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Dharma the Cat
Simonthepilgrim
Veteran
Alongside the book discussion, this thread is for those who woul like to reflect on the Buddhist ideas expressed in the cartoons of
Dharma the Cat
The first cartoon is called "Time". I'm not sure whether it is proper to copy it here as I can't find a copyright statement. Shall I email them to ask permission?
For the time being, you might like to follow the link and look at the strip. There are also commentaries.
Dharma the Cat
The first cartoon is called "Time". I'm not sure whether it is proper to copy it here as I can't find a copyright statement. Shall I email them to ask permission?
For the time being, you might like to follow the link and look at the strip. There are also commentaries.
0
Comments
I was reading the commentary for the first cartoon, "Time" - and the authors actually take some time to really detail some interesting thoughts regarding the comic.
These could be really fun and educational at the same time!
Just from this first commentary - I've found a bit of myself that would read a teaching of Buddha and think, "Oh cool! That will suit me just fine!" - when that is actually, most probably NOT what Buddha intended. Doing something simply because it meets our needs or desires is NOT the lesson. Nor is using the teachings to gain our cravings the teaching of Buddha either.
-bf
-bf
P.S. why you ignoring me on yahoo messenger?
"and craving is bound to create karma and eventual suffering". It really makes me think about all of the different cravings we all face in our daily lives, without even realizing it. This cartoon is also a good lesson in living in the present moment, rather than worrying about the past or the future, which the Buddhist commentary goes into great detail about. What a great lesson!
What a good first lesson! How many times I have heard...'Well, everybody is doing it, so it doesn't matter if I do'...
It is so easy to manipulate a situation to serve our own needs and wants, regardless of others.
Dharma - manipulating the present to gain what belongs in the future OR
Bodhi - the novice monk who pays little attention to the present moment whilst meditating and falls for Dharma's trick?
[This was nicely timed (lol) as I've been spending the last week observing time and my preconceptions about it, having read over some of Master Dogen Zenji's teachings on it.]
Brigid
Unfortunately, I would have to say that most of the time, I'm Dharma. Manipulating the present to gain what belongs in the future.
But, I believe that recognition is the beginning of learning. At least that's what I tell myself. Recognize what I'm doing and then change it.
I believe that, whether we like it or not, the road to Enlightenment is through adversity. Having something that we cling to or crave - recognizing it - and then ridding ourselves of that desire - no matter how much we don't want to...
-bf
And how, brother, and how! Hurts dunnit?
I don't know that the commentary covered very much except for the fact that Dharma is 1) doing what is instinctual to him and 2) has learned to use this to get exactly what he wants... more food. The author also makes a good point about how Dharma is more sly and wily than most monks!
The first thing that I thought about this was, "That damn cat is just using that poor sucker - and Bodhi doesn't even KNOW IT!?!?!?!"
I was kind of stricken by the thought that there is definitely a difference between compassion and helping -vs- enabling.
Right Mindfulness and Right View should encompass the actions of "blind compassion". I think, in some areas, Right Mindfulness and Right View could also be viewed as "tough love".
Right View and Right Mindfulness should also teach us that we shouldn't always give someone what they want - but what they need.
-bf
O reason not the need! Our basest beggars
Are in the poorest thing superfluous.
Allow not nature moe than nature needs,
Man's life is cheap as beast's.
Shakespeare - King Lear
I was never any good at Shakespeare...
-bf
Lear is saying that we can't judge "need"; that it is entirely situational. I also read it as saying that we all have more than we 'need' as animals but that, as humans, we must go beyond.
-From #3- Mindfulness
Before I became acquainted with Buddhism, I was usually focused on one particular thing (person/relationship, career, school), that I hardly noticed what was going on around me, what experiences I was passing by and missing. Sometimes I still get caught up in something. But I will often catch myself and slow down.:bigclap:
and swift, it falls on what it wants.
The training of the mind is good,
a mind so tamed brings happiness.
The mind is very hard to see
and find, it falls on what it wants.
One who’s wise should guard the mind,
a guarded mind brings happiness.
from Treasury of Truth- An Illustrated Dhammapada
Good point, Simon.
I'm the least of people who should be defining "who needs what".
But, in regards to this "comic" - that one should not just end up being "used" when one has come to the realization they are being used.
I think that was my only point.
-bf
A very interesting point it is too, BF, because I am not sure if it is "black-and-white". My children and grandchildren 'use' me as do those pilgrims who make use of my Spiritual safari services. The question is, for me, how I decide to be used because I cannot make any decisions for others.
MY girlfriend uses me and I absolutely have NO issues with that in some circumstances
My son uses me. But I feel that it is so little and the time we have together is so small - it doesn't bother me. And that's a decision I've made.
But, I've also had friends who used me to get by. I know one guy in particular who's wife up and left. He was raising a 4 and a 2 year old - and just couldn't seem to get his priorities straight. He couldn't realize he was now a paycheck short and couldn't spend like he used to. He'd go out and spend money (that he needed for other things) to buy a certain CD he wanted, or game, or whatever. And then suddenly realize he didn't have enough money to keep groceries in the house for the next two weeks.
