INSPIRATION
TAMING THE MIND
MEDITATION AND COUNTING
CONDITIONED CO-PRODUCTION
POEM BY RYOKAN
DHAMMAPADA QUOTE
SUTTA OF LOVING KINDNESS
WHAT IS DHARMA?
'WHY I AM A BUDDHIST' BY SANGHARAKSHITA
'NO NEWS' BY RYOKAN
NO ATTACHMENT TO DUST
TAMING THE MIND
Now suppose a cowheard wanted to tame a wild calf that had been reared
on wild cow's milk, he would take it away from the cow and tie it
apart with a rope to a stout post dug into the ground;
then the calf might dash to and fro, but being unable to get away, it would
eventually sit down or lie dow by the post.
So too, when a bikkhu
wants to tame his own mind which has long been spoilt by being reared
on visible data etc. as object for its food and drink, he should take
it away from visible data etc. as object and bring it into the forest,
or the root of a tree, or to an empty place and tie it up there to the
post of in-breaths and out-breaths with the rope of mindfulness.
And
so his mind may then dash to and fro when it no longer gets the objects
it was formerly used to, but being unable to break the rope of
mindfulness and get away, it sits down, lies down, by that object
under the influence of access and absorption.
From the Visuddhimagga, by Buddhaghosa
On Mindfulness of Breathing, 153-154
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MEDITATION AND COUNTING
A beginner should first give attention to this meditation subject [ i.e. the breath] by counting..... When counting, he should at first do it slowly (that is, late), as a grain measurer does....
As he does his counting in this way, the in-breaths and out-breaths become evident to him as they issue in and issue out. Then he can leave off counting slowly (late), like a grain measurer, and he can count quickly (that is, early), as a cowherd does. For a skilled cowherd takes pebbles in his pocket and goes to the cow pen in the morning... sitting on the bar of the gate, prodding the cows in the back, he counts each one as it reaches the gate saying ' one, two,' dropping a pebble for each. And the cows of the herd, which have been spending the three watches of the night uncomfortably in the cramped space, come out quickly in parties, jostling each other as they escape. So he counts quickly (early) saying ' three, four, five,' and so on up to ten.
... For as long as the meditation subject is connected with counting it is with the help of that very counting that the mind becomes unified, just as a boat in a swift current is steadied with the help of a rudder.
Buddhaghosa (traditional commentary, fifth century CE)
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CONDITIONED CO-PRODUCTION
This being, that becomes,
from the arising of this, that arises;
this not being, that does not become;
from the ceasing of this, that ceases.
Majjhima-Nikaya II. 32
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POEM BY RYOKAN
My life may appear melancholy,
But traveling through this world
I have entrusted myself to heaven.
In my sack, three quarts of rice;
By the hearth, a bundle of firewood.
If someone asks what is the mark of
enlightenment or illusion
I cannot say - wealth and honor are nothing but dust.
As the evening rain falls I sit in my hermitage
And stretch out both feet in answer.
Translated by John Stevens
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DHAMMAPADA QUOTE
Pairs
1 Experiences are preceded by mind, led by mind, and produced by mind. If one speaks or acts with an impure mind, suffering follows even as the cartwheel follows the hoof of the ox.
2 Experiences are preceded by mind, led by mind, and produced by mind, If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow that never departs.
3 Those who entertain such thoughts as 'He abused me, he beat me, he conquered me, he robbed me,' will not still their hatred.
4 Those who do not entertain such thoughts as 'He abused me, he beat me, he conquered me, he robbed me,' will still their hatred.
5 Not by hatred are hatreds ever pacified here. They are pacified by love. This is the eternal law.
This quotation is taken from the Dhammapada as translated by Sangharakshita, Chapter 1, verses 1 to 5
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SUTTA OF LOVING KINDNESS
'Now, may all living things, or weak or strong,
Omitting none, tall, middle-sized or short,
Subtle or gross of form, seen or unseen,
Those dwelling near or dwelling far away,
Born or unborn - may every living thing
Abound in bliss. Let none deceive or think
Scorn of another, in whatever way.'
