Six Perfections

One of the most powerful mindfulness practices in Buddhism is what I call 'putting it in neutral'. Hard to describe, but you basically remain impassive like a piece of wood when confronted with adversity and/or desire. Want to get sad? You can't, you're just a piece of wood. Want to get angry? You can't, you're just a piece of wood. A pebble in a pond is another good visualization.

Negative mind states anchor themselves to your psyche via false reasoning and, on a deeper level, false notions of a substantial, independent self. Once you have directly realized this truth, the total abandonment of any mental state becomes instantaneous, culminating in a mind which simply no longer entertains such false notions. It's like having an 'off' switch for depression, despair, loneliness etc. Doing this is easy, TEACHING it on the other hand is the masterpiece and life work of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. -E

Shantideva

Some do wrong out of delusion, while others, being deluded, become angry. Among them, whom do we call innocent, and whom do we call guilty?

Why did I previously act in such a way that I am now harmed by others? All are subject to their actions. Who am I to alter this?

Realizing this, I shall strive for virtues in such a way that all will have loving thoughts toward each other.

When fire spreads from one burning house to another, one should bundle up the straw and the like, take it out, and discard it.

Likewise, when the mind burns with the fire of hatred due to attachment, one should immediately cast it aside because of the fear of burning the body of merit.

Posted by Practice at 6:18 PM | Permalink | Comments

Discourse On Ready Eloquence

...the World-Honored One smiled graciously and, as all Buddhas do when they smile, emitted from his mouth green, yellow, red, white, violet, and crystalline lights. The lights illuminated innumerable, boundless Buddha-lands, outshining the brilliance of the palaces of gods and demons, and the lights of suns and moons. Then the lights returned and entered the top of the Buddhas head.

Posted by Practice at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments

Good idea to not be proud because you hold knowledge of a view, no matter how profound the view or knowledge. Bare in mind the ultimate in all things. -E

Discourse On Ready Eloquence

If it is because the profundity of dependent generation is profound that you are said to be profound, consider that there is no dependent generation at all!

Posted by Practice at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments

Good Essay. Approx half of all bankruptcy claims are filed as a result of medical expenses. -E

"I ask, how can a medical system that has no recognition of the humanity of patients expect to find success treating those patients? It can't. And that's why modern (western) medicine has failed. Under its watch, we have seen the proliferation of the most diseased population ever observed in the history of civilization. All that medical technology, you see, is worthless if you don't have ethics guiding you in its use."

Link

Posted by Practice at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments

Lankavatara Sutra

Like a mirage in the spring-time, the mind is found bewildered; animals imagine water but there is no reality to it.

Thus the vijnana-seed is evolved and the world comes into view; the ignorant imagine it is born, just like the dim-eyed ones perceive things in the darkness.

Since beginningless time, the ignorant are found transmigrating through the paths, enwrapped in their attachment to existence; as a wedge is induced by another wedge, they are led to the abandonment (of their wrappage).

By regarding the world as always like a magically moving corpse, or a machine, or like a dream, or a lightning, or a cloud; the tripple continuation is torn asunder and one is emancipated.

Labels: Emptiness

Posted by Practice at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments

A day of great news. These countries are truly impressive. I have doubts that Americans could pull something like this off, but we have in the past. -E

Thai airports reopening after PM ousted by court - Link

Posted by Practice at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments

And we dare to call them a third world country. Look at how politically and socially mature their leaders can be... Also - see the below comment extracted from americanbuddhist.net. -E

"This sounds like a most reasonable response. If only the USA had taken the time to fully establish what happened on 9/11 and then, and only then, moved slowly and deliberately and with minimal violence to bring the perpetrators--whoever they may have been--to justice. The truth of the matter is we do not even know for certain who did 9/11 because we never investigated it. Think Osama did it? Then listen to this interview between Tony Snow and Dick Cheney wherein Cheney says "...we've never made the case, or argued the case that somehow Osama bin Laden was directly involved in 9/11." ABN"


India to answer Mumbai attacks with talk not troops - Link

Posted by Practice at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments

Click on the image below to enlarge...

