In the Heart of the Lotus

Learn to open yourself up in the right way.
Like a flower - blossoming.
Hold your pain, your suffering, your trauma like a precious jewel in an outstretched hand.
Watch it blow away like a dandelion
In a warm summer breeze.
The hand is empty
Yet you remain.
Life is a flower garden
And you are there to enjoy it.

Putting the Five Precepts into Practice

The Five Precepts are the basic guide to Buddhist ethics. Unlike comparable lists, like the Ten Commandments, the Five Precepts aren’t a list that once broken may never be repaired. Buddhist thought on these issues are along the lines that these ideas are generally good, but empathetic compassion is at the core of these ideas - if following one of the Five Precepts would break that, then compassion in the face of minimising or eliminating suffering comes first. That being said, there are very few examples of where this list will steer your wrong - not bad for a 2500-year-old teaching from someone who thought to articulate them while sitting under a fig tree!

The Five Precepts (via Master Yin-Shun) are:

1. "Do not kill." (Unintentional killing is considered less offensive)
2. "Do not steal." (Including misappropriating someone's property)
3. "Do not engage in improper sexual conduct." (such as sexual contact not sanctioned by secular laws as well as gaining the enthusiastic consent of participants)
4. "Do not make false statements." (Also includes pretending to know something one doesn't)
5. "Do not drink alcohol." (In my view this also extends to all forms of mental intoxicants, or from the pali: things “that causes heedlessness”)

[NB. Sections of the above list are based on the variable sources from wikipedia]

To train yourself to follow the precepts there are some standard methods.

Such as:

• Follow the precepts
• Don’t encourage others to break the precepts
• Encourage others to uphold the precepts
• Share the fruits of your life from upholding the precepts and you may encourage more to uphold the precepts.

Or in a slightly different form:

• Do it!
• Don’t encourage others not to do it.
• Encourage others to do it.
• Display how awesome one can be while doing it, they may do it too.

[The above was was aided by thoughts shaped by Shia Labeouf]

There are probably more, but that is a fairly solid list to work from for the moment

So…

To follow the first precept don’t kill.

Don’t encourage others to kill on your behalf. (There is usually a discussion about pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan lifestyles at this point - but I will save that for another time.)

Encourage others to not kill.

Another version is to encourage others to live a full life, to enjoy it and to display that enjoyment around others so they are more aware of the joys of life and become grateful for them.

To follow the second precept don’t steal.

Don’t encourage others to steal on your behalf.

Encourage others to not steal.

Another idea is to encourage others to give themselves, their time and their resources generously.

(Some versions of this precept are translated as: don’t “take what is not given” and that can lead to a discussion about taking offence where there is none intended, or weird places when you think of picking up litter that left by others.)

To follow the third precept don’t engage in sexual misconduct or sexual harassment.

(This also raises questions about what is “sexual misconduct” - for example, for a monastic it is usually any sexual activity, however for a lay person what does it mean? I think a safe way of navigating through these emotionally charged issues that many are not comfortable discussing at length would be: play it safe with the ideas of thoughtful, ethical informed consent of all people present and possible people it could affect. In issues as complicated as this, I can almost appreciate the celibate path the Buddha himself walked!)

Don’t encourage others to partake in sexual misconduct or sexual harassment for your benefit.

Encourage others to not increase another’s overall suffering (Warning! It can get complex here as some physical things may encourage a pleasant mental state or vice versa.)

Encourage others to interact in a conscious, respectful and informed manner at all times.

To follow the fourth precept don’t lie.

Don’t encourage others to lie on your behalf.

Encourage others to not lie.

Again, another idea is to encourage others to speak the empowering and helpful truth. Display how the truth can be a powerful force in one’s life and can be used to quickly remove the shadows of doubt and confusion.

(Some versions of this precept involve terms like “unskillful”, ”unuseful” or “unnecessary” speech to include things such as angered speech, slander, gossip and idle chit-chat depending on the personal, retreatant or monastic context.)