But as a mother watches o'er her child,
Her only child, so long she doth breathe,
So let him practise unto all that live
An all-embracing mind.
Excerpt from 'Buddhism for Today' by Subhuti
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WHAT IS DHARMA?
Mahaprajapati Gautami asked the Buddha, "Lord, what is your teaching? There are so many different versions, so many interpretations. How are we to know what is the correct one? How are we to know what you really, truly taught? What is the criterion of your teaching, your Dharma?"
In other words, she was asking what is Buddhism, how can we know, how can we recognise Buddhism.
The Buddha's reply was quite unambiguous. He said,
Whatever conduces to purity, that is my teaching.
Whatever conduces to freedom, that is my teaching.
Whatever conduces to decrease of worldly gains and acquisitions, that is my teaching.
Whatever conduces to simplicity, that is my teaching.
Whatever conduces to contentment, that is my teaching.
Whatever conduces to individuality, that is my teaching.
Whatever conduces to energy, that is my teaching.
Whatever conduces to delight in good, that is my teaching.
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'WHY I AM A BUDDHIST' BY SANGHARAKSHITA
The following excerpt is from Venerable Sangharakshita, the founder of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, from a talk given in Worli, Mumbai
Some people say that Buddhism is just an Eastern religion. This is what some Christians in the West say. They say that because Buddhism is an Eastern religion it cannot be understood and practised by people in the West. Such people forget that Christianity itself is of Eastern origin.
But Buddhism is, in fact, not an Eastern religion. It ia a universal religion. Even though Buddhism originated in India, it spread over the whole world. Buddhism can be understood and practised anywhere in the world, because Buddhism addresses itself to the individual human being regardless of race, nationality, caste, sex or age. Buddhism is, therefore, the religion of man.
This is one of the reasons why I am a Buddhist. I believe that humanity is basically one. I believe that it is possible for any human being to communicate with any other human being, to feel for any other human being, to be friends with any other human being. This is what I truly and deeply believe. This belief is part of my own experience. It is part of my life. I cannot live without this belief, and i would rather die than give it up.
To me, to live means to practise this belief. Therefore this belief is part of my religion. It has nothing to do with the way in which I dress, nothing to do with what I call myself. It is a matter of the way I am, the way I exist. It is the way I naturally function in the world.
This is what religion really is. It is what you most truly and deeply believe. It is what you are prepared to die for. It is your life. It is what makes you who you are. It is what makes you behave in the way you do. Religion is therefore a very important thing. In fact, it is the most important thing.
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'NO NEWS' BY RYOKAN
My hut lies in the middle of a dense forest;
Every year the ivy grows longer.
No news of the affairs of men,
Only the occasional song of a woodcutter.
The sun shines and I mend my robe;
When the moon comes out I read Buddhist poems.
I have nothing to report, my friends.
If you want to find the meaning, stop chasing after so many things.
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NO ATTACHMENT TO DUST
Zengetsu, a Chinese master of the T'ang dynasty, wrote the following advice for his pupils:
Living in the world yet not forming attachments to the dust of the world is the way of a true Zen student.
When witnessing the good action of another encourage yourself to follow his example. Hearing of the mistaken action of another, advise yourself not to emulate it.
Even though alone in a dark room, be as if you were facing a noble guest. Express your feelings but become no more expressive than your true nature.
Poverty is your treasure. Never exchange it for an easy life.
A person may appear a fool and yet not be one. He may only be guarding his wisdom carefully.
Virtues are the fruit of self-discipline and do not drop from the heaven of themselves as rain or snow.
Modesty is the foundation of all virtues. Let your neighbours discover you before you make yourself known to them
A noble heart never forces itself forward. Its words are as rare gems, seldom displayed and of great value.
To a sincere student, every day is a fortunate day. Time passes but he never lags behind. Neither glory nor shame can move him.
Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right and wrong.
Some things, though right, were considered wrong for generations. SInce the value of righteousness may be recognised after centuries, there is no need to crave an immediate appreciation.
Live with cause and leave results to the great law of the universe. Pass each day in peaceful contemplation.
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