Freedom from Distress
NEW MOON REFLECTION from the Forest Sangha
No More Distress
There is no tension
for those who have completed their journey
and have become free
from the distress of all binding ties.
— Dhammapada v. 90
“Whatever is happening around us, let’s not forget that the more important journey is that which leads to freedom from all distress. We might be feeling distressed over what we see or hear on the outside, but the greater distress is that which we feel in our hearts.
“Materialist cultures are mostly unaware of the spiritual journey and mostly invest is acquiring more things and more experiences. The Buddha wants us to invest in training our attention so we learn to recognize the true causes of distress and acquire the skill of letting go.”
Meanwhile
Like Three Fair Branches from One Root Deriv’d
(excerpt)
by Robert Hass
Meanwhile
we are passing through the gate
with everything we love. We go
as fire, as flesh, as marble.
Sometimes it is good and sometimes
it is dangerous like the ignorance
of particulars, but our words are clear
and our movements give off light.
***
(courtesy of Pome)
Doing What Needs to be Done Today
No matter what happens tonight, more will need to be done tomorrow.
But that’s for tomorrow.
Today: we vote.
Already Naked
“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking that you have something to lose.
“You are already naked.
“There’s no reason not to follow your heart.”
— Steve Jobs
***
I’ll be managing Spring Washam’s retreat starting tomorrow, so don’t expect another post until early next week.
If you’d like to come to the retreat, you still can! Even if you haven’t registered.
Walk-ins are welcome and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Follow your heart!
I’m Optimistic
“Optimism is a political act.
“Those who benefit from the status quo are perfectly happy for us to think nothing is going to get any better.
“In fact, these days, cynicism is obedience.”
— Alex Steffen,
The Bright Green City
Five Remembrances
As promised in my talk yesterday at Sunday Sangha, here are the Five Remembrances, which I recite and reflect upon every day as an integral part of my practice:
* I am of the nature to grow old; there is no way to escape growing old.
* I am of the nature to have ill-health; there is no way to escape having ill-health.
* I am of the nature to die; there is no way to escape death.
* All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change; there is no way to escape being separated from them.
* My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the womb from which I am born. Whatever I may do, for good or for ill, to that I will fall heir.
Today I Took a Tiny Retreat
What’s a Tiny Retreat?
Read about it here.
What to take one with me?
Learn more here.
Don’t Go Back to Sleep
from Rumi:
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
between two worlds, which touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.
***
from me:
The election is twelve days away.
Don’t go back to sleep.
Bring Light
FULL MOON REFLECTION from Forest Sangha:
Transformation
One who transforms old and heedless ways
into fresh and wholesome acts
brings light into the world
like the moon freed from clouds.
— Dhammapada v. 173
“It would be a great pity if we viewed all our ‘old and heedless ways’ merely as troublesome tendencies that we had to get rid of. Just as recycling of material objects is sensibly recognized as more skilful than casually throwing things away, likewise a lot of wisdom and goodness can be found in that which previously caused us to suffer.
“Arrogance is always offensive, but once purified and no longer held as who and what we are, can be transformed into self-confidence.
“Stubbornness is always unattractive, but once purified and not seen as ‘self’, can manifest as resolute determination.”
There are Hundreds of Ways
Today, like every other day,
we wake up empty and frightened.
Don’t open the door
to the study and begin reading.
Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love
be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways
to kneel and kiss the ground.
— Rumi