“Thus, in dealing with people, we already have the perfect model of behavior inside us. Just act sincerely, in accordance with your true nature. Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done to you.”
There were two main points in this reading. One, be sincere. Two, follow the golden rule. Being sincere and treating others as you wish to be treated is such a basic concept and yet so profound. Imagine how much simpler things would be if people were just sincere all the time instead of acting phony. The sincerity talked about in this reading touches all areas of a person’s life. One needs to be sincere at work, in social situations, etc. I cannot think of anything more frustrating in all types of relationships than when people are insincere. If you’re not being sincere, what’s the point? It’s always been strange to me how people will devote so much time and energy into being phony when they could just simply be themselves. I think that YOU are a lot more interesting than the person you’re pretending to be. What a novel idea. Treat others as you wish to be treated. It would seem that this would just be a basic part of common sense and common decency in human nature, but sometimes it seems as though human beings enjoy treating other people like crap and then wonder why people treat them like crap. It’s not complicated folks. We reap what we sow. If we all just stopped and thought about what we were doing or saying and asked ourselves how we would feel if someone did or said that to us, the world would be a much more peaceful place.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Pai-Chang
Short and sweet was right. I’ve found all the readings we’ve done to be interesting, but this was right to the point and very clear.
“To behold the Buddha nature means you must wait for the right moment and the right conditions. When the time comes, you are awakened as if from a dream. You realize that what you have found is your own and doesn’t come from anywhere outside.” I think that this means exactly what it says. When it’s the right time in your life, you’ll be able to reach enlightenment. When you reach that place in your life, it will be like waking up from a dream. You will then realize that your enlightenment came from within yourself and not from an outside source.
“After enlightenment you are still the same as you were before. There is no mind and there is no truth.” I think this is saying that enlightenment isn’t going to change the person that you are, it’s just going to simplify your life. You don’t become someone else when you’re enlightened; you are simply the best version of yourself.
"The ordinary person's mind is the same as the sage's, because Original Mind is perfect and complete in itself." I think this is just the idea that we come into the world with a perfect mind that’s in the right condition for enlightenment, but as we go through life, we fill up our minds with a lot of useless information and useless worry. Once we are able to clear out our minds back to the original state, we’re able to reach enlightenment.
“To behold the Buddha nature means you must wait for the right moment and the right conditions. When the time comes, you are awakened as if from a dream. You realize that what you have found is your own and doesn’t come from anywhere outside.” I think that this means exactly what it says. When it’s the right time in your life, you’ll be able to reach enlightenment. When you reach that place in your life, it will be like waking up from a dream. You will then realize that your enlightenment came from within yourself and not from an outside source.
“After enlightenment you are still the same as you were before. There is no mind and there is no truth.” I think this is saying that enlightenment isn’t going to change the person that you are, it’s just going to simplify your life. You don’t become someone else when you’re enlightened; you are simply the best version of yourself.
"The ordinary person's mind is the same as the sage's, because Original Mind is perfect and complete in itself." I think this is just the idea that we come into the world with a perfect mind that’s in the right condition for enlightenment, but as we go through life, we fill up our minds with a lot of useless information and useless worry. Once we are able to clear out our minds back to the original state, we’re able to reach enlightenment.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Diamond Sutra
“The Buddha has no doctrine to convey. The truth is ungraspable and inexpressible. It neither is nor is not.” I thought this had to do with the fact that nobody who is enlightened claims to be enlightened. If you claim to have all the answers and are enlightened, then you are clearly not. Also, there is no one specific way to attain wisdom or the truth. Only we can know the truth. Buddha can’t tell us what we need to know.
All Bodhisattvas should develop a pure, lucid mind that doesn’t depend upon sight, sound, touch, flavor, smell, or any thoughts that arises in it. Bodhisattvas should develop a mind that slights nowhere.” I took this as the concept of desire. To reach enlightenment, we can’t depend on having special food or sex, etc. This made me think about the discussion we had in class where the student is told he has to cut off his ponytail and he initially refuses, but then comes back the next day and decides that he really wants to learn, so he agrees to then cut off his ponytail. However, once he decides he can live without his ponytail, he is allowed to have it. I think it’s the same idea here. If you have to have it, then you can’t. But if you can live without it, it’s ok to have it.