Labels: Images

Posted by Practice at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

Lankavatara Sutra

...with all the teachings disclosed in all the sutras, they are for all beings for the gratification of their own discriminating minds. They are not the truth-preserving statements meant for noble wisdom to grasp. For this reason, Mahamati, be in conformity with the sense and be not engrossed in the word-teaching.

Labels: Teachings

Posted by Practice at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments

Lankavatara Sutra

Then Mahamati said: Again, Blessed One, are words themselves the highest reality? or is what is expressed in words the highest reality?

The Blessed One replied: Mahamati, words are not the highest reality, nor is what is expressed in words the highest reality. Why? Because the highest reality is an exalted state of bliss, and as it cannot be entered into by mere statements regarding it, words are not the highest reality. Mahamati, the highest reality is to be attained by the inner realization of noble wisdom; it is not a state of word-discrimination; therefore, discrimination does not express the highest reality. And then, Mahamati, words are subject to birth and destruction; they are unsteady, mutually conditioning, and are produced by the law of causation.

Labels: Sutra

Posted by Practice at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments

Go if you havn't heard him speak yet. Go if you have. -E

Dalai Lama Teaching Schedule - 2009

Lecture in Santa Barbara, CA, USA on April 24: His Holiness will give a lecture on The Nature of Mind organized by the University of Santa Barbara at the UCSB Events Center.

Public Talk in Santa Barbara, CA, USA on April 24: His Holiness will give a public talk on Ethics for Our Time organized by the University of Santa Barbara at the UCSB Events Center.

Labels: Event, Teachings

Posted by Practice at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments

Manjusri "How To Kill With The Sword Of Wisdom"

Son of heaven, if a monk selects one practice from all Dharma teachings, that is, the doctrine of non-arising, and thoroughly complies with it, he is said to truly practice meditation. Moreover, (if he knows that) there is not a single dharma that can be grasped, he is said to practice meditation. What does he not grasp? He does not grasp this era or that era, the three realms, and so on including all dharmas. (Abiding in) such equality, he is said to practice meditation. Son of heaven, if one who practices meditation does not respond to any dharma, neither unifying himself with it nor separating from it, he is said to (truly) practice meditation.

Labels: Meditation

Posted by Practice at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Good Point... -E

Sutra On "The Discourse On Ready Eloquence"

Then (Bodhisattva) Pure Giving said to Revata, "Virtuous one, the World-Honored One says that you stand first among those who practice meditation. When you practice meditation, do you reply on your mind or not? If you rely on your mind to enter meditation, then your meditation is unreal, since your mind is unreal, like an illusion. If you enter meditation without relying on your mind, then such external objects as grasses, trees, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits should also be able to achieve meditation. Why? Because they too have no mind."

Labels: Emptiness

Posted by Practice at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments

Back from vacation... Let the posting resume -E

Sutra On "The Discourse On Ready Eloquence"

Ever since I saw the World-Honored One,
I resolved to become a Buddha.
Your Majesty, never have I seen or heard
That a Bodhisattva relaxes his efforts for an instant.

Labels: Aspiration

Posted by Practice at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments

Please read and consider... -E

Thich Nhat Hanh

1) Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.

2) Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout your entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.

3) Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrow-mindedness.

4) Do not avoid suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering, including personal contact, visits, images and sounds. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.

5) Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of your life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.

6) Do not maintain anger or hatred. Learn to penetrate and transform them when they are still seeds in your consciousness. As soon as they arise, turn your attention to your breath in order to see and understand the nature of your hatred.

7) Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. Be in touch with what is wondrous, refreshing, and healing both inside and around you. Plant seeds of joy, peace, and understanding in yourself in order to facilitate the work of transformation in the depths of your consciousness.

8) Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

9) Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest or to impress people. Do not utter words that cause division and hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things of which you are not sure. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.

10) Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community, however, should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.

11) Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. Select a vocation that helps realise your ideal of compassion.

12) Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and prevent war.

13) Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others, but prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.

14) Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect. Do not look on your body as only an instrument. Preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of the Way. (For brothers and sisters who are not monks and nuns:) Sexual expression should not take place without love and commitment. In sexual relations, be aware of future suffering that may be caused. To preserve the happiness of others, respect the rights and commitments of others. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.

