Unselfish Joy! How to Rejoice in Other's Success:

Friends:

Unselfish Joy! How to Rejoice in Other's Success:

By seeing that:
If only happy at one's own success, such egoistic Joy is rare and limited!
If happy at other's success also, the Joy is more frequent & even infinite!

By observing that:
It starts with basic sympathy, develops into acceptance, genuine approval,
& appreciation. It culminates in rejoicing altruistic sympathy by directing
mind to initiation, much cultivation & boundless expansion of Mutual Joy!

By knowing that:
Mutual Joy is the proximate cause  of fully satisfied contentment!
Lack of mutual joy is therefore the proximate cause of discontentment!
Mutual Joy instantly eliminates acidic jealousy, grudge and green envy!
Mutual Joy is an infinite, truly divine, elevating and sublime mental state!

The Blessed Buddha pointed out:
If it were impossible to cultivate this Good, I would not tell you to do so!

Buddhaghosa:
See how this worthy being is very Happy!
How fine! How excellent! How sweet!

Let there be Happiness. Let there be open Freedom.
Let there be Peace. Let there be Bliss from cultivating this.
Let there be Understanding of this mental state of Mutual Joy!



Cultivation of Mutual Joy is the specific medicine against Envy & Jealousy:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm

Mudita: The Buddha's Teaching on Unselfish Joy: BPS Wheel Publication No. 170
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/various/wheel170.html

Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

How is Release by Equanimity Achieved?

Friends:

         How is Release by Equanimity Achieved?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
And how, Bhikkhus, is release of mind by serene equanimity (Upekkhā)
achieved? What does this liberation have as its destination, what is
its culmination, what is its sweet fruit, and what is the ultimate goal
of mental release by universally neutral & imperturbable equanimity?
Here, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading first the entire frontal quadrant,
with a mind imbued with infinite equanimity, so the second quadrant,
the 3rd quadrant, and the 4th quadrant. As above, so below, across,
and everywhere, & as to all beings also to himself, he dwells pervading
the entire universe with a mind saturated with unlimited equanimity,
immense, exalted, measureless, without hostility, without any enmity,
without any ill will! Thus prepared and expanded, he then develops:
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with limitless equanimity.
2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such equanimity.
3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with infinite equanimity.
4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with absolute equanimity.
5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with serene equanimity.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with equanimity.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with endless equanimity.
Based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating in release.

If he then wishes:
May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in any unrepulsive & tempting,
then he can dwell experiencing repulsiveness therein. If he wishes:
May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in any disgusting & repulsive,
then he dwells experiencing pleasing beauty in whatever disgusting!
If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in what is both
unrepulsive & repulsive, he dwells experiencing repulsive disgust in it.
If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in what is both
unrepulsive & repulsive, he experiences only unrepulsive beauty by it!
If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive and the unrepulsive, may I
dwell in equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending, then he
dwells in equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending! Or else,
completely transcending the realm of infinitude of consciousness,
only aware that there is nothing, he enters & dwells in the sphere of
the void, empty & vacuous nothingness.. I tell you Bhikkhus for a wise
Bhikkhu here, who has not yet penetrated to an even more superior
mental release, the mental release by imperturbable equanimity has
the subtle sphere of the nothingness as its final culmination!

More on this serene mental state of Equanimity (Upekkhā):
Divorced_Freedom, Tatra-Majjhattat, Exquisite_Equanimity,
Unshakable Equanimity, Equanimity Upekkha, Feeding Equanimity,
Even is Equanimity, The 7 Links to Awakening, Serene_Equanimity,
Serene Equanimity and Beyond, Imperturbable Equanimity, Safe_Medicine.

Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya.
Book [V: 115-21] 46: The Links. 54: Joined by Friendliness...

Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

The 4th Noble Truth: The Noble 8-fold Way ceases Suffering!

Friends:

The 4th Noble Truth: The Noble 8-fold Way ceases Suffering!

The blessed Buddha once said:
One should dwell reflecting on all phenomena as mental states in the light of these
Four Noble Truths. How does one do so? Here, one sees, understands, and knows
this, as it verily and really is:

All this is suffering!
Craving is causing all that suffering!
Absence of craving ceases all suffering!
This Noble 8-fold Way is the only method to cease all suffering!

And what, Bhikkhus, is this Noble Truth of the Way to cease all suffering?
It is just this Noble 8-fold Way, namely:

Right View (sammā-ditthi)
Right Motivation (sammā-sankappa)
Right Speech (sammā-vācā)
Right Action  (sammā-kammanta)
Right Livelihood (sammā-ājīva)
Right Effort (sammā-vāyāma)
Right Awareness (sammā-sati)
Right Concentration (sammā-samādhi)

The 8 spokes in the Buddhist wheel each symbolizes a step on the Noble 8-fold Way.