To follow the fifth precept don’t partake in things that cause heedlessness.

Don’t encourage others to interact with foods, drinks, drugs, people, actions, situations or even emotional or mental states that cloud the mind.

Encourage others to cast aside these things.

Another form is to encourage display to others how mental intoxicants don’t need to be present in life to enjoy it. That thoughtfulness instead of mindlessness can gulf any gap that is percieved due to a lack of drugs, alcohol, ideas or people that cloud the mind - even strong emotions that make you react in the moment and ignore what it really happening.

Writing this helped me understand how to take something like the Five Precepts and turn them into things I can do in my everyday life - I hope it helps you too.

Only

Yesterday I attended an anti-Reclaim Australia rally. Reclaim Australia are the local group of xenophobes that are currently attacking refugees and the religion of Islam. Reclaim Australia are (generally) a bunch of hateful people that will attach themselves to the most recent ideas in the news to spread their philosophy of hate, mistrust and “othering” all who are not like them. Little Daleks in human bodies … I think you get the picture.

These people need to be shown that they are wrong and that spreading hate is a nasty and venomous thing to do.

I stood with the people opposing them - I still do from a philosophical standpoint.

We stood and chanted. Firstly words we all agreed with. Then words I agreed with less and less. I just skipped the chanting of the sections I did not agree with and found myself soon silent, not to mention the idea of my usual spiritual practice involving chanting - and watched as it was morphed into something nastier.

The opposition moved to where the Daleks stood. There were many police standing between and on horses, separating the two groups. I could not see anyone to oppose. But just angry people shouting at the unseen threat and calm police.

The police cordon was tight - I asked some officers at the fringes if they knew any details of what was going on, the numbers on both sides, the mood, the intention - the admitted that they didn’t know. If I wanted to know what I was doing that morning, they advised that I watch that evening's news.

If I was there to make a difference, to effect change, to educate or even show a solid resistance - then I couldn’t. There was no place there for that.

I also found it fascinating that both sides had placards with swastikas, bombs and (occasionally) barbed fences on them - to help them express the unreasonableness of the other side.

I consider myself Buddhist and flirt with the ideas of Amitabha Buddha - who is often represented by a swastika. Both sides of this argument were using a symbol I cannot associate with without at least having to explain myself to represent their oppression. One side was openly fighting for a stop to Islamophobia and the other were fighting for “good Christian values”. They were using a symbol that I cannot use in my religious devotion, even though it came from there, as a slight between sides fighting over religious freedom.

The nearest temple for my version of Zen (Soto) - is not that widely known about and has a very small online presence - it is also a mere 700+ km away. If I went to Soto’s place of founding and head temple, I would be quite disadvantaged by not being able to speak fluent Japanese, and knowing some ancient Chinese would be valuable too. This is why it seems a bit rich for me to hear about religious intolerance from both the Pro and Anti Reclaim Australia people.

I felt disenchanted by this - and left.

In the heat of that moment, where emotions were running high and where in the past occasionally physical violence occurs I took a photograph and wrote something on my personal facebook page.

I didn’t share it with the organisers on either side intentionally - as it was me, personally, blowing off a little steam and questioning why it has to be like this.

Big mistake.

While no direct, actionable threats were made either publicly or privately, the air of animosity was great - but I refuse to be drawn into personal attacks in retaliation or attacks of myself and my character. That being said, at the time of this writing, the public ones are still public - I don’t want to delude myself about my actions or my past.

But I am not proud of all the defences I made - and I am sorry if I harmed anyone during this.

What I learnt was:

• Non-violence and non-engagement are some very powerful tools but are very difficult to wield effectively.
• Non-violence and non-engagement may often be mistaken for apathy or ignorance.
• Engaging with those that could learn to use non-violence and non-engagement - defeats the purpose.
• I should think more before I speak or type.
• The questioning of certain views, such as what your are doing and why, is not welcome everywhere.

