Michael Forbus's Posts - iPeace.us2024-03-29T11:29:20ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbushttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/63690622?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://ipeace.us/profiles/blog/feed?user=p49gqmvh0601&xn_auth=noGolden Mettatag:ipeace.us,2010-02-02:2217368:BlogPost:24230642010-02-02T19:22:52.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
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The Heart of Metta<br />
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Metta, or lovingkindness, is one of the most important Buddhist practices. Simply stated, metta is the heartfelt wish for the well-being of oneself and others. When describing metta, the Buddha used the analogy of the care a mother gives her only child. Lovingkindness is also understood as the innate friendliness of an open heart. Its close connection to friendship is reflected in its similarity to the Pali word for friend,…
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The Heart of Metta<br />
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Metta, or lovingkindness, is one of the most important Buddhist practices. Simply stated, metta is the heartfelt wish for the well-being of oneself and others. When describing metta, the Buddha used the analogy of the care a mother gives her only child. Lovingkindness is also understood as the innate friendliness of an open heart. Its close connection to friendship is reflected in its similarity to the Pali word for friend, mitta. However, metta is more than conventional friendship, for it includes being openhearted even toward one’s enemies, developed from insight into our shared humanity.<br />
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- Gil Fronsdal from<br />
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"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."<br />
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~Buddha<br />
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"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."<br />
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-Rumi<br />
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With Holy Golden Metta and pure water from the soul to all, Namaste, MiguelTO REVISIT A BEGINNING IN BUDDHISMtag:ipeace.us,2010-01-30:2217368:BlogPost:24170162010-01-30T00:28:03.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
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A touching commentary on the Bat Nha petition:<br />
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13,059:<br />
11:58 pm PST, Jan 27, Linh Vuong, Texas<br />
My first encounter with Bat Nha community happened in Northern Vietnam. My trip coincided with Thay Thich Nhat Hanh. I heard he was at a gathering not too far from Hanoi, helping to heal wounds from the war. Yes the war happen more than 20 years ago. Before taking part in this occasion, I knew about relived trauma of American veterans. But I did know…
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A touching commentary on the Bat Nha petition:<br />
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13,059:<br />
11:58 pm PST, Jan 27, Linh Vuong, Texas<br />
My first encounter with Bat Nha community happened in Northern Vietnam. My trip coincided with Thay Thich Nhat Hanh. I heard he was at a gathering not too far from Hanoi, helping to heal wounds from the war. Yes the war happen more than 20 years ago. Before taking part in this occasion, I knew about relived trauma of American veterans. But I did know the Vietnamese side. My parents did not talk about it. Vietnamese are kind of like that, optimistic, and moving on. Practical about not staying in the past. Here, I met Vietnamese people some I had known before mostly who were visibly still hurting suffering from the war, emotional physical injuries, and from the loved ones they lost. The wounds were fresh. The lessons Thich Nhat Hanh and his community offered to these people, simple gesture of acknowledging their suffering, I could see it was helping eased pain and started healing. I remember the young monks and nuns of Bat Nha. Because among this heavy hearted work, they were so light hearted. I felt a lightness of being around them. They were so funny,cleverly teasing one another and poking fun at me as well. And funny in their gushing excitement to travel to this part of Vietnam. I felt like I was hanging with friends. They treated me as such, inviting me to games (soccer, badminton, hacky sack Vietnamese style) and to share food with them. To this day, I still think they are are some of the most loving, radiant, and peaceful human beings I spent time with. Some of my new friends invited me to Bat Nha monastery. I hadn't plan it but as life goes happen to be spontaneously in the hood, but hesitant to visit unannounced and thinking I need some sort of permission/arrangement. I showed up at the doorstep anyway, and was warmly taken in. Bat Nha is a beautiful place close to virgin tropical forest and tree plantations. The air is crisp and clear, the way the clouds move across the landscapes and sunsets are magical and memorable. I stayed at the monastery, observing the day to day life of my friends and practice doing chores mindfully which was not always easy as my mind likes tended to wonder. Some of the highlights of my visit, were free time, in which my friend would excitedly seat me down and politely press me to dictate some of their readings on compassion because they like to hear American accent and wanted to practice. There was a lot of giggling. And requests for me to repeat, as they pointed out I tend to glue my words together. Although at that time I had only encounter Thich Nhat Hanh in books and readings and only partially knew about his lessons, I witness in my gentle friends at Bat Nha, genuine happiness in their dedication to love and compassion in action. I admire the ways in which the monks and nuns at Bat Nha lived simply and worked enthusiastically and persistently to build bridges of understanding, not only that, but to also share their felt happiness and ways in which to care for suffering with others in the greater community, especially with young adults. For me, it is shocking to discover what has happened to Bat Nha monastery, it is like hearing that my friend's family has been forced from their home, and brothers and sisters forced to be split up. This calls to mind, the words, "An injustice to one is an injustice to all." We are one in the same. Love and support to the Bat Nha community. truth will always rise to light. May we all always persevere, feel, be, and be supported in pure true love, peace, freedom, wisdom, compassion, mindful, and secure sense of being. "You can walk into a room full of darkness and spark the smallest amount of light and all the darkness flees .. but you can never walk into a room full of light with any amount of darkness and make any impact on the energy of light !!"Finding Peacetag:ipeace.us,2010-01-29:2217368:BlogPost:24155162010-01-29T13:13:14.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
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"I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life."<br />
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- His Holiness the Dalai Lama<br />
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Just think of the trees: they let the birds perch…
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"I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life."<br />
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- His Holiness the Dalai Lama<br />
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Just think of the trees: they let the birds perch and fly, with no intention to call them when they come and no longing for their return when they fly away. If people's hearts can be like the trees, they will not be off the Way.<br />
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~Langya<br />
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The Joy of Equanimity<br />
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Equanimity is of tremendous importance both in the practice and in everyday life. Generally we get either swept away by pleasant and enticing objects, or worked up into a great state of agitation when confronted by unpleasant, undesirable objects. This wild alternation of contraries is nearly universal among human beings. When we lack the ability to stay balanced and unfaltering, we are easily swept into extremes of craving or aversion.<br />
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The scriptures say that when the mind indulges in sensual objects, it becomes agitated. This is the usual state of affairs in the world, as we can observe. In their quest for happiness, people mistake excitement of the mind for real happiness. They never have the chance to experience greater joy that comes with peace and tranquility.<br />
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- Sayadaw U Pandita, from "A Perfect Balance"<br />
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With Metta, MiguelPRECIOUS SILENCEtag:ipeace.us,2010-01-23:2217368:BlogPost:24065732010-01-23T12:03:14.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Precious Silence<br />
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Those who are fond of retreats—writers, ecstatics, parents with young children—often comment on the silence such time away allows. Silence becomes something present, almost palpable. The task shifts from keeping the world at a safe decible distance to letting more of the world in. Thomas Aquinas said that beauty arrests motion. He meant, I think, that in the presence of something gorgeous or sublime, we stop our nervous natterings, our foot twitchings and restless tongues.…
Precious Silence<br />
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Those who are fond of retreats—writers, ecstatics, parents with young children—often comment on the silence such time away allows. Silence becomes something present, almost palpable. The task shifts from keeping the world at a safe decible distance to letting more of the world in. Thomas Aquinas said that beauty arrests motion. He meant, I think, that in the presence of something gorgeous or sublime, we stop our nervous natterings, our foot twitchings and restless tongues. Whatever that fretful hunger is, it seems momentarily filled in the presence of beauty. To Aquinas’s wisdom I’d add that silence arrests flight, that in its refuge, the need to flee the chaos of noise diminishes. We let the world creep closer, we drop to our knees, as if to let the heart, like a small animal, get its legs on the ground.<br />
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- Barbara Hurd, "On Silence" (Summer 2001)<br />
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Be soft in your practice. Think of the method as a fine silvery stream, not a raging waterfall. Follow the stream, have faith in its course. It will go its own way, meandering here, trickling there. It will find the grooves, the cracks, the crevices. Just follow it. Never let it out of your sight. It will take you....<br />
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~Sheng-yen<br />
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“Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon.<br />
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Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Love as if this is all there is.”<br />
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-MARY ANNE RADMACHER<br />
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With Golden Metta, MiguelToday I pray for the samll island of great people Haiti and beg for you to do the same. With Mettatag:ipeace.us,2010-01-15:2217368:BlogPost:23915742010-01-15T13:16:41.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
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“May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.”<br />
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-APACHE BLESSING<br />
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Love rests on no foundation. It is an endless ocean, with no beginning or end.<br />
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-Rumi<br />
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Open and Expansive<br />
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The…
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“May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.”<br />
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-APACHE BLESSING<br />
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Love rests on no foundation. It is an endless ocean, with no beginning or end.<br />
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-Rumi<br />
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Open and Expansive<br />
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The Pali word for lovingkindness is metta. Sometimes, metta is translated simply as “love.” In our culture, the notion of love has assumed a complexity that obscures its true nature. Typically the word love conjures up thoughts of passion or sentimentality. Metta is neither of these, and this distinction is crucial.<br />
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The practice of lovingkindness is, at a certain level, the fruition of all we work toward in our meditation. It relies on our ability to open continuously to the truth of our actual experience, not cutting off the painful parts, and not trying to pretend things are other than they are. Just as spiritual growth grinds to a halt when we indulge our tendency to grasp and cling, metta can’t thrive in an environment that is bound to desire or to getting our expectations met.<br />
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In lovingkindness, our minds are open and expansive—spacious enough to contain all the pleasures and pains of a life fully lived. Pain, in this context, does’t feel like betrayal or an overwhelming force. It is part of the reality of human experience, and an opportunity for us to practice maintaining our authentic presence.<br />
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- Sharon Salzberg, "Commit to Sit," from the Spring 1993 Tricycle.<br />
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With MettaMy love to all and solidarity for those in Haiti and much support and prayers. Love, with Metta, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2010-01-14:2217368:BlogPost:23903152010-01-14T16:59:26.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
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"If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world."<br />
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-Chinese Proverb<br />
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You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and…
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"If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world."<br />
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-Chinese Proverb<br />
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You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.<br />
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~Buddha<br />
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Bricks in the Mud<br />
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I remember one afternoon as I was sitting on the steps of our monastery in Nepal. The monsoon storms had turned the courtyard into an expanse of muddy water, and we had set out a path of bricks to serve as stepping-stones. A friend of mine came to the edge of the water, surveyed the scene with a look of disgust, and complained about every single brick as she made her way across. When she got to me, she rolled her eyes and said, “Yuck! What if I’d fallen into that filthy muck? Everything’s so dirty in this country!” Since I knew her well, I prudently nodded, hopping to offer her some comfort through my mute sympathy.<br />
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A few minutes later, Raphaele, another friend of mind, came to the path through the swamp. “Hup, hup, hup!” she sang as she hopped, reaching dry land with the cry, “What fun!” Her eyes sparkling with joy, she added: “The great thing about the monsoon is that there’s no dust.” Two people, two ways of looking at things; six billion human beings, six billion worlds.<br />
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- Matthieu Ricard from "A Way of Being."<br />
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With Metta<br />
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MiguelMetta Prayertag:ipeace.us,2010-01-12:2217368:BlogPost:23865242010-01-12T17:46:27.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
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The Metta Prayer<br />
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The Buddha gave a beautiful teaching on the development of lovingkindness called the Metta Sutta (also known as the Karaniya Metta Sutta). I’ve adapted the words of the sutta to formulate them as an aspiration that can be repeated in a prayer-like way.<br />
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In order that I may be skilled in discerning what is good, in order that I may understand the path to peace,<br />
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Let me be able, upright, and straightforward, of good speech, gentle,…
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The Metta Prayer<br />
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The Buddha gave a beautiful teaching on the development of lovingkindness called the Metta Sutta (also known as the Karaniya Metta Sutta). I’ve adapted the words of the sutta to formulate them as an aspiration that can be repeated in a prayer-like way.<br />
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In order that I may be skilled in discerning what is good, in order that I may understand the path to peace,<br />
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Let me be able, upright, and straightforward, of good speech, gentle, and free from pride;<br />
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Let me be contented, easily satisfied, having few duties, living simply, of controlled senses, prudent, without pride and without attachment to nation, race, or other groups.<br />
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Let me not do the slightest thing for which the wise might rebuke me. Instead let me think:<br />
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May all beings be well and safe, may they be at ease.<br />
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Whatever living beings there may be, whether moving or standing still, without exception, whether large, great, middling, or small, whether tiny or substantial,<br />
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Whether seen or unseen, whether living near or far,<br />
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Born or unborn; may all beings be happy.<br />
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Let none deceive or despise another anywhere. Let none wish harm to another, in anger or in hate.”<br />
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Just as a mother would guard her child, her only child, with her own life, even so let me cultivate a boundless mind for all beings in the world.<br />
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Let me cultivate a boundless love for all beings in the world, above, below, and across, unhindered, without ill will or enmity.<br />
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Standing, walking, seated, or lying down, free from torpor, let me as far as possible fix my attention on this recollection. This, they say, is the divine life right here.<br />
