lotusinthemud

Your Fluid Sense of Self

 

When we look carefully, we discover that the sense of self is not a particle that never changes, but rather a flow, a wave of thought and feeling that can increase and decrease and is therefore not permanent.

~ Shinzen Young, “Brief Teachings”

Applying the Teachings

 

It’s not enough to simply hear the teachings of the Buddha, even if they resonate with you.

There’s still a requirement to apply those teachings in your actual, ordinary life.

~ Tuere Sala, “Brief Teachings”

Investigate the Living Present

 

Our mind wanders incessantly, but our body and senses are always in the present.

To investigate our embodied experience is to investigate the living present.

~ Anne C. Klein, “Revisiting Ritual”

Peace is Every Step

 

 

how can I trust myself?

During this answer, Thay refers to the Kalama Sutra

 

 

some thoughts on practicing in a time of adversity

I wrote this in 2017 - of course, I had no idea of how 2020 would turn out. Who could have imagined it? I've made a few changes

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These are some thoughts both with regard to yourself and for supporting others in dark times. They are based on my own experience.

Sometimes we just feel totally overwhelmed. We feel disconnected from faith. We question everything. We walk or sit to practice and it seems like a waste of time....how authentic or useful is this ridiculous thing I'm doing?, we think. Whirling thoughts fill our head. Sometimes there can be times of darkness to the extent that it feels hard to even take the next breath....

First, have faith that although this is a difficult period of time (and often for very understandable reasons) that all will be well and indeed *is* well - the sun is still there, even behind the dark clouds. If this has happened before you will have the experience that the faith was there even when you couldn't feel it. The spiritual path isn't always bliss! Sometimes it's very mundane and just 'doing it', going through the motions. Sometimes one seems to have lost the way...we all have, to greater or lesser degrees, experiences of 'the dark night of the soul'. Questioning, deep inward inquiry, is good! Remember Shakyamuni's advice to the Kalamas. Think about the basic Buddhist teachings and why you have chosen this path. Why it made sense to you in the first place.

Honen’s “One-Page Document”

Honen’s “One-Page Document”:

On January 23, 1212, just two days before his death, Honen, the founder of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism, was asked by his disciple Genchi to provide a record of his essential teaching. The result was the Ichimai-kishomon, or “One-Page Document.”

What does it say? 

It says to recite the nembutsu and believe in the Pure Land — that is all. That is why in Japan it has been called “easy practice.” “Easy” because, unlike “hard practices” such as Zen, it can be done without prior study. Easy because it can be performed by anyone, anywhere, at any time. But then, things aren’t always what they seem.

In reality, “hard practice” is easy; “easy practice” is hard.

Think of it this way: It is not so difficult to believe that, with many years of meditation practice, you might eventually become enlightened — if only somewhat. In theory at least, it makes a kind of sense. After all, “You get what you pay for.” Thus, “hard practice” is easy. It is easy because you can believe in it. Easy because you can justify it with the same cause-and-effect logic you apply to the world.

Dharmavidya's Buddhist Podcasts and Zoom groups

Dharmavidya writes, on issuing today's podcast:

A full list of podcasts in June is :: here

To receive the podcasts  :: contact Dharmavidya


GROUPS NEWS

There are  three "friendship, support and learning" zoom groups.. All three meetings are 90 minutes long.  Do come and join in.

Amida Shu Interest Group
On Sunday at 11am Rome time (11.00)
This group is open to anybody, but will be most relevant to people who receive these podcasts.  There is often a talk about a topic related to one of the recent podcasts, plus time for discussion in break-out groups and for questions and sharing in the whole group. This group meets each week at the same time.

Amida Shu Friendship Group
On Sunday at 8pm Rome time (20.00)
A similarly open group with a more conversational style.  Topics include podcast themes, current affairs and Pureland practice. This group meets each week at the same time.

Amida Shu Refuge Group
On alternate Saturdays and Mondays at 2pm Rome time (14.00)
This group is for Amida Shu members and others who have taken refuge and is primarily a sangha building group.  This group meets on Saturdays once per fortnight and on Mondays in the intervening week.

If you would like to attend any of these groups (or to receive the podcasts) :: let Dharmavidya know and he will send you the join code if you don't already have it.

There is now an Amida Interest Group meeting on Thursdays at 6pm (Rome) in Italian!  Contact  Angela Romani or myself for details.  And if you prefer Dutch, do contact Vajrapala, or I can put you in touch.  Also I'm still trying to find a few more people in the east (Asia/Australia) who might be interested in a fortnightly Buddhist Psychology interest group.

OTHER STUFF
On the ecological problem and how to solve the dilemmas that this creates for society, there are some good ideas in this little film from BBC
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08hppxt/how-the-dutch-are-reshaping-their-post-pandemic-utopia
As she says, the "Doughnut idea" only really defines the problem; it does not, in itself, provide the answers.  Nonetheless, changing goals and changing the way we think about things can yield results eventually and help policy makers.

Namo Amida Bu
Dharmavidya

Dukkha is Inevitable ~ Dharmavidya

Podcast 7 April 2020

Amida%20Shu%20Podcast%202020%200407.mp3

On the occasion of Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, being admitted to intensive care with COVID19

:: link

Eightfold Path In Times Of Pandemic ~ Dharmavidya

Dharmavidya: 

1. Right view: This too shall pass.  

2. Right thought: Compassion for those who suffer.  Gratitude for simple things.

3. Right speech: Don’t spread alarm.  Stay calm. Keep in touch with friends and loved ones by wifi.

4. Right action: Do good for others or use this time for retreat.  Consider what is essential and meaningful. Social distance.  Frugality.

5. Right livelihood: Volunteer if you can.  Stay home if you can’t. 

6. Right effort: Be patient with those with whom one is locked down.  Be content if you are alone.  Have fortitude if you are ill.

7. Right mindfulness:  Remember the Dharma in all that you do.  Namo Amitabhaya.  

8. Right samadhi:  Let love pervade.

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