Buddhist teaching

A change in perspective, behavior, or response can do so much more to help us move past issues left unresolved.

Repeated bouts of adversity are an unavoidable aspect of human existence. We battle against our inner struggles or outer world forces, and in many cases, we emerge on the opposite side of struggle stronger and better equipped to cope with the challenges yet to come. However, we can occasionally encounter trials that seem utterly hopeless. We strike at them with all of our creativity and perseverance, hoping desperately to bring about change, only to meet with the same results as always. Our first instinct in such situations is often to push harder against the seemingly immovable obstruction before us, assuming that this time we will be met with a different outcome. But staying power and stamina net us little when the same choices consistently garner the same results. A change in perspective, behavior, or response can do so much more to help us move past points where no amount of effort seems sufficient to overcome the difficulties before us.
Whether our intention is to change ourselves or some element of the world around us, we cannot simply wish for transformation or hope that our lives will be altered through circumstance. If our patterns of thought and behavior remain unchanged, our lives will continue to unfold much as they have previously. Patterns in which fruitless efforts prevail can be overcome with self examination and courage. It is our bravery that allows us to question the choices we have made thus far and to channel our effort into innovation. Asking questions and making small adjustments to your thought processes and behaviors will help you discover what works, so you can leave that which does not work behind you. To break free from those unconscious patterns that have long held sway over your actions and reactions, you will likely have to challenge your assumptions on a most basic level. You must accept once and for all that your beliefs with regard to cause and effect may no longer be in accorda! nce with your needs.

Stagnation is often a sign that great changes are on the horizon. Courting the change you wish to see in yourself and in the world around you is a matter of acknowledging that only change begets change. The results you so ardently want to realize are well within the realm of possibility, and you need only step away from the well-worn circular path to explore the untried paths that lie beyond it. 

Today I’m going to share a really simple secret that can make your day instantly better. If you’re feeling down, it can make you happier, all day long.
It’s something I’ve been trying myself, with great results.
It’s three steps, and anyone can do them. This is an algorithm that can be repeated over and over, all day long. It starts with a basic assumption: that we are all human beings capable of goodness, of love, of pain, of broken hearts and passionate love. That we all have bad days, that inside our jaded exteriors is a person who just wants love.
It is based on my observation that we take other people for granted, and that we judge others and become irritated with them for almost no good reasons, and we expect everyone to make us happy or at least behave the way we want them to, and if they don’t, our day is ruined. That’s crazy. People are living their own lives, and aren’t trying to please us or act in accordance with our expectations, and once we accept that, we can be happy.
Here are the three steps. They might sound silly to some of you, but I urge you to give them a try. For just one day. Even just an hour. They are powerful, and they work.
1. Think “I love you, and I’m thankful for you” to every single person today. This sounds kinda silly perhaps, but it works. Seriously, try it. Look at each person you pass or encounter today, and think to yourself (as if you’re talking to the person you’re looking at), “I love you, and I’m thankful for you.” Try to say it with feeling. Mean it! Even to those you pass on the street, in the elevator, while you’re driving (you might only see them for a split second, from a distance).
2. Smile at that person, and look them in the eye. Many of us are used to not looking people in the eye, avoiding contact. But looking someone in the eye is acknowledging their existence and human-ness, and establishing a connection. Smiling helps pass your happiness on to others. Obviously you can’t do this if the person is far from you or driving past you, but when you can, apply this step.
3. If you feel comfortable, say it aloud to that person. Say, “I love you and I’m thankful for you.” You’ll probably only say this to people you know very well (though the bold among you might say it to strangers!). If you’re not comfortable with that, try to say it with actions instead of words. A simple hug, doing something nice, spending time with someone while treating them kindly, doing a favor without expecting a return favor, just being thoughtful. Obviously you can’t do this step with everyone you pass, but the more people you apply this step to, the better.
Try these steps, please.
Also know that I love you. And I’m grateful that you’re alive.

These are the senses:
Sight
Hearing
Smell
Taste
Touch
Knowing

These are what are here called the Doors to the Senses:
The Eye
The Ear
The Nose
The Tongue
The Body
The Mind

Conscious awareness arises

as a consequence of the contact

of a sense organ with it’s appropriate stimulus.

A Visual Object comes into contact with The Eye,

and Perception of Sight occurs.

From Perception of Sight comes the Sensation associated with Seeing, (experienced as Pleasant, Unpleasant, or Not-Pleasant-But-Not Unpleasant) and Conscious Awareness of Sight.

An act of Identification with the process creates

the experience known as "My Sight", or "I am Seeing."

Arising from this experience comes liking or disliking

depending on the Sensation.

Both Liking and Disliking, are, in the Pali,

forms of Wanting and lead to Action that results in an Outcome

determined by KAMMA.

For this reason,

the Beggar trains himself to be wary of

Sights, Sounds, Scents, Flavors, Touches, and Thoughts.

