New Spiritualibus Blog Posts – Excerpts

Happy about impermanence
why suffer instead letting go
this is not mine, this I am not
this is not my self, dispassion
liberated, know, understand
no more coming to any state
of being whatever it may be
material, feeling, perception
formation or consciousness
abandon all gratification
escape desire and lust
then what — go figure
sit at the root of a tree
facing South, North
East and also West
what does it say
can you hear
breath in
and out
here
now
get up
move on
in happiness
no matter what
comes and goes
in the harmony of life.

“Happy about impermanence” — it can be!

Untrue cannot know untrue nor true —
but true may know both, true and untrue

It is hardly possible, it cannot be, that one who is untrue should know of a person who is untrue: ‘This person is untrue.’ — It is hardly possible, it cannot be, that one who is untrue should know of a person who is true: ‘This person is true.’ — It is possible that one who is true would know of a person who is true: ‘This person is true.’ — It is possible that one who is true would know of a person who is untrue: ‘This person is untrue.’

One lauds himself and disparages others… This is the character of a person who is untrue. — Putting non-identification first, one neither lauds himself nor disparages others… This is the character of a person who is true.

— free after Majjhima Nikāya – the middle length discourses of the Buddha, translated from Pali by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi – Cūḷapuṇṇama Sutta, 110.3 & 14, pp. 892-894 and Sappurisa Sutta, 113, pp. 909-912

Happy about impermanence starts small and grows fast

May you and I, may we all directly know true and untrue!

Directly knowing
seeing and hearing
out of compassion
pass on to others
train in concord
appreciation
Dharma
discipline
emerging free
from unwholesome
become established
in the wholesome
neither exalt self
nor disparage
any others
in accordance
with harmony
life and love.

— inspired by the Kinti Sutta
(#103, Majjhima Nikaya)

“Mettā cetovimutti” — liberation of the heart through love

Knowing love directly

“I know!” said Harry impatiently. “I can love!” …

“Yes, Harry, you can love… Which, given everything that has happened to you, is a great and remarkable thing.” …
“Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back!” …
“It is essential that you understand this!” …
“You are protected, in short, by your ability to love! … In spite of all the temptation you have endured, all the suffering, you remain pure of heart.” …
“You are free to choose your way!” …

He understood at last what Dumbledore had been trying to tell him. It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but [he now] knew … that there was all the difference in the world.

— Harry Potter and the half-blood prince — J. K. Rowling — pp. 509-512

Know directly, you’re “turtley” awesome!

May we all come to know love directly!

Once upon a time
thus I have heard
on one occasion
I was busy living
right here and now
it occurred to me
that all is passing
in impermanence
taken as a cause
by most humans
for lamentation
gives suffering
why not turn it
round upside up
take it as a cause
for good rejoicing
because suffering
is impermanent
it too will pass
making room
for ever more
may be happy
sooner or later
it will also end
this suffering
as cause goes
both directions
impermanence
at the very crux
of human views
be sad or happy
or neither nor
about passing
letting it all go
open up space
for what is here
comes and goes
never a vacuum
neither sad
nor happy
in silence
equanim
a real view
concentrate
see for yourself
directly know
diligent, ardent
and resolute
all fulfilled
here now.

“Heartfelt tears of joy” — can you feel them?

Once a wise man relinquished his views

A wise man … considers thus: ‘If I obstinately adhere to my view “Something is acceptable to me, something is not acceptable to me” and declare: “Only this is true, anything else is wrong,” then I may clash with the two others: with [one] who holds the doctrine and view “Everything is acceptable to me” and with [one] who holds the doctrine and view “Nothing is acceptable to me.” I may clash with these two, and when there is a clash, there are disputes; when there are disputes, there are quarrels; when there are quarrels, there is vexation.’ Thus, foreseeing for himself clashes, disputes, quarrels, and vexation, he abandons that view and does not take up some other view. This is how there comes to be the abandoning of these views; this is how there comes to be the relinquishing of these views.

— Majjhima Nikāya – the middle length discourses of the Buddha, translated from Pali by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi – Dighanakha Sutta, 74.8, p. 605

Once upon a time in early spring

May you and I, may we all relinquish clashing views!