Thought for Fri, 30 Apr 2010

Just as the highest and the lowest notes are equally inaudible, so perhaps,
is the greatest sense and the greatest nonsense equally unintelligible.
Alan Watts

Thought for Thu, 29 Apr 2010

It is our earth, not yours or mine or his.
We are meant to live on it, helping each other,
not destroying each other. - J. Krishnamurti

Thought for Wed, 28 Apr 2010

When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil,
one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings;
when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear. - Buddha

Thought for Tue, 27 Apr 2010

Your constant utilization of thought to give continuity to
your separate self is 'you'. There is nothing there
inside you other than that. - U.G. Krishnamurti

Thought for Mon, 26 Apr 2010

If only I could throw away the urge to trace my patterns in your heart,
I could really see you. - David Brandon (Zen in the Art of Helping)

Thought for Sun, 25 Apr 2010

Spontaneity is being present in the present.

Spontaneity by-passes the processes of the conceptual (aspect of) mind.

Re-integration with Nature, which we are, is the recovery of spontaneity.

- Why Lazurus Laughed by Wei Wu Wei

Thought for Sat, 24 Apr 2010

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves
must walk the path. - Buddha

Thought for Fri, 23 Apr 2010

In Buddhism, there is a teaching called the "three bodies" (sanjin),
also called the "three properties" or the "three enlightened properties".
These are the three kinds of form that a Buddha may manifest as:

1) the Dharma Body (dharmakaya or hosshin) is the form in which a
Buddha transcends physical being and is identical with the undifferentiated
unity of being or Suchness (Skt. tathata, Jp. shinnyo);

2) the Bliss or Reward Body (sambhogakaya or hojin) is obtained as the
"reward" for having completed the bodhisattva practice of aiding other
beings to end their suffering and having penetrated the depth of the
Buddha's wisdom. Unlike the Dharma Body, which is immaterial, the Bliss Body
is conceived of as an actual body, although one that is still transcendent
and imperceptible to common people;

3) the Manifested Body (nirmanakaya or ojin) is the physical form in which
the Buddha appears in this world in order to guide sentient beings.
It is considered that the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, is nirmanakaya.
Honen believed that Amida is sambhogakaya.

Thought for Thu, 22 Apr 2010

When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil,
one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings;
when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear. - Buddha

Thought for Wed, 21 Apr 2010

It is our earth, not yours or mine or his.
We are meant to live on it, helping each other,
not destroying each other. - J. Krishnamurti

Thought for Tue, 20 Apr 2010

I have only one object in writing books:
to demonstrate that there could not be anyone to do it.
"The Tenth Man" by Wei Wu Wei

Thought for Mon, 19 Apr 2010

While the Tathagata, in his teaching, constantly makes use of conceptions
and ideas about them, disciples should keep in mind the unreality of all
such conceptions and ideas. They should recall that the Tathagata, in
making use of them in explaining the Dharma always uses them in the
semblance of a raft that is of use only to cross a river. As the raft is
of no further use after the river is crossed, it should be discarded. So
these arbitrary conceptions of things and about things should be wholly
given up as one attains enlightenment. -Buddha

Thought for Sun, 18 Apr 2010

When you are deluded and full of doubt, even a thousand books of scripture
are not enough.

When you have realized understanding, even one word is too much.

- Fen Yang

Thought for Sat, 17 Apr 2010

All wrong-doing arises because of mind.
If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain? - Buddha

Thought for Fri, 16 Apr 2010

In this world the wise one holds onto confidence and wisdom.
Those are the greatest treasures; all other riches are pushed aside. - Buddha

Thought for Thu, 15 Apr 2010

In Buddhism, there is a teaching called the "three bodies" (sanjin),
also called the "three properties" or the "three enlightened properties".
These are the three kinds of form that a Buddha may manifest as:

1) the Dharma Body (dharmakaya or hosshin) is the form in which a
Buddha transcends physical being and is identical with the undifferentiated
unity of being or Suchness (Skt. tathata, Jp. shinnyo);

2) the Bliss or Reward Body (sambhogakaya or hojin) is obtained as the
"reward" for having completed the bodhisattva practice of aiding other
beings to end their suffering and having penetrated the depth of the
Buddha's wisdom. Unlike the Dharma Body, which is immaterial, the Bliss Body
is conceived of as an actual body, although one that is still transcendent
and imperceptible to common people;

3) the Manifested Body (nirmanakaya or ojin) is the physical form in which
the Buddha appears in this world in order to guide sentient beings.
It is considered that the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, is nirmanakaya.
Honen believed that Amida is sambhogakaya.

