Meditation is simply building up good habits of the mind. - Thubten Chodron
When the mind is harmonized through mantra, a peaceful meditation can easily proceed and endure. - David Frawley
Because the bamboo plant can survive harsh winters, blistering summers and fierce storms it is an important symbol of enlightenment in Buddhism. Like the bamboo, enlightenment requires persistence, strength, flexibility and adaptability. The presence of bamboo also creates a sense of quiet and peace while providing shelter for human and other beings. It is especially venerated in China, Korea and Japan where the relationship between Buddhism and Bamboo is tightly linked.
For example, many Buddhist temples grow and nurture the plant on their properties. In addition, some temples include the word ‘bamboo’ in their names. Various bamboo species are named after the Buddha such as “Buddha Belly Bamboo”, “Mercy Buddha Bamboo”, and “Arhat Bamboo.” Buddhism has also inspired various wisdom statements around the bamboo plant – Bend but don’t break. Be flexible yet firmly rooted. You can lean on a bamboo stick but not on a rope. Like bamboo, be resilient and bounce back. The higher the bamboo, the more it bends. Commit to continuous growth. Because there is a lack of contemplation of our inner self and our surrounding, we create a lot of unpleasantness and problems. - Hsing Yun
Whenever you begin to feel irritated, frustrated or angry, that is the moment to practice the vow of silence. Do not permit your tongue to riot. Silence is the best course of action when your temper flares. Words once spoken cannot be retrieved much like an arrow released from a bow. The popular children's chant - sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me - is false. A more accurate rendition would be - sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can break my heart. Discipline yourself to practice the vow of silence at every moment of indignation, impatience and annoyance.
We prefer the pain of the known to the pain of the unknown. That’s the difficulty with habituation—even if it is painful, it is comfortable. - Martine Batchelor
When you are practicing a pose in yoga, can you find the delicate balance between taking the pose to its maximum extent, and taking it beyond that point so that there is too much effort creating wrong tension in the body. - BKS Iyengar
The world needs another Buddha. You qualify. Here are three simple, straightforward steps for becoming a Buddha.
1. Accept the truth that you have Buddha nature. You are not a sinner in need of salvation but a budding Buddha. 2. Cultivate and grow your inner Buddha. This means engaging in meditation - alone and with a group of spiritual friends. It means reading, studying and learning from the masters. Finally, it means acting like a Buddha by exhibiting awareness, kindness, compassion and sharing wisdom with others. 3. Manifest, fully, your Buddha nature. Become like a mountain. No matter how the mountain is treated it remains. Nature unleashes fury upon mountains - rains, floods, fires. Human's mistreat mountains - they tramp on them, defecate on them, exploit them. Through it all the mountain remains. Finally, continue to repeat steps one and two until they are no longer necessary and your response to everyone and everything around you is like a mountain: solid, strong, stable. Spiritual strength is positive energy and emotion in our heart. When we feel this positive energy in us, then we are blessed with spiritual strength. - Hsing Yun
I will be silent when it is time to listen.
I will be silent if my words convey the wrong impression. I will be silent when in the heat of anger. I will be silent if I would regret my words later. I will be silent if my words will offend someone. I will be silent when I do not know all the facts. I will be silent if my words could damage a friendship. I will be silent when I am feeling critical. I will be silent if I cannot say it peacefully. —Garchen Rinpoche |
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
April 2024
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