Labels: List

Posted by Practice at 8:20 AM | Permalink | Comments

Thich Nhat Hahns delivers such profundity with incredible grace. A living Buddha. -E

A Rose For Your Pocket - Thich Nhat Hanh

Father's work is enormous, as huge as a mountain. Mother's devotion is overflowing, like water from a mountain spring . Maternal love is our first taste of love, the origin of all feelings of love. Our mother is the teacher who first teaches us love, the most important subject in life. Without my mother I could never have known how to love. Thanks to her I can love my neighbours. Thanks to her I can love all living beings. Through her I acquired my first notions of understanding and compassion.

Mother is the foundation of all love, and many religious traditions recognise this and pay deep honour to a maternal figure, the Virgin Mary, the goddess Kwan Yin. Hardly an infant has opened her mouth to cry without her mother already running to the cradle. Mother is a gentle and sweet spirit who makes unhappiness and worries disappear. When the word "mother" is uttered, already we feel our hearts overflowing with love. From love, the distance to belief and action is very short....

...If a gift such as the presence of your own mother doesn't satisfy you, even if you are president of a large corporation or king of the universe, you probably will not be satisfied. I know that the Creator is not happy, for the Creator arises spontaneously and does not have the good fortune to have a mother.



Full Article Link

Labels: Practice, Teachings

Posted by Practice at 7:42 AM | Permalink | Comments

Lankavatara Sutra

"It is like seeing ones own image reflected in a mirror, or one's own shadow in the water, or hearing an echo in the valley. People grasping their own shadows of discrimination uphold the discrimination of dharma and non-dharma and, failing to carry out the abandonment of the dualism, they go on discriminating and never attain tranquility. By tranquility is meant oneness, and oneness gives birth to the highest Samadhi, which is gained by entering into the womb of Tathagatahood, which is the realm of noble wisdom realised in one's inmost self."

Labels: Emptiness

Posted by Practice at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

Lankavatara Sutra

"The Lord of Lanka was then immediately awakened from his reflection, feeling a revulsion in his mind and realizing that the world was nothing but his own mind: he was settled in the realm of non-discrimination, was urged by the stock of his past good deeds, acquired the cleverness of understanding all the text, obtained the faculty of seeing things as they are, was no more dependent upon others, observed things excellently with his own wisdom, gained the insight that was not of discursive reasoning, was no more dependent upon others, became a great Yogin of the discipline, was able to manifest himself in all excellent forms, got thoroughly acquainted with all skillful means, had the knowledge of the characteristic aspects of every stage, by which he would surmount it skillfully, was delighted to look into the self-nature of Citta, Manas, Manovijnana, got a view whereby he could cut himself loose from the triple continuation, had the knowledge of disposing of every argument of the philosophers on causation, thoroughly understood the Tathagate-garbha, the stage of Buddhahood, the inmost self, found himself abiding in the Buddha-knowledge, when suddenly a voice was heard from the sky, saying, "It is to be know by oneself.""

Labels: Emptiness

Posted by Practice at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments

This is not new(s) per-say, but its good to hear these monks perspective on living. Located in San Diego, CA. I will be staying here shortly, indefinitely. -E

Labels: Video

Posted by Practice at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments

Sutra On How To Kill With The Sword Of Wisdom

Then, Manjusri said to the demons, "Papiyans, take your eyes for example. What is the eye? What is the though of the eye? Where is the attachment of the eye, the form of the eye, the entanglement of the eye, the hindrance of the eye, the notion of the eye, the ego of the eye, the reliance of the eye, the joy of the eye, the play-words of the eye, the ego-objects of the eye, the protection of the eye, the impression of the eye, the grasping of the eye, the abandoning of the eye, the discrimination of the eye, the cessation of the eye, and so on, including the coming and going of the eye? All these notions cherished in your mind become demonic deeds and obstructions of your realm. So is it with the ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind; forms, sounds, odors, taste, textures, and dharmas.

Labels: Philosophy, Practice

Posted by Practice at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments