The Planet's Sangha: Buddhist discussions, thought, etc.

[Linus]

Very excellent reference. I do like that quote, Oblivia.

I've noticed on Huffington Post Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche has been writing (I'm actually waiting for his Rebel Buddha book to be released).

His article on Emotions and accepting them is interesting: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dzogch..._b_598417.html

[oblivia]

Originally Posted by Linus

Very excellent reference. I do like that quote, Oblivia.

I've noticed on Huffington Post Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche has been writing (I'm actually waiting for his Rebel Buddha book to be released).

His article on Emotions and accepting them is interesting: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dzogch..._b_598417.html

I like this article as well. I've done a lot of work with my emotional responses/patterns. Have you heard of the concept of samskaras? That's how I relate to my 'patterns'. There's some fantastic articles about them. My work revolves around replacing negative or unhealthy samskaras with positive or healthy ones to essentially reprogram my behaviour.

[Andrew, Jr.]

I am really not afraid of dying, because in that it is like being recycled like an aluminum can. What I am afraid of is being terminally ill and having no support. After what I just experienced, I now know what to expect from my family. Nothing. I am on my own. And that is one bitter pill to take - like so many of us know first hand.

[oblivia]

Originally Posted by Andrew, Jr.

I am really not afraid of dying, because in that it is like being recycled like an aluminum can. What I am afraid of is being terminally ill and having no support. After what I just experienced, I now know what to expect from my family. Nothing. I am on my own. And that is one bitter pill to take - like so many of us know first hand.

Ouch. That's difficult. Family is difficult. I'm big on the concept of choosing my Family. family is what I was born into, but Chosen Family has earned the right to be there - does that make sense? It empowers me to surround myself with people who truly love me and who are healthy for me without forgetting where I came from.

[Andrew, Jr.]

Yes, but I believe in constant forgiveness. I should always be forgiving. No matter what the situation is. Not for them, but for me.

[oblivia]

I don't think having a Chosen Family precludes the concept of forgiveness. But I agree that forgiving is a very healing thing to do for one's self.

[Martina]

i am currently reading Pema Chodron's No Time to Lose, which is her explication of Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva. i recommend it.

i recommend all of her books.

[roy g biv]

I love this thread. Thank you, Linus, for starting it and thanks to all who have contributed thus far. I look forward to more.

[Sparx1_1]

Originally Posted by oblivia

I don't think having a Chosen Family precludes the concept of forgiveness. But I agree that forgiving is a very healing thing to do for one's self.

Forgiving is very healing but that does not mean you should forget or put yourself into the same situation again and again. Sometimes even when you forgive you also have to move on.

[Andrew, Jr.]

I never thought of forgiveness as being for other people but for myself. It is like turning the other cheek. To some I am just a dormat for them to walk all over. I will never understand that. I think that after watching two people I loved dearly die horrible deaths from cancer recently, I don't take life for granite. Life is so short. People are people no matter where you go, online or in real life. You have to be comfortable in your own skin, and be proud of who and what you are, and have a faith that you can rely on no matter what it is.

[Linus]

Time-lapse mandala: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0...ml?ir=Religion

Absolutely beautiful and certain does highlight how complex life is and yet, how transparent.

[oblivia]

June 12, 2010
Tricycle Daily Dharma
Meditation is what you make it

For the first two thousand years of its existence, Buddhism was mostly confined to monasteries with strict rules, timetables, and hierarchies. In contrast, Zen in America today finds the majority of its followers in the lay world, where most of us have families, jobs, and homes. Our zendos are places to visit, perhaps daily, but more likely once or twice a week: refuges, perhaps, from the “real world” of money and responsibility.

Along with the “layification” of Zen has come a sharp distinction, for most of us, between meditation and the rest of life. While the monks of old lived and breathed, day in day out, year in year out, in an atmosphere of stillness and contemplation— their entire lives were one unbroken meditation!—we modern practitioners stop what we’re doing when we sit and restart our everyday lives when the bell signals that time’s up. The result of this is an apparent dichotomy: either I’m meditating (on my zafu, often in the zendo, sometimes at home), or I’m not meditating (the rest of the time).

What’s lost in this either/or distinction is the idea that meditation can be anything I choose to make it. Sure, I can define meditation rather narrowly as the time spent on my cushion. But if I do so, I’m elevating sitting over everyday awareness and thus diluting the possibilities for all those other quotidian opportunities for mindfulness.

