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Ahimsa Affinity
lobster
Crusty Veteran
Dear friends with an affinity 4,
Well for wot? I have an affinity for trees. Today I came across a Princess/Empress street tree.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia_tomentosa#Europe
Obviously not all trees in all locations, times and places, demonstrate ahimsa. Just as not all Dharmic religions are always harmless or used with compassion and wisdom.
However I feel trees are the natural embodiment of Buddha-Nature and Shakyamuni Budhha's preferred emblem …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_Tree
Wot is your harmless affinity?
1
Comments
I have an affinity for coffee… I love the ritual of making it in my Bialetti stove pot, I like trying different kinds, I like going to coffee shops, even Starbucks. It is great that coffee culture has had such a revival, I remember back in the 90’s it was hard to find a decent coffee and now every shop has these great espresso machines.
I think the Buddha drank whatever was available. However, tea and coffee are both 'The Buddha as drink', keeping one awake.
I am drinking decaff, maybe will splash out on Swiss method decaff (which does not use solvents to make ... We have a new coffee shop five minutes walk away ... mmm
We ran out of milk and I had a 'French press' pot of coffee ... black and also with milk powder ... Maybe time for another or maybe the macho matcha tea bag would be more harmless, to me at least ...
Wow, I never heard of the Swiss Method of treating green coffee beans to make decaf. You learn something new everyday, although I think this is real “coffee nerd” knowledge, haha 😂
I would say I am kinder to other sentient beings once I've had my morning coffee!
Today I had a conversation with a spider. I think it was a jumping spider. I learned today that animals are sentient/conscious according to recent science study (sorry, do not have link to hand). That includes insects.
The spider was on my finger and watching and deciding what to do. We can send metta to all beings and they respond in kind.
Be kind!
Here is a link about latest insect/animal awareness
https://www.quantamagazine.org/insects-and-other-animals-have-consciousness-experts-declare-20240419/
My favourite insects at the moment are bees and hover flies
There may be hope for you yet @lobster
MADA is a term in the Dharmic religions, including Buddhism.
If people are Mada/madder than others and/or they can cope with, are they harmless?
https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mada#buddhism-general