Best Of
Re: Awareness of Breath
Hello again, dear friends.
One year left to go in my training and I've had to do two Dharma talks. Against my better judgement I let them record the 2nd one. I am still getting my sea legs, if you will. The service and chanting portion was not included (lucky you) and I was still a bit nervous as anyone can tell. I need improvement in my delivery and am still relying on some minor notes to keep on track. I wasn't sure if I should share it here as I'm putting myself out there a bit but like it is said, sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone. My teacher will be retiring in a couple of years and she says I need to get used to it.
So... Here goes. (I hope I remember how to link here.
Re: Awareness of Breath
Probably writing another thesis, hugging another greengage tree or pretending only peace for the Haven dwelling...
These fakir Buddhists are no longer helping my transition to COE (Church Of England or is it Chavs Of Empathy?) 
The Self-Congratulating Fruit
It is related in the family of the Jan Fishanis that a certain Emir, attended by a substantial retinue, journeyed from Arabia to see the great Khan. When he arrived, he was treated with honour and given costly presents. Many of the court of Jan Fishan expected that after such a journey the prince would ask innumerable questions, or else remain mute and try to absorb wisdom through companionship with the great Khan.
But the Khan said, just before the Emir was ceremonially announced, ‘Watch this interchange, for it is only rarely that one experiences such a thing.’
The Emir entered and said:
‘Confirm me in my Emirate, for I am not of the Family of the Hashimites, and it is from your ancestors that all nobility receives its rank.’
Jan Fishan said:
‘Do you wish ceremony and courtesy and the verification of rank, or do you seek an answer to a question?’
‘Would that I could have both, but if only one is to be given, I desire an answer to my question,’ said the Emir.
‘Since you have asked, with absence of greed, for only one, I shall give you both,’ said Jan Fishan Khan, ‘and I shall confirm or deny your title in the answer to your philosophical question.’
The Emir asked:
‘This is my question. Why do so many Sufis make light of the great deeds, the heroism, the patience and high-mindedness which is the heritage and the glory of the Arab?’
Jan Fishan said:
‘And here is the answer, which will not only explain our position but will also show you your own true position as a nobleman among the Arabs.
‘We discount, and we even deride at times, the qualities upon which so many men pride themselves because those very qualities should be the minimum, not the maximum, attainable by man. If a man is a hero, or a patient one, or devout, or hospitable, or has any of the other qualities – this is the point from which he starts. Is he a beast, that he should be proud if he learns to conduct himself well in relation to others? Is he a fruit, that people should remember his name and always seek others of the same type? No, he is someone who should be ashamed that he has not always been worthy, and should be grateful that he is capable of great things.’
After this the nobleman abandoned the title of Emir, saying, ‘Emir is the word we use for the kind of man who is at the bottom, so why should I need it to describe me? What we call an ordinary man, with few qualities, is not even to be counted in the Journey until he rises to what we call “Highness” (elevated).’
One of his companions said:
‘What! Will you cast aside the glory of your family for something which you could have read in a book?’
The Emir said:
‘I could have read it in a book, and it would have been no less true. Perhaps I have, indeed, read it in a book at some time, but I did not heed it. And, if I have in fact at some time read it, then I am doubly blameworthy, for I have betrayed my literacy through ignoring its value to me in helping me to change back to the status of man, from the status of a self-congratulating fruit.’
The Magic Monastery
Available in Paperback, eBook and Audiobook formats. You can read it for free, or purchase it, here:
https://idriesshahfoundation.org/books/the-magic-monastery
lobster
Re: Buddhist Economics
When I was somewhere between 15 and 18, I had a strong idea/vision that I would start from 1% and every year give 1% more to charitable causes. That never happened. Later, I thought the idea was nuts/idealistic, especially after many years/increments. But thinking about it now, if one is earning decently and investing aggressively, it actually sounds doable, at least in theory.
Over the years, I gave decent contributions to charity, but I don't think I approached the 10% I finally settled I'd aim for. @Jeroen says it's also a Dutch thing, but I got the idea from the Muslims.
I recycle.
I founded a scholarship to send one pupil from my highschool to an international summer camp. We're currently in our fifth year, have 5 donors, and the reports by the pupils are always of the 'one of the best experiences of my life' variety. Great success!
I did some commited plogging for a while, the last few months I've been just putting away small quantities of random trash.
I advocate for a strong social safety net, redistribution to keep inequality low to moderate, but also a market economy, which taken together to my mind have been shown to be the best actually-implemented solution. Think Scandinavia.
I'm still waiting for an offer, but since I got promoted at work, I expect I'll be financially alright and plan to finally be giving 10% to charitable causes systematically. If that still turns out to be too much for me, I'll at least settle for the 4.2% I was doing for a while. 42, get it? 😉
marcitko
Re: Ploggers of the world...unite!
We seem to have several common interests these days @Kotishka. Plogging, a healthy lifestyle, taking the precepts (seriously).
You seem to be a bit ahead of the curve than me currently, so I'll say it again: thank you very much for inspiring me.
I did maybe a dozen devoted plogging sessions this winter. I came close to completely cleaning the athletics track and adjacent areas I was cleaning. My big motivation was conducting a mini scientific experiment: if it was clean, would people litter less? But then New Years came, the field was used for launching hundreds of rockets, the snowy/muddy season came... and I lost the progress I made. My back was also acting up during that time in general.
But I love the 'don't give up' motto. I've been thinking for a good while how much trouble arises in my life because I seem to too often give up during the 'desert' phase of some effort.
marcitko
Re: Ploggers of the world...unite!
Today while I was cleaning and swearing (I was by myself) I thought my plogging was like the Bodhissatva vows...
To save all sentient beings, though they are numberless.
To end all desires, though desires are endless.
To learn the Dharma, though the Dharma is boundless.
To realize the Buddha Way, though it is unattainable
In this case..
To collect all plastic, though plastic is numberless.
To end all litter, though litter is endless.
To learn the Plogging way, though Plogging is boundless.
To attain a clean Earth, though it is unattainable.
No matter how much I plog, more and more litter will come. It also seems that on this side of the world it is getting worse. On the island we have the classical crooks, our local politicians, who are saying that they are indeed thinking about the housing crisis and criticise other parties for authorising for hotel licenses, yet they approve those licenses they complain about... Locals and tourists don't care that much too because I've noticed some rubbish remains for weeks.... In addition, the island is very windy so even though I see a lot of trash, sadly, most of it is already in the ocean.
Nevertheless, I will not stop. I won't be that person. It might look pretty awful but like Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga sing: "and dieeeee with a smileeeeeeee 
"
Kotishka
Re: Exercise
I do 50 push ups in the morning and 50 at night. I also do some curls with weights and use those hand squeezy things. If I'm really ambitious I'll do 50 sit ups and some basic Mindful Movements I picked up when I was in the Plum Village tradition. I used to have a strict regimen but now aside from the push ups I just wing it.
Re: Buddhist Economics
These are all great answers. I do recycle my plastic as I believe it actually does get recycled here but I also make sure not to get single use stuff. For example, we get stainless steel straws and refuse the plastic ones that come with drinks out.
I also don't eat meat or animal products and limit my time on social media. The only real social site I use is likely the worst (Facebook) but I have a lot of family, friends and fellow Buddhists on there.
I also try to buy that which lasts when it comes to clothing and tech.
But where would Buddhist economics be without the first Paramita, Dana? I find less and less people are giving to the monastics that sustain the practice these days. Every pay I give what I can to my teacher and a Temple a few cities over. Then we also give to SOS which pairs parentless children with childless women in certain countries around the globe. Ours goes to a boy (now a preteen) within a group of I think eight. It pays to really research the organization and SOS is a very good and on-the-level charity. I don't make much money myself but it is a part of the practice.
Re: Zazen is good
" They have not lived in vain who dies the day they are told about the Way."
It's Confucius but hey.
I'm not sure progress and improvement conflict with the practice as much as a set goal may. It sounds like you're on the right path for you, but then, could it be otherwise?
Re: Buddhist Economics
It is tragic what you mention but, I can assume, it is very much the same here. For decades the island thought they recycled plastic, only to find out that it ended up with the rest....meaning going to a huge landfill and at some point getting burnt...
I am trying to use less and less plastic, as well as I am currently since the 1st of June in a one year no buying practice. For me now the problem is milk (comes in tetra bricks) and yoghurt. There is one local yoghurt brand called SANDRA. They use local milk, as well producing and manufacturing locally their recipients and, tantantan, use paper instead of plastic. There is though a debate whether this is a better alternative than plastic. I remember once reading of ho switching from plastic to paper bags has certain risks, particularly how much more water the latter consume in order to be produced...
I am also walking to the office and it is becoming my plogging route. Hopefully the day will come that I can walk way and back without seeing any litter. So far the culprits are the usual: cigarette packages, alcoholic beverages (glass & aluminium cans) and A LOT of plastic bottles.
Nice to see you back by the way!
Kotishka