Join us tonight for our free and open to the public talk at 730 PM with Geshe Ngawang Phende who will speak on “The Paths Common to Advanced Level – How to Attain Buddhahood”. This is the last of three talks on how the entire corpus of Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings can be systematically condensed into the spiritual paths to be followed by the three levels of practitioners.
on my Blogroll & proper placement (in my mind) of Buddhist related sites.
So take a look …CM Smith(Random Thoughts from Mid-Life) has not only opened her life to us with her words…she is a wonderful photographer. A new blog (to me) is The Habituated Buddhist…provides thought-provoking insight into being Buddhist and being in a 12 Step Program. Unfettered Mind is author Ken McLeod’s website. He provides podcasts and I never fail to learn something new when I visit.
Enjoy and be well….Namaste
Debra
” It is interesting to me that people don’t see any connection between their misery and their complaints — their feeling of being a victim; the feeling that everyone is doing something to them. It’s amazing. How many times has this connection been pointed out in the dharma talks? How many? And yet because of our fear we won’t look.” ~ Charlotte Joko Beck, Everyday Zen, Love & Work
Fear does many things to us. When fear is valid; it keeps us safe. When it is not valid; it holds us back. ~ Debra
This small video is not affiliated with any religious belief system. Yet it speaks volumes for all belief systems.(thank you mika for sharing this)
Namaste….Debra
I have to admit I initially was having difficulty resonating with the book but about halfway it started to click and after re-reading it, I really appreciate what he wrote much more. The book offers a challenge to our normal habits, traditions, view of self and practice. It allows us to truly discover the ‘why’ of Buddhism.
What frees us from being stuck? What cuts through our psychological blockages? We need the courage of our rebel buddha heart to leap beyond forms, to go deeper into our practice and find a way to trust ourselves. We must become our own guide.
The book has a wonderful appendix with an incredible explanation of meditation. He describes mindfulness and analytical meditation practices and how to work with problems during the session. He ends with some great poems like the following:
You are so creative
And your tricks are so original
Look at your magic
So deceptive, real, and endlessYou are a great storyteller
So dramatic, colorful, and emotional
I love your stories
But do you realize that you’re telling them over and over and over?You are such a dreamer
And you’re tirelessly so passionate
For your dream characters and the world
But do you see that you’re just dreamingYou are so familiar
Yet no one knows who you really are
Are you not called “thoughts” by some?
Are you really there-or simply my delusionAre you not taught to be the true wisdom mind?
What a beautiful world this could be
If only I could see through this mind.Well, it doesn’t really matter
Because I don’t exist without you!
“Who am I?” is perhaps the right question
After all, I’m just one of your many manifestations!
review by Digging the Dharma (Philip)
A Buddhist's Journey 