dhammadrops

Saturday, November 28, 2009

My Contemplation for all


Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhasa

By the power and the truth of my practice of the Buddha's teachings,
may All beings have happiness, and the causes of happiness.

May All beings be free from sorrow, and the causes of sorrow.
May All beings never be separated from happiness.

May I live in equanimity,
without attachment or aversion.
May I treasure every moment knowing that all is Impermanent.

May All beings everywhere be filled with joy and peace.
The strong and the weak,
The great and the small,
The meek and the powerful,
The short and the tall,
the subtle and the gross.

May All beings everywhere,
Seen and unseen,
Dwelling far off or nearby,
Being or waiting to become:
May All be filled with lasting joy.

Let no one deceive another,

Let no one despise another,
Let no one out of anger or resentment
Wish suffering on anyone.

Just as a mother with her own life
Protects her child, her only child, from harm,
So within my heart let it grow
A boundless love for all creatures.


Let my love flow outward through the universe,
To its height, its depth, its broad extent,
A limitless love, without hatred or enmity.

Then as I stand or walk,
Sit or lie down,
As long as I am awake,
Strive for this with a one-pointed mind;
By this heaven will be brought to earth.
May All beings be happy and well,
May All beings be free from pain and suffering.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!


Friday, November 20, 2009

IS


First experience the Is-ness of the gap between 2 moments of thought, then the Is-ness of the thought between 2 moments of gap.

Even if those who begin to practice this find it difficult to continue in this state for more than an instant, there is no need to worry about it. Without wishing for the state to continue for a long time and without fearing the lack of it altogether, all that is necessary is to maintain pure presence of mind, without falling into the dualistic situation of there being an observing subject perceiving an observed object.

If the mind, even though one maintains simple presence, does not remain in this calm state, but always tends to follow waves of thoughts about the past or future, or becomes distracted by the aggregates of the senses such as sight, hearing, etc.,
then one should try to understand that the wave of thought itself is as insubstantial as the wind. If one tries to catch the wind, one does not succeed; similarly if one tries to block the wave of thought, it cannot be cut off. So for this reason one should not try to block thought, much less try to renounce it as something considered negative.

In reality, just as there is no distinction whatever between the sun and its rays, or a stream and its ripples, so there is no distinction between the mind and thought. If one considers the calm state as something positive to be attained, and the wave of thought as something negative to be abandoned, and one remains thus caught up in the duality of accepting and rejecting, there is no way of overcoming the ordinary state of mind.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

May all be Happy and Well


Homage to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha,

May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind be freed from their illnesses.

May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those bound be free.

May people befriend one another in peace.

May those who find themselves lost, fearful, and alone in spiritual wilderness - be guided to the Truth of the Dhamma,

May all of us be protected by beneficent celestials,

and may all swiftly attain Enlightenment.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Praise


Homage to you, O Self-developed One,

Whose good works are numerous and wondrous,
Whose virtues are too numerous and awesome to define.

Their number? They are infinite.
Their nature? Words must fail.
But to speak of them bestows great good,
so I shall speak much.

No faults in any way are found in him;
All virtue in every way dwell in him.

You were kind without being asked,
you were loving without reason,
you were a friend to the stranger
and a kinsman to those without kin.

The joy beings feel on saving their lives
equals not the joy you experienced
when you gave your life for others.

By not envying the superior,
despising the inferior,
or competing with equals,
you attained pre-eminence in the world.

Good deeds you praise, bad deeds you blame,
but towards those who act thus
you are free from any 'for' or 'against'.

Lovely yet calming, bright but not blinding,
gentle yet strong.
Who would not be inspired just to see you?

Your body seems to say to your virtues:
'I am blessed to have you,'
and the virtues seem to respond:
'Where better could we dwell.'

Just to hear you brings joy;
just to look upon you calms the heart;
your speech refreshes and your teaching frees.

Your are a wall of safety
for those hovering at the edge of the cliff,
those blind to their own welfare,
those who are their own worst enemy.

You are the Lord, but you never lord it over others.
All may use you as a servant to obtain the help they need.

To an enemy intent on evil
you are a friend intent on good.
To one who gleefully seeks faults
you respond by seeking virtues.

I have hardly began to sing your praise
and yet already my heart is filled with joy.
But need a lake be drained
before one's thirst is quenched?

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Satapancasatka of Matrceta, 1st century CE
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