Pairing is done….
As of 7am tomorrow I will be on vacation in the Bahamas. Not sure if I’ll have internet access, if I do I will gladly make a post or two from there. If not, I will talk to you all when I get back. Have a great week and be well!
Dhamma Dana
Low Pressure Films/ Theodore Martland
Dhamma Dana is an extraordinary look into a culture that is hidden under a governmental shroud. Rarely are we giving a glimpse into such a serene lifestyle.
Theravada Buddhism, which is on of the two main branches of Buddhism, is considered the “Doctrine of the Elders” drawing it’s teachings straight from the Tipitaka which is believed to be one of the oldest teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. Burma, or as it’s know now Myanmar, is traditionally a Theravada practicing country. Nearly 90% of the country practices Theravada Buddhism, including (believe it or not) the tyrannical ruling junta of the country.
Ed. Note: Found this while stumbling around the net. The author is unknown, I enjoyed it though and thought you might.
1. You Will Receive A Body
You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period this time around.
2. You Will Learn Lessons
You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called Life. Each day in this school, you will have the opportunity to learn lessons – you may like the lesson or think them irrelevant and stupid.
3. There Are No Mistakes, Only Lessons
There is a process of trial and error; experimentation. The ‘failed’ experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately ‘works’.
Want to find more comfort in your belief system? Get rid of the karma in it.
All religions have karma but they call it different things. Maybe it’s the realm your spirit moves on to, perhaps it’s the life you’ll live after being reincarnated, maybe it’s the things that will happen to you next week based on what you do this week.
The moment you stop to think about how your decision will impact your karma you have stopped living. When you worry about how your actions affect your karma you are trying to decide if you want the reward or the punshiment. That isn’t karma, that’s desire. Stop worrying about your karma and just live your life.
This isn’t to say you should abandon responsibility. You wouldn’t fire a gun into a crowd and not worry about the results. You wouldn’t get drunk and try to drive around town. Common sense is your friend.
The rain doesn’t worry about where it will land. It just falls.
The wind doesn’t worry about what is moves. It just blows.
You shouldn’t worry about your karma. Just live.
Ed. Note: Submissions have ended, pairing will be announced later today, 11/8/09!
Had an interesting idea a couple of days ago and hope you think it’s something you want to partake in. The thought/ idea is this…
I have been reading lots of blogs lately. In some way I think they are more interesting than what I post some days. I have read the “No Impact Man” blog for sometime. Well, I read his book recently. He mentioned this online book on minimalism. I have been in the past few months working towards that.
I downloaded the book three times to different thumb drives and also uploaded it to Google documents. Is it really working or am I just fooling myself?
About 2 years ago I had a major flood at my house due to a faulty water heater. It was a forced cleansing as it were. We lost alot of stuff that we had meant to get rid of, but was never able to get around to it. But when tons of water goes flooding from one side of the room to the other you have to make it a priority. In theory I am going to read the book and leave a copy saved in my google documents, but think so many copies is overkill at best.
Guess I need to use my wife’s Garmin to try and find the elusive middle road at least for me.
Sorry for the lack of updates, have some things in the works though. Have been hitting a major wall lately. Not really stuck in a funk, just feel like there’s not enough time to do anything.
Been working a ton so my family can go on vacation next month. We just got our passports in the mail and soon it’s off to the Bahamas. We’ll be headed to Atlantis on Paradise Island for two days than to Exuma for the last seven days of the trip. I have been working alot of overtime lately to make sure the kids have alot of fun. Right now I am on day nine without a day off. Not complaining, I did it to myself, but feeling it I tell you. My practice is lacking because of it too, I really need to kick it back into gear, I can tell I haven’t been practicing as often.
Anyway, just wanted to type up something real quick to fill you all in, got some book reviews and movie reviews slated and still working on a follow up article on the Eightfold Path, this time on Right Intention.
This is just making the rounds on major news sites, the news is not “new” but to the mainstream it is. Those of us aware of the Tibetan issues have known for days through groups such as Students For A Free Tibet and International Campaign for Tibet. I have been meaning to post for days, thanks Todd for the reminder! Story on executions here and here
Stumbled on this story, figured I’d share…
A Zen student came to Bankei and complained: “Master, I have an ungovernable temper. How can I cure it?”
“You have something very strange,” replied Bankei. “Let me see what you have.”
“Just now I cannot show it to you,” replied the other.
“When can you show it to me?” asked Bankei.
“It arises unexpectedly,” replied the student.
“Then,” concluded Bankei, “it must not be your own true nature. If it were, you could show it to me at any time. When you were born you did not have it, and your parents did not give it to you. Think that over.”
…at least that’s what His Holiness is saying.
The Dalai Lama was recently in the Czech capital at a conference on Human Rights issues in Asia. He was asked what he thought of political correctness.
With a look not often found on His Holiness’ face, puzzled, he asked “what do you mean?” This threw the audience into laughter, but His Holiness still looked puzzled and repeated fervently “what do you mean?”
I was sitting in the break room taking a late lunch when I realized I was just staring at the sky and clouds. Then I realized the main reason I take a late lunch is so I can stare at the sky and clouds.
While not exactly “meditation” I’ve been using the break room as a place of silent mindfulness in my own unique way.
Looking back over your day do you see where you were able to stop and just exist for a few minutes? Try it tomorrow.
From NPR
The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., is home to the only Buddhist chapel on a U.S. military base. After a controversy over religious intolerance during the summer of 2005, the chapel was built in the basement of the academy’s iconic Cadet Chapel.
In 2005, conservative evangelical Christians were accused of trying to force their religion on others. According to current and recently graduated cadets, the religious climate has improved substantially since then.
The controversy prompted the Air Force to issue guidelines for religious expression. The military also has made efforts to accommodate all faiths. These include the construction of the 300-square-foot Buddhist chapel at the Air Force Academy paid for by the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism.
Just dug up this gem of a video from YouTube, looks like His Holiness is somewhat younger in this video, maybe from the 80’s? Anyway, he answers the eternal question, to kill a mosquito or not to kill a mosquito…. watch…
