Glen Quagmire's Friends

Hello, dharma pals. =) I have a very mundane question for you.

I meditate with a Vipassana sangha on Sundays. On the first Sunday of every month there's a little potluck afterward. I ordinarily flee from this event, as I'm not very imaginative where food is concerned. Every once in a strange while, though, I like to make tea eggs. Making them is joyful to me, like a little ritual. The boiling tea/spice/soy mixture perfumes my apartment, and the eggs come out looking like marble. I've just gotten some eggs from a local farm with free-range chickens. So just now, I thought: say, wouldn't some locally/humanely-sourced tea eggs be lovely funny things to bring to sangha potluck?

But then I thought hrm, not vegan. Would that be Not OK? I know the snacks people bring are always vegetarian, but vegan I'm not sure. I will first carefully gauge the level of ova-consumption among my fellow sitters so I don't make a terrible faux pas. In the meantime, though, I just thought I'd bounce it off you guys. This is not an invitation to debate the role of veg*nism in Buddhism! It's just a question about wanting to offer something, and not wanting to disrespect others in doing so.

What do you think? Skilled? Or OMG So Not? I know that folks will probably respect my intentions, but still. One likes to get it right the first time if one can.

Ethylene Vinyl Acetate. This chemical is now added to cigarette paper to make it extinguish itself. This chemical does not yield to the metabolism. This is a direct attack on the health and well being of the population.
( tl;dr )

Professor Richard Hayes - a notable Buddhist scholar specializing in the Buddhist logicians Dignaga and Dharmakirti - has a series of ten talks delivered at Leiden University discussing ten very interesting philosophical questions that one could ask about Buddhism. Enjoy.

Leiden Lectures

Sponsored by Fo Guang Shan, the Woodenfish program aims to advance Humanistic Buddhism through a series of projects geared toward young adults. Woodenfish works with them to promote a spiritual, academic, and socially relevant understanding of Buddhism.

Room and board at Fo Guang Shan Monastery will be provided free of charge to participants for the duration of the program. Students will live in guest housing on the monastery grounds. Most meals will be taken in the main dining hall with the assembly of monks and nuns, and students will be taught proper monastic dining etiquette. During the cultural tour, participants will stay at Fo Guang Shan branch temples throughout the island of Taiwan. Due to the intensive nature of the program, dependents (spouses, children, and/or partners) will not be able to accompany participants.

http://www.woodenfish.org/

Foguangshan, one of the largest Buddhist organizations in the world, organizes the above program and it is free of charge. There is also a winter program that takes place in California. See the link on the site for info.

Happy Holiday

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all... and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make [insert country or area of choice] great (not to imply that [country or area of choice] is necessarily greater than any other country or area of choice), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual orientation of the wisher or wishee.

This wish is limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first. "Holiday" is not intended to, nor shall it be considered, limited to the usual Judeo-Christian celebrations or observances or to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious community, group, individual, or belief (or lack thereof).

Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms:

This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or for no reason at all. This greeting is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for the wishee her/himself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which may arise from the implementation or non-implementation of same. This greeting is void where prohibited by law. Offer invalid in Quebec.

Please lift up my dear friend Colleen in prayer.
She is not eating right or drinking any fluids. Another friend of mine told me she just picks at her food and is also concerned she will become dehydrated.
Also mentioned that she (Colleen) just wants to sleep all of the time. Please pray she gets the help she needs. Thank you.

Venerable Ajahn Brahm, an English Theravada monk, gives a lengthy discussion on reincarnation. It is just over one hour long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htQ12Z2MV0Q

Hey all,

Not sure how to ask this or kind of get it off my chest, but here's the thing - lately I've been feeling down in the dumps and it's not because I don't have gobs, hell, any cash at all to spend on presents for people. That said, I've read about and greatly understand the need to release ego's desire for what your neighbor may have and it's a good thing to do because I think like many things Buddhist, that release does bring peace of mind.

I was watching and simultaneously gagging on MTv's "Best of Cribs" yesterday - now there are some egos right? And don't get me wrong, it'd be nice to have a Bentley or four in the garage, the pool, the 700,000 square feet and such, but I never, ever have asked for that, I've always just wanted to be able to pay my bills and maybe have a few nice things that for me, equal a trip to the thift store where I leave feeling like a pirate with my treasures!

