snippets of everything » Buddhism

Lone time

ames — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:32:18 +0000

“Our ability to enjoy others and to appreciate their company is dependent on being able to really enjoy and appreciate our own company.”

- Paramananda

Manchester Buddhist Conference

ames — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:45:23 +0000

Each year the Manchester Buddhist society at the University of Manchester organizes a Buddhist Conference. This an an fantastic one day event that brings together many different lineages of Buddhism into one centre for a day. There are introductory talks, meditation and open floor discussions from each of the streams of Buddhism. This highlighted one of the many things I like about Buddhism: the openness. No one lineage says this is the doctrine, this is the way. They all question, and encourage questioning the teachings of the Buddha so you never feel like an opinion is being pushed onto you. Instead you listen, take it in, test it out and then decide. That is why I have a lot of respect, intrigue, and engagement in the Buddhist path.

A different set of clothes can be scary

ames — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:25:29 +0000

“Sometimes we do not really want things to change for the better as this would remove the grounds for the feelings in which we have invested so much.”

- Paramananda

I find this particularly interesting. To change how we are in the world can be very hard. We can be aware, but not willing through fear, laziness or unknowing of how to change. Whatever the case it is interesting to me because of the shaking up your being aspect. Have you ever stepped outside one day with a new wardrobe, and left behind the jumper you’ve worn for so long it’s now out of fashion?

Transformation

ames — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 09:23:57 +0000

“It is when we acknowledge emotion that it becomes possible for us to transform it. As long as we deny our suffering we cannot work creatively with it.”

- Paramananda

Attachment

ames — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:22:18 +0000

“Our suffering comes mainly from not fully accepting the fact of impermanence.”

- Paramananda

Change is possible

ames — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:19:11 +0000

“The whole of Buddhism is based upon the idea that through our own efforts we can change the way we are. Our emotional patterns, our ways of thinking and feeling about ourselves and the world are not god-given or set in stone by our early childhood experiences. By the conscious application of awareness upon our mind we can cultivate particular emotions and ways of being so that they begin to dominate our everyday experience.”

- Paramananda

Beauty

ames — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:17:21 +0000

“When we have positive feelings towards ourselves it becomes much easier then to like others; we are not threatened by them.”

- Paramananda

Your homework for this week: creativity

ames — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:44:40 +0000

Last week we were given homework to observe passive and active rage or anger. Secondly, to notice how we respond when a friend or partner is in a state of anger or rage. How did you get on? I had a relatively calm week, with only one small instance of awareness to anger and noticed I internalize it. I was wound up about a situation and I did not respond outwardly, but internally tensed up, felt very agitated and let it spiral inside. Upon reflection I noticed I internalize anger a lot which cannot be good for my body. There is a massive correlation with a huge number of statistics around emotions and there consequent bodily illnesses. A book called Destructive Emotions, by Daniel Goleman and The Dalai Lama outlines this research beautifully.

Our homework for this week builds on this. We are to watch ourselves when someone gets angry (with us) and find positive, yet active creative responses. Positive meaning, to help them, and us.

We also talked about different cultural perspectives are on accepting compliments, or even pointing out good things in others. It is certainly a typical one in NZ and English culture to point out negative traits in people, or more accurately in peoples behaviour yet remain silent when they have done something well, or you notice they are having a great hair day! Also, to self depreciate when someone compliments you, and not allow them to give the gift of that compliment. This is something I really used to struggle with. Every time I received a compliment I would not receive it, and push it back to the giver with a self-deprecating comment about myself. That was until a 13 year old girl said to me “I think you know more than you realise” and made me realise putting myself down was not healthy. Thank you young, wise one.

This is an incredibly powerful statement

ames — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:13:04 +0000

“If you change your own mind, then the world also changes.”

- Paramananda

Busy bee’s are disconnected

ames — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:09:56 +0000

“The less busy our mind is, the closer we are to the truth; the more active our mind is with chatter, worry or fantasy the less aware we are of what is actually going on, both inside us and around us in the world.”

- Paramananda