tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24872359613796435422024-02-08T02:41:22.871-08:00Maitri MattersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-36845685118928266452011-09-01T03:25:00.001-07:002011-09-01T03:25:59.855-07:00The Gift of WaitingWhen we are forced to wait, say in a traffic jam, our instinct is to do something to distract ourselves from the discomfort of waiting. We turn on the radio, call or text someone on the phone, or just sit and fume. Practicing mindfulness while waiting helps people find many small moments in the day when they can bring the thread of awareness up from where is lies hiding in the complex fabric of their lives. Waiting, a common event that usually produces negative emotions, can be transformed into a gift, the gift of free time to practice. The mind benefits doubly: first, by abandoning negative mind-states, and second, by gaining the beneficial effects of even a few extra minutes of practice woven into the day.
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<br />–Jan Chozen BaysUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-63963137262800354472011-04-14T03:13:00.000-07:002011-04-14T03:14:28.549-07:00False Expectations Appearing Real<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3OaSC4POM6k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-76601682890191571642011-04-11T15:44:00.000-07:002011-04-11T15:50:04.057-07:00It's been a while...Hello all,<br /><br />I have become a little distant from the Dharma recently, I haven't practiced mindfulness in a long time, and have been totally distracted, and caught up in work/worldly things. Whilst I know that 'Buddha Mind' is inherent, I haven't been in touch with the spaciousness/stillness of Buddha mind in a while, doesn't feel good.<br /><br />My heart has been seeking stillness of late, it's amazing how at times of stress/intense worldly activity...I'm subtly redirected to the Buddha's teachings.<br /><br />Anywho, life is wonderful isn't it? xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-61041940200490340732010-06-06T14:58:00.000-07:002010-06-06T15:00:14.090-07:00Honouring Others<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TAvfdwypmnw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TAvfdwypmnw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-30560162882427167012010-06-06T14:53:00.000-07:002010-06-06T14:55:10.986-07:00How To Be a BuddhaThere is a simple way to become a buddha: When you refrain from unwholesome actions, are not attached to birth and death, and are compassionate toward all sentient beings, respectful to seniors and kind to juniors, not excluding or desiring anything, with no designing thoughts or worries, you will be called a buddha. Do not seek anything else.<br /><br />-Eidei Dogen, "Birth and Death"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-79787271418693830232010-01-31T14:07:00.000-08:002010-01-31T14:08:33.602-08:00Anger vs. PatienceThink 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />If patience comes easily to you, wonderful. If not, how do you go from anger to patience?<br /><br />- Gelek Rimpoche, from "The Real Enemy" (Winter 2001)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-77340645122526263502010-01-09T13:55:00.000-08:002010-01-09T14:04:47.434-08:00TonglenTonglen is a Mahayana Buddhist practice, I read about this inspiring practice in Pema Chodron's 'Start Where You Are'.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.shambhala.org/teachers/pema/tonglen1.php" _blank="">Instructions and more information</a>.<p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-50092481666557227372010-01-08T08:02:00.001-08:002010-01-08T08:02:49.735-08:00Meditation, Prayer and Worship.<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/duiThw1aTx0&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/duiThw1aTx0&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-68829894998001565442010-01-08T08:00:00.001-08:002010-01-08T08:01:00.004-08:00Sexuality in Spiritual Life<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5YFVgAIixso&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5YFVgAIixso&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-58010225473547510552010-01-02T11:13:00.000-08:002010-01-02T11:16:05.220-08:00Not Reacting to ContentEckhart 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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UPg9DnMP2D4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UPg9DnMP2D4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-9476353453754647722010-01-01T15:39:00.000-08:002010-01-01T15:42:32.365-08:00Buddhist Meditation is Relaxing with the TruthA friend of mine kindly brought the following article to my attention.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=2418&Itemid=0&limit=1&limitstart=0" target="_blank">Buddhist Meditation is Relaxing with the Truth</a>.