I don't know how much money I've given him for food, or Thanksgiving dinners or Christmas dinners or Easter Dinners or just dam dinners! He can't learn, but I can't see him or his two darling little girls go without food. So... I'm used.
-bf
And if we are taken for a ride, what is hurt - our Ego? As long as we are not depriving our own family for the sake of other people's needs maybe it is good for the suppression of ego to be used sometimes.
I hope I didn't offend protocol by going direct to Mr Lourie. Here is the first toon:
toon-1.gif
I think in my case, I'm sure it's ego. I don't like to feel like I've been used when I didn't wittingly agree to being used.
I'm sure it's Ego and "self" that cause the the unpleasantness I feel when things like this happen.
-bf
I think you used very "Right" actions by doing it the way you did. You didn't use what wasn't yours without asking first.
Yet another lesson taught!
-bf
Like me?
>^..^<
*meow*
Jason
You bring up good points. It was Dr. Phil who cleared up this question for me. He said we teach people how to treat us. It was significant for me at the time because I was in a relationship with someone who didn't treat me well. I tried and tried to make him change but nothing I did or said made any difference. As long as I stayed in the relationship I was telling that person that it was O.K. to treat me like that. Every time I made myself available to him I was implicitly telling him it was O.K. by me if he treated me like that. Eventually I wised up, gathered what dignity and self-respect I had left, and I walked away. I knew I had done the wise thing.
I think this goes for all our relationships. Now that I live with my parents again, it's taken a couple of years to retrain them to treat me like an adult because the last time we lived in the same house I was 17. I had to teach them how to treat the adult Brigid. And it's working. I also had to teach the woman who doles out the dole, or welfare, how to treat me. During our first meeting she tried to bully me. A voice in my head told me to nip that one on the bud. And I did, in no uncertain terms. A few years ago I never would have known if I had the right to do that. But today I know that not only do I have the right, I have the obligation to myself.
I think that's why the Buddha used the term "skillful" when it comes to our actions. It's a combination of open hearted compassion and loving kindness with wisdom. Like you reminded me, Knitwitch, I was treating myself in a way I would never dream of treating others. So, it's the same when it comes to our own self respect. As in treat others the way you wish to be treated and teach others to treat you in the way you wish to treat others. Round and round and round.
I didn't explain it very well but I hope you get the gist.
Love,
Brigid
I know, I just thought it was funny because I often quote Suttas, and my nickname in Michigan is Jiji the black cat. Just a coincidence, right...?
Jason
"Be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves."
That is a tough one.
I know from the other end of the spectrum, I've been in relationships where the other person thought they needed to change me which always confused me.
Why would someone get into a relationship with me if I wasn't the person they wanted to be in a relationship with? Instead of trying to change me into something I'm not - why not just go find a person that meets all of their needs?
I never understood that.
The relationship I'm in now - well, it's been made brutally apparent that no one needs to be changing anyone. We're either in this togther for who we are - or we're free to call it quits at any time.
Now, mind you, I'm not talking about your relationship in any way - I'm just talking about mine. My relationship doesn't have issues concerning abuse or mistreatment - my issues at this point mostly have to do with broken trust and seeing if someone is willing to repair that destruction of trust.
Which is why that "forgive and forget" thread made me think so much ...
-bf
And yes, quite often people have taken my help and been ungrateful or just used me for what they could get out of the situation. And I've thought "B****r it, that's the last time, I am NOT going to be bothered any more etc etc etc". But if it's in your nature, then it's in your nature and you just go back and do it all again.
Just sometimes you do something little - comfort a friend on the phone, reassure them and the relief in their voice is enough. You hold a door for an old lady and help her out with her shopping bag and the smile you get back is enough.
Yes there are some right sh**s out there but I can't let them win.
:smilec: No, don't be sensitive - my nickname used to be Little Bear and I didn't take the Smokey the Bear Sutra personally. I feel a song coming on
Jiji, my funny little, sunny little Jiji - Maurice Chevalier (see - I do reference my sources :hiding:
No sensativity at all. If you can't laugh at yourself, then who can you laugh at?
Jason
And yet again, the dear sweet wee monk is taken for a ride through his kind compassionate nature.
I think Knitwitch is making a good point about how animals just can't be expected to be as compassionate as humans.
-bf
But, oddly enough, look who is on the Path... and who is not!
-bf
Maybe.....?
I'm with Fede on this one....don't get so carried away that you forget to stay on the Eightfold Path!
I wasn't cheating, ya big meany.
When this thread first started - I was looking at new cartoon each day. I did this for 3 days. So stop yer whining.
I'm good to go on the fourth cartoon.
-bf
If you'll notice, Dharma is on the "path" this time and Bodhi is not.
Sometimes, it's easy to be on the path, especially when it meets our needs/ego/desires.
I used to know Christians like this. It was easy for them to condemn a person who, oh let's say, had an affair - because they had personally never done this thing. So, it was very easy for them to be judgemental.
But!, they were liars and cheaters. This topic was never brought up so there was no reason for them to feel "singled out". Would these same people be so quick to throw stones if the topic at hand was "lying and cheating" versus "adultery"?
-bf