Tag: buddha

Within the Buddha’s Smile.

I remember living in a small space on the north shore of Hawaii. The room itself was rather barren – a bed, some books and a kettle pot.

Week after week, I struggled to find the means; I had little money, and barely enough food yet I was the happiest I’d been in years. “Just this,” I remember saying each morning as I paused to take it all in.

Perhaps, it was the absence of distraction – the incessant buzz of technological things encroaching on my ability to ‘be’.

In the morning, the rhythm of the waves assured me…”Just this, and nothing else.” In this space, there were no worries, no labels…no afflictions of past.

“To be here and now, and enjoy the present moment is our most important task,” Thich Nhat Hanh shares. Though, curiously we tend to push it all away in favor of more ‘urgent’ tasks.

But, what could be more urgent than the security of your inner peace?

As we struggle to find balance, we must recognize that we are an agent of our own good.

Until then, for now…just simply be.

In peace…

Namaste ❤

The Many Multitudes of Our Continuance.

“Be patient,” the poet Rumi writes, “where you sit in the dark; dawn is coming.”

There’s a tendency of rushing through; to extend ourselves beyond the lesson of this one gloriously boundless moment. Though, in doing so, do we not miss the catalyst to our introspection?

The Buddha taught that even within the tremendous variety of potential life manifestations – there are still three basic truths:

Nothing is permanent, everything is connected – and through this understanding, nirvana is revealed.

Speaking in terms of the physical realm – we are born, we grow and we will eventually die. As is the same for this world which surround. Everything changes – the seasons come and go, the tide will rise and fall. In fact, the only thing which remains as ‘permanent’ is that which we believe to be real.

We manifest delineation through such arbitrary measures – appearance, faith, ethnicity and social class. We believe such things to be the root of our suffering, though reality speaks to a far different claim.

We suffer because we’ve severed our connection to peace.

Everything changes, yet all things are ‘the same’. What remains is a an appreciation for the many multitudes of our continuance.

In peace…

Namaste ❤

What We Do Today Matters Most of All.

“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha

My dears, quite often we can become trapped inside the sentiment of our yesterday’s emotions.

As caring human beings, we so desperately want to ‘fix’ things – going to great lengths to explain our position, to offer a secondary point of view…or, sadly to dig ourselves toe deep into the muck of ‘needing so very much to be right.’

Have we become so disenchanted with Opportunity’s blessing? That we fail to understand that much deeper meaning, which rests beneath those daily distractions?

My dears, when you look out your window this morning – what do you see?

Do you see the hope that is inspired by the limitlessness of this life?

Do you feel the faith that is born again within the fullness of each new leaf?

Are you inexplicably drawn to Creativity’s spirit – beckoning from the richness of nature’s palette?

Or, is your mind locked up inside all of those moments that have already passed? Caught up in the foolishness of our ‘not ever letting go?’

“Letting go,” shares Thích Nhất Hạnh “gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything – anger, anxiety, or possessions – we cannot be free.”

My dears, every morning we are born once again; and it becomes our choice, how we may fulfill our destiny.

Every wish, every thought…every hope-filled dream…becomes, the softened threads in the fabric of our awakening.

What we do today is what matters most of all.

And, what we see outside life’s fleeting ‘window’ – my darling, this is what determines our day.

A Little Something I Learned from a Kitten.

I used to have a cat named, Zsa Zsi.

She was Siamese and full of fire, and not one to be ‘told’ what to do.

She also has a nasty habit of scratch-gashing her way through this world. Trust me, I have the ‘war wounds’ to prove it.

Oh, how I used to chase that cat – for hours, sometimes. And when I’d finally catch her in my arms – I’d squeeze with all of my might.

Generally, she was quite tolerant of my ‘little one’ ways. Until one day, when I held just a little too long – upsetting her need to run free. With one high pitched yowling swish – she left a four inch gash along my arm.

Oh my goodness, how I cried. Initially, from the sheer shock of the matter – as well as, that first sting of reality.

“She scratched because you held her too hard,” my Mother said. “If you love her, you must let her be free.”

It was my first lesson in understanding the true nature of things.

That is to say, in holding on – we sometimes cling. And, in doing so – we often miss the beauty of that which wishes to be revealed.

The photos above were taken just shortly thereafter  – when I offered the space for her to give of freely from heart.