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-11082773114212258042009-12-31T08:01:00.000-08:002009-12-31T08:02:34.268-08:00Using the Tools We Were GivenSuffering occurs. So what tools do we have at our disposal to cope with the situation? As mammals we are also endowed with innate impulses toward generosity, kindness, compassion, and cooperation, which help counteract and at times override the more primal selfish instincts. More significantly, we also have a protruding prefrontal cortex capable of introspection, self-reflection, and mindfulness. Encouraging us to put this organ to work, the Buddha proceeds in our text to say:<br /><br />He understands thus: “There has arisen in me what is agreeable, there has arisen what is disagreeable, there has arisen what is both agreeable and disagreeable.”<br /><br />This observation might not sound like much, but it is a huge step. Bringing awareness to the inner life allows light to shine in the darkness. Seeing what arises and passes away in the mind and body each moment allows what we experience to become something known and understood, rather than something shaped entirely by invisible, unconscious conditioning. Such mindfulness provides the necessary prerequisite for the next transformative step pointed to by the Buddha: insight into the nature of phenomena.<br /><br />- Andrew Olendzki, "In the Blink of an Eye" (Spring 2006)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-32599689526339505272009-12-30T05:54:00.001-08:002009-12-30T05:57:27.844-08:00New Years EveOut with the old, and in with the new right? I guess it's a time for reflection and resolution making. <br /><br />How will you be spending your NYE?<br /><br />This year (for the first time ever) I will be spending my NYE with my local Sangha, meditating and listening to various speakers talk about purification. Should be interesting. Usually, (I have to be honest) I get pulled along to a house party where I drink too much and make silly conversation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-13617793372020639892009-12-29T03:23:00.001-08:002009-12-29T03:49:46.795-08:00Letting GoA wonderful article by Judy Lief can be found <a href="http://www.tricycle.com/dharma-talk/letting-go" target="_blank">here</a>, please share your thoughts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-12218505210177622142009-12-28T16:20:00.000-08:002009-12-28T17:23:08.816-08:00'Into the Wild'I just watched Sean Penn's 'Into the Wild', it was utterly beautiful.<br /><br />Not only is the film visually stunning and incredibly engaging, I found it spiritually inspiring. The film is based on the true story of Christopher McCandles, who renounced his family, wordly posessions and responsibilities. <br /><br />The film features themes of renunciation, acceptance, love and compassion - it also deals with the extremeties of renunciation and explores the spiritual concept of a 'middle path'.<br /><br />I found myself drawing a number of parallels between the film and Buddhist and Christian teachings, as well as some nihilistic trains of though. All of this 'spiritual stuff' was cleverly set around humbling relationships involving some very colourful characters.<br /><br />A truly wonderful watch, the best film I've seen this year. Check it out!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2LAuzT_x8Ek&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2LAuzT_x8Ek&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-29026849159687483082009-12-28T09:02:00.000-08:002009-12-28T09:04:00.164-08:00Definition of MaitriSo, to explain what Maitri is and to set the tone for 'Maitri Matters'...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7s-rRMUl04I&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7s-rRMUl04I&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2487235961379643542.post-55421915398423506472009-12-28T08:52:00.001-08:002009-12-28T09:02:34.942-08:00What is Maitri Matters?I have launched 'Maitri Matters' in the hope that it will become a useful resource for practising buddhists, warriors of compassion or for anyone in search of spiritual inspiration and practical guidance for the modern world.<br /><br />'Maitri Matters' is an interactive platform for sharing spiritual teachings, advice, stories, music, film and art. I hope that this platform will attract spiritualists from around the world, and that a 'Maitri Matters' community will grow and develop.<br /><br />I guess I launched 'Maitri Matters' to further my own practice, but I also feel that whilst the internet is rich in spiritual information - not much of it is useful for the modern day, nor is it all in one place and accessible/editable by a like-minded community.<br /><br />Much Love and Maitri!<br /><br />Amit<br /><br />xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com9