I’ve added new links on the Meditation Research page – in particular, links to YouTube videos of Daniel Siegel, Rick Hanson, Bob Stahl, and Philippe Goldin presenting talks at Google on their work.  There is also a link to a PDF file of Daniel Siegel’s “Reflections on The Mindful Brain” – a brief overview of his book, The Mindful Brain.

Here are some links and quotes from Tuesday’s meeting on the topic of the Bliss of Blamelessness:

Practicing Forgiveness from the Season of Forgiveness website

Quoted from the chapter on Making the Heart Good from Living Dharma – by Ajahn Chah:

“Suppose there was a hole, and there was something at the bottom of it. Now anyone who put their hand into the hole and didn’t reach the bottom would say the hole was too deep. Out of a hundred or a thousand people putting their hands down that hole, they’d all say the hole was too deep. Not one would say their arm was too short!

There are so many people looking for merit. Sooner or later they’ll have to start looking for a way out of wrongdoing. But not many people are interested in this. The teaching of the Buddha is so brief, but most people just pass it by, just like they pass through Wat Ba Pong. For most people that’s what the Dhamma is, a stop-over point.

Only three lines, hardly anything to it: Sabba papassa akaranam: refraining from all wrong doing. That’s the teaching of all Buddhas. This is the heart of Buddhism. But people keep jumping over it, they don’t want this one. The renunciation of all wrongdoing, great and small, from bodily, verbal and mental actions… this is the teaching of the Buddhas.

If we were to dye a piece of cloth we’d have to wash it first. But most people don’t do that. Without looking at the cloth, they dip it into the dye straight away. If the cloth is dirty, dying it makes it come out even worse than before. Think about it. Dying a dirty old rag, would that look good?

You see? This is how Buddhism teaches, but most people just pass it by. They just want to perform good works, but they don’t want to give up wrongdoing. It’s just like saying “the hole is too deep.” Everybody says the hole is too deep, nobody says their arm is too short. We have to come back to ourselves. With this teaching you have to take a step back and look at yourself….

Giving up the bad, practicing the good… this is the heart of Buddhism. Sabba papassa akaranam — Not committing any wrongdoing, either through body, speech or mind. That’s the right practice, the teaching of the Buddhas. Now “our cloth” is clean….

We may know of these things, but we don’t really know if we don’t know within our own minds. Buddhism doesn’t enter our heart. If our mind is good and virtuous it is happy. There’s a smile in our heart. But most of us can hardly find time to smile, can we? We can only manage to smile when things go our way. Most people’s happiness depends on having things go to their liking. They have to have everybody in the world say only pleasant things. Is that how you find happiness? Is it possible to have everybody in the world say only pleasant things? If that’s how it is when will you ever find happiness?

We must use Dhamma to find happiness. Whatever it may be, whether right or wrong, don’t blindly cling to it. Just notice it then lay it down. When the mind is at ease then you can smile. The minute you become averse to something the mind goes bad. Then nothing is good at all.

Sacittapariyodapanam: Having cleared away impurities the mind is free of worries… peaceful, kind and virtuous. When the mind is radiant and has given up evil, there is ease at all times. The serene and peaceful mind is the true epitome of human achievement….

When we abandon wrongness then we are no longer wrong. When there is no stress there is calm. The calm mind is a clean mind, one which harbors no angry thoughts, which is clear.”

Here is the sutta in which the Buddha instructs Rahula about reflecting on actions of body, speech and mind – before, during and afterward:

Ambalatthika-rahulovada Sutta: Instructions to Rahula at Mango Stone

This is from The Bhikkhus’ Rules:A Guide for Laypeople compiled and explained by Bhikkhu Ariyesako:

Discipline is for the sake of restraint,
restraint for the sake of freedom from remorse,
freedom from remorse for the sake of joy,
joy for the sake of rapture,
rapture for the sake of tranquillity,
tranquillity for the sake of pleasure,
pleasure for the sake of concentration,
concentration for the sake of knowledge
and vision of things as they are,
knowledge and vision of things as they are
for the sake of disenchantment,
disenchantment for the sake of release,
release for the sake of knowledge and vision of release,
knowledge and vision of release
for the sake of total unbinding without clinging.
— Parivaara.XII.2 (BMC p.1)

And here are some quotes on conduct and forgiveness:

“The virtue of man ought to be measured, not by his extraordinary exertions, but by his everyday conduct.” —Blaise Pascal

“To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” —Robert Muller

“Some day, in years to come, you will be wrestling with the great temptation, or trembling under the great sorrow of your life. But the real struggle is here, now, in these quiet weeks. Now it is being decided whether, in the day of your supreme sorrow or temptation, you shall miserably fail or gloriously conquer. Character cannot be made except by a steady, long continued process.” —Phillips Brooks

“In our society, forgiveness is often seen as weakness.  People who forgive those who have hurt them or their family are made to look as if they really don’t care about their loved ones.  But forgiveness is tremendous strength.  It is the action of someone who refuses to be consumed by hatred and revenge.” -Helen Prejean

“The supreme act of courage is that of forgiving ourselves. That which I was not but could have been. That which I would have done but did not do. Can I find the fortitude to remember in truth, to understand, to submit, to forgive and to be free to move on in time?” – Kauffman

“Seeing with better eyes “We can recognize that the offender is a valuable human being who struggles with the same needs, pressures, and confusions that we struggle with. We will recognize that the incident really may not have been about us in the first place. Instead it was about the wrongdoer’s misguided attempt to meet his or her own needs. As we regard offenders from this point of view (regardless of whether they repent and regardless of what they have done or suffered), we will be in a position to forgive them.” – Holmgren

A six-week introductory course on mindfulness meditation will begin June 22nd at 6:30pm at the Unity Church on Veneman Ave.  No previous experience is required.  Experienced meditators will also find benefit.

