The "four thoughts" are described in my previous post. His closing phrase basically means "remember the one who does the work of the Buddha" or even more basic: be mindful. No coincidence that the this end-of-the-month teaching from Sravasti Abbess Venerable Chodron is also about our essential daily practice:
First, a human birth is precious. It's hard to obtain and easily lost. I must make this life meaningful. Secondly, this world and everything in it is fleeting. Our life is like a water bubble. Thirdly, our time of demise is uncertain. Finally, at our time of passing, the only thing that can help is the dharma, therefore it is urgent I practice now.
It would seem that severely overweight people, along with alcoholics, and smokers, would have such grave concerns over their health they would deal with it the same way you would if your house was on fire. You would run, right? Or would you just sit there and say, "oh well.. oh hell... guess I'm burning up now." Really? I know it's hard to fight addictions. I'm wrestling with the TV off switch these days, trying to keep my butt on the meditation cushion more, in fact, trying not to be judgmental and angry. But I am trying.
As Buddhists we use mortality as our motivation. That's been one of the tools I've used to modify "bad" (aka life-threatening) habits. I have not smoked for over five years now (about 18,000 cigarettes NOT smoked.) I have lost weight and reduced my cholesterol issues by modifying what I eat and moving around more. Yes, I binged a bit over the holidays, but now I'm back to healthier foods, and working on all my various "bad" behaviors using some of the Buddhist antidotes.
In fact, this is what I find so appealing about Buddhist mind training techniques. It's not a religion of hoping that some outside force will save me; it's a philosophy and set of tools that we can use to steer us away from indulging our addictions.
So, rather than using this blog in the future to rant about what bugs me, I'm going to share the Dharma by using specific examples of how to use the antidotes to shift your tastes and tendencies. I will feel much better about myself (not ranting and judging) and hopefully it will help others along the way.
BTW, this is what I consider "writing to clarity." I was kind of pissy when I first sat down, but by using the Dharma, I arrived at posting something useful, rather than harmful. Hopefully, we will all improve (my self included, of course.)
No one dislikes a critic more than me. I just wrote about my dislike of critics in my private Penzu diary yesterday (and may post part of that here), but still, I'm just not sure what I think of this poem for such a monumental moment. The poet, that's another matter: youngest poet to recite at a Presidential inauguration, first Hispanic and first gay. GREAT! It's just that this poem read more like an essay, IMHO.
I kept thinking why not Natalie Goldberg? Although, she might have also read something with lines that struck an equally odd note. Robert Frost was the first poet to be included in an inaugural event (at JFK's) and Bill Clinton included Maya Angelou. Kudos to Prez O for including a poet and I did love this section;
One sky, toward which we sometimes lift our eyes tired from work: some days guessing at the weather of our lives, some days giving thanks for a love that loves you back, sometimes praising a mother who knew how to give, or forgiving a father who couldn't give what you wanted.As a writer, it's hard not to analyze another's work, but that does mean judging -- my nemesis, my internal enemy, the Klesha that I grapple with constantly. And, Blanco did say Namaste! so will I... NAH-mÉ™-stay (I see you in myself and honor both of us) and I do hope we are One today... at least, for this day. One Today.
BTW: this post is not intended to degrade anyone's theories, ideas, beliefs, or art.
Of course we need teachers (so no offense Adam or any other teacher reading the prior post), but for the second time in two weeks I'm going to say:
I posted a link, innocently enough, on Facebook. I thought it was interesting and pretty neat actually, that Bill Clinton was meditating and chanting. What caught my eye was that he had "hired a monk" for instruction. I wondered from what lineage or school. There are far more sects and schools of Buddhism than there are branches of Christianity. Buddhism is older so there has been more time to fuss and fight over the texts and teachings. The fussing itself is one of the points I've wanted to blog about. How we react to the fussing is the other.
But first, let me finish with the incident at hand. So I posted the link. I had never heard of the site "theBuddhism.net" and a bit of reading explained why. It was "hinky" (my friend Adam's word) at best. From Sri Lanka? Mahawela, Mathale?? I couldn't really determine where they were from or what their message was (but they wanted donations.) I didn't want to promote their cause on my page so I removed the link -- end of story, right? Not exactly.
I had posted the link, which meant a few of the Billion Fbook users saw it on their phones and devices before I deleted it. I didn't have much time to explain, so I quickly composed the post below and linked that to Facebook before leaving for (of all things) my Monday Dharma study group at the local KTC Buddhist center. When I got back, there was already reaction. One person, Dorothy, misunderstood my point and thought I was trying to say that meditation is only for "committed Buddhists." Adam, who posted a comment on the previous post, knows exactly what my concerns are. But, even so, he was ahead of me there. I wasn't really thinking that the former Prez was using tantric techniques, but on second thought... (ha!!)
Wow, this is convoluted and I still haven't even touched on the point I wanted to make about teachers and gurus. Since this is getting long and even my brief comments cause so much confusion, I think I'll save part three for Tuesday to delve into my thoughts on the dangers and pitfalls of teachers. Concern with teachers isn't new or limited to Buddhism. Look at the scandals with priests, preachers and teachers of all kinds. I wasn't even thinking about sexual misconduct this morning. I was simply thinking of the example we set any time we attempt to teach (or say) anything!
Thubten Chodron is the Abbess of Sravasti Abbey the place I did the retreat (from afar) last year and a mini retreat (just ended.) This is from 2004, but still soooo relevant...
One of the group members (former member now) always encourages the group to participate in other year-long projects. Last year it was Stephen Levine's "Year to Live" and this time she was proposing we all follow a Thich Nhat Hanh course. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have loved "Thay" (name of endearment for TNH) for years. But this group is called "Pema Practitioners." So I reminded her that perhaps we should stick to our group topic. TNH is Zen and the previous Levine project wasn't particularly Buddhist-oriented at all. I posted my response, logged off and finished my mini Vajrayana retreat. When I logged in this AM I was surprised at the virtual tongue-lashing I received from her. She UN-joined the sangha and DE-friended me. I posted the following apology:
You are right... I must have been "fussy" last night Forgive me. After all this year is all about PEACE, I hope! Namaste and post away! Happy 2013!I was saying she was right that we had never formally restricted the postings or ideas to only Pema-related or even Buddhist-related. That's true and I said she was right. Too late, she's gone.
Not the way I wanted to begin my Year of Peace, but an important lesson and reminder. We must be constantly vigilant of how we sound or come across to others. We never know what is going on with the other party and how our words are received. I still feel I was considering the greater interest of the group (which I moderate) but in retrospect I should have posed a question and let others decide. A year of lessons - and hopefully Peace, too -- is in store!