Still..... I am in a job where I"m making less than $17K a year and I know damn well with my skills I could (and am trying to) find work where I"m making more.... I never, ever have extra money and so I never go anywhere or do anything. I have a car that's omg a piece of dukka all its own and ready to be put out to pasture, to the point where I am never really sure it's going to get me to said low paying job... and on top of this, my health is declining.

Believe me, I am blessed, despite all of these complaints. 2 years ago I was homeless and have fought my way back to where I am now in my own apartment, loved and adored by 2 wonderful felines, I have food in my cupboards most times even if I have to go to pantries - I have a job in this economy and a car to get there - So i am not snubbing my good fortune nor discounting my own role in it.

Yet is it wrong really to want, well, basically, greater security?? A better car to ensure holding on to my job? A better job to secure rent each month without the whole robbing Peter to pay Paul bit?

How does one balance letting go of the importance of material things with the want for just these simple objects and intangibles? I just want to be happy in my own little nondescript crib, yo.

Many people are shunned away from many religions due to violent passages in their holy books, now, is there similar passages in the buddhist canon?

Is there negative karma in provoking desire and attachments in others? Would the job of salesman, model, artist or marketing psychologist be considered Wrong Livelihood?

_

Too lazy to be ambitious,
I let the world take care of itself.
Ten days' worth of rice in my bag;
a bundle of twigs by the fireplace.
Why chatter about delusion and enlightenment?
Listening to the night rain on my roof,
I sit comfortably, with both legs stretched out.

Ryokan

________

Stories of Ryokan

It is common practice for a monk to abstain from eating meat. Once a young monk sat to dinner with Ryokan and watched him eat fish. When asked why, Ryokan replied, “I eat fish when it’s offered, but I also let the fleas and flies feast on me [when sleeping at night]. Neither bothers me at all.”
It is said Ryokan only slept with most of his body inside of a mosquito net so that he would not hurt the bugs outside.

Ryokan attended the midsummer Bon Festivals. Because he was a monk, he would normally be unable to attend, but sneaked in disguised as a woman.

Ryokan hated waste, and so any food that he was offered that he did not eat, he put into a little pot. Over time, the food rotted and became filled with maggots and other bugs. When warned against eating it, all Ryokan said was, “No, no, it’s all right. I let the maggots escape before I eat it and it tastes just fine!”

One evening a thief visited Ryokan's hut at the base of the mountain only to discover there was nothing to steal. Ryokan returned and caught him. "You have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift." The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away. Ryoken sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, "I wish I could have given him this beautiful moon."

from Wikipedia.org

《大智度論》卷13〈1 序品〉：「譬如無足欲行，無翅欲飛，無船欲渡，是不可得；若無戒欲得好果，亦復如是。若人棄捨此戒，雖山居苦行，食果服藥，與禽獸無異。」(CBETA, T25, no. 1509, p. 153, b25-29)

Chapter thirteen of the Mahāprājñā-pāramitôpadeśa states, “It is like without feet wanting to go somewhere, without wings wanting to fly, without a boat seeking to cross – this is not possible. It is also like this if one without vows wants to seek the good fruit. If a person should discard these vows then even if they live in a mountain doing austerities, eating fruits and taking medicines, they are no different from wild beasts. ”

Well, at least adherence to your precepts is necessary for progress, or at least that's what Nagarjuna had to say about the matter.

In my discussions in this community it seems a lot of people think keeping your precepts is some kind of dangerous attachment. Precepts is one of the three trainings (the other being meditation and wisdom) and without it there is no realization. You need discipline if you're going to progress.

You know historically in China at least you study the Vinaya (rules, regulations and precepts) before you ever look at the philosophy of emptiness.

Hey again guys!

I decided to get other opinions on this article since I thought it was sort of odd, lying isn't considered good Karma, so I'm kind of on the fence as to why the monk phrased his inability to explain his studies to an audience in this manner. The article I'm talking about can be found here:

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=60,8766,0,0,1,0

I'm of the opinion he could've handled himself differently in this situation since he was asked to present to an audience, but that's just one opinion.

What's yours?

Namaste,

Angie

Yesterday I had a lengthy argument with some members of this community about the description of the Absolute Reality in an old Gnostic scripture.

I have pointed towards the fact that this description is similar to the one that can be found for Tathata (Suchness) in the Mahayana Buddhist texts.