And, though it may seem a silly story – it was still, an important lesson to be learned.

You see, it’s not until we’re able to ‘loosen our grip’ – that we’re able to be loved fully in return.

Namaste, my loves ~ and on this day, just a little something I learned from a kitten.

In the Company of Friends.

The Buddha once gave a beautiful teaching on the value of unconditional love; a love born and free from all attachment, one that is cultivated by the willingness to bear the suffering of all living beings.

“As a mother would risk her life
to protect her child, her only child,
even so should one cultivate a limitless heart
with regard to all beings.”

It is this foundation of Metta – or lovingkindness, that allows us to finally break through to a continual state of peace.

“Whatever beings there may be,” he taught “weak or strong, without exception, long, large, middling, short, subtle, blatant, seen & unseen, near & far, born & seeking birth: May all beings be happy at heart.”

And, so on this day, my dearest friends – I wish you the limitlessness of a loving heart.

Namaste.

p.s. – My darlings, do you know just how much better it is to read in the company of friends?

A Chance to Awaken.

One of the most powerful ways in which we might connect with another is to simply listen. To take in the energy of their upset and troubles; to offer a space in which their burden might be shared.

And yet, so often we feel compelled to fill this space. To ‘wedge open’ the window of our own past pain, and offer the insight of our own experiences.

But in doing so, aren’t we pulling the focus away? And, transferring the living grace of our attention back onto ourselves?

If only we might learn engage the heart of compassionate listening; to listen, without interruption, and with the intention of relieving another person’s suffering.

To say, “My darling, I’m here for you” and have them know we really mean it.

“You listen with only one purpose,” shares Thich Naht Hahn “to help him or her to empty his heart. Even if he says things that are full of wrong perceptions, full of bitterness, you are still capable of continuing to listen with compassion. Because you know that listening like that, you give that person a chance to suffer less.”

My darlings, this is the heart of compassionate listening. To help another empty their heart, to give them a chance to suffer less.

In doing so, we, ourselves, are offered a chance – to awaken from this illusion of our separateness.

The Heart’s Greatest Journey.

“This moment holds no judgement.” My darlings, do you know what this means?

To release ourselves from the trappings of past hurt, and relinquish all ties to expectation.

Herein lies our freedom.

And, it is never more than one soul-filling pause away. A moment of contemplation, of careful consideration – to embrace that which leads us to joy. In our letting go, we create the space for acceptance…a resting spot for the spirit to grow.

Though sadly, it is human nature to become attached to things. We crave the security of knowing over the relief of surrender.

But, in our holding on we become further tethered to that which has already gone.

“In the end these things matter most” shared the Buddha “How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?”

This is the heart’s greatest journey, my darlings. A path, untraveled, and just waiting to be revealed.

The Treasure of Your Own Loving Heart.

My darlings, do you know the story of the taming of the mad elephant, Nalagiri?

In the Cullavaga of the Pali cannon, the taming of Nalagiri is explained as one of many attempts made by Devadatta, to kill his cousin, the Buddha. It is a story driven by the passion of resentment.

But, perhaps more profoundly, it is the story of how a even a blood-thirsty rage can be transformed by the energy of loving-kindness.

As the story is told, Devadatta was expected to become the future leader of the monks. However, to his surprise, the Buddha treated him no differently than anyone else. To the Buddha, Devadatta sat equally amongst all living beings – there were ties of loyalty in the space of equanimity.

This made Devadatta so angry, that he conspired against the Buddha – dispatching the mad elephant, Nalagiri, to cause him  harm. On the morning of the malicious deed, Devadatta gave Nalagiri alcohol to further incite her rage. He then unleashed her madness into a crowd of unsuspecting villagers.

“Everyone saw the elephant approaching, swaying madly from one side of the road to the other, slamming his weight into market stalls and house-fronts.”

“Run for your lives,” they shouted, “Mad elephant.”

But, to everyone’s surprise, the Buddha sat undisturbed by the panic. Instead, he radiated the boundless heart of compassion towards the charging Nalagiri.

“Ambho, Nalagiri,” the Buddha said, “Come here, my friend.”

