Man is on the verge of spiritual insanity. He does not know who he is. Having lost a sense for what he is, he fails to grasp the meaning of his fellow-man. - Rabbi Abraham Heschel
We must shed the delusion that it is possible to attain peace through unpeaceful means. - Rajmani Tigunait
“My father was a violent and paranoid man. He beat my mother, and mistreated his children in terrible ways. When my father pulled up to the house after a day of work, we wouldn’t know whether he’d be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde. He was a brilliant scientist, but he had so much difficulty that he kept getting fired, or he would quit. There was often little money. We moved every year or so. I attended fourteen different schools. So when I heard about the Buddhist teachings on suffering and the end of suffering, certainly that was interesting.” - Jack Kornfield, author, meditation teacher and founder of Insight Meditation Center, Barre, MA.
Holding onto resentment is the leading cause of
suffering and anxiety. Why not let it go? Or, at least . . . loosen your grip on the resentment. - Victor M. Parachin We teach children how to measure, how to weigh. We fail to teach them how to revere, how to sense wonder and awe.- Rabbi Abraham Heschel
"You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me."
This bible verse (Exodus 20:5) reveals the "jealous" God of the Judaeo Christian traditions. That view generates deep intolerance which today can be seen in some Christian hostility to yoga. The state of Alabama has, for decades, had a law on it's books forbidding the teaching of yoga in public schools. In the last week, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday signed legislation to allow public schools to teach yoga, overturning a ban put in place 27 years ago at the urging of conservative groups. The legislation sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jeremy Gray, a former college athlete who did yoga as part of his training, says schools can opt to teach yoga if they choose. There is a "but" . . . all poses would have to have English names. The use of chanting, mantras and teaching the greeting “namaste” would be forbidden. (feel free to re-post and / or link to your social media) Whether you are an addict or not, if you care about awakening, if you want to develop wisdom and compassion, then a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle is what the Buddha taught. - Noah Levine
Stephen Fulder is an Israeli-Buddhist and promoter of peace. During this current eruption of conflict he is, of course, dismayed but not surprised. Nor does he take the side of his country, Israel, saying: "In the case of the current Gaza war, many assume it started when Hamas fired rockets into Israel. Clearly this was not the beginning. Hamas fired rockets after violence in Jerusalem and the eviction of Palestinians. It also may be connected to years of siege by Israel on Gaza."
In an article "Do We Really Have No Choice", published in Tricycle Magazine, Mr. Fulder offers these three important insights about war and how to achieve peace: 1. Motivations for war are always self-centered and, therefore, suspect. "Then as now, participants draw motivation from a consensus that “we are right,” “we have no choice” and “we must defend ourselves.” This view stands behind most wars and conflicts, and the encouragement of this view by groups or leaders prepares the ground for war by providing the necessary justification. The defense of “freedom” provided justification for the Vietnam war, and “Weapons of Mass Destruction” for the Iraq war." 2. A self-defense argument is possible but . . . "only as a last resort and with the minimum force necessary to disable or restrain the attacker....Clearly this is not the case in the huge death and destruction in the wars being fought, as you read this, in Yemen, Syria, etc." Additionally, he notes that "cases of genuine self-defense are actually extremely rare, and in virtually all cases of conflict there are wise and heartfelt solutions that are not seen and not taken. We have no choice generally means We don’t have the wisdom to act differently." 3. Politicians and media generate support for war. " Most wars, including this one, depend on fear, insecurity, anger, or revenge. These are individual and national emotions, often stoked up by media and political leaders. The emotions create a national blindness in which neighbors become demonized." (Read more: ttps://tricycle.org/trikedaily/do-we-really-have-no-choice/ ) Drinking ranks as the foremost of soul killing habits. It completely destroys the moral faculties of man, kills all lofty ambitions and aspirations and the higher, nobler instincts of a person. It harms both the body and the soul. - Swami Sivananda
Anger is your dire enemy. It is the enemy of peace, wisdom and devotion. Therefore, control anger through forgiveness and patience. Don't indulge yourself in the passion of anger. - Swami Sivananda
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Victor M. Parachin ...is aVedic educator, yoga instructor, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of a dozen books. Buy his books at amazon or your local bookstore. Archives
March 2024
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