See the attached flyer for more details: Insight Meditation Modesto 6-week Intro Course Flyer

Here is a link to the talk we listened to this week:

The Way Things Are – Steve Armstrong

Dear all,

Here’s a summary of the survey on having another daylong in the Modesto area:

Out of 17 responses:

17 were for a daylong retreat – looks like I’ll go forward with arranging one!

10 preferred a full day, 7 preferred a morning half day, and 2 an afternoon half day – so we’ll plan for a full day and those of you who can only attend part of the day would be welcome to leave/arrive as needed.

Most of the respondents could make a weekend day, the preference was Saturday over Sunday

9 out of 17 could make a daylong retreat in August, only 4 could make it in June or July, so I will investigate dates in August.

Many of you were willing to help out – my heartfelt gratitude for your availability to help with the daylong.

When I have a date secured, I’ll pass on more information.

Many thanks to all of you who responded and participated!

Now, here is another short poll – to ask your thoughts on the creation of a small study group – I’d like your thoughts on this:

Here’s a video of the talk we listened to this week by Ajahn Brahm on the Four Ways of Letting Go:

The audio version is here.

Here are some quotes and other readings on equanimity:

From the Dhammapada (Gil Fronsdal translation):

The restless, agitated mind,
Hard to protect, hard to control,
The sage makes straight,
As a fletcher the shaft of an arrow….

For those who are unsteady of mind,
Who do not know true Dharma,
And whose serenity wavers,
Wisdom does not mature.

For one who is awake,
Whose mind isn’t overflowing,
Whose heart isn’t afflicted
And who has abandoned both merit and demerit,
Fear does not exist.

From: A Treatise on the Paramis trans. by Bhikkhu Bodhi:

The perfection of equanimity is the attitude of impartiality toward desirable and undesirable beings and formations, dispelling attraction and repulsion, accompanied by compassion and skillful means.

Equanimity has the characteristic of promoting the aspect of neutrality; its function is to see things impartially; its manifestation is the subsiding of attraction and repulsion: reflection upon the fact that all beings inherit the results of their own kamma is its proximate cause.

“When there is no equanimity, the offensive actions performed by beings cause oscillation in the mind. And when the mind oscillates, it is impossible to practice the requisites of enlightenment.”

From Verses on the Faith Mind, Seng-ts’an, Third Zen Ancestor:

The Great Way is not difficult
for those who hold no preferences.
When neither love nor hate arises,
all is clear and undisguised.
Separate by the smallest amount, however,
and you are as far from it as heaven is from earth.

If you wish to know the truth,
then hold to no opinions for or against anything.
To set up what you like against what you dislike
is the disease of the mind.

When the fundamental nature of things is not recognized
the mind’s essential peace is disturbed to no avail.
The Way is perfect as vast space is perfect,
where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess.

Indeed, it is due to our grasping and rejecting
that we do not know the true nature of things.
Live neither in the entanglements of outer things,
nor in ideas or feelings of emptiness.
 Be serene and at one with things
and erroneous views will disappear by themselves.
….
When the mind exists undisturbed in the Way,
there is no objection to anything in the world;
and when there is no objection to anything,
things cease to be— in the old way.
When no discriminating attachment arises,
the old mind ceases to exist.
Let go of things as separate existences
and mind too vanishes.
Likewise when the thinking subject vanishes
so too do the objects created by mind.

The arising of other gives rise to self;
giving rise to self generates others.
Know these seeming two as facets
of the One Fundamental Reality.
In this Emptiness, these two are really one—
and each contains all phenomena.
If not comparing, nor attached to “refined” and “vulgar”—
you will not fall into judgment and opinion.
….
When in harmony with the nature of things, your own fundamental nature,
and you will walk freely and undisturbed.
However, when mind is in bondage, the truth is hidden,
and everything is murky and unclear,
and the burdensome practice of judging
brings annoyance and weariness.
What benefit can be derived
from attachment to distinctions and separations?

From the Summer 1010 Buddhadharma magazine, Sharon Salzberg offers these phrases for equanimity practice:

May I offer my care and presence without conditions, knowing they may be met by gratitude, anger or indifference.

May I find the inner resources to truly be able to give.

May I remain in peace, and let go of expectations.

May I offer love, knowing I can’t control the course of life, suffering, or death.

I care about your pain, yet cannot control it.

I wish you happiness and peace, but cannot make your choices for you.

May I see my limits compassionately, just as I view the limitations of others.

Here are some other equanimity phrases:

“May I have peace amid the changes in my life, and may I have peace amid the changes in others lives.” *

“May I be undisturbed by the changing circumstances of my life,”

“May I be aware and at peace with the changes that happen in every life and to everyone,” or

“May I offer my efforts and help, knowing it may be of great, some, or even no benefit.”

Another beautiful example of a support to cultivate equanimity in our lives is the famous Serenity Prayer, which asks for the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Other equanimity quotes and phrases can be found here:

Equanimity Quotes from IMC

“It is our duty to compose
our character,
not to compose books,
and to win, not battles
and provinces,
but order and tranquility
for our conduct of life” — Montaigne

Here are some links to talks on equanimity:

Paramis: Equanimity – Andrea Fella

Equanimity – Gil Fronsdal

Parami Series #10 Equanimity: The Unshakable Heart – Myoshin Kelley

I’d like to find out how much interest there is in having Insight Meditation Modesto sponsor another meditation day or half-day retreat in the next few months – please click on the link below to take the survey:

Thanks!