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Imagine you are dining in a Buddhist restaurant where the meal concludes with a fortune cookie which contains a slip of paper with this wisdom sentence - abandon hope.
“Abandon hope” appears as a Buddhist teaching in various lineages and is one of the 59 Lojong slogans used for mind training in Tibetan Buddhism. In Western thought, hope is regarded as a positive concept which can help a person deal with life. However, Buddhism views hope with suspicion and Lojong slogan #28 rejects it - Abandon any hope of fruition. Don’t get caught up in how you will be in the future, stay in the present moment.
Here are fifteen reasons why Buddhism is skeptical about hope.
1. Hope is a form of fear; the fear that we are inadequate, incapable and incompetent of dealing with our present life.
2. Hope is denial . Rather than face and deal with what’s going on now, we shift our attention to some fanciful future when we hope things will be more pleasant.
3. Hope is an obstacle to action. Hoping something will go away or change by itself keeps us stuck with the issue.
4. Hope is childish, wishful thinking that there is somewhere better to be, someone better to be.
5. Hope pushes away bad news and clings to good news thereby missing the truth that something bad may offer an important lesson.
6. Hope deepens unhappiness. Hoping for something in the future keep us unhappy in the present.
7. Hope is self-paralyzing leaving us in an emotional coma hoping things will change.
8. Hope seeks what is comfortable and pleasant at the expense of relating to problems in constructive ways.
9. Hope prolongs suffering by promoting the view that everything can be changed, fixed, or removed.
10. Hope fuels the feeling of being powerless with it’s focus on how life is supposed to be.
11. Hope feeds the ego. Too often we work with ulterior, self-serving motives. For example, when we are nice to people we “hope” they will like us.
12. Hope erodes current peace and tranquility because hope is future focused - the good life is down the road, sometime in the future.
13. Hope keeps us in a state of agitation and anxiety by denying us the opportunity of simply releasing and relaxing into the present.
14. Hope breeds insecurity by it’s constant demand for reassurance that life is unfolding according to some plan.
15. Hope keeps us stuck in expectations of better outcomes while downsizing attention to our present circumstances.
Abandoning hope is not defeatist and depressing but results in patience and peace by living fully in the power of now.
(feel free to re-post and/or link to your social media)
“Abandon hope” appears as a Buddhist teaching in various lineages and is one of the 59 Lojong slogans used for mind training in Tibetan Buddhism. In Western thought, hope is regarded as a positive concept which can help a person deal with life. However, Buddhism views hope with suspicion and Lojong slogan #28 rejects it - Abandon any hope of fruition. Don’t get caught up in how you will be in the future, stay in the present moment.
Here are fifteen reasons why Buddhism is skeptical about hope.
1. Hope is a form of fear; the fear that we are inadequate, incapable and incompetent of dealing with our present life.
2. Hope is denial . Rather than face and deal with what’s going on now, we shift our attention to some fanciful future when we hope things will be more pleasant.
3. Hope is an obstacle to action. Hoping something will go away or change by itself keeps us stuck with the issue.
4. Hope is childish, wishful thinking that there is somewhere better to be, someone better to be.
5. Hope pushes away bad news and clings to good news thereby missing the truth that something bad may offer an important lesson.
6. Hope deepens unhappiness. Hoping for something in the future keep us unhappy in the present.
7. Hope is self-paralyzing leaving us in an emotional coma hoping things will change.
8. Hope seeks what is comfortable and pleasant at the expense of relating to problems in constructive ways.
9. Hope prolongs suffering by promoting the view that everything can be changed, fixed, or removed.
10. Hope fuels the feeling of being powerless with it’s focus on how life is supposed to be.
11. Hope feeds the ego. Too often we work with ulterior, self-serving motives. For example, when we are nice to people we “hope” they will like us.
12. Hope erodes current peace and tranquility because hope is future focused - the good life is down the road, sometime in the future.
13. Hope keeps us in a state of agitation and anxiety by denying us the opportunity of simply releasing and relaxing into the present.
14. Hope breeds insecurity by it’s constant demand for reassurance that life is unfolding according to some plan.
15. Hope keeps us stuck in expectations of better outcomes while downsizing attention to our present circumstances.
Abandoning hope is not defeatist and depressing but results in patience and peace by living fully in the power of now.
(feel free to re-post and/or link to your social media)
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Never argue with an idiot.
They will drag you down
to their level and beat
you with experience.
- Eric Barker
They will drag you down
to their level and beat
you with experience.
- Eric Barker
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Strength of numbers is the delight of the timid. The valiant in spirit glory in fighting alone. - Gandhi
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Thanks to the efforts of vegan waitress Megan Brophy, iconic diner chain Bob’s Big Boy has unveiled a new item on the specials menu at its longstanding Burbank, CA location: a fully vegan burger served on a vegan bun.
The 24-hour location of the restaurant has been a fixture in Burbank since the 1950s, and while vegan customers could previously modify vegetarian options to be served without animal products, the new burger—which features a patty by vegan brand Hungry Planet Foods—can be ordered vegan as-is.
“I’ve been vegan for six years now, and I’ve worked at this restaurant for 18 years. I’ve been working hard for the past three years to get a vegan burger in, and they finally gave in,” Brophy explained in a video produced by animal-rights organization Mercy For Animals. “People are very excited to see that a 1950s American iconic restaurant has stepped up to the plate and given to the vegan community what we are all asking for so vegans can go out with their friends and all eat together.”
Brophy is calling upon the vegan community to support the new vegan burger in hopes that Bob’s Big Boy adds it to the permanent menu.
