Friday, June 24, 2022
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
First Meditative Absorption...
Shabalala Publications - Asanga glosses the term “meditative absorption” in the following manner:
The term “meditative absorption” refers to [a state in which the mind] meditates correctly on an object and recollection holds fast [to an object] one-pointedly.
The sutras describe each of the four meditative absorptions with a formulaic statement. Asanga glosses each expression that appears in these statements in his Listeners’ Level. The canonical description of the first meditative absorption is as follows:
Separated from the objects of desire, separated from evil and nonvirtuous qualities, [the practitioner] achieves and then remains in the first meditative absorption, which is characterized by the joy and ease that are born of separation and is accompanied by deliberation and reflection.
Commentarial literature defines the meditative absorptions in terms of their main components or limbs. The first meditative absorption consists of these five limbs: (1) deliberation, (2) reflection, (3) joy, (4) ease, and (5) one-pointedness of mind. Of these, deliberation and reflection are corrective limbs, in that they enable the practitioner to abandon the faults of the desire realm, including desire for sensory pleasures, malice, harmfulness, and [nonvirtuous] deliberative thoughts. Joy and pleasure are beneficial limbs, because the practitioner experiences the joy and ease that arise through having attained separation from the coarseness of the desire realm. One-pointedness of mind is the supporting limb in that the power of concentration enables the other limbs to take effect.
Joy is a pleasant mental feeling also described as mental well-being or happiness of mind. There is some disagreement in the commentarial literature regarding the limb called “ease.” Je Tsongkapa explains that, according to the philosophical tradition associated with Asanga’s Compendium of Higher Learning, joy and ease refer to separate elements of one and the same pleasant feeling that accompanies the primary mind consciousness. It is called “joy” in that it is a mental feeling and “ease” in that it also benefits the sense faculties and the coarse physical body in which those faculties reside. However, The Treasury of Higher Learning states that, according to Vaibhasika School, the “ease” of both the first and second meditative absorptions does not refer to a feeling at all, but rather to the mental factor called “agility.” Following the first interpretation, the joy and ease of the first meditative absorption represent feelings that are related to departure in that they are associated with a state of separation from the unhappiness of the desire realm.
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
No Doubt an Outlier... But So Was Trump in 2015
The depth of depravity apparently knows no bottom.
But it seems as though its found a home in the GOP. AKA the TOP (Trump's Old Party)
Friday, June 17, 2022
Rethinking Trump and One's Own Karmic Reactive Response to His Criminal Actions...
*The brutal manipulative behaviour of narcissists can have quite an impact on their victims. Dealing with narcissists is very personal and you have to learn how to deal with yourself and your mind.
This nation has been torn apart by the political firestorm created by former president Donald J. Trump and his sycophants who willingly and eagerly participated in his Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen from hum. An allegation completely devoid of factual evidence. Additionally, Trump lost 60 challenges to the results of the 2020 election in multiple courts of law. Yet Mr. Trump persisted, and continues to persist today, in pushing the delusional Big Lie.
It is of course no secret that Mr. Trump is, and always has been, a narcissist with an ego as big as the sky over his new home at Mar Largo. Maybe as big as the sky over the entire state of Florida. It is safe to say that Mr. Trump is now experiencing the results of his many years of negative karma. Hs most recent negative karma being his attempt to overthrow the 2020 election and the insurrection that he was directly responsible for and involved in.
Thankfully the House Select Committee investing the actions of Mr. Trump and others involved in the sedition and insurrection at the Capitol is throwing the doors to the TRUTH wide open for all Americans to see. Again. With their very own eyes and hear with their very own ears what happened do to Mr. Trump's Big Lie.
Since J6 2021, following the violent attempt to thoroughly and totally dismantle our democratic republic from within, I have hated, yes, actually hated Mr. Trump and everything her stands for. If he stands for anything other than dishonesty and deceit, I'm unaware of it.
