Sunday, 31 January 2010

Anger vs. Patience

Think of anger. Anger is the mind that wishes to harm and hurt. Patience is the mind that holds back from harming or hurting. Anger is most difficult to deal with; patience is most difficult to develop. Patience is the only thing that defeats anger.

Don’t be disappointed if you can’t do it right away. Even after years of practice you may find that you’re still losing your temper. It’s all right. But you will also notice that the power of anger has weakened, that it doesn’t last as long, and does not as easily turn into hatred.

If patience comes easily to you, wonderful. If not, how do you go from anger to patience?

- Gelek Rimpoche, from "The Real Enemy" (Winter 2001)

Saturday, 9 January 2010

Tonglen

Tonglen is a Mahayana Buddhist practice, I read about this inspiring practice in Pema Chodron's 'Start Where You Are'.

Tonglen is a practice that allows us to encourage and develop a genuine emotional warmth (known as metta or maitri) using the situations we encounter, in our day to day lives.

Instructions and more information.

Friday, 8 January 2010

Saturday, 2 January 2010

Not Reacting to Content

Eckhart Tolle has been a huge inspiration to me, whilst not a Buddhist he talks about many Buddhist principles in his teachings. The following little clip is a lovely example of Eckhart talking about equanimity and emptiness.

I must have watched this clip about 100 times! I find it useful, as a little reminder to separate my sense of self from my Buddha nature!

Friday, 1 January 2010

Buddhist Meditation is Relaxing with the Truth

A friend of mine kindly brought the following article to my attention.

Buddhist Meditation is Relaxing with the Truth.