Tag Archives: suffering
Lost in Translation
“Suffering, as a noble truth, is this: Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, sickness is suffering, death is suffering, sorrow and lamentation, pain, grief and despair are suffering; association with the loathed is suffering, dissociation from the loved is … Continue reading
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The Four Noble Truths of Parenting
“Now this, monks, is the noble truth of stress:[1] Birth is stressful, aging is stressful, death is stressful; sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair are stressful; association with the unbeloved is stressful, separation from the loved is stressful, not getting what is … Continue reading
Thay in Vancouver, floods in Sri Lanka and other updates
I was very much considering shutting down this blog, but thanks to some encouraging words, I’ve decided to keep it up for now. With school, work, and family, I have very, very little time to post, or even think about … Continue reading
Affirm life; do not kill
How do we affirm life and support everyone involved? How do we apply the Bodhisattva vow when it comes to abortion? Continue reading
Everyone is homeless…
I contacted Anoki over at Buddha Badges a few weeks ago about creating a special badge that centered around homelessness (something near to my heart as I’ve blogged about previously…), and using Homeless Kodo (Kodo Sawaki) as a theme for … Continue reading
Intentions and raccoons
Friday evening there was a knock on our door. An old man, out of breath from climbing our stairs was at our door, flashlight in hand. He was looking for his cat that had escaped. He informed us that she … Continue reading
In a fog
Fog rolling in thick, endless beyond sight A steady ebb A steady flow of water eroding away the rocks one by one Nature taking its course without the approval of the rocks They only want to feel the warmth of the … Continue reading
The path of least resistance
It’s always about what’s easy. Simple. The path of least resistance allows us to glide, duck, and doge our way through life. Never touching those things that are most important. It’s easy talking to a stranger online. It’s easy to … Continue reading
Craving Sprouts, eating a burrito…
(This is one of a few posts I’m importing from another blog I recently closed down) Grocery shopping is generally a fun event for me. I’m a bargain hunter. Actually, it would be more accurate to say I’m the Indiana … Continue reading
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Super-powering your way to Nirvana
The question was, “if you could have any super power, what would it be?” The top 3 answers by far were : the ability to stop time, invisibility, and teleportation. As far as I know, I’m the only Buddhist out of the group. But these answers all have a very Buddhist theme don’t they? Seems everyone is trying to escape samsara! Continue reading
Earth Day Post: Blue Dharma
Today is Earth Day. Now, I know that the Buddha never lectured on water conservation, solar energy, or global climate change. But he did talk at length about compassion. He did speak of karma. What we need is more awareness … Continue reading
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No Direction Home…….
Besides the epic emptiness of life that comes with being homeless, there is one more crippling ailment. It is the isolation. You can’t help but feel like the stereotypical Dicken’s street urchin outside of a bakery window salivating over the freshly made cherry pie on the counter. Only the whole world is that bakery. Society as we know it is that pie, and it would bring such joyous comfort if it was even just a taste. Continue reading
And more snow related suffering…….
Yes, I’m white. But that doesn’t mean that I want my news and information white-washed for me. Native Americans have suffered more than any other racial/ethnic group in the history of this continent, and they continue to be marginalized. I’m not one of those people who gets pissed off because there’s an NHL team in Chicago called “The Blackhawks”. But was does irk me is how my ancestor’s entire history, culture, and contribution to the world we live in today has been white-washed and almost completely ignored. Continue reading
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SnOMG!!!!
Right now, there are millions of people and livestock that have it much, much worse. I’m not talking about the people on the East Coast right now. I’m talking about the people of Mongolia in the midst of a dzud. Continue reading
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Serving up some Dharma
I’ll just say that if it helps to spread the dharma to those that want to hear it, and can help people lessen their suffering (even a little bit) then I say go for it. Is it unorthodox? Yeah. But maybe that’s what the community needs there. I for one, am all about Dharma Drinks. Continue reading
Filed under Buddhism, Home Brewing
Just ignorant!
Maybe it’s that looking at scientific journals with peer-reviewed studies filled with evidence is a boring waste of time, so why not just have Rush Limbaugh tell me what global warming is really all about. It’ll be fun! I’m sure he’ll tell me what I really need to hear, and we can make fun of the traitorous liberals while we’re at it! Why would I want to see what this Jihadist stamp is really all about when my uncle Rick can just shoot me an email?! Continue reading
Filed under Political
Please Help Haiti
Update: There is actually a Buddhist organization there in Haiti now as well! Continue reading
Goodbye China!
Well, I didn’t write Fox News. I didn’t write them because I knew it would only make Rupert Murdoch and the powers that be at Fox “News” smile. They would probably get a kick out of all the letters. I can imagine them printing each angry letter on rolls of toilet paper with which Bill O’liely would then wipe his ass with. Continue reading
On Compassion
We have less of a hands-on approach to life than we ever have before. All of our food comes pre-packaged for easy consumption. Our grapes come from Chile, our Chili comes from a can, and who the hell knows where hot dogs come from? Our clothes come from China, our news comes from a box, and our relationships come to us via MySpace. We rarely touch the things that affect us most in life; and are mostly clueless and unaware of their true nature and origins. If we’ve become this disconnected from our food, our shelter, our every day necessities, isn’t only natural that the next great disconnect would be with each other? Continue reading
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Samsara Happens
Samsara happens. It’s how you choose to deal with it that determines how you suffer (or don’t). Continue reading
Filed under Buddhism
"Patriot" Day
I doubt we’ll ever have satisfying answers to the questions that still linger. Continue reading
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Filed under Other
One more thought on the 5th….
I think the most important thing to remember about Buddhism is that it is about suffering, and how to end it. Continue reading
Filed under Buddhism, Home Brewing
The Eightfold Path: Right Livelihood
By the way- taxidermy freaks me out. It’s one of the most unnatural things I’ve ever come across in my lifetime. It’s gross. Continue reading
Filed under Buddhism, Home Brewing
The Eightfold Path: Right Speech
So the next “step” on the Eightfold Path is Right Speech. Right speech is defined by the Buddha as abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, and from idle chatter and gossip. This one is pretty straight forward. … Continue reading
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