31 October, 2013

Compassion

"Compassion is not true compassion unless it is active. Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion, is often represented in Tibetan iconography as having a thousand eyes that see the pain in all corners of the universe, and a thousand arms to reach out to all corners of the universe to extend his help."

Sogyal Rinpoche

30 October, 2013

What After? By Julian Colgan


After catapulted into the refined air ways of a high ranking
official of some company or institution, and after sliding
down from one’s seat of glory, where will one be
when there is no one left to hug one’s rich or poor
conception of self esteem?

After embarking upon numerous social and
political campaigns for numerous humanitarian causes,
and after rallying against numerous human injustices,
which course of action or program of defense will
permanently put an end to human greed and sorrow?

After running around cities without end for winning trophies
of self respect, and after losing many pounds for
some marathon, who will run to one’s deathbed
when everyone is running out of fear of impermanence?

After believing in socialism, communism, democracy
and dictator run societies, and after surviving the incessant wars
led by charismatic leaders, which form of government
will give one and everyone else lasting peace of mind?

After building great monuments and stupas to the
national heroes and sages of the ever fading past,
and after having commemorated and dedicated
one’s sons and daughters to their pomp celebrations,
where will one hold a national banquet when one happens
to brush against the unknown heroes and
sages of the present moment in time?

After sacrificing oneself to the millions of
established religions and the thousands of state
approved cults, and after reading all that one can
on legendary figures, which ideology will take the place
of one’s own realization of the self or no self?

After doing all that one can to make samsara a little more
pleasant, and after wrecking the future lives
of future civilizations, sometimes not acting is better
than acting and sometimes moving is better than not moving.

After investing all of one’s hopes and dreams for progress
in the fantasies and technological advancements of
the age of reason, and after pushing the sciences to
the forefront of modern education, sometimes disbelieving
what is popular is conductive to a healthy mind and
sometimes agreeing with sound principles is more
than reasonable to the self deluded.

After donating all of one’s money to a charity,
and after traveling on pilgrimage to all holy shrines
of the world’s religions, sometimes investing in
oneself is wiser than investing in self help gurus
and sometimes traveling up the path of the
sushumna is more extravagant than the veneration
surrounding praise worthy places.

After graduating with an honorary degree or a handful
of vocational skills, and after retiring from the workplace
or beginning a new career, sometimes never beginning
the process is more revealing of human dignity than
any program of rapid self improvement and sometimes
pausing between moments is enough to reflect on the
impermanence of every human desire.

After enlightened through one’s self inquiries,
and after dumbed down by societies demands,
listen to one’s proper consciousness and listen to
the original thoughts of all involved in the upheaval
of tyrannical forms of social interactions.

After all is said and done, and after every desire
is as maxed out as our visa cards, the
Buddha Dharma finally makes perfect sense
and finally means something to those who have
tried everything that is regarded as meritorious to human society.

Julian Colgan (Copyright)
Awake to Buddhahood 

29 October, 2013

Stilling the mind...

“When a man realizes he is neither the doer nor the enjoyer, 
the ripples of his mind are stilled.” 

Ashtavakra Gita 18:51

28 October, 2013

Love...

Some day, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, 
the tides and gravity, . . . we shall harness . . . the energies of love. 
Then, for the second time in the history of the world, 
man will have discovered fire.

TEILHARD DE CHARDIN

27 October, 2013

Self wrap...


“When a man is wrapped up in himself 
he makes a pretty small package.” 

John Ruskin

25 October, 2013

Dhammapada...

“When you see with discernment, 'All fabrications are inconstant'-- 
you grow disenchanted with stress. This is the path to purity. 
When you see with discernment, 'All fabrications are stressful'-- 
you grow disenchanted with stress. This is the path to purity. 
When you see with discernment, 'All phenomena are not-self'-- 
you grow disenchanted with stress. 
This is the path to purity.” 

Dhammapada, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. 


23 October, 2013

Rumi insight...


“Because of your humility God granted you the gift of insight. Go toward the peach tree, which has sprung to life. It has become lush green by the command "Be!" Beneath its shade all your needs will be fulfilled. Such is divine alchemy that the crooked become straight. As God revealed, "Its roots are firm in the earth, its branches in the sky."”

Rumi

22 October, 2013

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

“As a goldsmith fashions an old ornament into a new and more beautiful one, 
so the Self, having reached the end of the last life and dispelled all ignorance, 
makes for himself a new, more beautiful shape, like that of the devas or other 
celestial beings.” 

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Upanishad Wisdom...

There is the path of wisdom and the path of ignorance.
They are far apart and lead to different ends. . . . 
Abiding in the midst of ignorance, thinking themselves
wise and learned, fools go aimlessly hither and thither 
like the blind led by the blind. What lies beyond life 
shines not to those who are childish, or careless, or 
deluded by wealth.

21 October, 2013

Jetsun Milarepa

When you are strong and healthy
You never think of sickness coming,
But it descends with sudden force
Like a stroke of lightning.

When involved in worldly things,
You never think of death’s approach;
Quick it comes like thunder
Crashing round your head.

MILAREPA

20 October, 2013

Consciousness

“When consciousness is unified...all vain anxiety is left behind. There is no cause for worry, whether things go well or ill. Therefore, devote yourself to the disciplines of yoga, for yoga is skill in action.” 

Bhagavad Gita 



19 October, 2013

Knowing...

“One man believes in existence, Another says, "There is nothing!" 
Rare is the man who believes in neither. He is free from confusion.” 

Ashtavakra Gita 

18 October, 2013

Piousness

Adversity can convert many to piousness. In fact many are pushed to pray fervently when they experience great difficulties. Gratitude floods in for those that are empathetic. And usually this state lasts for as long as the adverse moment.

LS

17 October, 2013

Rumi reflection...