The 24-hour location of the restaurant has been a fixture in Burbank since the 1950s, and while vegan customers could previously modify vegetarian options to be served without animal products, the new burger—which features a patty by vegan brand Hungry Planet Foods—can be ordered vegan as-is.
“I’ve been vegan for six years now, and I’ve worked at this restaurant for 18 years. I’ve been working hard for the past three years to get a vegan burger in, and they finally gave in,” Brophy explained in a video produced by animal-rights organization Mercy For Animals. “People are very excited to see that a 1950s American iconic restaurant has stepped up to the plate and given to the vegan community what we are all asking for so vegans can go out with their friends and all eat together.”
Brophy is calling upon the vegan community to support the new vegan burger in hopes that Bob’s Big Boy adds it to the permanent menu.
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The mind, hard to see, Subtle—alighting where it wishes— The sage protects. The watched mind brings happiness. - Dhammapada
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Centuries ago a man in the East took up gardening on his small estate. Eventually, he became a proficient gardener producing some of the most beautiful plants and flowers in his community.
However, one aspect of gardening frustrated him: the constant presence of growing weeds. No matter what he did, no matter how much weeding he engaged in, they came back stronger than ever.
Unable to bear the presence of weeds in his garden he visited with a member of a King’s royal garden staff. He listened patiently and took careful notes as the royal gardener offered him a variety of methods for dealing with weeds.
Pleased with his new knowledge, the man returned to his estate and applied the principles. Yet, the weeds persisted returning as they always had.
Once again, he visited the royal gardener and explained asking “what else can I do about those weeds?” The royal gardener paused before speaking and then said: “There is only one other thing for you to do: you must learn to love the weeds and treat them well.”
That story is a metaphor for our living. While we may have many admirable qualities, no one of us is free from “weeds” in our lives. As we become aware them it’s easy to become frustrated with ourselves and turn to self-loathing and even self-abuse.
The lesson from the gardener applies to life in this way: we must learn to love our ‘weeds’, those flaws, imperfections which make us the unique individuals we are.
If we do not do this, we will simply make ourselves more miserable. Like the gardener who could not eliminate and prevent weeds from coming up, we can’t root out every flaw. So work with the alternative which is self-acceptance and learning to love those parts of our personalities as well.
However, one aspect of gardening frustrated him: the constant presence of growing weeds. No matter what he did, no matter how much weeding he engaged in, they came back stronger than ever.
Unable to bear the presence of weeds in his garden he visited with a member of a King’s royal garden staff. He listened patiently and took careful notes as the royal gardener offered him a variety of methods for dealing with weeds.
Pleased with his new knowledge, the man returned to his estate and applied the principles. Yet, the weeds persisted returning as they always had.
Once again, he visited the royal gardener and explained asking “what else can I do about those weeds?” The royal gardener paused before speaking and then said: “There is only one other thing for you to do: you must learn to love the weeds and treat them well.”
That story is a metaphor for our living. While we may have many admirable qualities, no one of us is free from “weeds” in our lives. As we become aware them it’s easy to become frustrated with ourselves and turn to self-loathing and even self-abuse.
The lesson from the gardener applies to life in this way: we must learn to love our ‘weeds’, those flaws, imperfections which make us the unique individuals we are.
If we do not do this, we will simply make ourselves more miserable. Like the gardener who could not eliminate and prevent weeds from coming up, we can’t root out every flaw. So work with the alternative which is self-acceptance and learning to love those parts of our personalities as well.
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Ever tried.
Ever failed.
No matter.
Try again.
Fail again.
Fail better.
- Samuel Becket
Ever failed.
No matter.
Try again.
Fail again.
Fail better.
- Samuel Becket
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Just understand your mind: how it works, how attachment and desire arise, how ignorance arises, where emotions come from. It is sufficient to know the nature of all that; just that gives so much happiness and peace. - Thubten Yeshe
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'Kichijoji', a town near Tokyo in Japan, was named after Hindu goddess Lakshmi, consort of Hindu god Vishnu. Takayuki Kitagawa, Consul General of Japan said, "You will be surprised to know that the town near Tokyo has its origin from Lakshmi temple. Kichijoji means Lakshmi temple in Japanese."
Kitagawa said that people usually believe that the culture of Japan and India are different, but that is not the case as many temples in Japan are dedicated to Hindu Gods. "There are many more Hindu gods who are revered in the Land of the Rising Sun. For ages, we have been praying to Hindu gods," said the diplomat, who began his delightful speech in Kannada, leaving the audience spellbound.
The Consul General also noted that the Japanese language has many words taken from Sanskrit which again it indicates that both cultures had deep connections in past. "For instance, Japanese dish sushi is made of rice and vinegar. Sushi is also associated with shari, which is from Sanskrit word 'zaali', meaning rice," the Consul added.
Kitagawa said that people usually believe that the culture of Japan and India are different, but that is not the case as many temples in Japan are dedicated to Hindu Gods. "There are many more Hindu gods who are revered in the Land of the Rising Sun. For ages, we have been praying to Hindu gods," said the diplomat, who began his delightful speech in Kannada, leaving the audience spellbound.
The Consul General also noted that the Japanese language has many words taken from Sanskrit which again it indicates that both cultures had deep connections in past. "For instance, Japanese dish sushi is made of rice and vinegar. Sushi is also associated with shari, which is from Sanskrit word 'zaali', meaning rice," the Consul added.
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When the Dharma is about to disappear, women will become vigorous and will frequently do deeds of virtue, while men grow lax and no longer study the Dharma. —Buddha Shakyamuni, Shurangama Sutra