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Namaste with Metta, Miguel<br />
Translated and adapted by Bodhipaksa from the Pali Metta Sutta.This is the most beautiful site. Peace and the most lovely photographytag:ipeace.us,2010-01-12:2217368:BlogPost:23860252010-01-12T12:30:00.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Dear my beloved friends, this is the most beautiful site. Full of lovely photographs and sweetness, the scent of sandlewood, the words ob Buddha, the poetry of Rumi, the laughing faces of my dear friends. I am in a paradise where there is no conflict, only love amongst our fellow beings. How can I think of the differences between any of us. We are the same, my heart is yours and yours is mine. Our thoughts are of beauty and kindness. You have all changed my live, you have made me a better man…
Dear my beloved friends, this is the most beautiful site. Full of lovely photographs and sweetness, the scent of sandlewood, the words ob Buddha, the poetry of Rumi, the laughing faces of my dear friends. I am in a paradise where there is no conflict, only love amongst our fellow beings. How can I think of the differences between any of us. We are the same, my heart is yours and yours is mine. Our thoughts are of beauty and kindness. You have all changed my live, you have made me a better man with more love to give and today I give it all to you, all that I have is yours, my vessel never empties because of the love you give to me. Blessings dear brothers and sisters, and to the Great Teachers we have that show us the path, I give great thanks. Jam Tse and Namaste, Miguel<br />
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"One great question underlies our experience, whether we think about it or not:<br />
what is the purpose of life? From the moment of birth<br />
every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering.<br />
Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affects this.<br />
>From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment.<br />
Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the<br />
greatest degree of happiness."<br />
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- His Holiness the Dalai Lama<br />
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Normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them....<br />
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~Alan Watts<br />
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Real Freedom<br />
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Freedom means being able to choose how we respond to things. When wisdom is not well developed, it can be easily obscured by the provocations of others. In such cases we may as well be animals or robots. If there is no space between an insulting stimulus and its immediate conditioned response—anger—then we are in fact under the control of others. Mindfulness opens up such a space, and when wisdom is there to fill it one is capable of responding with forbearance. It’s not that anger is repressed; anger never arises in the first place.<br />
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-Andrew Olendzki, "Calm in the Face of Anger," from the Fall 2006 Tricycle. Read the complete article.<br />
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Are you fleeing from Love because of a single humiliation?<br />
What do you know of Love except the name?<br />
Love has a hundred forms of pride and disdain,<br />
and is gained by a hundred means of persuasion.<br />
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-Rumi<br />
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Namaste, Miguel<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72847265?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72847366?profile=original" alt=""/></p>Sayings about our Buddhist Naturetag:ipeace.us,2010-01-10:2217368:BlogPost:23825652010-01-10T23:51:16.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
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My heart is soaring like an Eagle filled with love for all my dear friends and one especially who lives in my heart. Bless you all and Namaste, stay warm and full of peace. Miguel<br />
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Mind the Gaps<br />
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If you start really paying attention to your own thought process—I’m talking here about the process itself and not just the contents of the individual thoughts that make it up—you’ll notice that thoughts don’t just go on and on continuously. There are little…
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My heart is soaring like an Eagle filled with love for all my dear friends and one especially who lives in my heart. Bless you all and Namaste, stay warm and full of peace. Miguel<br />
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Mind the Gaps<br />
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If you start really paying attention to your own thought process—I’m talking here about the process itself and not just the contents of the individual thoughts that make it up—you’ll notice that thoughts don’t just go on and on continuously. There are little spaces between them. Most of us tend to habitually try and fill these spaces up with more thoughts as fast as we possibly can. But even the best of us can’t fill them all, so there are always little gaps. See, you might say that there are two basic kinds of thought. There are thoughts that pop up unannounced and uninvited in our brains for no reason we’re able to discern. These are just the results of previous thoughts and experiences that have left their traces in the neural pathways of our brains. You can’t do much to stop these, nor should you try. The other kind of thought is when we grab on to one of these streams of energy and start playing with it the way your mom always told you not to do with your wee-wee in front of the neighbors. We dig deep into these thoughts and roll around in them like a pig rolling in its own doo-doo, feeling all that delicious coolness and drinking deep of their lovely stink.<br />
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To practice “thinking not thinking,” all you need to do is ignore the first kind of thoughts and learn how not to instigate the second. This is easier said than done, of course. But get into the habit, and it begins to come naturally.<br />
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- Brad Warner, "Think Not Thinking,"<br />
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"Enlightenment is not about imagining figures of light, but of making the darkness conscious!"<br />
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-Carl Jung<br />
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“I said to my longing heart,<br />
What is this river you want to cross?<br />
There are no travelers before you, there is no road.<br />
Do you see anyone moving or resting on that bank?”<br />
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-Kabir<br />
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Namaste, MiguelA Little Dharma for the Weekend, bless you all dear Friends. Namaste, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2010-01-10:2217368:BlogPost:23825272010-01-10T23:29:24.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
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January 8, 2010<br />
Transforming Anger to Light<br />
Give Your Anger to the Earth<br />
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As humans, we all have anger, sometimes more than others. A healthy way of purging our anger from our bodies is to give it to Mother Earth. We can imagine ourselves being grounded as the electrical energy passes from us into Mother Earth below. We can see that energy go straight to the earth’s core where it becomes part of the continuous growth process of our planet and is…
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January 8, 2010<br />
Transforming Anger to Light<br />
Give Your Anger to the Earth<br />
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As humans, we all have anger, sometimes more than others. A healthy way of purging our anger from our bodies is to give it to Mother Earth. We can imagine ourselves being grounded as the electrical energy passes from us into Mother Earth below. We can see that energy go straight to the earth’s core where it becomes part of the continuous growth process of our planet and is transformed from negative to positive, from dark to light. When we choose to give our anger to the earth, we trust our connection with the natural world we live in and the great universe that fuels it all. Mother Earth will lovingly transform your anger into light so no need to feel guilty about unloading to her.<br />
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We can make this offering of our energy from any location, whether many stories up or on a ship at sea. We know the earth is below us, supporting us and sustaining us. If we have the opportunity to physically connect to the earth by going outdoors and touching unpaved ground, we may find it easier to connect to nature’s energy flow. It may also be easier to receive the flow of positive, calming, healing energy that comes to fill our bodies when we have emptied ourselves of our anger. To begin, sit and breathe deeply, ask Mother Earth to accept your anger, and imagine it coming down your spine out of your tailbone, and into the earth’s deep core. To finish, be sure to honor and thank the earth for her loving service.<br />
<br />
When we work with our anger this way, we acknowledge that like everything else it is merely energy that can be used positively or negatively. During our grounding meditation, we may be given direction to channel this energy for its best use. We may find that the earth can help us cleanse misplaced energy to use for its rightful purpose. When we do this with gratitude, we know that we are not misusing the earth for our own selfish purposes. Instead we are connecting ourselves with the energy of our homeland, and when we do this we nurture the earth as it nourishes us.<br />
