Many teachers limit themselves to various techniques of meditation—in effect making meditation in itself something of a panacea, a goal, even an idol, and therefore a dead-end. The primary reason for this limitation is that both teachers and students are unwilling to pay the price, which is not monetary. They are unwilling to let go of their ideas of themselves; unwilling to let go of a sense of belonging to a special in-group; unwilling to wait in the dark in complete openness; unwilling to turn away from noise and static in their minds whenever they notice it in order to reach into the dark; unwilling to seek solitude and silence; unwilling to radically simplify their lives in order to sustain the context in which the riches of deep mind may emerge. Willingness to change one’s life is not the condition of entry into the silence; rather, once entered, the silence itself elicits such changes. It is the same with so-called asceticism: it is not the condition of entry, but rather the condition for sustaining the process; it arises organically. - Maggie Ross
Inspiring Words
- justpractice
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Re: Inspiring Words
"Whoever avoids sensual desires
— as he would, with his foot,
the head of a snake —
goes beyond, mindful,
this attachment in the world." - Sn 4.1
— as he would, with his foot,
the head of a snake —
goes beyond, mindful,
this attachment in the world." - Sn 4.1
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
Buddha - Dhammapada151. Even gorgeous royal chariots wear out, and
indeed this body too wears out. But the Dhamma
of the Good does not age; thus the Good make it known to the good.
152. The man of little learning grows old like a
bull. He grows only in bulk, but, his wisdom does not grow.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
PythagorasIn anger we should refrain both from speech and action.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Mahabrahma
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Re: Inspiring Words
-Goku.Power comes in response to a need, not a desire.
That sage who has perfect insight,
at the summit of spiritual perfection:
that’s who I call a brahmin.
-Dhammapada.
at the summit of spiritual perfection:
that’s who I call a brahmin.
-Dhammapada.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
― Miguel Ruiz, The Four AgreementsIf others tell us something we make assumptions, and if they don't tell us something we make assumptions to fulfill our need to know and to replace the need to communicate. Even if we hear something and we don't understand we make assumptions about what it means and then believe the assumptions. We make all sorts of assumptions because we don't have the courage to ask questions.
The Four Agreements are:
Be Impeccable With Your Word.
Don't Take Anything Personally.
Don't Make Assumptions.
Always Do Your Best.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
A.M. Meerloo, Rape of the MindToday a man is no longer punished only for the crimes he has in fact committed. Now he may be compelled to confess to crimes that have been conjured up by his judges, who use his confession for political purposes. It is not enough for us to damn as evil those who sit in judgment. We must understand what impels the false admission of guilt; we must take another look at the human mind in all its frailty and vulnerability. If we are to survive as free men, we must face up to this problem of politically inspired mental coercion, with all its ramifications.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
Julian of NorwichThe fulness of joy is to behold God in all: for by the same blessed Might, Wisdom, and Love, that He made all-thing, to the same end our good Lord leadeth it continually, and thereto Himself shall bring it; and when it is time we shall see it.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
Nyanaponika TheraIt is one of the few consolations in this not
entirely disconsolate world, that not only Evil, but the Good also
may have a strong infectious power that will show itself
increasingly if only we have the courage to put it to the test.
"Thus it is our own mind that should be established in all the
Roots of the Good; it is our own mind that should be soaked
by the rain of truth; it is our own mind that should be purified
from all obstructive qualities; it is our own mind that should
be made vigorous by energy." Gaṇḍavyūha Sūtra.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
Blavatsky - Isis Unveiled vol. IIThe grand figure of Jesus will reign supreme and universal only on that day when the whole of humanity recognizes but one father — the Unknown One above — and one brother — the whole of mankind below.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
MN 20 or Word of the Buddha p. 56FIVE METHODS OF EXPELLING EVIL THOUGHTS
If, whilst regarding a certain object, there arise in the disciple,
on account of it, evil and unwholesome thoughts connected
with greed, hatred and delusion, then the disciple
(1) should, by means of this object, gain another and wholesome object.
(2) Or, he should reflect on the misery of these thoughts;
‘Unwholesome, truly, are these thoughts! Blamable are these
thoughts! Of painful result are these thoughts!’
(3) Or he should pay no attention to these thoughts.
(4) Or, he should consider the compound nature of these thoughts.
(5) Or, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the gums, he
should with his mind restrain, suppress and root out these
thoughts; and in doing so these evil and unwholesome
thoughts of greed, hatred and delusion will dissolve and disappear;
and the mind will inwardly become settled and calm, composed and concentrated.
This is called the effort to overcome.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
Anna Maria Porter (1778–1832)The habit of dissipating every serious thought by a succession of agreeable sensations is as fatal to happiness as to virtue ; for when amusement is uniformly substituted for objects of moral and mental interest, we lose all that elevates our enjoyments above the scale of childish pleasures.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
Shakespeare.Fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
FW RobertsonThere is a grand fearlessness in faith. He who in his heart of hearts reverences the good, the true, the holy; does not tremble at the apparent success of attacks upon the outworks of faith.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Inspiring Words
—Longfellow.Perhaps there lives some dreamy boy, untaught
In schools, some graduate of the field or street.
Who shall become a master of the art.
An admiral sailing the high seas of thought
Fearless and first, and steering with his fleet
For lands not yet laid down in any chart.
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
- Nicholas Weeks
- Posts: 4210
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:26 pm
- Location: USA West Coast
Re: Inspiring Words
John Adams to Charles Carroll, August 2, 1820.The American Union will last as long as God pleases. It is the duty of every American Citizen to exert his utmost abilities and endeavours to preserve it as long as possible and to pray with submission to Providence “esto perpetua” [may it last forever].
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.