Thought for Wed, 14 Apr 2010

A myriad bubbles were floating on the surface of a stream.
'What are you?' I cried to them as they drifted by.
'I am a bubble, of course' nearly a myriad bubbles answered,
and there was surprise and indignation in their voices as they passed.
But, here and there, a lonely bubble answered,
'We are this stream', and there was neither surprise nor indignation in their
voices,
but just a quiet certitude. - Ask the Awakened by Wei Wu Wei

Thought for Tue, 13 Apr 2010

The true meaning of the precepts is not just that one should refrain from
drinking alcohol, but also from getting drunk on nirvana. - Bassui

Thought for Mon, 12 Apr 2010

One day Ananda, who had been thinking deeply about things for a while,
turned to the Buddha and exclaimed: "Lord, I've been thinking- spiritual
friendship is at least half of the spiritual life!"
The Buddha replied: "Say not so, Ananda, say not so. Spiritual friendship is
the whole of the spiritual life!"
- Samyutta Nikaya, Verse 2

Thought for Sun, 11 Apr 2010

There are moments when one feels free from one's own identification with human
limitations and inadequacies. At such moments one imagines that one stands on
some spot of a small planet, gazing in amazement at the cold yet profoundly
moving beauty of the eternal, the unfathomable; life and death flow into one,
and there is neither evolution nor destiny; only Being. - Albert Einstein

Thought for Sat, 10 Apr 2010

You are now in control of your life. You see, the ego is never in control. The
ego is controlled by wishes for comfort and convenience on the part of the
body, by demands of the mind, and by outbursts of the emotions. But the higher
nature controls the body and the mind and the emotions. I can say to my body,
"Lie down there on that cement floor and go to sleep," and it obeys. I can say
to my mind, "Shut out everything else and concentrate on this job before you,"
and it's obedient. I can say to my emotions, "Be still, even in the face of
this terrible situation," and they are still. It's a different way of living.
The philosopher Thoreau wrote: If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
perhaps he hears a different drummer. And now you are following a different
drummer--the higher nature instead of the lower. - Peace Pilgrim

Thought for Fri, 09 Apr 2010

All the evil in the world, and all the unhappiness, comes from the I-concept.
- Ask the Awakened by Wei Wu Wei

Thought for Thu, 08 Apr 2010

If you don't like what you're doing, you can always pick up your needle
and move to another groove! - Timothy Leary

Thought for Wed, 07 Apr 2010

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
- Atisha

Thought for Tue, 06 Apr 2010

It is only with total humility, and in absolute stillness of mind
that we can know what indeed we are. "The Tenth Man" by Wei Wu Wei

Thought for Mon, 05 Apr 2010

Reality is all-encompassing: the absolute nature is one. Although we may feel
separate from the original uncreated reality - whether we call it 'God,' 'peak
experience,' or 'enlightened mind' - through awareness we can contact this
essential part of ourselves. - Tarthang Tulku

Thought for Sun, 04 Apr 2010

Shan-tao's definition of the "Right Practices. (shogyo) is as follows:

1) to single-mindedly and wholeheartedly read and recite the Meditation Sutra,
the Amida Sutra, and the Sutra of Immeasurable Life;

2) to single-mindedly and wholeheartedly contemplate the splendid view of
Amida and the landscape in that Land;

3) to single-mindedly and wholeheartedly prostrate oneself before Amida Buddha;

4) to single-mindedly and wholeheartedly utter the name of Amida Buddha; and

5) when giving praises and offerings is in order, to single-mindedly and
wholeheartedly praise and make offerings to Amida.

Thought for Sat, 03 Apr 2010

Reality alone exists - and that we are. All the rest is only a dream, a dream
of the One Mind, which is our mind without the 'our'. Is it so hard to accept?
Is it so difficult to assimilate and to live?
- Why Lazurus Laughed by Wei Wu Wei

Thought for Fri, 02 Apr 2010

We are such stuff as dreams are made on. - Shakespeare

Thought for Thu, 01 Apr 2010

The only real service we can render to that which we perceive and interpret in
phenomenal existence as 'others' is by awakening to universal consciousness
ourselves.
- Ask the Awakened by Wei Wu Wei