To Touch Our Wisdom

 

One of the most basic precepts in Buddhism is to not harm any living being. The Buddha showed us how. Once we begin to rein ourselves in by living morally, we will commit fewer wrongdoings. In this way, we will be less plagued by guilt. We will react less from emotions and more from reason. Harming others less will result in our worrying less. By not wasting time worrying, our minds will be more at ease, and we will be better able to focus on what we wish to: perhaps on our spiritual practice or simply on what we are doing.

As we progressively become calmer, our concentra­tion will enable us to touch our innate wisdom. This is the wisdom that the Buddha experi­enced and then spoke of. It already lies deep within each of us. But we have yet to enter, much less function from, this clear, intuitive wisdom.

As caring members of society, it is our responsibility to practice the virtues of harmlessness, compassion, and equanimity. These virtues lie deep within us, within our true nature. This true nature is the same as that of all Buddhas. The true nature of Buddhas—their very essence—is loving-kindness, altruism, and tranquility. These qualities lie at the core of their being, and ours.

Only Changing Postures

Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking. Steady practice is keeping mindful in every posture, whether sitting, walking, standing or lying down. When coming out of sitting, don't think that you're coming out of meditation, but that you are only changing postures. If you reflect in this way, you will have peace. Wherever you are, you will have this attitude of practice with you constantly. You will have a steady awareness within yourself.

~ Ajahn Chah

Not Different from One Another

The sutras teach that ordinary people, sages and saints are all equal. There is no difference [in their intrinsic nature]. Only the defilement or purity of mind is different. For this reason, it is said that “Mind, Buddhas and sentient beings are no different from one another.” A Pure Mind is Buddha, a defiled mind is sentient being. Buddhas and sentient beings differ only in the extinction or non-extinction of defilements of the mind.

The mind is inherently clean and pure, but it is obstructed by greed, hatred, stupidity, arrogance, the five desires and many kinds of delusions. Therefore, those with such minds are called sentient beings. If defilements are discarded and the mind becomes pure, that is Buddhahood. It is not necessary to depend on others.

However, all sentient beings bear heavy karma and stubborn afflictions from time immemorial, and these are very difficult to purify. To do so requires cultivation, such as [serene, reflective] meditation, working on a hua-t’ou [koan] or Buddha Recitation. So you see, there are many expedient ways to practice, but all are medicines to treat the diseases of the mind. For example, a mirror, intrinsically bright, cannot reflect anything if it is covered with dust. To restore its brightness, a cleaning agent (remedy) is required. Yet the cleanser itself is also dust, though it can rid other things of dust. Once the mirror is bright, there is no further need for the cleanser. This is like gold in its ore, covered with the dirt and dust of sand and stone. After it is smelted and pure gold appears, there is no need to smelt it again.

It is difficult to rid oneself of the defiled mind characteristic of sentient beings. However, it can be done through diligent practice. When this is accomplished, the bright and undefiled mind appears. It is in this sense that all sentient beings are said to be inherently Buddhas.

~ Master Han-Shan’s Dream Roamings, Trans. by Master Lok To

Happiness In, Then Out

At the Culver Academy yesterday, we did a very simple meditation that anyone, regardless of their faith tradition, can do.

After settling into a meditation position that is comfortable for you, breathe in thinking “May I be happy.” Then, breathe out while thinking “May all beings be happy.”

That’s it!

First we take in happiness for ourselves. But we keep that happiness for the briefest of moments, and then we turn around and give it to all beings. So the happiness we create, we immediately share with everyone. The in-breath creates some tension as our diaphragm pulls air into our lungs on our thought of personal happiness. The out-breath releases the tension as we release the happiness with the thought that it will benefit all beings.

Two Tribes or One?

I'm beginning to think that I need another category. I'll call it "Musings."

I drove to the Farmer's Market in Goshen yesterday morning. (Alec, now you know why I couldn't have a translation meeting. ;-)) I don't drive a lot and am even more careful in not making any unnecessary trips since I have been struggling to try to follow the 90% rule of Riot 4 Austerity. (There's a link for the site on the sidebar.) But the Goshen market is only about nine miles from here and the Maple City co-op is also there. So I can get fresh, local produce and all my bulk supplies in one trip.

There's not much fresh, local produce available midwinter in Northern Indiana, but I got what I was hoping to from Kate Lind of Sustainable Greens and a few other growers.  It's such a delight to buy food that was picked (okay I confess, the delicious cookies I bought were baked) just yesterday.  To get to meet the grower or the baker helps to foster a connection with what we eat. Local food is "real" food, in most cases neither genetically engineered nor bombarded with pesticides. It tastes like food used to taste. And it nourishes (not sure of the cookies on this one!) just like food used to.

As I was driving, I continued to listen to Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma. Pollan was writing about "tribes." Thanks to the Internet, we can find people who share our interests and concerns. We can find others who belong to our "tribe." Our tribe might be concerned about living simply and in a sustainable way or it may be concerned about living in a way that focuses on doing good and on not harming others. Hmm...sounds like the two tribes may not be two after all.

Living our practice can be done every moment as we mindfully consider the consequences of our actions and wisely make decisions—not for our own gratification—but for the welfare of others.