<br />
Namaste, MiguelDAILY OMtag:ipeace.us,2010-01-08:2217368:BlogPost:23772602010-01-08T18:31:40.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
January 7, 2010<br />
Understanding Oneness<br />
Level of Consciousness<br />
<br />
Sometimes we look at the actions of others and find it difficult to understand what motivates them. But we are all doing the best we can with the information we currently have. We have all been taught how to see the world from the examples of those around us and by our experiences. Keeping this in mind, we can accept the choices made by others while seeking ways to increase the world’s level of consciousness as a whole.<br />
<br />
Our…
January 7, 2010<br />
Understanding Oneness<br />
Level of Consciousness<br />
<br />
Sometimes we look at the actions of others and find it difficult to understand what motivates them. But we are all doing the best we can with the information we currently have. We have all been taught how to see the world from the examples of those around us and by our experiences. Keeping this in mind, we can accept the choices made by others while seeking ways to increase the world’s level of consciousness as a whole.<br />
<br />
Our different levels of consciousness are like the developmental stages of children, whose understanding varies according to their age and experience. For example, the behavior of a two-year-old who doesn’t want to share can be understood as a phase of his social education, whereas a 16-year-old who behaves in the same manner would be thought to be acting childish. It is important to remember that we are each on our own unique path. We may have chosen certain lessons or made an agreement to play certain roles in the unfolding of the world’s understanding before we incarnated in this lifetime. So our job is not to judge others but to shift the balance of understanding in the world by increasing our own.<br />
<br />
Every thought we have and action we take becomes part of the collective energy of the planet. When we use our energy to bring light into the world, it combines with the light brought by others to dispel the darkness. Though we live in a world of duality, which helps us to experience the material plane, we don’t need to experience extremes to understand them. We can share our experiences and understanding with others not from a place of condescension but of connection. When the entire family of humanity understands that each of our thoughts, choices, and actions affect us all, we will share an incredible level of consciousness—one that puts our oneness above all else and helps us evolve into higher expressions of our spiritual selves. Remember the next time you witness an action of another that they are of the same earth as you but simply on a different conscious level at this point in their life. Find compassion, bless them, and move along your day in grace.<br />
<br />
Namaste, MiguelTwinstag:ipeace.us,2009-12-19:2217368:BlogPost:23345352009-12-19T18:30:00.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Twins<br />
<br />
He wondered at night as he looked at the blackness of the mountain sky<br />
if she was looking at the same stars as he.<br />
He wondered when he thought of her if she ever had<br />
the same thoughts as he.<br />
After all, he thought they were twins.<br />
He thought that their two hearts were sewn together from<br />
the same silken threads.<br />
<br />
As he looked at the stars that shimmered and gleamed as a bush full of<br />
fireflies, he wondered where she had gone,<br />
and how he had let her go for that lifetime of a month or…
Twins<br />
<br />
He wondered at night as he looked at the blackness of the mountain sky<br />
if she was looking at the same stars as he.<br />
He wondered when he thought of her if she ever had<br />
the same thoughts as he.<br />
After all, he thought they were twins.<br />
He thought that their two hearts were sewn together from<br />
the same silken threads.<br />
<br />
As he looked at the stars that shimmered and gleamed as a bush full of<br />
fireflies, he wondered where she had gone,<br />
and how he had let her go for that lifetime of a month or so.<br />
What was she doing? He knew she painted and cooked and took so much<br />
care of those she loved.<br />
He wondered how he was not one of those, after all, he was her twin.<br />
Many nights alone he became her hand as she painted and tried to feel<br />
the brush in his hand as she created masterpieces. He smelled the<br />
paint in the air of the city. It was everywhere. He could not escape<br />
from that fragrance.<br />
<br />
He let his arm go wherever she took it as she had his heart a short time<br />
ago, that seemed like years.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
He always thought of the thorns on the roses of her life,<br />
and as she got closer to the flower, somehow she would prick her fingers<br />
and a droplet of blood of rubies would pool on her lovely hand. He was<br />
an ocean away but he wanted to taste that blood and make that small<br />
pain leave her, just disappear as fog on the mountain as the sun<br />
rises.<br />
<br />
He felt this so naturally, not as something that was a dream state, but<br />
as if it was his finger and his blood.<br />
When the loneliness would haunt her, it haunted him as well, like<br />
something deep and dark as a cenote.<br />
<br />
All of this time there was a tugging in his heart as if it was sewn to<br />
hers and it was being pulled to her, a strong thread that would not<br />
stop its incessant movement to the south and to her heart.<br />
<br />
He still does not know how she slipped away or if he drove her, she did<br />
not resist and he did not plead that she return.<br />
<br />
Then one day he spoke of her painting and then he could not<br />
stop looking at her work, or stop being her arm that she painted with.<br />
He could not stop being the other half of her heart. He no longer<br />
could live without the part of his heart that was strong and good and<br />
generous.<br />
<br />
The heart of hers that was sewn to his as his twin, and tonight, just<br />
tonight, he walked out to the mountainside and felt that she always saw<br />
the same stars and that no matter what the future or their fortune was<br />
to be, nothing could keep them apart. They were twins waiting to lock eyes for the first time and the dream would then be real.<br />
<br />
Namaste, to all the lovers in the world. Miguel<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846800?profile=original" alt=""/></p>Love is a many splendid thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love!
~ from the movie Moulin Rouge ~
Other men said they have seen angels,
But I have seen thee
And thou art enough.…tag:ipeace.us,2009-12-18:2217368:BlogPost:23325482009-12-18T21:35:28.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Love is a many splendid thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love!<br />
~ from the movie Moulin Rouge ~<br />
<br />
Other men said they have seen angels,<br />
But I have seen thee<br />
And thou art enough.<br />
~ by G. Moore ~<br />
<br />
I would fly you to the moon and back if you'll be . . . if you'll be my baby.<br />
~ From a song by Savage Garden ~<br />
<br />
I love you - those three words have my life in them.<br />
~ by Alexandrea to Nicholas III ~<br />
<br />
What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what…
Love is a many splendid thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love!<br />
~ from the movie Moulin Rouge ~<br />
<br />
Other men said they have seen angels,<br />
But I have seen thee<br />
And thou art enough.<br />
~ by G. Moore ~<br />
<br />
I would fly you to the moon and back if you'll be . . . if you'll be my baby.<br />
~ From a song by Savage Garden ~<br />
<br />
I love you - those three words have my life in them.<br />
~ by Alexandrea to Nicholas III ~<br />
<br />
What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.<br />
~ by Ralph Waldo Emerson ~<br />
<br />
I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for their religion -<br />
I have shudder'd at it.<br />
I shudder no more.<br />
I could be martyr'd for my religion<br />
Love is my religion<br />
And I could die for that.<br />
I could die for you.<br />
~ by John Keats ~<br />
<br />
I'd like to run away<br />
From you,<br />
But if you didn't come<br />
And find me ...<br />
I would die.<br />
~ by Shirley Bassey ~<br />
<br />
When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out.<br />
~ by Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973) ~<br />
<br />
The greatest thing you'll ever learn<br />
Is to love and be loved in return.<br />
~ From "Unforgettable with Love" by Natalie Cole<br />
<br />
Soul meets soul on lover's lips.<br />
~ by Percy Bysshe Shelly ~<br />
I have found men who didn't know how to kiss.<br />
I've always found time to teach them.<br />
~ by Mae West ~<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846877?profile=original" alt=""/></p>Dedicated to His Holiness, Buddha and The Love of My Life, Tashi Delek, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-12-15:2217368:BlogPost:23261072009-12-15T13:21:03.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
The Possibility of Kindness<br />
<br />
We must realize, if tomorrow is going to look any better than today, that the currency for compassion isn’t what someone else does, right or wrong—it is the very fact that that person exists. Commitment to the possibility of kindness cannot be discarded as foolish or irrelevant, even in troubling times when we often can’t find easy answers. If we abandon the force of kindness as we confront cruelty, we won’t learn anything to take into tomorrow—not from history, not…