It was within this very moment that the tragedy of Nalagiri’s life began to unfold. Her days as a young calf playing in the rivers and fields; the time spent wandering through the forest trees with her Mother; the crisp coolness of water on a hot summer’s day. And sadly, as well, her eventual capture by the king’s elephant keepers – who forced the young Nalagiri to become a slayer of men. In that moment, she felt the overwhelming desperation of her loneliness – the torment by her captors, the sadness of her abuse.

“Like two waves meeting, the force of the Buddha’s loving-kindness collided with the moving mass of the raging elephant. Nalagiri felt it like a wave breaking against her brow.”

“Ambho, Nalagiri,” he said. “You are safe now, my friend.”

And, with that, the elephant bowed humbly before him. She was finally ‘freed’ from the chains that bound her.

“Your new name, Nalagiri,” said the Buddha, “is Dhanapalako, Guardian of the Treasure. And the treasure, my friend, is your own loving heart.”

My darlings, we all face these ‘charging elephants’ in our day. But, with boundless heart – the energy of loving-kindness will always prevail.

Whatever we wish for others, we wish for ourselves.

It is perhaps the greatest lesson we might ever learn.

The Lesson of the Waterbird.

“When I was a novice, I could not understand why, if the world is filled with suffering, the Buddha has such a beautiful smile. Why isn’t he disturbed by all the suffering? Later I discovered that the Buddha has enough understanding, calm, and strength; that is why the suffering does not overwhelm him. He is able to smile to suffering because he knows how to take care of it and to help transform it. We need to be aware of the suffering, but retain our clarity, calmness, and strength so we can help transform the situation. The ocean of tears cannot drown us if karuna is there.

That is why the Buddha’s smile is possible.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh

In speaking about the awakened mind, Dōgen says, “Coming, going, the waterbirds don’t leave a trace, don’t follow a path.”

And though, there are many ways to interpret this passage – to me, it represents the true nature of understanding.

Indeed, as Dōgen suggests, we might move effortlessly through out thoughts – just as the bird gracing the waters, unencumbered by the complexities of our emotions.

Likewise, our thoughts may run more deeply, like a plow to the earth – leaving only an upturned, roughened path in its wake.

Perhaps, in a sense, the bird represents our liberation from fixed mind, and the inevitable suffering which is caused by our attachments?

And, reminding us, that it is only through our letting go that we may finally begin to know the waterbird’s freedom.

In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh discusses the essence of non-attachment – encouraging us to climb the mountain and look at the whole, without being bound by one side or the other.

There’s something really poignant in this image of looking out from the mountaintop –  without regard to where our feet may be ‘planted.’

Such is the power of an unlimited perspective, that it may provide us the means to transform even our greatest suffering.

So, how do we maintain such stillness of mind in an often unforgiving world?

To quote Sister Pine, by letting go and keeping in mind that which you really want.

 

Balancing Between Faith and Doubt.

Sensei Sevan Ross, director of the Chicago Zen Center, once led a discussion on the balance between faith and doubt . It was intended to demonstrate the interrelationship of the two – specifically, that one can not exist without the other.

[blockquote source=]“Great Faith and Great Doubt are two ends of a spiritual walking stick. We grip one end with the grasp given to us by our Great Determination. We poke into the underbrush in the dark on our spiritual journey. This act is real spiritual practice — gripping the Faith end and poking ahead with the Doubt end of the stick. If we have no Faith, we have no Doubt. If we have no Determination, we never pick up the stick in the first place.”[/blockquote]

In fact, true faith requires doubt; without doubt, true faith is not possible. It’s a spiritual symbiosis, if you will – one that serves as a catalyst to our own awakening.

I must confess, I’ve been wrestling with my own insecurities lately – the result of which, has left me wary where once so very sure-footed.  It happens to all of us, you see – that feeling of momentary suspension as the pendulum readies it’s next swing.

This is the nature of groundlessness – reinforcing our understanding that nothing is ever the same, once again. Our suffering occurs when we try to dismiss the truth of this reality.

As Pema Chödrön once said, 
[blockquote source=]”We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy…..To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.”[/blockquote]

The Buddha taught that we might embrace all of these emotions with curiosity and open-heartedness – that we might utilize them as a means for spiritual discovery.

Doubt forces reflection, and doubt strengthens our resolve.

So, you see, even on those days where we may feel an unsettled mess – have faith, that there is great purpose in all aspects of our journey.

Even those, which are a little more emotional than the rest.