Best Of
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
I always wonder, seeing your pictures, how the air feels, how it smells, in your part of the world - and all the things that the dimension of photography cannot capture.
Fosdick
Re: The Four Dharma Seals
These Seals are often the measuring tool used for determining if a particular teaching is considered to be in accord with Buddha Dharma or not.
how
Re: The Other Elephant In The Room
The Security Council approved a resolution on Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
Draft Resolution -
Algeria, Guyana, Malta, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Switzerland: draft resolution
The Security Council,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling all of its relevant resolutions on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,
Reiterating its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and in this regard deploring all attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as all violence and hostilities against civilians, and all acts of terrorism,
Expressing deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,
Acknowledging the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, aimed at reaching a cessation of hostilities, releasing the hostages and increasing the provision and distribution of humanitarian aid,
Demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable ceasefire;
Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs, and further demands that the parties comply with their obligations under international law in relation to all persons they detain;
Emphasizes the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to and reinforce the protection of civilians in the entire Gaza Strip and reiterates its demand for the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale, in line with international humanitarian law as well as resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023);
Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
The 10 non-permanent members (E10)-proposed draft was adopted today (25 Mar) in a vote of 14 favour and one abstention (United States).
Speaking after the vote, Algeria’s Ambassador Amar Benjama said that today’s resolution conveys a clear message to the Palestinian people: “The international community, in its entirety, did not abandon you.”
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations said, “Once such atrocities are being committed in broad daylight against defenceless civilians, including women and children, the right thing to do the only thing to do morally legally, politically, is to put to put an end to it. There can be no justification for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Accepting any justification for such crimes is renouncing our humanity and destroying the rule of international law beyond repair.”
He also said, “This must be a turning point. This must lead to saving lives on the ground. This must signal the end of this assault of atrocities against our people. A nation is being murdered. A nation is being dispossessed. A nation is being displaced for decades now, but never at this scale since the Nakba.”
Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan said, “It should be very clear that as long as Hamas refuses to release the hostages in the diplomatic channels, there is no other way to secure their return other than through a military operation.”
He concluded, “Sadly, it's for the same reason why you can condemn terror attacks in Russia and Iran, but not in Israel. To this council is Israeli blood is cheap. This is a travesty, and I'm disgusted.”
Following the Security Council meeting, Ambassador Pedro Comissario, Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations, read a joint statement on behalf of the E10 Group (Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Switzerland) regarding the adoption.
He said “We are happy that the council has successfully adopted the much-needed resolution to demand the immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. It also demands that the parties comply with their obligations under international law in relation to all persons that they detain.”
Also addressing to the press, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour, stated, “Security Council resolutions are binding and if Israel is not going to implement it, then it is the duty of the Security Council to use chapter 7 to take measures and punitive measures in order to make them obey the resolution of the Security Council.”
Briefing journalists, UK ambassador Barbara Woodward, said, “All barriers to aid delivery need to be lifted. We have not yet seen the improvements that we need to get more aid in. The council's message today is an important one and I reiterate, we call for it to be implemented immediately.”
Hamas's response regarding the immediate Ceasefire resolution
The Palestinian group Hamas said it was committed to the conditions of the resolution and said Israel must be held accountable in adhering to it. “It is the role of the international community to oblige Israel and to end this double standard,” Basem Naim, a senior official in Hamas's political bureau, told Al Jazeera.
Shoshin1
Re: The Other Elephant In The Room
What ideas or solutions are being put forward about what Israel should do about Hamas and its security overall? What they are doing now is having dire consequences but a large part of the motivation is security and the elimination of Hamas rather than a wish to genocide Gazans. So just telling them to stop doesn't address this deeper need. Offering an alternate solution allows Israel to take greater care of Gazans without totally giving up on their own legitimate concerns.
person
Re: Weaknesses and restraint
Good post from Jeroen. 
The best restraint for me is probably a straitjacket 
I understand the beer thing. Best beer I ever had was a trappist beer in a clay container. Outstanding. One drink once a month, is plenty for me too, mostly less.
Manageable restraint/asceticism is far better than extreme behaviour. Unless you are a Jain monk or Buddhist Nun or sleep deprived Sufi.