I have dealt with bigger fires in my life, that have burnt and harmed me more than this did - I am glad I received some of this undercurrent of vitriol, as I could take it, but I now know some of what those that question the ideas of those around them can receive. I have seen what turns them into angry violent people while I was able to withstand it. I can start to understand how their frustrations can build and finally explode in acts that end up shocking entire nations and I personally choose against following those dark paths.

I also believe much more firmly that if I see someone who needs help, that I will try to help them - regardless of political belief, religion, class, caste, sex, gender, sexuality and whatever else I may have missed out in this short list.

When people share things they cannot choose how others react to it - by the same token, those that receive cannot question what is displayed.

In the well

People sit in the darkness of their own well.
The sun that moves overhead brings light and shadow,
Ever changing.

People see reflections of themselves in the wells waters.
As they notice there is more darkness - there is depression.
As they notice they are not in the light - there is anxiety.
As they notice the surface of the water moving as they try to escape - there is chaos and mutability - there is anguish and madness.

Stay still and the water stills.
Stay still and the reflections steady.
Stay still and see what is already in front of you.

Through this stillness and emptiness of ideas of escape is the way out, is found.
First a foothold, then another.

Climbing.
Falling.
Climbing again.

Then there is freedom incomparable in the light of the sun proper.
Clarity of sight is hard after a life of darkness.
Dark things fear the light.

From the surface, it is easier to see how you can help others.
From a place of true freedom, you can focus on helping others and not going back.

Grasp with both hands and free all you can.
Hold nothing back.
Hopefully, the people you help will try to propel you onwards to help more.

Either way you do it as it’s all you have ever known.

All is well.

How to Keep Moving Every Day

To keep moving every day keep it simple.

I try to knock as many off this list as possible, and some things I do are more than just one item on this list.

Do at least one thing every day that:

Is new.

Is comfortable.

Is challenging.

You write down.

You keep to yourself.

Is quiet.

Is loud.

Is exciting.

Is interesting.

Is useful.

Is pleasant.

Is just for you.

Is just for someone else.

Is suggested by someone else.

Inspires you.

Makes you think.

You have been thinking about for a while.

Is spur of the moment.

You want to share.

So go on - do it!

Walking the Line

Hi there, old chum!

I was reading a blog at nyoho.com, specifically: "my teacher doesn't get me" and it gave me food for thought as I was in the process of going through accessing how I interact with the internet and the world in general.

I still really like to write - and will continue to write for myself. However, as this blog was meant to be a personal storehouse and has slowly transformed into something different - I think it’s time I really review my sharing practices. I am also doing this on the other web services I interact with and in real life as well.

For this type of online stuff, I think I should review it multiple times on separate occasions to ensure concise clarity (as much as I can muster with such a muddled mind on complex topics!) and then post it manually - with no scheduled posts or idea of posting frequency.

Because, put simply, if I would not read it through multiple times on different days - why would anyone else? If I cannot be bothered to post it manually - then need it really be shared?

Incase … (and that’s a big “incase”) anyone is trying to keep up with this in real time - this would create a lag between experience and sharing it - so I may use that space for reflection on the ideas of the topic and their expression as I understand them, or don’t as the case may be.

I must learn that it is okay to have personal things, even if it is just simply writing and as a consequence - not everything needs to be shared. 

{I admit that both ideas are new and strange to me, though :S}

*zen zap!*

The Temple of Life and Personal Purification

Recently there has been a tragedy in my life. I was studying (not at diligently as I would like to admit!) at home when there was a severe house fire there.

I survived, my housemate survived - everything else was lost.

I had the clothes on my back, and nothing else.

No shoes.

That morning I thought myself bold enough to suggest living my ideas of having a more humble and spiritual life - I shared this idea with a friend and then I quickly dismissed it due to my “stuff” holding me back.

There is nothing to hold me back now.

I have none of the old items I used to be attached to. And yes, I do have new things in some parts - the things I need, not always what I want or like.

I don’t have the luxury of having enough to be distracted by, well - not in the ways I could be driven to boredom by distraction before. My old place was a temple to distraction, games, books, dvds and cds adorned it - there was something hiding in every corner that you could get lost in.

While that gave a great idea of space, it really lacked in the ideas of depth, of meaningful content - it really lacked when it came to me.

I am not what I own.

I am not where I live.

I am not the books on my shelf.

I am not even my dreams or fears.

I am me.

And that had to be okay, because for a little while - that’s all I had. That, a pair of jeans and a Led Zeppelin t-shirt.

I have none of the shelves of books bought absentmindedly - read (or half read) then quickly forgotten about.

If I wanted to keep an idea, I had to become that idea to keep it alive and around.

No more if’s, but’s ands or maybes - this is it.

So...

Now my life is my temple. My body is the only home I will ever truly have. My thoughts are mine and mine alone. Words are hollow and empty unless they are lived.

Just as the master’s of old had to inhabit the teachings to ensure their proper transmission over great distances and many language and culture barriers - I must inhabit the teachings if I want them to still be with me on the other side of this transformative time.

Weird Idea: Reverse Alms

What are alms anyway?

Alms is giving to others as an act of virtue and to humble oneself. It isn’t always physical giving - it could be giving a space or the gift of giving your time. In more modern western terms it is known by another name:

Charity.

The Buddha was said to have had a bowl for his alms, it is one of the few things a Buddhist monk could own. It would be the repository and storehouse for the monk’s possessions and used to eat out of.

There are stories of how this bowl is to be used, like that you can’t just go to the places that you know give good food to monks, but part of the practice is seeking and not finding. Part of the practice is to feel yourself grow tired and hungry out of people ignoring you. Relying on the charity of others makes you more humble.

In the time of the Buddha, there was only one guiding light - the Buddha himself. Now with the help of the modern age you can read many accounts from history and find many places today that practice the giving of charity. This gives the tree of Buddhism that sprouted from the trunk of the Buddha’s teaching many new branches, many new types, many new flavors of Buddhist practice.

Today in the modern world, I see people not too concerned with the idea of Dana, or charitable giving and maybe it’s an idea to ruffle a few feathers about that.

Change it.

I rarely have change in my wallet or pocket, but when I do - I feel weighed down by it. Little pieces of metal that make the weight I carry heavier, and I don’t enjoy that at all. So recently I decided to try to give that weight back.

I started with the idea of taking my change to the streets, first idea - to the street performers, to take the weight weighing me down and using it to give those that work hard to be noticed more. To reward them and to lighten my load all at once. As luck would have it, whenever I had change - I had no street performers to give to.

Sometimes not getting what you want is an incredible stroke of luck!

Time to think again. Time to generate a new idea.

How about I save up my change and give it to a charity at the end of the week or end of the month depending on how much change I generate. A new problem is noticed: How do I select which group is deserving? How do I ignore the amount of money I give to these places? Sometimes it would be a few coins, other times many times that.

How do I not make this about me and who I think is deserving?

How can I help the most?

How do I get rid of my guilt while getting rid of my coins?

Then - I came up with this:

When I have coins weighing me down, walk from selling place to selling place (any place that could sell to the public direct) and if they had a charity tin, box or donation place put my coins in there. That means I didn’t have to think about who was worthy. If they didn’t have a place to donate try the next place.

How is this not about your pride of giving making you feel good?

I don’t tell people why I am there. If they ask I mention it is to donate my change to whatever charity they are supporting.

I don’t answer or say if they don’t ask.

After trying as many places as coins you are getting rid of and not finding enough, the next place can take them all.

This is the way I found works for me - and I have actually done it!

I walked into many places that sell to the public, many I wouldn’t usually enter - so that destroys the pride. It also helps me see things I wouldn’t usually think to see - so that expands the mind.

When I find a place, I make a tiny example - one coin per place, until I have been to more places than coins - then leave.

I did this yesterday - and it was a strange and humbling experience.

I ended up giving my coins to the place where I bought my lunch, there was a line - and I found a donation box away from the line and donated my small stack of coins.

I did it because I had something to give.

