February 2021 — Page 2 of 3 — Jendhamuni-Buddhism

Jaravagga: Old Age

Comment February 9, 2021
When this world is ever ablaze, why this laughter, why this jubilation? Shrouded in darkness, will you not see the light?

Behold this body — a painted image, a mass of heaped up sores, infirm, full of hankering — of which nothing is lasting or stable!

Fully worn out is this body, a nest of disease, and fragile. This foul mass breaks up, for death is the end of life.

These dove-colored bones are like gourds that lie scattered about in autumn. Having seen them, how can one seek delight?

This city (body) is built of bones, plastered with flesh and blood; within are decay and death, pride and jealousy.

Even gorgeous royal chariots wear out, and indeed this body too wears out. But the Dhamma of the Good does not age; thus the Good make it known to the good.

The man of little learning grows old like a bull. He grows only in bulk, but, his wisdom does not grow.

Through many a birth in samsara have I wandered in vain, seeking the builder of this house (of life). Repeated birth is indeed suffering! Continue reading →
Softening our heart

1 February 9, 2021

This heart of ours is very difficult to soften. But we’d all most probably like our heart to be more soft and compassionate. The way it can ever soften is to be able to put ourselves in others shoes, in the shoes of the person we see suffering, for example.

Then go through what they go through, feel what they feel and experience. Naturally our heart softens and more compassion flows. So don’t resist the suffering you encounter, but take it as a way to train your heart in compassion. ~ Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

Jendhamuni at the Quabbin Reservoir on September 19, 2020.
Snow isn’t actually white

1 February 8, 2021

That’s right. Snow is actually clear. Snowflakes are made out of ice crystals, so when light passes through, it bends and bounces off each individual crystal. The entire spectrum of light is reflected back to our eyes, and we see white snow. So there’s actually no such thing as a White Christmas, but that sounds a lot catchier than Translucent Christmas.

Snowstorm on February 7, 2021

Snowstorm on February 7, 2021

Snowstorm on February 7, 2021

Continue reading →
The Story of the Companions of Visakha

Comment February 8, 2021
Verse 146: Why is there laughter? Why is there joy although (the world) is always burning? Shrouded in darkness why not seek the light?

pajjalite: burning, in this context, it means burning with fires of passion, etc. (The Commentary)

andhakarena: darkness, in this context, ignorance of the Four Noble Truths. (The Commentary)

padipam: light, in this context, wisdom. (The Commentary)

The Story of the Companions of Visakha

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (146) of this book, with reference to companions of Visakha.

Five hundred men from Savatthi, wishing to make their wives to be generous, kind-hearted and virtuous like Visakha, sent them to Visakha to be her constant companions. During a bacchanalian festival which lasted for seven days, the wives of those men took all the drinks left by their husbands and got drunk in the absence of Visakha. For this misbehaviour they were beaten by their husbands. On another occasion, saying that they wished to listen to the Buddha’s discourse, they asked Visakha to take them to the Buddha and secretly took small bottles of liquor hidden in their clothes.

On arrival at the monastery, they drank all the liquor they had brought and threw away the bottles. Visakha requested the Buddha to teach them the Dhamma. By that time, the women were getting intoxicated and felt like singing and dancing. Mara, taking this opportunity made them bold and shameless, and soon they were boisterously singing, dancing, clapping and jumping about in the monastery. The Buddha saw the hand of Mara in the shameless behaviour of these women and said to himself, “Mara must not be given the opportunity.” So, the Buddha sent forth dark-blue rays from his body and the whole room was darkened; the women were frightened and began to get sober. Then, the Buddha vanished from his seat and stood on top of Mount Meru, and from there he sent forth white rays and the sky was lit up as if by a thousand moons. After thus manifesting his powers, the Buddha said to those five hundred women, “You ladies should not have come to my monastery in this unmindful state. Because you have been negligent Mara has had the opportunity to make you behave shamelessly, laughing and singing loudly, in my monastery. Now, strive to put out the fire of passion (raga) which is in you”.

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 146: Why is there laughter? Why is there joy although (the world) is always burning? Shrouded in darkness why not seek the light?
At the end of the discourse those five hundred women attained Sotapatti Fruition.

Dhammapada Verse 146
Visakhaya Sahayikanam Vatthu

Ko nu haso kimanando
niccam pajjalite1 sati
andhakarena2 onaddha
padipam3 na gavesatha.

Source: Tipitaka
If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose

1 February 8, 2021
If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness. – Therese of Lisieux

Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes. – Clare Ansberry

Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities in the world. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul. – Luther Burbank
Dandavagga: Violence

Comment February 7, 2021
All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.

All tremble at violence; life is dear to all. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.

One who, while himself seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other beings who also desire happiness, will not attain happiness hereafter.

One who, while himself seeking happiness, does not oppress with violence other beings who also desire happiness, will find happiness hereafter.

Speak not harshly to anyone, for those thus spoken to might retort. Indeed, angry speech hurts, and retaliation may overtake you.

If, like a broken gong, you silence yourself, you have approached Nibbana, for vindictiveness is no longer in you.

Just as a cowherd drives the cattle to pasture with a staff, so do old age and death drive the life force of beings (from existence to existence).

When the fool commits evil deeds, he does not realize (their evil nature). The witless man is tormented by his own deeds, like one burnt by fire.

He who inflicts violence on those who are unarmed, and offends those who are inoffensive, will soon come upon one of these ten states:

138-140 Sharp pain, or disaster, bodily injury, serious illness, or derangement of mind, trouble from the government, or grave charges, loss of relatives, or loss of wealth, or houses destroyed by ravaging fire; upon dissolution of the body that ignorant man is born in hell. Continue reading →
Mastering the art of timing

Comment February 7, 2021

Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it’s all over. — Octavia Butler
Look beside you and your best friend will be there

1 February 7, 2021
When it hurts to look back and you’re afraid to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there.

Best friends believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself.

A good friend knows all your stories. A best friend helped you write them.

Best friends are the people in your life that make you laugh louder, smile brighter, and live better.

— Shutterfly
Outer circumstances of our lives

2 February 5, 2021

We often think the only way to create happiness is to try to control the outer circumstances of our lives, to try to fix what seems wrong or to get rid of everything that bothers us. But the real problem lies in our reaction to those circumstances. What we have to change is the mind and the way it experiences reality. — Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche
When someone insults us, we usually dwell on it

2 February 5, 2021

When someone insults us, we usually dwell on it, asking ourselves, ‘Why did he say that to me?’ and on and on. It’s as if someone shoots an arrow at us, but it falls short. Focusing on the problem is like picking up the arrow and repeatedly stabbing ourselves with it, saying, ‘He hurt me so much. I can’t believe he did that.’

Instead, we can use the method of contemplation to think things through differently, to change our habit of reacting with anger.

Imagine that someone insults you. Say to yourself, ‘This person makes me angry. But what is this anger?’ It is one of the poisons of the mind that creates negative karma, leading to intense suffering. Meeting anger with anger is like following a lunatic who jumps off a cliff. Do I have to go likewise? While it’s crazy for him to act the way he does, it’s even crazier for me to do the same. ~ Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche