Best Of
Re: About control: to pursue it or not?
We have choice. To strive for control is to fail to see choice. Chaos is always present. When we understand choice vs control, we gain true control. True control does not come from directing everything. That is an impossible task. For we cannot see everything and that which we do not see or are not aware of is beyond control.
When we have choice, we are fluid, we can adapt readily to our situations of the moment. We can adjust for alternatives, we are free. We are not bound by the need of total control. We can not control the river. But we can choose to use it's currents, it's characteristics to navigate it, utilizing those currents, making the river our highway instead of our nemesis. In human interactions, in our internal interactions, choice is the ultimate control. We can maneuver within the flow of interaction. Thus we have control, not of the others thoughts or actions, but of our own which enables us to navigate the rivers of interaction.
Put another way, a ship upon the sea has no control over the sea. The ship's pilot, however, chooses the speed, direction and overall relation to the sea to navigate the ship upon the sea.
Thus we see that Control is an illusion, an impossible task whereas Choice is a reality our control is actually our ability to choose, regardless of the circumstance. What we may seek as "Control" is actually Choice - We have the "control" of choice. Control is the illusion while choice is the reality.
Peace to all
Lionduck
Re: "Buddha's Teachings" - in 1,000 years, how will they know?
"Buddha's Teachings" - in 1,000 years, how will they know?
Thus have I heard:
Through realisation, as they have known throughout the millennia.
The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path...
the nature of suffering and the way to its cessation.
We all stray from the path at times, and most of us come to see that we have.
Some realise it sooner than others, yet the light of awareness always finds its way through.
Shoshin1
Re: Meditation and mental health
If you are close to a forest or countryside it good to wander around there. Connecting with nature does wonders for one's mental health.
Shoshin1
Re: Liberation for all sentient beings
Can you teach non-attachment to views if you are attached to views?
I don't know about that but I do think we can do virtuous things for each other. What is sangha for if that is not the case?
Jeffrey
Re: Begging
It’s a good question… I’ve heard it has to do with the renunciation of possessions. When a monk leaves lay life, they renounce personal possessions, work, and even the idea of self-sufficiency. So going on the alms round serves as a reminder of this.
Another aspect of this is that it strengthens the bond between monastics and laypeople, both important parts of the sangha. The monastics practice humility and detachment, and the laypeople by giving dana gain merit and practice generosity.
Jeroen
Re: My Dharma practice today
I am taking my Buddhism more seriously as of late. It is clear to me I must make determined and right efforts. Apply various 'medicines' and remedies, take responsibily and quit complaining. Changing the inputs will change the outputs, as I know for sure from a previous determined phase.
Strictly 'Buddhist' I am:
Slowly and contemplatively reading 'In the Buddhas Words' by Bhikhu Boddhi. It is a Pali canon sutta structured compilation with contextual introductions to chapters. Very good.
Listening to Ajahn Sonna. I resonate a lot and find a lot of benefit.
Restarted meditating. Some samatha, some loving kindness, some contemplation.
Trying to uphold and practice sila in a practical way.
I'm also doing and trying to habitualise a few other 'supporting' practices and dehabitualise a few negative behaviors but will write above those another day to keep this shorter.
Already feeling better: calmer, more grounded, more optimistic... so far so very good.
marcitko
Re: Bhikku Bodhi’s In the Buddha’s Words
@David said:
I have to say I really do like the way Bikkhu Bodhi condenses for too much repetition. I find it is much easier to follow when I'm not reading the same paragraph over 5 times with only one variation between them.The way he did The Dart of Painful Feeling (2 Arrows) is just superb in my opinion.
I agree, but I also understand why the Buddha repeated the Dhamma over and over again. As the language of the time was only spoken, by getting the monks to repeat the text over and over again it was more likely to stay in the mind stream.
Bunks
Re: Buddha and the unconscious
Did the Buddha? I don't know, but (some of his) descendants put together a theory of 8 consciousness and I would think the 8th, Alaya, sounds like subconscious but maybe not the same as modern psychologists conceive of it. I haven't looked into how these teachings started or if you could say that they came from or of "the Buddha".
Jeffrey
What exactly is Buddhist practice?
So it occurred to me, what exactly is Buddhist practice, and what is its effect? For a non-Buddhist observer, the practice appears to be the outward form — a long row of Tibetan monks chanting, a solitary person sitting in meditation, someone doing many prostrations in front of a Buddha statue.
For the person doing the practice, the outward is a representation of the inward, and it is the inward that is more important. The chanting monks may be reminding themselves of the compassion of Chenrezig, the solitary meditator may be deepening his sense of emptiness, the person doing prostrations may be trying to reduce their stubbornness.
The outward can be a way into the inward, following the hints of one’s sincerity. But after a while, one can carry the inward along with onesself, and the outward becomes no more than an occasional reminder.
Jeroen
Have a lovely day :)
Sending joy, happiness and peace to all seeing this message
Much love from South Africa
KRZ