The Possibility of Kindness<br />
<br />
We must realize, if tomorrow is going to look any better than today, that the currency for compassion isn’t what someone else does, right or wrong—it is the very fact that that person exists. Commitment to the possibility of kindness cannot be discarded as foolish or irrelevant, even in troubling times when we often can’t find easy answers. If we abandon the force of kindness as we confront cruelty, we won’t learn anything to take into tomorrow—not from history, not from one another, not from life.<br />
<br />
- Sharon Salzberg, The Force of Kindness<br />
---------------------------------------<br />
<br />
It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
---------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Love rests on no foundation.<br />
It is an endless ocean,<br />
with no beginning or end.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
<br />
---------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist."<br />
<br />
-- Archbishop Helder Camara<br />
<br />
<br />
NAMASTE AND MUCH LOVE TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND HAPPY HOLY DAYS, MIGUELMy love flows to you all like a sacred river of Devotion. Blessings and Happy Holidays. Namaste, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-12-14:2217368:BlogPost:23244912009-12-14T15:37:41.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Day-to-Day<br />
<br />
Perhaps we'd much rather focus on a great transcendent state of consciousness out there somewhere, waiting for us to achieve it. But it is in how we live day-to-day that an authentic spirituality is made manifest.<br />
<br />
- Sharon Salzberg, The Force of Kindness<br />
----------------------------------<br />
<br />
Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them.<br />
Feel the artistry moving through, and be silent.<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
----------------------------------<br />
<br />
I believe that in the 20th century,…
Day-to-Day<br />
<br />
Perhaps we'd much rather focus on a great transcendent state of consciousness out there somewhere, waiting for us to achieve it. But it is in how we live day-to-day that an authentic spirituality is made manifest.<br />
<br />
- Sharon Salzberg, The Force of Kindness<br />
----------------------------------<br />
<br />
Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them.<br />
Feel the artistry moving through, and be silent.<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
----------------------------------<br />
<br />
I believe that in the 20th century, humanity has learned from many, many experiences. Some positive, and many negative. What misery, what destruction! The greatest number of human beings were killed in the two world wars of this century. But human nature is such that when we face a tremendous critical situation, the human mind can wake up and find some other alternative. That is a human capacity.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846591?profile=original" alt=""/></p>Generous Words from Wise Men to you from Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-12-11:2217368:BlogPost:23171872009-12-11T14:48:00.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846640?profile=original"></img></p>
<br />
The Revolution Within<br />
<br />
As the first line of the Dhammapada says, "All that we are is the result of what we have thought." Thus, the transformation of sociological and psychological structures must take place initially in our own minds—and those of others—if we truly hope to address the root cause of social suffering. The Four Noble Truths, the five precepts observed by laity and monks alike, the Eightfold Path, and the ten paramitas (perfections)…
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846640?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
<br />
The Revolution Within<br />
<br />
As the first line of the Dhammapada says, "All that we are is the result of what we have thought." Thus, the transformation of sociological and psychological structures must take place initially in our own minds—and those of others—if we truly hope to address the root cause of social suffering. The Four Noble Truths, the five precepts observed by laity and monks alike, the Eightfold Path, and the ten paramitas (perfections) make up a time-honored blueprint for revolutionary change, first in the individual, then in the community of which he or she is a part.<br />
<br />
-Charles Johnson, "The Dharma of Social Transformation,"<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
This that we are now ... The human body and the universe grew from this,<br />
not this from the universe and the human body.<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
<br />
Namaste, MiguelTODAY I FEEL YOU ALL ENTERING THE WINDOW OF MY SOUL AND LAYING YOUR GARLANDS OF FRAGRANT LOVE OFFERINGS TO ME. IT IS DELIGHTFUL, BLESS YOU ALL, NAMASTE, MIGUELtag:ipeace.us,2009-12-09:2217368:BlogPost:23109862009-12-09T03:35:23.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846755?profile=original"></img></p>
<br />
You were born with wings. Why prefer to crawl through life?<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
According to Buddhism, individuals are masters of their own destiny. And all living beings are believed to possess the nature of the Primordial Buddha Samantabhadra, the potential or seed of enlightenment, within them. So our future is in our own hands. What greater free will do we need?<br />
<br />
~The Dalai…
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846755?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
<br />
You were born with wings. Why prefer to crawl through life?<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
According to Buddhism, individuals are masters of their own destiny. And all living beings are believed to possess the nature of the Primordial Buddha Samantabhadra, the potential or seed of enlightenment, within them. So our future is in our own hands. What greater free will do we need?<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Seeing the Sunset<br />
<br />
Take the sunset: What happens when we see it? Ultimately, we don't. When the eye contacts a visual form, we merely see color, not a three-dimensional thing. In fact, the tint, along with the consciousness seeing it, dies out in a split-second, but we fail to catch the dissolve. Why? Because delusion blurs the separate moments of perception together, making experience look seamless. After the color sparks out, subsequent moments of consciousness replay the image from memory, dubbing it "sunset." This process takes only a fraction of a second. Nevertheless, by the time we name it, the original image is already gone. "Sunset" is a concept perceived through the mind-door, not the eye. We mistake this product of mental construction for something irreducibly real. Without the tool of mindfulness the trick is too fast to see, like trying to catch the separate frames of a running film.<br />
<br />
-Cynthia Thatcher, "What’s So Great About Now?"<br />
<br />
Jam Tse, MiguelTODAY MY SPIRIT FLIES WITH YOURS AND OUR SOULS INTERMINGLE AND ARE CONNECTED AS IS ALL WATER. NAMASTE, MIGUELtag:ipeace.us,2009-12-04:2217368:BlogPost:23009352009-12-04T15:26:42.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846483?profile=original"></img></p>
<br />
<br />
Accepting Imperfection<br />
<br />
Any time we want life to be different than it is, we are caught in impatience. We lose our sense of humor; and self-pity, despair, and blame seep into the heart. Gentle forbearance includes the spirit of forgiveness. When we feel conflict with others, understanding their suffering is the first step in being able to communicate, forgive, and begin again. The practice of forgiveness happens when we are able to realize the…
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846483?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
<br />
<br />
Accepting Imperfection<br />
<br />
Any time we want life to be different than it is, we are caught in impatience. We lose our sense of humor; and self-pity, despair, and blame seep into the heart. Gentle forbearance includes the spirit of forgiveness. When we feel conflict with others, understanding their suffering is the first step in being able to communicate, forgive, and begin again. The practice of forgiveness happens when we are able to realize the underlying cause of our anger and impatience, and this allows us to distinguish between someone’s unskillful behavior and essential goodness. Serenity and calm develop as we learn to accept imperfection in others and ourselves.<br />
<br />
-Michele McDonald, "Finding Patience,"<br />
<br />
--------------------------------------<br />
<br />
I died as a mineral and became a plant, I died as plant and rose to animal,<br />
I died as animal and I was Man. Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
-------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
With the ever-growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play by reminding us of our humanity. There is no contradiction between the two. Each gives us valuable insights into the other. Both science and the teachings of the Buddha tell us of the fundamental unity of all things. This understanding is crucial if we are to take positive and decisive action on the pressing global concern with the environment. I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness and bringing happiness to all human beings. Though the means might appear different the ends are the same.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai LamaA Fine Mist of Joy Envelopes your Face and makes your Heart Soar, Namaste, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-12-03:2217368:BlogPost:22997842009-12-03T22:05:02.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
We need a little more compassion, and if we cannot have it then no politician or even a magician can save the planet.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Change is Inevitable<br />