Being Aware of the Danger,

he Guards "The Doors of the Senses"

and when an Object of Sense comes into the Range of an Organ of Sense,

he neither pays attention to its General Appearance nor to it’s Details.

Take all the Bad Feeling and
Project Good Feeling to Others

As a proper way
of practicing Buddhism,
a true Buddhist
takes all the bad feeling
upon him or herself,
sees that as suffering,
and learns from it
so as to live more fully
the Eightfold Noble Path
to overcome suffering
and bad feeling.

To live a Buddhist life
is living the middle way;
so, to balance bad feeling,
take it upon yourself for practice;
learn to cultivate good feelings,
the immeasurable feelings,
for others.

With the good feelings
projected onto others
and the shouldering
of the bad feelings
upon yourself,
you can then live
a balanced, middle-way life
as a true Buddhist.

Always develop
the opposite feeling
as an antidote for the feeling
you take upon yourself,
which is always
a much harsher feeling
than the one,
you project onto others.

Without taking on
the suffering and pain of others,
you are not, repeat, NOT,
capable of projecting
good feelings onto others,




Dharma Teachings 2401-2500
by Des/Boo-Ngoh

Do not belive me

Do not believe me
If I say
I have good intention.

Only upon total enlightenment
I will know
My own intention
Which is not conscious
To the Brain mind
& can be accessed only through right meditation

eating healthy

I am not one for conspeirecy thories, there is something that has been bothering me since I started doing chi and eating healthy.
I am on a fixed income at the moment and it never ceases to amaze me that healty foods and practices are priced out of the range of those who would benefit from them most.
This summer has been a cool one and my garden did not do as well as I liked but I still saved money by growing some of my own produce.
It seems that, for lower and fixed income people, sugar, fat and salt are the only affordable things around. I see it daily in the neighborhood markets. People going for canned fruit and vegatables insted of fresh because the cans are 2or 3 for a dollar and the fresh is about one dollar for only two peices.
Food stamps can be used at farmer's markets but the prices make it hard to streach what few dollars are aloted to those who depend on them.
Part of it is lack of knowlage, but for the most part it is just that the fat and salt habit has been ingrained deeply.
It also seems like yoga and chi classes, holistic health and alternive medicines are priced out of the range of lower income folks.
I was luck to find an affordable yoga class and there is an organization in New York City called Yoga to the people(they have a website) that is making body/mind practices more affordable to more folks.
I used David Dorian's DVD's because I just point blank could not afford the only chi classes in town.
This disturbes me because it seems like the message is you have to earn the "right" to be healthy.
There is a debate about health care going on right now. I don't know about the rest of you folks, but I have yet to hear about the goverment covering preventive or alterntive medicine.
If we want a healthier population, should we not be focusing on preventive care and things that will restore health naturally.
This idea will not be popular with the perscription drug industry.
Not that drugs arn't good in their place, but would it not be better is we start from a place that will elemenate them or not even have the need for them in the first place?
And who decides who has the 'right' to have access to healthy food and medicine?
How about some REAL health care choices?
1 Comment
Thu 27th
Chi and the bike 2
Published by: Carpe Qi-em on Thursday 27th August 2009 09:08am
Isn't it funny how a little thing can trigger a big one? Being off my bike for the past few days has triggered a big issue in my life.
You see, my bike has come to mean something in my life. Accomplishment, pride , confidence---and another chance to work on my lack of compassion for others.
I have been enjoying new freedom from being able to ride around when I want to without depending on the bus. I can pop my basket on and do my shopping.
Being off the bike has triggered feelings of loss--but have I really lost anything?
After all once the repairs problems are solved, I will be able to ride again.
The one thing that has been brought home to me is my sense of --well --smarmyness-for lack of a better word-twards the people who have been watching me ride by and given me dirty looks or said nasty things.
I have noted a smugness in myself as I see others sitting on their porches, just watching me move and enjoy my new found energy.
I have this "neh neh neh Na Na neh" attude.
But really, what is the differnce between me and my neighbors who say they are "too old" or "can't move"?
Just a few years ago, I was sitting around thinking I was too old and it was too late.
The fact that I got up, does not make me a better or worse person that anyone around me. By taking a smug attude, I have devalued people and judged them.
So to my shame, I admit that I have been guilty of using my good fortune( for it was just my good luck to find Chi and yoga) to pass judgement on others.

TheReligionofPeace - Link to Us

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Protecting Our Love
A new adventure awaits us
Something new around every bend
Two lives entwined forever
Two hearts given time to mend

A love so pure and special
A strong foundation on which to grow
Our relationship is like no other
Meant to be as we both know

Love growing stronger every day
As love was designed to be
Me being there for you
And you being there for me

For you are my special angel
Protecting our love within your heart
Until we're joined together
To never be pulled apart

It's that time

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