With the passage of time, and much meditation and reflection I know that Mr. Trump is suffering deeply and likely has for many, many years. Mr. Trump's extreme narcissism and ego centeredness are the driving forces behind most of, if not all, of his decisions and actions. As a result, Mr. Trump has built a mountain of karmic negativity for himself which he will have to answer for in some way, some day.
American society has every right to expect, indeed demand, that Mr. Trump and those others responsible for J6 2021, and the events leading up to it, be held accountable for their actions and face the full force of the law in response to them.
On a purely personal note, I have made peace with my anger towards Mr. Trump and hatred for him. Through deep meditation I have grown to recognize that many, including myself, could fall prey to the self-centeredness that will likely become Mr. Trump's legacy and ultimate judgment on his life.
All I feel for Mr. Trump today is pity and a desire that someday he is released from his great suffering. That he finally finds peace within himself. And that whatever measure of happiness may remain available for him that he be allowed to experience it.
* SOURCE
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Thursday, June 9, 2022
The Day FOX Publicly Admitted It Is Not a News Outlet...
Buddhist cannot and should not stand by and observe our representative democracy fall prey to the likes of FOX disinformation network.
Truth must be told and persons responsible for January 6, 2020 MUST be held accountable and suffer the appropriate recriminations for their treasonous actions on that day.
Fox News Admits It’s Not News By Refusing To Show 1/6 Hearings
Senator Schumer responding to FOX and its decision not to air the public hearings on the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. The day Trump supporters attempted to overturn the free and fair 2020 election that resulted in Trump's landslide defeat to President Biden.
In truth a traitorous act against this nation and its people.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted Fox News for treachery and cowardice and said that it seems like they aren’t real news.
Schumer said on the Senate floor:
Tomorrow evening, the House Select Committee will hold its first public hearings on the insurrection of January 6th. It will be a watershed moment for what has now been a ten-month investigation to uncover the truth of what happened on that terrible, terrible day in our nation’s history.
The American people need to see January 6th for what it was: a deliberate, organized, and violent attempt to reverse a free and fair election. It was a profane and grotesque assault upon American democracy. Worst of all, it was part of a larger effort from the hard right to erode our constitutional order from within.
Just a couple of days ago someone was arrested who said he was in 20 feet of me and was trying to get me as we left this chamber.
These hearings will be essential viewing: they are a direct look into the dark soul of the hard right, and every single American needs to know the truth of what happened that day. Every major broadcast and cable network will cover these proceedings live.
Every network except one, that is, Fox News.
In one of the most cowardly journalistic decisions in modern memory, Fox News—one of the main amplifiers of the Big Lie about January 6th and about the election—has stated they will not broadcast Thursday’s hearing.
After giving the likes of Tucker Carlson a blank check to spread conspiracy theories and white supremacist views night after night, it is beyond repugnant that Fox News refuses to cover an investigation into the deadliest attack on our democracy in modern history.
It is a disgusting and treacherous decision, one that will gravely harm our democracy, one that will deliberately conceal the truth from a large portion of the viewing public.
Let me say it once again: Fox News’ decision not to air live proceedings on January 6th is cowardly and is tantamount to hiding the truth from the American people.
Fox News has an obligation to report the facts of the January 6th investigation so their viewers can learn the truth, especially after Fox News was one on the main propagators of so many of the big lies. Are they a real news station? They don’t seem to be. I hope they reverse this awful decision.
These hearings will be essential viewing: they are a direct look into the dark soul of the hard right, and every single American needs to know the truth of what happened that day. Every major broadcast and cable network will cover these proceedings live.
Every network except one, that is, Fox News.
In one of the most cowardly journalistic decisions in modern memory, Fox News—one of the main amplifiers of the Big Lie about January 6th and about the election—has stated they will not broadcast Thursday’s hearing.
After giving the likes of Tucker Carlson a blank check to spread conspiracy theories and white supremacist views night after night, it is beyond repugnant that Fox News refuses to cover an investigation into the deadliest attack on our democracy in modern history.