Based on this similarity, and other similarities found in the descriptions of the Absolute Reality related by different mystics and spiritual masters from different religious traditions and cultural backgrounds, I have presented the hypothesis that the Absolute Reality contemplated by a mystic's mind is the same despite the differences of cultural and religious indoctrination.

But my opponents in the debate did not want to see what I was pointing to.

Thus I present here a concise description of Tathata (Suchness) which I have copied from The Awakening Faith in Mahayana, one of the most influential Mahayana scriptures:

"In its very origin suchness is of itself endowed with sublime attributes.

It manifests the highest wisdom which shines throughout the world, it has true knowledge and a mind resting simply in its own being.

It is eternal, blissful, its own self-being and the purest simplicity; it is invigorating, immutable, free...

Because it possesses all these attributes and is deprived of nothing"

For the ones interested to compare, please see the description given by the Gnostics here:

http://community.livejournal.com/buddhists/2813143.html

Ch'an Master Lin-chi was known for his frank and direct words.
I do believe that his words might benefit some members of this community who are attached and clinging to the concepts of Buddha, Dharma, Buddhism and so on...

Thus I post his words as an act of compassion for all those who are bound by the illusions that appear from the attachement to Buddhism.

May all illusions fade and may your Mind be awakened.

In gassho.

" Followers of the Way, there are certain bald fellows who apply their effort inwardly, imagining themselves to be seeking in themselves the Dharma for getting out of the world. They deceive themselves. To seek the Buddha is to lose the Buddha. To seek the Way is to lose the Way. To seek the patriarchs is to lose the patriarchs.

Venerable ones, do not be deceived. I do not care whether you are well versed in the Sutras and Treatises. I do not care whether you are Imperial ministers. I do not care if your eloquence is like a mountain torrent. I do not care whether you are sagacious and wise. I only care whether you have true and genuine insight.

Followers of the Way, even if you know how to explain and interpret a hundred volumes of Sutras and Treatises, better it is to be peaceful and a master who has nothing further to seek. If you know how to interpret and explain, you hold others in contempt.

The fighting of the Asuras and the ignorance of man's ego create hellish Karma, like Zensho Bishi (the monk "Good Star") who completed the study of the Twelve Divisions of the Teachings, yet fell living into hell. The earth no longer could hold him.

Far better to have nothing further to seek, and to put oneself at ease. When hungry, I eat my food. When sleepy, I shut my eyes. Fools laugh at me; the wise understand."

O dark dark dark. They all go into the dark,
The vacant interstellar spaces, the vacant into the vacant,
The captains, merchant bankers, eminent men of letters,
The generous patrons of art, the statesmen and the rulers,
Distinguished civil servants, chairmen of many committees,
Industrial lords and petty contractors, all go into the dark,
And dark the Sun and Moon, and the Almanach de Gotha
And the Stock Exchange Gazette, the Directory of Directors,
And cold the sense and lost the motive of action.
And we all go with them, into the silent funeral,
Nobody's funeral, for there is no one to bury.
I said to my soul, be still, and let the dark come upon you
Which shall be the darkness of God. As, in a theatre,
The lights are extinguished, for the scene to be changed
With a hollow rumble of wings, with a movement of darkness on darkness,
And we know that the hills and the trees, the distant panorama
And the bold imposing facade are all being rolled away—
Or as, when an underground train, in the tube, stops too long between stations
And the conversation rises and slowly fades into silence
And you see behind every face the mental emptiness deepen
Leaving only the growing terror of nothing to think about;
Or when, under ether, the mind is conscious but conscious of nothing—
I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope
For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love,
For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith
But the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting.
Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought:
So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.
Whisper of running streams, and winter lightning.
The wild thyme unseen and the wild strawberry,
The laughter in the garden, echoed ecstasy
Not lost, but requiring, pointing to the agony
Of death and birth.

Hey everybody! This is my first post, here, and I was wondering if you guys could give me some insight. :)

I have a very mild form of Cerebral Palsy that affects my left side, and so my muscles, especially in my left leg are tight. I was looking at lotus positions and...They're incredibly difficult, actually quite impossible for me to do. lol. When I started meditating initially, I would lie down flat, on my bed, actually, which I'm beginning to think has bad connotations. However, since I sleep on my stomach, if I lie on my back and close my eyes, my mind just switches to meditation mode automatically. But I'm disappointed because I want to see if different methods help in different ways...

I'm just stuck.

Thanks for your help in advance, guys!

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