“The mind should be kept independent of any thoughts that arise within it. If the mind depends upon anything, it has no sure haven.” Again, I felt like this had to do with desire. If we are depending on special food or certain sights or sexual pleasure and the desire for that is what is consuming our minds, we will continue to suffer. I think it’s also about letting go of the pointless distractions in our lives and material possessions. Wasting time worrying about all the petty things doesn’t bring us any closer to enlightenment.
“When I attained Absolute Perfect Enlightenment, I attain absolutely nothing. That is why it is called Absolute Perfect Enlightenment.” I think this goes back to the idea that you can’t claim to be enlightened and the reason behind letting go of your suffering is not so that you attain something or can walk around boasting that you are an enlightened person. A person has to let go and stop looking for something to be enlightened.
All Bodhisattvas should develop a pure, lucid mind that doesn’t depend upon sight, sound, touch, flavor, smell, or any thoughts that arises in it. Bodhisattvas should develop a mind that slights nowhere.” I took this as the concept of desire. To reach enlightenment, we can’t depend on having special food or sex, etc. This made me think about the discussion we had in class where the student is told he has to cut off his ponytail and he initially refuses, but then comes back the next day and decides that he really wants to learn, so he agrees to then cut off his ponytail. However, once he decides he can live without his ponytail, he is allowed to have it. I think it’s the same idea here. If you have to have it, then you can’t. But if you can live without it, it’s ok to have it.
“The mind should be kept independent of any thoughts that arise within it. If the mind depends upon anything, it has no sure haven.” Again, I felt like this had to do with desire. If we are depending on special food or certain sights or sexual pleasure and the desire for that is what is consuming our minds, we will continue to suffer. I think it’s also about letting go of the pointless distractions in our lives and material possessions. Wasting time worrying about all the petty things doesn’t bring us any closer to enlightenment.
“When I attained Absolute Perfect Enlightenment, I attain absolutely nothing. That is why it is called Absolute Perfect Enlightenment.” I think this goes back to the idea that you can’t claim to be enlightened and the reason behind letting go of your suffering is not so that you attain something or can walk around boasting that you are an enlightened person. A person has to let go and stop looking for something to be enlightened.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Buddha
I enjoyed this reading. I found it to be insightful and very interesting.
“You are all Buddhas. There is nothing that you need to achieve. Just open your eyes". I think that what he is saying is that we don’t have to rely on someone or something else to show us what it is that we need…we need to just open our eyes and look within ourselves and we’ll figure it out. We don’t have to be The Pope, for example, to have wisdom or to know what we need or want. Anyone is capable of becoming enlightened.
“It is proper to doubt. Do not be led by holy scriptures, or by mere logic or inference, or by appearances, or by the authority of the religious leaders.” A lot of students seemed to take issue with this particular portion of the reading, but I feel like they just misinterpreted it. I don’t think he was literally saying absolutely do not listen to your religious leaders or holy scriptures. I think he was saying not to just blindly follow what a “leader” says or what is written in a book. An intelligent person is going to stop and think about what someone says or what they read. It would be foolish to just follow someone or something blindly, without question.
"When you realize that something is unwholesome and bad for you, give it up. And when you realize that something is wholesome and good for you, do it." I feel like he is just pointing out the obvious here. When you know something is hurting you, stop doing it. If something is positively affecting you or will positively affect you, then do it. This made me think of the quote “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Don't expect a different outcome if you're doing the same thing.
“As a mother at the risk of her life watches her only child, so let everyone cultivate a boundlessly compassionate mind toward all beings.” I think this is a nice concept, but probably difficult to really carry out. If we could care for all people as a mother cares for her child or treat a stranger as they were a member of our family, the world would be a far better place. Unfortunately, there are some pretty sick and twisted people out there, which is why I personally do treat strangers as strangers. This sort of concept of loving all people and having compassion for all reminded me of the previous reading “Shmelke of Nikolsburg.” It's a good idea, but a lot easier said than done.
“Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence. Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth.” This was my favorite quote in the whole reading. I like the idea of believing in ourselves and not believing that we must count on someone or something else to fulfill our hopes, dreams, or needs.
“You are all Buddhas. There is nothing that you need to achieve. Just open your eyes". I think that what he is saying is that we don’t have to rely on someone or something else to show us what it is that we need…we need to just open our eyes and look within ourselves and we’ll figure it out. We don’t have to be The Pope, for example, to have wisdom or to know what we need or want. Anyone is capable of becoming enlightened.
“It is proper to doubt. Do not be led by holy scriptures, or by mere logic or inference, or by appearances, or by the authority of the religious leaders.” A lot of students seemed to take issue with this particular portion of the reading, but I feel like they just misinterpreted it. I don’t think he was literally saying absolutely do not listen to your religious leaders or holy scriptures. I think he was saying not to just blindly follow what a “leader” says or what is written in a book. An intelligent person is going to stop and think about what someone says or what they read. It would be foolish to just follow someone or something blindly, without question.
"When you realize that something is unwholesome and bad for you, give it up. And when you realize that something is wholesome and good for you, do it." I feel like he is just pointing out the obvious here. When you know something is hurting you, stop doing it. If something is positively affecting you or will positively affect you, then do it. This made me think of the quote “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Don't expect a different outcome if you're doing the same thing.
“As a mother at the risk of her life watches her only child, so let everyone cultivate a boundlessly compassionate mind toward all beings.” I think this is a nice concept, but probably difficult to really carry out. If we could care for all people as a mother cares for her child or treat a stranger as they were a member of our family, the world would be a far better place. Unfortunately, there are some pretty sick and twisted people out there, which is why I personally do treat strangers as strangers. This sort of concept of loving all people and having compassion for all reminded me of the previous reading “Shmelke of Nikolsburg.” It's a good idea, but a lot easier said than done.
“Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence. Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth.” This was my favorite quote in the whole reading. I like the idea of believing in ourselves and not believing that we must count on someone or something else to fulfill our hopes, dreams, or needs.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Shmelke of Nikolsburg
I thought that this was a relevant passage for issues that come up today regarding crime, punishment, and forgiveness in our society. How do you treat, punish, and forgive someone who is wicked? Rav Kook said, “It is our right to hate an evil man for his actions, but because his deepest self is the image of God, it is our duty to honor him with love.” I think that we can all agree that that it far easier said than done.
While I agree that our creator is a part of all of us, I also believe that we were given free will and born with the ability to make right and wrong decisions. I do not agree that by punishing the wicked, we are punishing ourselves or punishing God. God does not allow us or force us to do anything. We choose to do everything we do and every choice has a consequence. If you choose to murder someone, the consequence of that choice may be that you receive the death penalty. It is a wonderful concept to think that love and compassion will cure an evil person, but the truth is that some people are just sick and twisted and there is nothing that anyone can say or do that will change that. We did not cause wickedness in others, we cannot control wickedness in others, and we cannot cure wickedness in others. Duty or no duty, you cannot help those who do not want to receive help.
The passage speaks about showing people mercy because even the wicked have souls that are a part of God. To me, mercy means forgiveness. I have two opinions about this. One, forgiveness is not about the other person, but about yourself. When someone chooses to wrong you, you are able to make a choice. You either choose to hold on to resentment and hate and become a bitter, miserable person or you choose to free yourself by forgiving them for their actions and moving on with your life in a positive manner. Forgiveness does not mean that their actions were acceptable or that you even have to ever see or speak to that person again. Forgiveness means that you have chosen to not allow a wicked person’s wicked behavior to destroy the goodness and hope that lives within yourself. I believe that is how you can still show honor and love to God within a wicked person even when they are punished. You can punish a person and forgive them at the same time. Maybe forgiveness is punishment. In my opinion, choosing to forgive instead of allowing yourself to become a wicked person as well is more along the lines of our creator’s desires than for wicked people to run a muck in chaos and get away with it.
