Best Of
Discipline in the Path
Rising early, following the precepts, sitting daily, being quiet when necessary, and speaking with right speech and intention when required—this takes time and development. Once, I believed this brought a much-needed sense of discipline, but in my case, it has been life’s punches that revealed how foolish I was for not following them sooner.
Perhaps discipline and awareness can prevent such unnecessary suffering. Once you truly see it, it’s not as easy to fall back. Still, I cannot forget that the flaws in my character can reignite like dry tumbleweeds quite easily. Thus, the precepts and sitting are non-negotiable.
Kotishka
Re: What documentary are you watching?
@Shoshin1 said:
However...
Oscar award winning documentary "No Other Land" is screening at our local cinema on Thursday, so I'll be there...
The local Palestinian Solidarity group I belong to, have a table set up in our local cinema for each screening of the documentary, where we give out information about Gaza and the West Bank and the Palestinian struggle. I have seen the documentary twice now. The documentary was quite moving .
I just came across this:
Basel Adra, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, shares his lifelong commitment to documenting the brutal realities of life under occupation. Starting as a teenager, he captured firsthand the violence inflicted on his village Masafer Yatta by settlers and the Israeli military—from home demolitions by bulldozers to brutal assaults on community members. Despite international recognition for his work, Adra reveals that the cycle of violence, displacement, and injustice continues unabated, with daily attacks that leave Palestinian communities in constant fear.
Speaking at the UN Palestinian Rights Committee on 3 April 2025, Adra recounted harrowing personal and communal experiences, including the attack on his cousin, which exemplifies the systemic oppression faced by Palestinians. He highlighted that these incidents are not isolated but part of a broader strategy to displace Palestinians and seize their land, underlining the complicity of state authorities in facilitating such actions. Adra’s testimony is both a call to action and a plea for global accountability in the fight for Palestinian rights and dignity.
Shoshin1
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
Dear Friends of the second childhood.
As we get older and wider... sorry wiser, it is perhaps time to review what we have learned?
I'll start with... Nothing! 
lobster
Re: Quotes - discussion
@Jeroen said:
Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.
— W. Somerset Maugham, The Razor
To me this begs the question, what is delight truly? ...
>
Delight doesn't have to be a momentous, earth-shattering experience.
I take inexplicable delight in seeing the first snowdrop pushing up in late winter; and to my mind, there is nothing more delightful than seeing pink blossom against a blue, blue sky.
I take great delight in "walking" my dog, which I do with comfort and ease now; I bought me an adult trike, and with his long leash around my waist, I can now go a couple of miles, to give him the exercise he needs and deserves, without fear of my falling or being pulled over. What fun!
It’s rare that you see older people who still delight in something. I will be 53 later this year, and I feel this draining of the spirit creeping up on me, a kind of drawing down of the energies of youth. I’d like to be one of those older folk who still have a sense of lightness, kindness, fun.>
I was saddened to read this. Here I am, in my 69th year, with several plates to spin, and clubs to juggle, and I can take great delight in sitting quietly, with a nice coffee, and watch the birds on the feeders. Ten minutes of delight that anyone can enjoy, if you put your mind to it...
federica
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
Oh, and, it's 20 years since I joined this forum. I actually joined in March, 2005. I was not yet 50. And here I am, 2 years off 70!!
federica
Re: How do you experience your body?
When I want to do that I begin with Shamatha, to calm the mind, followed by Vipassana.
Re: How do you experience your body?
I still sweat and find my posture rigid. It takes me around 10minutes before I settle down.
Today I had a small intensive zazen retreat and I noticed that during the first two sessions of zazen I was representing the role of a muscle knot embodied as Kotishka.
Kotishka