Philosophy 03 (May 24 - Dec 25)

[winston]

Sun Keeps Shining

The sun—whether or not it is recognized, appreciated or even seen — is accessible to whomever might benefit from it.

In the same way, determine to be constantly gentle and giving to others, without a strategy, without a plan and without ambition.

- Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro, “Charting the Four Immeasurables”

[winston]

Take Responsibility

You have to take responsibility for the path. No one else and nothing else can do it for you.

If you try to throw away all notions of desire, striving and your role in doing the path, the path won’t get done.

- Thānissaro Bhikkhu, “The Desire for Awakening”

[winston]

Dance Toward Authentic Love

Authentic love is to understand both strengths and weaknesses, of yourself and others and accept them all.

It is a dynamic dance of give and take without conditions, of letting go into uncertainty and vulnerability and being willing to help that person when needed.

- Anam Thubten, “What We Can Learn from the Haunted Ground of Relationships”

[winston]

Thinking with Stillness

Arrival at stillness does not require a total absence of thinking activity.

Instead, it requires not taking thinking activity so very personally, not identifying with it.

- Analayo, “A Mind Like Space”

[winston]

Each Breath a Goodbye

You part from things with every in-and-out breath.

You can’t base the meaning of your life on these things — and you don’t have to.

You can simply tell yourself that this is the way things are all over the world. The world offers nothing lasting.

- Phra Ajaan Fuang Jotiko, “Realization”

[winston]

Finding Freedom

Within formality, we can find our perfect informal freedom.

As our practice matures, we are able to find that freedom in every circumstance and make it available to others as well.

- Mel Weitsman, “Beyond Form and Emptiness”

[winston]

Growing Over Grasping

Some people have the idea that practicing Zen or any religion, is becoming God or Buddha, or even “becoming a good person.”

But if you are grasping to become “enlightened,” it’s like putting icing over a mold of cow manure.

Instead, we need to let our cow manure become compost.

- Barbara Rhodes, “Composting Our Karma”

[winston]

Touch Vulnerability

Breathe in for all those who are suffering and allow yourself to be touched by their current vulnerability.

Breathe out, letting the heartbeat transform their sorrow: “May all beings be free of suffering.”

- Devin Berry, “Love in Action”

[winston]

Don’t Hold Back

There are no guarantees — except the guarantee that holding back from life is a recipe for anguish.

- Oliver Burkeman, “It’s Worse than You Think”

[winston]

Take a Step, then a Breath

Mindfulness emphasizes stopping and pausing in daily life so that we can be fully present in each moment.

Through pausing, we can learn to release tension in the body, embrace our experience and cultivate happiness and joy.

- Valerie Brown, “‘The Teachings Are Alive in Us’”