Best Of
Being mindful of our actions
Excerpted from The Path to Happiness by Venerable Thubten Chodron
Mindfulness enables us to be aware if we are about to act destructively as we go through the day. Mindfulness says, “Uh oh! I’m getting angry,” or “I’m being greedy,” or “I’m feeling jealous.” Then we can apply the various antidotes the Buddha taught to help us calm our minds. For example, if we discover we are annoyed and anger is arising, we can stop and look at the situation from the other person’s point of view. When we do this, we recognize they want to be happy, and because they aren’t happy, they are doing that action we find objectionable. Then instead of harming them out of anger, we will be more compassionate and understanding, and will work with them to negotiate an agreement.
But how do we do this when a quarrel is just about to start or we’re already in the middle of one? We have to practice beforehand, in our meditation practice. In the heat of the situation, it is difficult to remember what the Buddha taught if we haven’t practiced it already when we were calm and peaceful. In the same way that a football team practices on a regular basis, we need to meditate on patience and to recite prayers daily to get well-trained. Then when we encounter a situation in daily life, we will be able to use the teachings.
🙏
Vastmind
Buddha as a content creator
It happened. TikTok went dark last night. While I personally won’t be going to another platform, I thought this article about the cross over cultural aspects and applying Buddhist principles was applicable during such a big new change.
“…..While no simple answer has emerged regarding the legal fate of TikTok or the long-term viability of Xiaohongshu for American users, this situation underscores Buddhism’s emphasis on non-attached awareness without judgment. Adapting to a new platform is not merely a question of computing and connectivity—it also involves respect for cross-cultural dialogue and adopting a skillful approach to any potential security or censorship issues.
An ancient Buddhist anecdote may help to illustrate some of these issues. Several centuries ago, a Japanese monk named Myoan Eisai (1141–1215) traveled to China during the Song dynasty, seeking deeper knowledge of Chan Buddhism. Navigating unfamiliar languages and local customs, Eisai discovered new scriptural interpretations, meditation methods, and monastic rules that he would later adapt to his home country. Yet upon returning, Eisai encountered suspicion from officials wary of foreign influences and concerned about potential “subversive” knowledge. Nonetheless, Eisai’s engagement with another culture was neither purely dangerous nor wholly utopian—it was a balanced encounter, enriched by care and respect for differences.
Community members, whether they are casual watchers or dedicated content creators, can incorporate Buddhist principles as they navigate these complex decisions—checking intentions, practicing ethical conduct, and recalling that technology is but a tool that can foster or fracture communities based on how we engage with it.
As the story of Eisai’s journey and the growth of cross-cultural Buddhism has shown, forging new paths can yield surprising benefits when approached with humility and open-heartedness. This digital pivot, while arising from political controversy, might ultimately broaden horizons and cultivate empathy across geographical lines—provided we all remain committed to mindful speech, mutual respect, and the spirit of compassionate exchange.”
Full article:
Edited to update: TT came back on this afternoon. Trump signed the 90 day extension.
Vastmind
Re: Respect for holy people
The ancient Egyptian civilisation lasted around 3000 years, during which time they likely were the most advanced civilisation on the planet. Three thousand years, that’s a long time to be a stable civilisation… it’s quite an achievement… I don’t see any modern civilisation lasting that long.
Jeroen
Re: Some thoughts on the movie Astral City
It’s free on YouTube, in Brazilian Portuguese with English subtitles.
Jeroen