While in the midst of those who hate, to dwell free from hatred is happiness indeed.
DHAMMAPADA v. 197
The teachings we receive from the Buddha and the great disciples can serve to inspire us. Feeling inspired leads to feeling energised. Then we are encouraged to skilfully apply this energy in the process of purifying our hearts and minds from habits of resisting reality. In reality most of us do still suffer from becoming lost in aversion, in sadness, in disappointment. And we probably do still feel challenged by our compulsive tendencies to resist the pain of life. Skilful effort in practice means we are neither in too much of a hurry, nor are we are too tardy. Although it can be tempting to grasp at the desire for difficulties to end, if we wish to follow the teachings of the Buddha, we recollect how he also taught about modesty and patience.
Q: A Time of Dhamma Declining
(approx 10 minutes)My questions are somehow a follow-on to the last ones you answered about the increase of greed, hatred and delusion. The Internet is also full of AI generated so called quotes by the Buddha and other great Sages. And also self appointed gurus who come up with somewhat dubious teachings. It is not always easy to avoid this and I feel I can get influenced by it. Is this now the time the Buddha was talking about when he pointed to the decline of the true Dhamma? Master Tsun Hua, looking outwards, theistic religions, three poisons, greed, hatred, delusion, eating, shaming, betraying our commitment, conscious composure, compassion meditation, fears, worries, anxiety, skilful means, movie, delusion, whole body-mind, apparent reality, actuality, ‘don’t believe it’, ‘don’t disbelieve it’.
Q: The Increasing Of Greed Hatred And Delusion
(approx. 12 minutes) 27th January, 2025, Q: Is it the case that greed, hatred and delusion are taking a greater grip on the world? And, how do we hold this and work with this when it's effects seem to be all pervading?KEYWORDS: Living Buddha, speculation, evidence, technology, unawareness, anger, damage, influencer, greed, foolishness, discontentment, fear, responsibility, understanding, self-regulation, embodied mindfulness, conscious composure, integrity, smart phones, complacent, accurate understanding, affluence, weak, going without, electricity outage, frustration, disappointment, morning chanting, wisdom, storehouse of goodness, agents of suffering, Ten Forces For Transformation, parami, punnya, ocean, multidimensional, look deeper.
Q: How Do We Honour Both Our Spiritual Aspirations And Our Limitations?
(approx. 12 minutes) KEYWORDS: "How do we push ourselves to higher standards in practice while at the same time, remaining compassionate towards ourselves with regards to our current spiritual limitations?" Overly idealistic, holding too tightly, goals, bearings, force, assertive, balance, goal-oriented, becoming enlightened, Newcastle-Edinburgh, humility, modesty, truthfully, loneliness, denied pain, greed, hatred, burning through, old debt, patience, contentment.
CONTRIBUTING COMPASSION: full moon - 27th December, 2023
"Disciples of the Buddha are fully awake both day and night taking delight in compassion." DHAMMAPADA v. 300
When we watch the news and witness all the sadness, we easily feel inadequate in our wish to help. If we are not careful we become lost in despair. To limit how much news we watch is sensible, but to stop altogether so as to avoid feeling inadequate, would be a pity. Because we don’t have the power to stop people from following greed, hatred and delusion, does not mean we have nothing to give. It might seem that way to followers of the religion of materialism, but for those cultivating the heart of awareness – cittabhavana – compassion can be our contribution. Don’t underestimate the power of a heart that can stay open in the midst of suffering. It is when the heart closes, and sensitivity is obstructed, that intelligence is compromised.