Clearing Misconceptions

Mahabodhi Jataka (No.528)

If there exists some Lord all powerful to fulfil

In every creature bliss or woe, and action good or ill,
That Lord is stained with sin. Man does but work his will.

Buddhism is not a Religion—It’s Something Much Better.

Via Elyane Youssef on May 19, 2016

I get plenty of comments when I say that I’m not a religious person, but I am a practicing Buddhist.

Beautiful silence

Kodhana Sutta, AN 7.60

"An angry person is ugly & sleeps poorly.
Gaining a profit, he turns it into a loss, having done damage with word & deed.
A person overwhelmed with anger destroys his wealth.
Maddened with anger, he destroys his status.
Relatives, friends, & colleagues avoid him.
Anger brings loss. Anger inflames the mind.
He doesn't realize that his danger is born from within.
An angry person doesn't know his own benefit.
An angry person doesn't see the Dhamma.
A man conquered by anger is in a mass of darkness.
He takes pleasure in bad deeds as if they were good, but later, when his anger is gone, he suffers as if burned with fire.
He is spoiled, blotted out, like fire enveloped in smoke."

Forgive Your Imperfections

A short meditation to help you let go and move on.

By Ronna Kabatznick | June 6, 2016

Giving is part of forgiveness. When we give, we make an offering to ourselves and others, creating a willingness to make peace with the conflict and pain that fuel our anger, resentment, and bitterness. Although it feels easier to be critical―“I hate my body,” “She makes fun of my efforts to eat mindfully”―in fact, it’s actually easier to forgive. A form of letting go, forgiving creates a space to establish skillful habits 

and mind states that are in harmony with the desire to change. Forgiveness also diminishes the stress that comes from judging ourselves and others.

Does anyone own their belongings?

All our belongings, does anybody really own them? Does our father own them, or our mother, or our relatives? Nobody really gets anything. That's why the Buddha said to let all those things be, let them go, know them clearly. Know them by holding, but not fast. Use things in a way that is beneficial, not in a harmful way by holding fast to them until suffering arises.

Venerable Ajahn Chah

Sankhitta sutta SN 48.13

"By accomplishment and perfection in the five faculties one is an arahant. If the faculties are weaker, one is a non-returner; if they are still weaker, one is a once-returner, or a stream-winner, or a Dhamma-devotee (dhammanusarin), or a faith-devotee (saddhanusarin).

Thus, monks, through the difference of faculties, there is difference of result; and the difference of results makes for the difference of individuals."

A Natural Antidepressant Practice

The more periods of low moods we have in life, the more likely we are to fall back into them again. Here's a mindfulness practice to break the cycle of ruminating thoughts that keep us stuck.

By Elisha Goldstein | May 31, 2016

Mindful recommends that anyone with depression or mood disorders consult a mental health professional before beginning or altering any course of treatment. Our articles do not constitute professional medical advice for your precise circumstances.

Vipaka sutta, AN 8.40

"Telling falsehoods — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades. The slightest of all the results coming from telling falsehoods is that, when one becomes a human being, it leads to being falsely accused.

"Divisive tale-bearing — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades. The slightest of all the results coming from divisive tale-bearing is that, when one becomes a human being, it leads to the breaking of one's friendships.

"Harsh speech — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades. The slightest of all the results coming from harsh speech is that, when one becomes a human being, it leads to unappealing sounds.

"Frivolous chattering — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades. The slightest of all the results coming from frivolous chattering is that, when one becomes a human being, it leads to words that aren't worth taking to heart."

Breath As An Anchor

Uploaded on Jan 11, 2012

In this video, Dr. Elisha Goldstein demonstrates The Breath as an Anchor Practice (See, Touch, Go) from The Now Effect: How this Moment Can Change the Rest of Your Life. This 3-minute practice can be used anywhere for attention training, to give you something to ground to during difficult moments and reconnect you to that space of awareness where choice and opportunity lie to reconnect to what matters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-Oge6MuFno

“New monks are just like newly-delivered infants”

“…Before laypeople ordain as monks they know how to do all sorts of things. After they ordain, they don’t think it is necessary to study, to stay and train under a meditation master. They think that they can go ahead and practice by themselves. Nowadays monks ordain and do not stay with a meditation master, but instead establish a meditation centre with themselves as an abbot.

Knowing and seeing (195-196) By Ven. Pa-Auk Sayadaw

Question 6.2 Does the sitting posture affect the ability for beginners to concentrate, and enter jhàna? There are many yogis who sit on a small stool to meditate; can they enter jhàna?

Do you want more time?

"if you really want more time, let go of the past and the future, now is all the time you ever have and you ever need. A lot of times people say they haven’t got any time.. Because they are never here." ~ Ajahn Brahm