<br />
As Buddhists, we work to accept the impermanence and inevitable decay of the physical body. But it’s not enough to accept it as a fact; we can believe in this and still not want it in plain sight. Nagarjuna said, “Change makes all things possible.” It is only because of change that suffering can…
We need a little more compassion, and if we cannot have it then no politician or even a magician can save the planet.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Change is Inevitable<br />
<br />
As Buddhists, we work to accept the impermanence and inevitable decay of the physical body. But it’s not enough to accept it as a fact; we can believe in this and still not want it in plain sight. Nagarjuna said, “Change makes all things possible.” It is only because of change that suffering can end—and it is because of change that our bodies fall apart, like all compounded things. We cannot have one without the other, but we try.<br />
<br />
- Sallie Tisdale, "Washing out Emptiness,"<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
The happy heart gives away the best. To know how to receive is also a most important gift, which cultivates generosity in others and keeps strong the cycle of life.<br />
<br />
Dhyani Ywahoo<br />
Voices of Our Ancestors<br />
<br />
---------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Every object and being in the universe is a jar overflowing with wisdom and<br />
beauty, a drop of the Tigris that cannot be contained by any skin.<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
Namaste and FREE TIBET, Miguel<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846447?profile=original" alt=""/></p>For Karen and Family with my most devoted love. Namaste, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-12-01:2217368:BlogPost:22935782009-12-01T03:41:54.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
"Myself"<br />
<br />
Of all the words we use to disguise the hollowness of the human condition, none is more influential than “myself.” It consists of a collage of still images—name, gender, nationality, profession, enthusiasms, relationships—that are renovated from time to time, but otherwise are each a relic from one particular experience or another. The defining teaching of the Buddhist tradition, that of non-self, is merely pointing out the limitations of this reflexive view we hold of ourselves. It’s…
"Myself"<br />
<br />
Of all the words we use to disguise the hollowness of the human condition, none is more influential than “myself.” It consists of a collage of still images—name, gender, nationality, profession, enthusiasms, relationships—that are renovated from time to time, but otherwise are each a relic from one particular experience or another. The defining teaching of the Buddhist tradition, that of non-self, is merely pointing out the limitations of this reflexive view we hold of ourselves. It’s not that the self does not exist, but that it is as cobbled-together and transient as everything else.<br />
<br />
- Andrew Olendzki, “Self as Verb,”<br />
<br />
----------------------------------<br />
<br />
I speak not with a feeling of anger or hatred towards those who are responsible for the immense suffering of our people and the destruction of our land, homes and culture. They too are human beings who struggle to find happiness and deserve our compassion. I speak to inform you of the sad situation in my country today and of the aspirations of my people, because in our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
----------------------------------<br />
<br />
The lion who breaks the enemy's ranks<br />
is a minor hero<br />
compared to the lion who overcomes himself.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
Namaste and love to you all, Miguel<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846528?profile=original" alt=""/></p>A Few Lessons in LIfetag:ipeace.us,2009-11-29:2217368:BlogPost:22905002009-11-29T21:23:28.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Awakening Now<br />
<br />
Why wait for your awakening?<br />
The moment your eyes are open,<br />
seize the day. Would you hold<br />
back when the Beloved beckons?<br />
Would you deliver your litany<br />
of sins like a child's collection<br />
of sea shells, prized and labeled?<br />
<br />
"No, I can't step across the<br />
threshold," you say, eyes<br />
downcast. "I'm not worthy"<br />
I'm afraid, and my motives<br />
aren't pure. I'm not perfect,<br />
and surely I haven't practiced<br />
nearly enough. My meditation<br />
isn't deep, and my prayers are<br />
sometimes insincere. I still…
Awakening Now<br />
<br />
Why wait for your awakening?<br />
The moment your eyes are open,<br />
seize the day. Would you hold<br />
back when the Beloved beckons?<br />
Would you deliver your litany<br />
of sins like a child's collection<br />
of sea shells, prized and labeled?<br />
<br />
"No, I can't step across the<br />
threshold," you say, eyes<br />
downcast. "I'm not worthy"<br />
I'm afraid, and my motives<br />
aren't pure. I'm not perfect,<br />
and surely I haven't practiced<br />
nearly enough. My meditation<br />
isn't deep, and my prayers are<br />
sometimes insincere. I still chew<br />
my fingernails, and the refrigerator<br />
isn't clean."<br />
<br />
Do you value your<br />
reasons for staying small more<br />
than the light shining through<br />
the open door? Forgive yourself.<br />
<br />
Now is the only time you have<br />
to be whole. Now is the sole<br />
moment that exists to live in<br />
the light of your true Self.<br />
Perfection is not a prerequisite<br />
for anything but pain. Please,<br />
oh please, don't continue to<br />
believe in your disbelief.<br />
This is the day of your awakening.<br />
-Danna Faulds<br />
<br />
<br />
-------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
Pausing When We Eat<br />
<br />
Here are some methods for helping yourself to slow down your eating by creating pauses:<br />
<br />
1. Pause before beginning the meal. Look at each item of food, taking it in with the eyes. Notice colors, textures, shapes, arrangement on the plate or bowl.<br />
<br />
2. Take a moment to say grace. Thank the animals, plants, and people who brought this food to you. Be aware of their gifts as you eat.<br />
<br />
3. Begin the meal by pausing to inhale the fragrance of the food. Imagine that you are being nourished by just the smell.<br />
<br />
4. Eat food like a wine connoisseur tastes wine. First sniff the food, enjoying the bouquet. Then take a small taste. Roll it around in the mouth, savoring it. What ingredients can you detect? Chew slowly and swallow. Take a sip of water to cleanse the palate. When the mouth is empty of food and flavor, repeat the process.<br />
<br />
5. If you notice that you are eating without tasting, stop and pause to look at the food again.<br />
<br />
-Jan Chozen Bays, "Mindful Eating,"<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846435?profile=original" alt=""/></p>Dedicated to a brother who is making his passage, may it be gentle. Love to Karen and family, Namaste, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-11-29:2217368:BlogPost:22904772009-11-29T21:15:21.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Our willingness to share ourselves honestly with others opens the opportunity to create lasting relationships that enhance our lives. We often feel the need to mask our true selves and portray a perfected version of ourselves in social settings, believing that others will like us more than if we reveal our true selves. If we instead allow others to see the genuine person under the mask, we automatically begin attracting those who would resonate most deeply with us on a spiritual and emotional…
Our willingness to share ourselves honestly with others opens the opportunity to create lasting relationships that enhance our lives. We often feel the need to mask our true selves and portray a perfected version of ourselves in social settings, believing that others will like us more than if we reveal our true selves. If we instead allow others to see the genuine person under the mask, we automatically begin attracting those who would resonate most deeply with us on a spiritual and emotional level. This allows us to create more lasting and meaningful relationships than we would by trying to be someone we are not. In addition, we eventually realize that our true selves are far more attractive and acceptable to those who love us than any mask could ever be.<br />
-Unknown<br />
<br />
-------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Love said to me,<br />
there is nothing that is not me.<br />
Be silent.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
<br />
-------------------------------------<br />
<br />
The "Helper" Syndrome<br />
<br />
One of the themes of practice is the gradual movement from a self-centered life to a more life-centered one. But what about our efforts to become more life-centered—doing good deeds, serving others, dedicating our efforts to good causes? There’s nothing wrong with making these efforts, but they won’t necessarily lead us to a less self-oriented life. Why? Because we can do these things without really dealing with our “self.” Often our efforts, even for a good cause, are made in the service of our desires for comfort, security, and appreciation. Such efforts are still self-centered because we’re trying to make life conform to our picture of how it ought to be. It’s only by seeing through this self—the self that creates and sustains our repeating patterns—that we can move toward a more life-centered way of living.<br />
<br />
- Ezra Bayda, from “The ‘Helper’ Syndrome,”<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846473?profile=original" alt=""/></p>Dedicated to His Holiness, Buddha and The Love of My Life, Tashi Delek, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-11-20:2217368:BlogPost:22696862009-11-20T18:27:44.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
