You can spend the rest of your days attempting to become some imagined, perfect person, but I recommend you don’t waster your life striving to become some unattainable version of yourself. - Mark Van Buren
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In Buddhist teaching, the virtue of compassion is of staggering importance. It is regarded as a higher virtue than acts of charity. Though generosity is also a strong Buddhist virtue, compassion is the greatest of virtues. Here are six ways compassion exceeds charity: 1. Charity is done with money limiting it to those who have discretionary income and can make donations provide financial help. 2. Compassion is done with one’s person. Anyone – rich or poor – can extend compassion. An example would be visiting a lonely elderly person. 3. Charity is generally given to the poor, those in need. 4. Compassion is provided to all – those with wealth and those with limited financial resources. An example could be spending time with someone grieving the death of a loved one. 5. Charity is given toward the living. 6. Compassion can be shown to both the living and the dead. An example would be the making of funeral arrangements for those unable to bear the expense or continuing to include the deceased in meditation so that he or she may experience a favorable rebirth. Everybody has something wrong in their lives. Nobody has a perfect situation. The perfect situation can only be created in one's own heart and mind. There it is possible. - Ayya Khema
Societies which persecute minorities only reveal their own sickness. - Bradford Smith
Nothing is more sublime and reinvigorating than the dignified look of those who have persevered through all the ups and downs of life’s unfolding seasons. - Daisaku Ikeda
A tranquil state of mind reduces the workload of the nervous system and keeps it from being over-stressed. - Ajahn Viriyang
There's a new label describe people today . . . insiders. It's appropriate because we're spending more than 90 percent of our time inside. The Buddha, however, did most of his practice and work outside. Here are some records of this:
“On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Samagamaka near the lotus pond. Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Venerable Sariputta was dwelling at Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrel sanctuary. . . . On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kusinara between the twin sal trees in the sal-tree grove of the Mallas at Upavattana, on the occasion of his final nibbana.” Squirrels, trees, ponds. Those were his natural settings on a daily basis. Could it be that so much anxiety, anger, division among people is simply the result of being disconnected from nature? Examine your lifestyle. Take an inventory. Are you an 'insider'? What could you do to make a shift? Real peace is not simply the absence of violent conflict but a state of harmony: harmony between people; harmony between humanity and nature; and harmony within ourselves. - Bhikkhu Bodhi
One should not be too straight. Go and look at a forest: the straight trees are cut down whereas the crooked are left standing. - Vriddha Canakya
Zen ends suffering by helping you understand yourself through meditation.
- Daniel D'Apollonio |
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
November 2020
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