While I agree that our creator is a part of all of us, I also believe that we were given free will and born with the ability to make right and wrong decisions. I do not agree that by punishing the wicked, we are punishing ourselves or punishing God. God does not allow us or force us to do anything. We choose to do everything we do and every choice has a consequence. If you choose to murder someone, the consequence of that choice may be that you receive the death penalty. It is a wonderful concept to think that love and compassion will cure an evil person, but the truth is that some people are just sick and twisted and there is nothing that anyone can say or do that will change that. We did not cause wickedness in others, we cannot control wickedness in others, and we cannot cure wickedness in others. Duty or no duty, you cannot help those who do not want to receive help.
The passage speaks about showing people mercy because even the wicked have souls that are a part of God. To me, mercy means forgiveness. I have two opinions about this. One, forgiveness is not about the other person, but about yourself. When someone chooses to wrong you, you are able to make a choice. You either choose to hold on to resentment and hate and become a bitter, miserable person or you choose to free yourself by forgiving them for their actions and moving on with your life in a positive manner. Forgiveness does not mean that their actions were acceptable or that you even have to ever see or speak to that person again. Forgiveness means that you have chosen to not allow a wicked person’s wicked behavior to destroy the goodness and hope that lives within yourself. I believe that is how you can still show honor and love to God within a wicked person even when they are punished. You can punish a person and forgive them at the same time. Maybe forgiveness is punishment. In my opinion, choosing to forgive instead of allowing yourself to become a wicked person as well is more along the lines of our creator’s desires than for wicked people to run a muck in chaos and get away with it.
Dov Baer of Mezritch
“When you gaze at an object, you bring blessing to it.” I thought that this was very interesting. I had never thought about it that way before, but it’s true. When you see something or someone, you acknowledge it’s existence and bless it with importance. When you are not aware that something or someone exists, it is of no meaning to you. It is in essence, nothing until you are aware of it and have drawn divinity towards it.
The second part of the reading was interesting as well. “The moment you begin to hear what you yourself are saying, you must stop.” I took this section as meaning that we must listen for what God is telling us and showing us within ourselves and stop talking. We can’t hear what we are supposed to hear if all we are doing is talking and not listening for the message we need to receive.
“The creation of heaven and earth is the unfolding of something out of nothing, the descent from above to below…They change the something back into the nothing.” I interpreted this as the idea that what is most important is to know God and listen to what God is saying and not to worry about the material processions in our lives because they really are nothing. We can’t take our television with us when we die, but we can take what God has taught us. Earth did not always exist and it will not always exist just as we did not always exist and will not always exist. God is then what we need to concern ourselves with because he will always exist. I liked how this ended. “Greater than the first miracle is the last.” I’m partial to anything coming from the Talmud, so I love that quote. I think it’s very thoughtful and beautiful and goes perfectly with the ideas that were being conveyed. Yes, the first miracle was great, but the last miracle will be the greatest.
The second part of the reading was interesting as well. “The moment you begin to hear what you yourself are saying, you must stop.” I took this section as meaning that we must listen for what God is telling us and showing us within ourselves and stop talking. We can’t hear what we are supposed to hear if all we are doing is talking and not listening for the message we need to receive.
“The creation of heaven and earth is the unfolding of something out of nothing, the descent from above to below…They change the something back into the nothing.” I interpreted this as the idea that what is most important is to know God and listen to what God is saying and not to worry about the material processions in our lives because they really are nothing. We can’t take our television with us when we die, but we can take what God has taught us. Earth did not always exist and it will not always exist just as we did not always exist and will not always exist. God is then what we need to concern ourselves with because he will always exist. I liked how this ended. “Greater than the first miracle is the last.” I’m partial to anything coming from the Talmud, so I love that quote. I think it’s very thoughtful and beautiful and goes perfectly with the ideas that were being conveyed. Yes, the first miracle was great, but the last miracle will be the greatest.
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