To study the Buddhist way is to be intimate with all things.<br />
<br />
-Master Dogen<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------<br />
<br />
Being the Stream<br />
<br />
Meditation is not just a rest or retreat from the turmoil of the stream or the impurity of the world. It is a way of being the stream, so that one can be at home in both the white water and the eddies. Meditation may take one out of the world, but it also puts one totally into it.<br />
<br />
- Gary Snyder, from “Just One Breath, ”<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------<br />
<br />
But…
To study the Buddhist way is to be intimate with all things.<br />
<br />
-Master Dogen<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------<br />
<br />
Being the Stream<br />
<br />
Meditation is not just a rest or retreat from the turmoil of the stream or the impurity of the world. It is a way of being the stream, so that one can be at home in both the white water and the eddies. Meditation may take one out of the world, but it also puts one totally into it.<br />
<br />
- Gary Snyder, from “Just One Breath, ”<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------<br />
<br />
But war or peace; the destruction or the protection of nature; the violation or promotion of human rights and democratic freedoms; poverty or material well-being; the lack of moral and spiritual values or their existence and development; and the breakdown or development of human understanding, are not isolated phenomena that can be analysed and tackled independently of one another. In fact, they are very much interrelated at all levels and need to be approached with that understanding.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
----------------------------------<br />
<br />
Didn't I tell you<br />
not to be satisfied with the veil of this world?<br />
I am the master illusionist,<br />
it is me, who is the welcoming banner at the gate of your contentment.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
With Metta, Miguel<br />
<br />
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846332?profile=original" alt=""/></p>Dharma for the hearts of you ascended Angels. My love is flowing to you all. Paz y Amortag:ipeace.us,2009-11-19:2217368:BlogPost:22673092009-11-19T17:00:00.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. True peace with oneself and with the world around us can only be achieved through the development of mental peace.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Good Guys and Bad Guys<br />
<br />
We all love the struggle between good (us) and evil (them). It is, in its own way, deeply satisfying. Think of the plots of the James Bond films, the Star Wars films,…
Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. True peace with oneself and with the world around us can only be achieved through the development of mental peace.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Good Guys and Bad Guys<br />
<br />
We all love the struggle between good (us) and evil (them). It is, in its own way, deeply satisfying. Think of the plots of the James Bond films, the Star Wars films, the Indiana Jones films. In such movies, it’s quite obvious who the bad guys are. Caricatures of evil, they are ruthless, maniacal, without remorse, and so they must be stopped by any means necessary. We are meant to feel that it is okay—even, to tell the truth, pleasurable—to see violence inflicted upon them. Because the villains like to hurt people, it’s okay to hurt them. Because they like to kill people, it’s okay to kill them. After all, they are evil, and evil must be destroyed.<br />
<br />
What is this kind of story teaching us? That if you really want to hurt someone, it is important to demonize them first—in other words, fit them into your good-versus-evil story. That is why truth is the first casualty of all wars.<br />
<br />
- David R. Loy, from “The Nonduality of Good and Evil,”<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
There is a community of the spirit,<br />
Join it, and feel the delight<br />
of walking in the noisy street,<br />
and being the noise.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
Namaste and all my love to you all and for one special woman that the Goddesses have graced me with. Miguel<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846241?profile=original" alt=""/></p>Dedicated to His Holiness, Buddha and The Love of My Life, Tashi Delek, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-11-19:2217368:BlogPost:22656552009-11-19T00:05:14.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Loving the Enemy<br />
<br />
If your own best friend went mad and came at you with a knife to kill you, what would you do? You would seek to disarm your friend, but then you would not proceed to beat the person, would you? You would disarm the attacker in whatever way you could—you might even have to hit the person in order to disarm him, but once you have managed to disarm him, you would not go on to hurt him. Why? Because he is close to you.<br />
<br />
If you felt that everyone in the whole universe was in the…
Loving the Enemy<br />
<br />
If your own best friend went mad and came at you with a knife to kill you, what would you do? You would seek to disarm your friend, but then you would not proceed to beat the person, would you? You would disarm the attacker in whatever way you could—you might even have to hit the person in order to disarm him, but once you have managed to disarm him, you would not go on to hurt him. Why? Because he is close to you.<br />
<br />
If you felt that everyone in the whole universe was in the same relationship to you as your very best friend, and if you saw anyone who attacked you as your best friend gone mad, you would not respond with hatred. You would respond with behavior that was appropriate, but you would not be seeking to retaliate and harm the person out of hatred. He would be too dear to you.<br />
<br />
- Jeffrey Hopkins, from “Everyone as a Friend,”<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility. In that state of mind you can deal with situations with calmness and reason, while keeping your inner happiness. That is very important. Without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may still be worried, disturbed or unhappy because of circumstances.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
Come, come, whoever you are.<br />
Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving — it doesn't matter,<br />
Ours is not a caravan of despair.<br />
Come, even if you have broken your vow a hundred times,<br />
Come, come again, come.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Rumi<br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846098?profile=original" alt=""/></p>Dedicated to His Holiness, Buddha and The Love of My Life, Tashi Delek, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-11-18:2217368:BlogPost:22653922009-11-18T22:02:35.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
This is a path of being, not doing. There's nothing to do. We're just discovering who we already are - by relaxing, by connecting with the waves of this moment, and by bringing the boundless love of our nature to touch just what's here.<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
The eye of clarity is so called because it brings sight to everyone. It enables every single one to enter the uncreated and unconditioned reality, each in his own…
This is a path of being, not doing. There's nothing to do. We're just discovering who we already are - by relaxing, by connecting with the waves of this moment, and by bringing the boundless love of our nature to touch just what's here.<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
The eye of clarity is so called because it brings sight to everyone. It enables every single one to enter the uncreated and unconditioned reality, each in his own way.<br />
<br />
-Prajnaparamita<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
More is Never Enough<br />
<br />
It’s easy to think we’re generous and magnanimous people when we’re sitting here reading. We think, "I’m not attached. I’d be happy to share whatever I have with others.” But should somebody ask us, "May I have the food in your cupboards?" We would probably respond, "No! Why should I give it to you?" Or if somebody took our shoes that we left outside the meditation hall, we would be upset. "Who took my shoes? How dare they! I want them back!"<br />
<br />
Fear often lies beneath our excuses. We falsely believe that possessions will bring us security in cyclic existence. In fact, our attachment to them keeps us bound in a prison of dissatisfaction. We constantly crave more and better, yet are never satisfied with what we have.<br />
<br />
–Thubten Chodron, from Tara the Liberator (Snow Lion Publications)<br />
<br />
------------------------------------------<br />
"Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life."<br />
<br />
~Thich Nhat Hanh<br />
<br />
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846107?profile=original" alt=""/></p>A taste of Dharma for all you lovely ones. I hope your hearts are full. Namaste, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-11-17:2217368:BlogPost:22612622009-11-17T00:45:18.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.<br />
<br />
<br />
~ Buddhist Saying<br />
<br />
------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Make Peace with Your Mind<br />
<br />
For the spiritual power of peace to touch every person on this earth, it must radiate out from a profound peace within our own mind: across political and religious barriers, and across the barriers of ego and self-righteousness. To this end, we should seek an inner peace so pure and stable that we…
Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.<br />
