Philosophy 05 (Aug 25 - Dec 26)

[winston]

A Foundation of Discipline

Discipline is not the enemy of spontaneity but rather its foundation.

Without discipline, our actions are dictated by fleeting impulses, external influences and the whims of an untrained mind.

- Raffaello Palandri, “Discipline as a Path of Inner Growth”

[winston]

Don’t Withdraw

All hearts are tempted to grow numb, to withdraw and tuck in, as if about to roost for the long night.

We must not allow this to happen.

- Rick Bass, “Answering the Call”

[winston]

The State of Simplicity

The principle of renunciation, is not to encourage a state of lack but to establish as complete a state of simplicity, as possible.

In that simplicity, you can more clearly see those patterns of wanting, not wanting, fearing, hoping as they take shape.

- Ajahn Amaro, “Just Another Thing in the Forest”

[winston]

You Are Not Your Thoughts

We exist as a thought believed and it is not within the power of a thought, to control awareness.

- Rodney Smith, “From Thought to Stillness”

[winston]

Recognizing Desire

If we don’t recognize desire as it is happening, we are ruled by it.

If we can recognize our desires in the moment that they occur, there is a possibility of doing something different.

- Rob Nairn, Choden and Heather Regan-Addis, “Overcoming the Vortex of Desire”

[winston]

Aspire to Life

Aspiration is a verb.

It’s not something that we have; it’s something that we do.

To aspire is to connect with the energy of our life, to the spirit inside that moves us.

- Oren Jay Sofer, “Nurturing the Energy for Change”

[winston]

Exposing the Ego-Mind

When we question ego-mind directly, it is exposed for what it is: the absence of everything we believe it to be.

We can actually see through this seemingly solid ego-mind, or self.

- Dzigar Kongtrul, “Searching for Self”

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Commitment to Loving

What else could love possibly be but the beautiful, risky human willingness to commit to loving deeply what we also know will change and vanish?

- Susan Murphy, “Why Love What You Will Lose?”

[winston]

Offering to the World

We have much to offer. We must contribute our clear insights, special contemplative tools and compelling moral convictions, in the task of transforming and uplifting our society and the world.

- Bhikkhu Bodhi, “A Call to Conscience”

[winston]

A Bigger Universe

Consciousness can be dissected and broken up in all kinds of ways and this can be useful, but it’s not as useful as locating consciousness in a bigger, moving universe.

- Beth Jacobs, “Mapping Your Mind”