It is a disgusting and treacherous decision, one that will gravely harm our democracy, one that will deliberately conceal the truth from a large portion of the viewing public.
Let me say it once again: Fox News’ decision not to air live proceedings on January 6th is cowardly and is tantamount to hiding the truth from the American people.
Fox News has an obligation to report the facts of the January 6th investigation so their viewers can learn the truth, especially after Fox News was one on the main propagators of so many of the big lies. Are they a real news station? They don’t seem to be. I hope they reverse this awful decision.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Will the Gun Violence Ever Abate?...
As America continues to careen down the gun violence highway with guns blazing children and other innocent people die. And our law makers, almost exclusively republican, refuse to do a damn thing about it. Apparently in their eyes the right to own and indiscriminately use a gun trump's the life of school children and others who die... REGULALY... by gun violence.
I came across the following article written by James Baraz in 2011 following the shooting of Gaby Gifford by Jared Loughner. It is America's shame that 11 years later this nation is in an even darker place with gun violence and the culture of guns and death than we were 11 years ago.
It is any wonder many, perhaps most, in America believe that once again not a damn thing will change following the very recent rash of mass shootings. Gun proliferation and death will likely continue escalating rather than diminishing in the USA, as continued ignorance blinds many millions in this nation.
And now excerpts from te 2011 article.
Every human being wants to feel safe and have peace. That's a tall order in a culture that glorifies violence. Gun rights groups are now proposing legislation that would require the Arizona Department of Public Safety to provide firearms training to state legislators. Would that have protected Gabrielle Giffords? As Martin Lither King pointed out:
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate...Returning violence for violence multiples violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: Only love can do that."
The Buddha similarly taught, "Hatred never ceases by hatred. Hatred only ceases by love. This is an ancient and eternal law."
SKIP
In Buddhism, ignorance has an even broader definition. One aspect of it is not truly understanding the karmic consequences of our actions. Another is lack of awareness as to where happiness really lies. Basic understanding of karma states very simply that actions which come from greed, hatred or ignorance lead to suffering. Actions based in generosity, kindness and wisdom lead to happiness. After his enlightenment, the Buddha was motivated to teach because of the ignorance he saw: although everyone wants to be happy, most people are acting in ways that lead to more suffering.
Jesus' famous statement on the cross was based on this same understanding: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." He saw that, although on one level they knew very well what they were doing, they didn't understand who he was or the consequences of their actions because their minds were colored by hate and fear.
The real villain in this story is not Jared Loughner. It's not the media. And it's not the gun rights advocates. The real villain is ignorance. Because of ignorance, people project their fear and turn those who are different into enemies -- both in their minds and in actuality. This is the history of war, as Sam Keen brilliantly pointed out in Faces of the Enemy. Once you demonize the "other" they become less than human and you can inflict pain on them without guilt or shame.
SKIP
Clamoring for more access to guns because you genuinely want to feel safer is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. And those politicians who seem to know what they're doing as they spew vitriol, consciously inciting and provoking others by making an opponent a target, are simply pyromaniacs enthralled by the fire of conflict and power. That, too, is ignorance in the Buddhist sense because, although it might seem to have a purpose, in the end it will not lead to less suffering.
SKIP
A friend who shared his reflections about the shootings said it made him ask himself, "How do I show up in this culture?" We need to stop and feel into it -- the pain, the fear, the anger, the confusion -- and ask ourselves: "Where does this take me? What's the wisest response internally and externally?" The answers from the past aren't quite sufficient. Something else is needed. This is the time to ask ourselves how spirituality can help when a new response is called for.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote,
"If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?"
Full article BELOW the FOLD
Thursday, June 2, 2022
Great Advertisement for Tourism... Eh Republicans of America?
Is THIS an example of American exceptionalism?
Just asking cause it seems as if mass shooting have become daily occurrences' in the land of the free and home of the dead.
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