“Give your life for that cup of divine wisdom. 
How can you succeed without endurance and patience? 
To wait for the sake of that cup is no hardship. 
Show patience, for patience is the key to joy.” 

16 October, 2013

Sutra...

“Good friends, recite in unison what I say: I vow to
save all sentient beings everywhere. I vow to cut off 
all the passions everywhere. I vow to study all the 
Buddhist teachings everywhere. 
I vow to achieve the unsurpassed Buddha Way.”

The Sutra of Hui-Neng, 
adapted from the translations by Philip Yampolsky and A.F. Price
(Visit Beliefnet for more great insights)

15 October, 2013

Altruism...

“Strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world; by 
devotion to selfless work one attains the supreme goal of life. 
Do your work with the welfare of others always in mind.” 

Bhagavad Gita

14 October, 2013

On opposites...

“God created suffering and heartache, so that joy might be known as their opposite. 
Hidden things become manifest through their opposites. But God has no opposite; 
so he remains hidden. Light is known as the opposite of darkness. 
But God's light has no opposite. Thus we cannot know him through our eyes.” 

Rumi

13 October, 2013

Recognizing delusion...


“Love your true Self, which is naturally happy and 
peaceful and bright! Awaken to your own nature, 
and all delusion melts like a dream. ” 

Ashtavakra Gita

12 October, 2013

The Secret...

“It is a fool who blames the sun for his own blindness.
The scriptures even proclaim aloud: There is in truth no 
creation and no destruction; no one is bound, no one is seeking 
Liberation, no one is on the way to Deliverance. 
There are none Liberated. This is the absolute truth. My dear 
disciple, this, the sum and substance of all the Upanishads,
 the secret of secrets, is my instruction to you.” 

Shankaracharya

11 October, 2013

On perspectives...

The pessimist complains about the wind; 
the optimist expects it to change; 
the realist adjusts the sails.

William Arthur Ward 

09 October, 2013

On Truth...

“If you cling to an idea as the unalterable truth, 
then when the truth does come in person and 
knock at your door, you will not be able to 
open the door and accept it.” 

Udana Sutta

08 October, 2013

Self and I...

Photo credit: www.myniceprofile.com

“The face of truth is hidden by your orb of gold, O sun.
 May you remove your orb so that I, who adore the true,
may see the glory of truth. O nourishing sun, solitary traveler, 
controller, source of life for all creatures, spread your light 
And subdue your dazzling splendor so that I may see your blessed Self.
 Even that very Self am I!” 

Isha Upanishad 


07 October, 2013

Awakening by Somwang


Floating dreams
in moonlit beams
Scented breeze
the moment seize
Fragrant blooms
 & angels swoon
For this new dawn
love seeds sown
 The time is now
eternal Tao
An earthly song
a drum & gong
Thee do I embrace
to finally awake!

Somwang

06 October, 2013

On Teaching ...


“The Buddha said to Ananda: "Truly, Ananda, it's not easy to 
teach the way of freedom to others. In teaching freedom to others, 
the best way is to first establish five things and then teach. 
What are the five? When you teach others, you must think: 
'I will teach in a gradual and sensitive way. I will speak 
with the goal in mind. I will speak with gentleness. I will not 
speak in order to gain anything. I will not speak with a view to 
harming anyone.' "If you establish thse five things, 
your teaching will be well received."” 

Anguttara Nikaya


05 October, 2013

ON BODHICITTA: The Compassionate Heart of the Enlightened Mind

It is the supreme elixir
That overcomes the sovereignty of death.
It is the inexhaustible treasure
That eliminates poverty in the world.
It is the supreme medicine
That quells the world’s disease.
It is the tree that shelters all beings
Wandering and tired on the path of conditioned existence.
It is the universal bridge
That leads to freedom from unhappy states of birth.
It is the dawning moon of the mind
That dispels the torment of disturbing conceptions.
It is the great sun that finally removes
The misty ignorance of the world.

SHANTIDEVA

04 October, 2013

Metta Suta...


“This is the work of those who are skilled and peaceful, who seek the good: May they be able and upright, straightforward, of gentle speech and not proud. May they be content and easily supported, unburdened, with their senses calmed. May they be wise, not arrogant and without desire for the possessions of others. May they do nothing mean or that the wise would reprove. May all things be happy. May they live in safety and joy. ”

Metta Suta

03 October, 2013

Find Me In The Rainbow


Always near, at times so far
Is where all the gurus are.
Seen and felt I share my love
In any form: the magician’s dove
We are many but we are One
I am your mother, father, son
I am you and you are me.
Know this and you’ll be free.

Clouds may come, clouds depart
Knowing me is quite an art.
Seek me not where I am not
Sing with heart, untie this knot.
Whoever seeketh is sure to find
The true secret that is Mind
Be unafraid : you must know
You will find me in a rainbow.
For the rainbow and I are one.
And above me so is the sun…

Somwang
August 2013, Sukhothai

01 October, 2013

The Power of the Powerful Ones and their aspirants

I was recently reflecting with a friend on the great battles for power, be they be waged by corporate giants, politicians, academicians, scientists, bankers or all those on the descending gradient of "Egoic possession". We have all seen the accompanying misery of illness and emotional turmoil they manage to accumulate, its in the news most of the time. The reality is that the final outcome for everyone is inevitably death at some point or another WITHOUT the possibility of taking any of the "tangibles" to the other side. I would like to sum up what this is all about for them.
A life spent enjoying life and contributing to uplifting our planets inhabitants might be more fulfilling and make more sense. After all while it is true that material wealth does not cross the great divide, it is highly possible that a consciousness filled with positive seeds and peace, might well carry that lasting legacy throughout its long journey.

Its a thought worth considering!

Leonid Snitsi