I did quietly notice that most of the people in the line I added myself to also donated their change after they made their purchase, and that did feel nice. But it’s not about that.

It’s about giving what you can when you can.

It’s about turning a burden into an opportunity.

Turning a weight into a gift.

To make less for yourself to worry and think about and giving those with little, those who need soo much, to give them more.

The power of Om (and the Four Noble Truths) via Jeff Bridges

[personal update soon]

This is Jeff "the Dude" Bridges, in case you didn't know - he's an actor.

I find actors a remarkable resource in learning how to put one's self aside and inhabit a role or idea. Embodiment. Sometimes they live the role to get very subtle cues about how they should be - sometimes they visualise the role and then try to embody that vision.

This type of stuff would sound very familiar to someone who knew about varajayana/esoteric/"Tibetan" Buddhism¹ however even if you were unfamiliar with that, most people have seen or know of actors.

In the video here we see a basic process - and almost chant - a "round" of the syllable Om (AUM). The people usually in control of the programme (Conan) give control over to this idea and technique. What happens next is that people make some sounds and feel silly - Conan himself gets anxious over making bad television.

What is the issue here?

The issue is that a person in (perceived) authority is giving people space to try something new, to discover how they feel about it and react to that. The authority is going to (and more importantly does) use the space themselves - instantly undermining any "us" vs "them" vibe - we are all in this together.

Even when given space to try something new - to try something innocuous and almost boring, people are hesitant. They don't want to look silly so they smile and laugh to let everyone else know that they are in on the joke too.

People are in a television studio and they want excitement, they want something new - they don't want this something new - this is not what they expected.

They want what they expected more than they wanted to see something new, to learn something about themselves.

If you can't learn about the body you live in and the life you lead from day to day - if you can have that level of ignorance and delusion at your side and not notice it there will be some ... confusion arising from that. Confusion causes pain, trauma and heartbreak. Confusion causes suffering.

That's basically Lord Buddha's First Noble Truth² right there.

Can we find the Second Noble Truth here?

Yes

Ignorance.

Ignorance of one's self - delusion over not feeling ignorant. Clinging to an idea that you know what silly people are like and you are that OR that you are a good person and can't be - whatever you are or wherever you find yourself.

People have written books on dealing with yourself in the moment of awkwardness/stress/suffering/samsara/dukkha³, books about being in the "now".

The Third Noble Truth?

The laughing, the joy at the shared experience. The laughing at oneself in a moment of feeling awkward.

This shows you (and better yet - causes you to feel) a way out of the bad spot you are in. There is hope, there is light, there is - as always - a way out.

What is that way out?

The Fourth Noble Truth - the way out.

The way out ... is best left to another place - even I would admit I am stretching it to get Lord Buddha's primary teaching out of a youtube video from Conan.

One method though is hinted at in this post, get out of the way of yourself so you can do what you need to do. Some people try and succeed with empowerment, some try and succeed with visualisation. There are many ways to bandage yourself up to let yourself heal and grow strong, and I don't want to even pretend that I know or have heard of most of them - or that I have done it.

I have heard of it happening though, and if you are reading this you have probably heard about it happening too.

So you know there is hope.

Feel the path out of the pain, the trauma, the suffering, the darkness - be a friend to yourself.

Then ask yourself.

"How am I not myself?"

---

1 The quotes are there to indicate that it is a thing often associated with Tibet but I don't believe that it originated there - I don't wish to offer a word against the legitimate Tibetan Government external to Tibet coordinated from Dharamsala. Their suffering is real. All suffering should cease. But this is not a place for political banter alone.^↩

2 Wikipedia - If I'm curious about something I tend to look it up in an encyclopaedia type place to get a feel for it, then use that to inform where I should look for more information next and what I am looking for.^↩

3 Wikipedia, again - seriously, if you're not going to click a link, what makes you think you will find a better version of it in books or something!
Also, for what it's worth - I get a perverse amount of pleasure from saying "dukkha" in place of a rhyming swear word out loud.^↩