Friday 18 November 2011

World Of Wisdom: A Cup of Tea

World Of Wisdom: A Cup of Tea:

'via Blog this'

A Cup of Tea


Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"
"Like this cup," Nan-in said,
"you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"
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Tuesday 15 November 2011

How Feeling Leads to Craving

Tricycle: Awake in the World

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 15, 2011

How Feeling Leads to Craving

When there are feelings of physical pain or mental distress, the mind will struggle because it doesn't like pain. But when pain turns to pleasure the mind likes it and is content with it. So it keeps on playing with feeling even though, as we've already said, feeling is inconstant, stressful, and not really ours. But the mind doesn't see this. All it sees are feelings of pleasure, and it wants them. Try looking into how feeling gives rise to craving. It's because we want pleasant feelings that craving whispers-whispers right there to the feeling. If you observe carefully, you will see that this is very important. This is where the paths and fruitions leading to nibbana are attained. If we extinguish the craving in feeling, that's nibbana.
– Upasika Kee Nanayon, "A Glob of Tar"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection




Bodhisattva Vows | Great Middle Way

Bodhisattva Vows | Great Middle Way:

'via Blog this'

Bodhisattva Vows

The Bodhisattva Vows are the foundation of all Dharma training. With a developed ethical base, much of the emotional conflict and stress that we experience are resolved, allowing commitment and more conscious choice.

The Bodhisattva Vows are not commands or fixed rules. They are expression of the
intention to avoid wrongdoing, cultivate virtue, and purify the mind. The Vows
are general guidelines to be followed in order to uphold good relations with
our fellow sentient beings, human and non-human alike. The underlying principle
is non-exploitation of ourselves or others.

In the Great Middle Way, Bodhisattva Vows are divided into four sections.

The Refuge Vows:

To the Guru, the Gate of all attainment, I go for refuge.

To the Buddha, the unfailing Protector, I go for refuge.

To the Dharma, the perfect Way, I go for refuge.

To the Sangha, the dependable Companions, I go for refuge.

The Four Fundamental Vows:

Beings are numberless. I vow to save them all.

Delusions are inexhaustible. I vow to end them all.

Dharma gates are boundless. I vow to open them all.

The Great Middle Way is unsurpassable. I vow to become it for the benefit of all.

The Threefold Pure Vows:

In all circumstances, I will embrace and sustain Right Conduct.

In all circumstances, I will observe the teachings of the Dharma.

I will perform all acts for the benefit of all beings in loving kindness.

The Ten Major Vows:

I undertake to abstain from harming living beings.

I undertake to abstain from taking that which is not given.

I undertake to abstain from sexual misconduct.

I undertake to abstain from false, harsh, and divisive speech.

I undertake to abstain from use of substances that cloud the mind and lead to
wrongdoing.

I undertake to abstain from pointing out the faults of others.

I undertake to abstain from self-praise and the blaming of others.

I undertake to abstain from giving charity resentfully.

I undertake to abstain from harboring anger or ill will toward others.

I undertake to abstain from abandoning any sentient being.

About Tashi Nyima

I am a Dharma student, and aspire to be a companion on the path. I trust that these texts can offer a general approach and basic tools for practicing the Buddha's way to enlightenment. Soy un estudiante del Dharma, y aspiro a ser un compañero en el sendero. Espero que estos textos ofrezcan a algunos un mapa general y herramientas básicas para la práctica del sendero a la iluminación que nos ofrece el Buda.
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Monday 7 November 2011

Letting go of Projections - Sharon Salzberg in Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 7, 2011

Let Go of Projections


''On trains, in the street, in our homes and communities, we practice paying attention—through developing mindfulness and lovingkindness and through letting go of projections—partly because a more complete attention proffers many special gifts. These gifts can penetrate through the exigencies of social roles, the seeming hollowness of chance encounters, and even through terrible hurt.''
– Sharon Salzberg, "A More Complete Attention"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection





Friday 4 November 2011

Sealed in secret | Great Middle Way

Sealed in secret | Great Middle Way:

'via Blog this'



Wandering in saṃsāra
is always suffering,
and it is extremely difficult
to meet the excellent Dharma,
so at this time when auspicious
connections have come
into alignment right now,
you must fulfill your
long-range aspirations.
Reflect again and again
on the abyss of the evil destinies
and the benefits of the pleasant destinies,
the defects of the intermediate state
and the benefits of liberation,
the defects of turmoil
and the benefits of solitude,
and strive to take things in hand.
With pure moral discipline
and unimpaired sacred commitments,
after practicing by turns listening,
reflection, and the cultivation
of meditation on a nectar-like
sublime Dharma such as this,
before long you will become
a king of Dharma.
After accumulating the assembly
of primordial awareness
during meditative equipoise,
and accumulating the assembly
of merit during post-meditation,
you will achieve the truth body
and perfectly benefit yourself,
and achieve the form bodies
and bring benefit to others.
The stains of the truth body will be cleansed
by the assembly of primordial awareness,
and the excellence of the form bodies will be produced
by the assembly of merit.
By the force of prayer,
the enlightened actions
to benefit others will be vast,
effortless, and spontaneous.
The absolute sublime lamp
that removes the darkness
of unknowing has permanently
entered your heart,
my fortunate child,
and you must make the experience
of the primordial awareness
of blissful emptiness blaze!
This is sealed in secret
from those who are not receptive.
maṅgalaṃ bhavantu śubhaṃ
An instruction by the monk Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen Palzangpo