Attachment to calmness and tranquility

A quote from “The path of concentration and mindfulness”, an eassy by Thanissaro Bhikkhu:

“Some people are afraid of getting attached to a state of calm, but actually, it’s very important that you get attached here (to the calm achieved through samatha / tranquility practice), so that you begin to settle down and undo your other attachments. Only when this attachment is the only one left, do you begin to work on loosening it up as well.”

What a sensible approach.

I find it indeed very interesting, if not strange, that so many teachers would caution against getting attached to the mental state of calmness and tranquility that can be attained through samatha meditation. It seems to be an attempt at building a raft of strong and sturdy logs (emphasising insight), but using sewing thread to try and bind it all together (without a firm base of calmness).

The full  article by Thanissaro Bhikkhu can be found at:   http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/concmind.html

Do viruses have Buddha Nature?

This is not a factious question, but a serious one. I have recently had a really bad bout of flu, and I was lying there about to do some visualisations the one day, to try and get my immune system to fight the virus more effectively. Then it occurred to me that perhaps this was an aggressive thing to do. After all, the virus might have been there for a reason. Now I don’t think a virus is quite on a par with a sentient being, but still…

Do viruses have Buddha Nature?

Compassion

Most of us find it easy to feel kindly towards the defenseless, but not towards those who intentionally cause harm.  Yet these people need our compassion.  The Buddha taught that, because each of us experiences the consequences of our own acts, those who behave with cruelty and malice will reap the greatest misery and pain.

From “No time to lose” by Pema Chodron.

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There is something very similar in the Bible, about how it’s easy for anyone to love their friends and family members, but loving one’s enemy take a lot more spiritual strength.

Sue

Commercialising the Dharma ?

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Please enjoy the sound of Rinpoche laughing!  

I don’t know what others think about this, but I personally have a problem with commercialising the Dharma to this extend! ??? 

Maybe it is just old fashioned me? 

Submitted by: Peter G Just