person. May I bear heat, cold, hunger, insect bites and all pains as is befitting of a son of the Conqueror.

May I give once a day as a practice of generosity, renunciation and compassion. May I give whatever is asked of me as long as it causes no harm.

May I refrain from intentionally exposing myself to any media that inflame lust, hatred or delusion. May I restrain my gaze and allow it to fall only once upon any attractive forms.

May I refrain from being alone with any marriageable woman who is not my partner.

May I practice humility and modesty, concealing my virtues and practices from others.

May I repay cruelty with kindness, miserliness with charity and ignorance with understanding.

Every morning I do my best to recite a form of the aspirations listed above as a way of refocusing my attention on areas of my life and practice that I feel need more work. As I also try to reflect on and adhere to these aspirations, my relationship to them changes as I see what works and what doesn’t. I believe the last time I comprehensively updated them was almost a year ago so maybe it’s time. I hope they’re of some use to anyone who happens upon them. Every good blessing to you!

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Posted in Abhaya-cariya, Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Sila, Theravada | Tags: aspirations, precepts

Posted by: Michael | 07/19/2017

The Advantages of Discomfort

It seems to me that minor physical sufferings have a truly salutary effect on both body and mind. Over the past month I have been reducing my consumption of food and begun to observe Islamic style days on Mondays and Thursdays. The treaty of the days of the week I limit myself to two meals a day, skipping breakfast so as not to miss a dinner with my family. More than the physical benefits I have often found myself with more energy and a more reverential attitude. At times, during fasting, it almost seems like a large, silent space opens up inside where I can see things in greater contrast and finer details.

Another thing I have taken up I’d the practice of cold showers. I had found in the past that I was inclined to waste lots of water while indulging in the pleasant sensations. When the water is frigid I have no such compulsion and I use only water is necessary to clean the body.

It’s little things like this that help to invigorate my practice and, at the very least, leave me feeling clean and ready to give my best to it. Surely, these types of petit renunciations aren’t for everyone and may even seem silly but such are my predilections.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Fasting, Islam, Nekkhama, Sila | Tags: cold showers, skipping meals

Posted by: Michael | 07/18/2017

A Scale Over the Heart

For reasons that completely escape me, there is an almost cyclical pattern to the practice. At times, I am able to connect quickly and deeply to metta and karuna while at others, it feels as though a scale had grown over my heart. I have a sneaking suspicion that this scale had grown there to protect me from the discomfort of opening to the pain of others but I may be wrong. As always, the only sure thing is to keep practicing, too keep trying different techniques and approaches to soften and remove the scales.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Karuna, Metta, Theravada | Tags: blockage, heart, practice

Posted by: Michael | 07/16/2017

What Is My Part?

In working out our obligations and responsibilities to those close to us, it seems to me especially difficult to see where our responsibility ebbs and another’s begins. When we ask for concessions to be made so that we can discharge our other responsibilities and a loved one process to make a decision based upon that which they later regret, what is our part? I’m having a hard time teasing this apart but it occurs to me that although I may have influenced the range and tenor of obvious choices, the responsibility for choosing lies with the one who chose.

My apologies for not clarifying the circumstances more but I just don’t feel comfortable doing so. Clearly, the decision my loved one made had left me saddened and regretful because I feel they have thrown away a great opportunity. They have already expressed to me that they blame me and will resent me for what they view as my having forced them to the conclusion ay which they arrived. Praise and blame are not fit for attention so it is not that which worries me, it’s the possibility that I caused harm where I did not have to.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: confusion, responsibility

Posted by: Michael | 07/16/2017

The Nine-Point Meditation on Death

The Tibetan Buddhist tradition contains an extremely effective meditation on death called the nine-point meditation on death. It is presented with three root truths, three reasons for each truth, and three conclusions that follow from them:

Root: Death is certain. No being has ever escaped death.
I am constantly becoming closer to death. There is not much time to practice Dharma.

Conclusion: I must practice Dharma.

Root: The time of death is uncertain.
The lifespan of human beings is not fixed.

More conditions endanger life than support it.
This body is extremely fragile.

Conclusion: I must practice Dharma now.

Root: Nothing can help at the time of death except my Dharma practice.
Wealth can’t help.
Friends and relatives can’t help.
Your body can’t help.

Conclusion: I must practice Dharma purely.

Excerpt From: “Wholesome Fear: Transforming Your Anxiety About Impermanence and Death” by Thubten Zopa.

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Posted in Dhamma