It is amazing how much voluntary simplicity proportionally increases ones Sukha.
lobster
Re: Weaknesses and restraint
I've found giving myself a cheat day makes practicing restraint and positive habits during the rest of the week much easier. I have some issues with cheating turning into binging, but practicing restraint during the week seems to have lessened my cravings overall.
In regards to money, I too consider myself fortunate. I grew up in a family with savers and wise spenders, never ran the AC, made homemade popsicles with kool aid, never bought new cars or the latest gadgets, etc. But spent money on maintaining and improving the home, doing a lot of the work themselves, or on cheap family trips and get togethers that brought us together. When I got a job as a teenager, a couple of my other friends would go out and spend all their paychecks as soon as they got them. I'd only buy an occasional book or movie ticket. They'd wonder how I always seemed to have money, like I was super rich.
person
Weaknesses and restraint
I think I have been lucky. When I was young there was never much money, and so I got into the habit of only buying what I needed. This meant that I never really paid attention to what I desired, and so even in wealthier times I was modest in what I would buy. Pretty much the only things I spent money on were books, DVDs and technology. My mother used to call me a cyber monk.
Living a humble life in this way shields you from your desires and aversions, it keeps them small without repressing them. It was that in combination with the old saying, “take everything in moderation”. This gets you into the habit of applying a counter-pressure to desire, and taking the things that you enjoy in small quantities, without foregoing them entirely. You allow yourself to enjoy, but only once in a while.
I find myself doing the same thing with beer: once every month or two I will buy a bottle of Belgian Trappist beer, and just sit back and enjoy it with a few nuts on a quiet afternoon. I find this allows me to savour the enjoyment. But I don’t look forward to these things, that would be fuelling craving, I just buy them on impulse once it’s been a month or so since the last time. I don’t really keep track rigorously.
Some things I don’t keep in the house, like “borrelnootjes” or paprika crisps, because I know I won’t be able to restrain myself and will just end up eating an entire bag of the things. I’ve found it best to just not buy certain things which I know i have a weakness for.
Restraint is a theme you often come across in the sutras (Aparihani Sutra or Bhikkhuvagga) with respect to the senses or about the monks’ heedfulness, but I think it is important to lay people as well. I find it something that I sometimes struggle with to keep it in mind, especially with food items that I am fond of, like a salmon mousse or certain potatoe dishes. But often I remind myself of it, and then I give up a few more places where maybe I had been eating over-generous portions.
Jeroen
Re: Unsocial Media
In fact, many companies search for a guaranteed model of generating income. This ranges from social engineering like Facebook to the taste of hamburgers by McDonalds to the gambling mechanisms of Las Vegas casinos to the opioid medications created by Purdue Pharmaceuticals. Anything which addicts or habituates people can be used to extract money and effort from them.
All of it works to fuel the fires of samsara, your desires in particular, but the media also works on your aversions and delusions. While Buddhism works to bring these fires under control, modern Western society works to fan the flames in order to get you to consume more. The influence of these companies does not bring you closer to peace and nirvana.
I think it is a pity that Buddhist countries in Asia are now also moving towards capitalist models, because the ultimate expression of these capitalist ventures is the exploitation of unconsciousness and unbridled desire.
To help shield myself from these things I am really careful with bringing certain influences into my life.
- Anything that addicts I am careful with. Medicines, fast food, social media, games.
- Anything that costs money or that involves gambling. Playing poker, casinos, stock markets.
- Anything that I take into my mind I am wary of. Television, news, books, newspapers.
- The places that I work I have become careful with. Bosses that pressurise you, incentives.
The things I enjoy are satsang (“meeting in truth”), music, podcasts, forums. There are still places where wholesome influences can be found, and these I try to contribute to with time and attention.
Jeroen
Re: Unsocial Media
I thought this was an interesting perspective. They talked about how our evolutionary wirings make us vulnerable to what they're calling a "scarcity loop". They talk about it in terms of gambling (the professor teaches in Las Vegas), dieting, social media as well as other areas of life this impacts us. Regarding social media they talk about how these companies are intentionally high-jacking these systems to keep us engaged in their products.
person