- Barry Evans, "I Like it... but is it Meditation?" (Summer 2009)

[Lady_Wu]

"As long as the sun rises
and your heart beats
Tao is at hand" ---Deng Ming Tao

Why do we look for Tao in mysterious and obscure places? Why must we sit in meditation for hours? As long as we breath, Tao is here within us. We might only be dimly aware of this, but that dim awareness does not change Tao. Being in nature will help; meditation will help:both help bring us to a better awareness of Tao. Even if we do neither of these things, Tao is right at hand. Do we feel, do we sense? Then we have direct access to Tao. Don't delay: feel for it, sense it! Tao is breath; Tao is now!
Lady_Wu

[oblivia]

"Although the world's religions may differ fundamentally from one other in their metaphysical views, when it comes to their teachings on the actual practice of ethics, there is great convergence. All the faith traditions emphasize a virtuous way of being, the purification of the mind from negative thoughts and impulses, the doing of good deeds, and living a meaningful life." ~ Dalai Lama

I have the Dalai Lama friended on facebook. It amuses me to type that out. But this lovely gem was on his wall today.


"June 13, 2010
Tricycle Daily Dharma
Stand on your own two feet

When it's time for a child to start walking, a mother needs to let her child walk. She needs to let the child lose his or her balance, fall down, and then find balance once again. Alone, the child needs to get up and stand on his or her own two feet. Although children need protection, we need to have confidence in their potential to flourish. We don’t want to hold them captive by our own fears and doubts—this creates the unhealthy dependence we have been talking about. Letting children immerse themselves in a challenging situation or obstacle for a while gives the child confidence. It gives the mother confidence, too. It’s one of the early steps a mother takes in letting the child become a citizen of the world."

- Dzigar Kongtrul, "Old Relationships, New Possibilities" (Winter 2008)

Wow, this one was exactly what I needed to hear today - the message in the article in its entirety (linked above). Wow. So powerful. I will be thinking on Lenchak.

[oblivia]

June 15, 2010
Tricycle Daily Dharma
Watch Your Words

Years ago, when I began traveling the Buddha’s path, I was surprised by the emphasis placed on the practice of skillful speech. The Buddha considered the way we communicate with each other to be so important that he taught the practice of skillful speech alongside such lofty teachings as skillful view, thinking, action, and mindfulness as a pillar of the Ennobling Eightfold Way.

The Buddha saw that we are always engaged in relationships, starting with that most significant relationship: the one with ourselves. On the cushion we notice how we speak to ourselves—sometimes with compassion, sometimes with judgment or impatience. Our words are a powerful medium with which we can bring happiness or cause suffering.

- Allan Lokos, "Skillful Speech" (Winter 2008)

[Lady_Wu]

when people are rid of convention of how
to love, act and cherish
then they will naturally hold their families dear

rid of knowledge, they would be wise

Lady_Wu

[Linus]

I've started to re-look back into the Buddhism I had started in NYC. One of the things I'm looking into is being able to meditate at home and even on the road. I've been investigating online sanghas to help me refocus my energies again. The one I had be a part of before (at lioncity.net) closed and is embroiled in a lawsuit (seems weird for a buddhist community but such is the online life).

I was curious if any other Buddhists knew of good online Buddhist communities.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by Linus

I've started to re-look back into the Buddhism I had started in NYC. One of the things I'm looking into is being able to meditate at home and even on the road. I've been investigating online sanghas to help me refocus my energies again. The one I had be a part of before (at lioncity.net) closed and is embroiled in a lawsuit (seems weird for a buddhist community but such is the online life).

I was curious if any other Buddhists knew of good online Buddhist communities.

Check this out:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Chakra-Meditations-Ben-Scott/dp/B00004VKLJ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344620694&sr=8-2&keywords=tibetan+sound+healing+cd"]Amazon.com: Tibetan Chakra Meditations: Ben Scott, Christa Michell: Music[/ame]

I have it loaded in my iphone. I listen to the sound but also visualize the colors and symbols (Chakras). It's very powerful and healing. Let me know what you think.

I'm more eclectic in my spirituality but I do find tools within Buddhism and Taoism to be essential to it all.