Random Dharma

I like those graphs (honestly). But I also like the graphs of the universe, graphs of the evolution on life on this earth. It's hard (edit: and way way interesting) being a human with different perspectives on time.


(edit, adding on:)HOLY S**T! The mother of all time graphs are on one page at that site:

waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/putting-time-in-perspective.html

Thanks for these impermanence graphs. I see them as cause for joy

That's me saying, wtf! I have plenty of weeks or days or 10-minute segments when I neither enjoy myself nor do anything for others (other than, maybe, not being a jerk). Yet I learn from those times, and become more resilient and flexible as a result.

www.warrior.do/vincent-horn/

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
• The transformative event that took place during a meditation session in college that set Vincent on his spiritual path.
• Vincent’s experience at the “Harvard” of Buddhist colleges.
• How the Buddhist Geek podcast saw over 1 million downloads within the first 2 years of launching
• What the brain of an advanced meditator looks like compared to regular everyday individuals
• Meditative technologies to track and accelerate your path to awakening
• Answering the question – is the path to enlightenment a gradual process or a sudden event?
• Why the attention span of the average American has decreased down by over 33% in the last few years
• The 5 styles of meditation and how to choose the best type for you

www.hokai.info/2016/10/buddhisms-and-dharma/

"Dharma is timeless, always just so. ...

Buddhisms are historical and situational. ...

People East and West, including students of Dharma, often struggle with Buddhism, its varied forms, divergent norms, and inherent tensions, mistaking them for the actual practice and path of Dharma. ...

There’s good and bad music, of course, just as there’s fabulous noises and vapid melodies. But before and after all of that, there’s the magic of sounds and the power of silences.

Ditto Buddhisms and Dharma."

Jealous of both Hokai and Vince's mastery of language, particularly dharma language. Is it jealousy or mudita-ousy?

I hear you. Definitely a great opportunity for mudita practice!

Noah wrote: Jealous of both Hokai and Vince's mastery of language, particularly dharma language. Is it jealousy or mudita-ousy?

This is something I've learned from practicing polyamoury... Envy and compersion (basically sympathetic joy) are often very close to each other. It's sometimes easy, if you can tell how much you would enjoy having something that someone else has, to tell yourself, "If I enjoy this thing so much, this other person must also enjoy it. While I want this thing for myself, I am glad that this other person has and can enjoy this thing."

Strong emphasis on the sometimes. But it's good practice to try!

I dig that, thanks for sharing. That situation would probably be the strongest test of Mudita I can think of.

Edit: Wanted to add that my teachers brand of Mudita involves any situation where joy can be shared, not just those that invoke jealousy or those in which the other person has joy first. It becomes an modus operandi for going about life.

Really interesting observation at 17:00. That before there is a breakthrough, the problem needs to become continuous and ubiquitous.

...adding on: And really good: at 44:00 they talk about how the temptation when working with the body is to go into discursive thinking about it, but you have to forego that temptation and keep experiencing at the body level. And lastly, at 49:00 they talk about subliminal thoughts/feeling/images (what I would call proto-thinking) can be sensed as a general pull toward internal images, narration, or feelings, but there isn't "content" just a general pull toward that domain, but you know something is happening because reactivity increases.

Such good guidance!

A nice tweet from Hokai:

Hokai Sobol ‏@hokaisobol · Oct 31

Buddha nature is
Human nature
Seen clearly.

True Dharma right here:

vimeo.com/189919038

It's not dukka if you can laugh!

What's the point of Non-Duality if you're going to divide up people "realized beings" and those who are still "on the path"?
selfdefinition.org/driedshitzen/dried-shit-zen-460.htm

If somebody believes their spiritual enlightenment has made them special, you know 1,000,000% that they didn’t get shit.
twitter.com/Kalieezchild

shargrol wrote: What's the point of Non-Duality if you're going to divide up people "realized beings" and those who are still "on the path"?
selfdefinition.org/driedshitzen/dried-shit-zen-460.htm

I kinda think this POV falls into the 'two truths misrecognition' fallacy. Or to put it another way, what's the point of stating your opinion if it's already part of all mind(s) anyway?

Russell wrote: True Dharma right here:

vimeo.com/189919038

Amazing. Thank you.

I don't necessarily agree with the message/theology of this story as such (but the question of a 'plan' is a vexed and twisty one that much would need to be said about), but I very much liked it anyway:

From Joy William's 99 Stories of God, 2016:

The Lord was in a den with a pack of wolves.

“You really are so intelligent,” the Lord said, “and have such glorious eyes. Why do you think you’re hounded so? It’s like they want to exterminate you, it’s awful.”

“Well, sometimes it’s the calves and the cows,” the wolves said.

“Oh those maddening cows,” the Lord said. “I have a suggestion. What if I caused you not to have a taste for them anymore?”

“It wouldn’t matter. Then it would be the deer or the elk. Have you seen the bumper stickers on the hunters’ trucks—did a wolf get your elk?”

“I guess I missed that,” the Lord said.

“Sentiment is very much against us down here,” the wolves said.

“I’m so awfully sorry,” the Lord said.

“Thank you for inviting us to participate in your plan anyway,” the wolves said politely.

The Lord did not want to appear addled, but what was the plan his sons were referring to exactly?

Chris Marti wrote: This is a good read in these trying times:

www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/11/2...ist-monk-mindfulness

I loved the points he made about emotion. It's how I feel about all the communication occurring on facebook, at the dinner table, with friends and elsewhere. People need ENERGY to act on the things they can control (which does include communication). Other than the ingredient of energy to shift outside ones comfort zone, anger is basically worthless. Providing it the space of acceptance is a necessary first step, but then the mechanically dysfunctional ingredients should be teased out.

The print version of Dialogues with Dominic is available on Amazon . The Kindle version should be available in a few weeks and will be priced at $2.99. All proceeds benefit charity.

Thanks to everyone who proofread the book and provided feedback on the cover.

"Dialogues with Dominic is the extraordinary firsthand account of a busy, young family man who undergoes a rapid spiritual awakening. Through correspondence with his teacher and with fellow seekers, we learn how Dominic used a simple method of inquiry to uncover his true self and become happier, all within his everyday life. Dialogues with Dominic is an inspiring, useful guide for finding peace in our fast-paced world."

Dominic was featured on the Happiness Beyond Thought blog, written by Gary Weber.

Helpful new video from Gary and Rich. "Letting go of suffering and attachments." Touches up Byron Katie and Sedona Method <3

Another Gary video on letting go/surrender practice that I found helpful.