<br />
<br />
~ Buddhist Saying<br />
<br />
------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Make Peace with Your Mind<br />
<br />
For the spiritual power of peace to touch every person on this earth, it must radiate out from a profound peace within our own mind: across political and religious barriers, and across the barriers of ego and self-righteousness. To this end, we should seek an inner peace so pure and stable that we cannot be moved to anger by violence or to selfish attachment and fear by those who view or confront us with contempt and hatred. We can achieve such stability only by purifying the mind’s poisons—ignorance, anger, attachment, jealousy, and pride; then we can clearly see that war and suffering are but their outer reflections. The essential difference between true peacemakers and those who wage war of any sort is the presence of extraordinary patience and discipline in the minds of the peacemakers as they work with these pervasive poisons. If we truly understand this, we will never allow ourselves to be defeated from within or without.<br />
<br />
–Lama Shenpen Drolma, from Change of Heart: The Bodhisattva Peace Training of Chagdud Tulku (Padma)<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
There are stories about people who have been struggling with life's problems for a very long time without resolution. Once they sat down in meditation and asked, "Who is struggling?" they realized that from the beginning there was never really any problem. In a true sense this is the only solution that helps us. Everything else is just a band-aid that gives us a false sense of liberation for a short while. How many times have we tried these temporary fixes and solutions? Are we exhausted yet? If everybody on the planet, including the politicians, businessmen, and religious leaders, started working toward this realization, then the world would immediately be a peaceful place. People would be much more generous and kinder toward each other.<br />
<br />
When all the layers of false identity have been stripped off, there is no longer any version of that old self. What is left behind is pure consciousness. That is our original being. That is our true identity. Our true nature is indestructible. No matter whether we are sick or healthy, poor or wealthy, it always remains divine and perfect as it is. When we realize our true nature, our life is transformed in a way we could not have imagined before. We realize the very meaning of our life and it puts an end to all searching right there.<br />
<br />
--from "No Self, No Problem" by Anam Thubten, edited by Sharon Roe, published by Snow Lion Publications .<br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846089?profile=original" alt=""/></p>My Last Run with the Bulls in Spaintag:ipeace.us,2009-11-15:2217368:BlogPost:22581052009-11-15T21:09:34.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
Ultima Tiempo en Pamplona Para Mi Mariposa<br />
The last run in Pamplona with the bulls<br />
<br />
T<br />
his blue black beast you see has the wine of my heart on his mighty horns. He has made a bouquet of red roses on my white blouse that matches my red cinched belt. I am bleeding now and my death is near. I see my angel in the mist, distant as always.<br />
<br />
Today after much Don Pedro, I drank the liquid courage to take the run. My friends and family tried to stop me saying, "Miguel, she does not want you, she loves…
Ultima Tiempo en Pamplona Para Mi Mariposa<br />
The last run in Pamplona with the bulls<br />
<br />
T<br />
his blue black beast you see has the wine of my heart on his mighty horns. He has made a bouquet of red roses on my white blouse that matches my red cinched belt. I am bleeding now and my death is near. I see my angel in the mist, distant as always.<br />
<br />
Today after much Don Pedro, I drank the liquid courage to take the run. My friends and family tried to stop me saying, "Miguel, she does not want you, she loves another, she will never love you." The bulls were calling me and the Don Pedro was burning my stomach. I knew I would bleed in the streets and dampen the horns of some mighty toro. It was not a question. I thought, if by chance the Goddess of Love would save me and show my Paloma, my Mariposa, that she was my only wealth, perhaps my fate would escape me. She had rebuked me for some time and I was lost in an ocean of love. I swam in it every day. I dove in it and stayed under until I could not breathe.<br />
<br />
It was not enough. I must run with the bulls and spill the sangria of my heart. I did so that day and the big blue took me and flung me about like a doll. I felt no pain as I was already numb from the past. I felt nothing but release as my life's liquid seeped from my body. I saw the doves of El Centro fly away and she was with them, her wings so white and pure. As I ascended, the bulls slipped in my blood, and big blue was the only one standing, victorious over me in my death. But it mattered not, my family was right, she was never to be mine.<br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright by Mic<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72846155?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
hael (Miguel) ForbusA Little Dharma for the Weekend, bless you all dear Friends. Namaste, Migueltag:ipeace.us,2009-11-06:2217368:BlogPost:22256672009-11-06T19:04:56.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
A Handful of Knowledge<br />
<br />
There aren’t that many fundamental, or root, principles of dharma. The Buddha said that his teaching is “a single handful.” A passage in the Samyutta-nikaya makes that clear. While walking through the forest, the Buddha picked up a handful of fallen leaves and asked the monks who were present to decide which was the greater amount, the leaves in his hand or all the leaves in the forest. Of course, they all said that there were more leaves in the forest, that the…
A Handful of Knowledge<br />
<br />
There aren’t that many fundamental, or root, principles of dharma. The Buddha said that his teaching is “a single handful.” A passage in the Samyutta-nikaya makes that clear. While walking through the forest, the Buddha picked up a handful of fallen leaves and asked the monks who were present to decide which was the greater amount, the leaves in his hand or all the leaves in the forest. Of course, they all said that there were more leaves in the forest, that the difference was beyond comparison. Try to imagine the truth of this scene; clearly see how huge the difference is. The Buddha then said that, similarly, those things that he had realized were a great amount, equal to all the leaves in the forest. However, that which was necessary to know, those things that should be taught and practiced, were equal to the number of leaves in his hand.<br />
<br />
- Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, from “A Single Handful,”<br />
<br />
------------------------------------<br />
<br />
As Buddhists, while we practice our own teaching, we must respect other faiths, Christianity, Judaism and so forth. We must recognize and appreciate their contributions over many past centuries to human society, and at this time we must strive to make common effort to serve humankind.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------<br />
<br />
So ring the bells that still can ring<br />
forget your perfect offering<br />
There is a crack in everything<br />
That’s how the light gets in.<br />
<br />
- Leonard Cohen<br />
<br />
----------------------------------<br />
<br />
"No one is to be called an enemy; all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy except yourselves."<br />
<br />
- St. Francis of Assisi (1181/1182 C.E. – 1226 C.E.)<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72845793?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
<br />
Mahalo and Namaste, MiguelThe Soul Sings Truth, The Words Teach The Songs. Namaste,tag:ipeace.us,2009-11-05:2217368:BlogPost:22207082009-11-05T03:42:12.000ZMichael Forbushttps://ipeace.us/profile/MichaelForbus
"Me," "Myself," and "I"<br />
<br />
Holding to an ordinary notion of self, or ego, is the source of all our pain and confusion. The irony is that when we look for this "self" that we're cherishing and protecting, we can't even find it.<br />
<br />
- Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche, from "Searching for Self,”<br />
<br />
-------------------------------------<br />
<br />
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai…
"Me," "Myself," and "I"<br />
<br />
Holding to an ordinary notion of self, or ego, is the source of all our pain and confusion. The irony is that when we look for this "self" that we're cherishing and protecting, we can't even find it.<br />
<br />
- Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche, from "Searching for Self,”<br />
<br />
-------------------------------------<br />
<br />
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.<br />
<br />
~The Dalai Lama<br />
<br />
-------------------------------------<br />
<br />
If simplifying your schedule seems prohibitively difficult and you still feel pressed to take on more, try imagining how each new commitment will impact your life before saying yes. When you consider the hassle associated with superfluous obligations, you may be surprised to see that your schedule is impeding your attempts to grow as an individual. Your willingness to pare down your agenda, no matter how gradual your progress, will empower you to retake active control of the life that defines you.<br />
<br />
-Unknown<br />
<br />
------------------------------------<br />
<br />
To meet everything and everyone through stillness instead of mental noise is the greatest gift you can offer to the universe.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Eckhart Tolle<br />
<br />
<br />
NAMASTE, MIGUEL<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72845829?profile=original" alt=""/></p>