And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right View?
It is, Bhikkhus, knowing such is suffering, such is the cause of suffering,
knowing such is the ceasing of suffering, and knowing such is the way leading
to the cessation of suffering. This is called Right View...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Motivation?
Being motivated by withdrawal, by good-will, and being motivated by utter
harmlessness. This, Bhikkhus and friends, is called Right Motivation...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Speech?
Refraining from any lying, from slandering, from scolding, and refraining
from empty gossip. This is called Right Speech...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Action?
Refraining from all killing, from all stealing and cheating, and avoiding all
sexual misconduct. This is called Right Action...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Livelihood?
Here, Bhikkhus and friends, the Noble Disciple, having given up all wrong
livelihood, lives by right livelihood. This is called Right Livelihood...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Effort?
Here, Bhikkhus and friends, one makes a decision, makes an effort, stirs up
energy, exerts the mind and strives to prevent the arising of unarisen evil
disadvantageous mental states. One makes a decision... and strives hard to
overcome any evil disadvantageous mental state that already have arisen.
One makes a decision... and strives to develop all yet unarisen advantageous
mental states. One makes a decision, makes an effort, stirs up energy,
exerts the mind and strives to maintain any advantageous mental states,
that already have arisen, not letting them fade away, growing them greater,
to the fulfilled perfection of development. This is called Right Effort...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Awareness?
Here, Bhikkhus, one dwells considering the body as a group of mere form,
alert, clearly comprehending & aware, thereby ending worldly urge & trouble...
One dwells considering feelings just as assigned responses, alert, clearly
comprehending and aware, thereby ending all worldly urge and trouble...
One dwells considering mind & mentality just as ever changing moods, alert,
clearly comprehending and aware, thereby ending worldly urge and trouble...
One dwells considering all phenomena only as always shifting mental states,
alert, clearly comprehending & aware, thereby ending worldly urge & trouble...
This is called Right Awareness...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Concentration?
Secluded from sensual desires, protected from any detrimental mental state,
one enters & dwells in the 1st jhāna; full of Joy & pleasure born of solitude,
joined with directed and sustained thought.
Again, with the stilling of directed & sustained thought, one enters & dwells
in the 2nd jhāna, calmed and assured unification of mind, in joy & pleasure
now born of a concentration, which is empty of all thought and thinking!
Again, friends, with the fading away of joy, one dwells in equanimity, just
aware & clearly comprehending, still feeling bodily pleasure, one enters
upon & remains in the 3rd jhāna, regarding which the Noble Ones declare:
'In aware Equanimity one dwells in Happiness!'... 
Again, friends, with the leaving behind of both pleasure and pain, & with
the prior fading away of both joy & sorrow, one enters & dwells in the 4th
jhāna; a serene mental state of still, open and clear awareness, purified by
the Equanimity of neither-pain-nor-pleasure! This is Right Concentration...
That, Bhikkhus, is called the Way leading to the Ceasing of all Suffering...

Further study on the Noble 8-fold Way:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Middle_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Fulfilled_First_.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Noble_8_fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_3-fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Failed_by_Neglect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Noble_8-Fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fruits_of_the_Noble_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4th_Noble_Truth_on_The_Way_to_Cease_Suffering.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Long Speeches of the Buddha. Digha Nikāya. Book II [306-314] 
Thread: The Foundations of Awareness. Mahāsatipatthāna Sutta 22.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=251033
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/digha/index.html

Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

The Noble Way!

The 3rd Noble Truth: Ceasing of Craving Stops Suffering!

Friends:

The 3rd Noble Truth: Ceasing of Craving Stops Suffering!

The blessed Buddha once said:
One should dwell reflecting on all phenomena as mental states in the light
of these Four Noble Truths. How does one do so?
Here, one sees, understands, and knows this as it verily is:

This and such is suffering!
Craving is the cause and origin of all suffering!
Absence of craving is therefore the ceasing of all suffering!
This Noble 8-fold Way is the method to eradicate all suffering!

And what, monks, is the 3rd Noble Truth on the Ceasing of Suffering?
It is the complete fading away, ceasing, elimination, and eradication of all craving.
It is the relinquishing release from craving, the detaching liberation from craving.
And how is such freeing removal of craving, how is such ceasing of craving gained?
Wherever in the world there is anything attractive and pleasant, it is right there
and right then, on the spot, that this craving is deliberately left behind & ceases...
And what is there in this world, that is attractive and pleasant?
The eye, in this world, is attractive and pleasant, the ear, the nose, the tongue,
the body, the mind is attractive and pleasant, and there this craving ceases and
gradually fades away. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and mental states
are attractive & amusing, & there this craving ceases & bit by bit comes to an end.
Eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness,
body-consciousness, mental-consciousness in this world is attractive & alluring,
and there this craving ceases and finally finish. All Eye-contact, ear-contact,
nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, mental-contact in this world is
attractive and tempting, and there this craving ceases and slowly leave off.
Any feeling born of eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue- contact,
body-contact, mind-contact in the world is appealing & fascinating, and right
there this craving ceases and steadily die away. The perception and experience
of any sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, & thoughts is quite interesting
and captivating, and there this craving ceases & grows dim. Intention, wishing,
wanting and hoping for certain sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, thoughts,
ideas and mental states is enthralling & intriguing, and there this craving ceases
and dissolves itself. The craving itself, the drive, push & rush for various sights,
sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, & many mental-objects in this world is attractive
and seductive, and there this craving also ceases & progressively eliminates itself.
Thinking of any sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, and mental-objects in this
world is attractive & tantalizing, there this craving ceases & falls off drop by drop.
Prolonged pondering on certain sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles & the manifold
diversity of mental objects in this world is attractive & enticing, & there this craving
also fades away, is stilled, ceases, & is finally all eliminated...
And that, bhikkhus, is called the 3rd Noble Truth on the ceasing of Suffering...

The extinguishing of the Fire of Craving (Tanhā) ceases all Suffering!

More on the 3rd Noble Truth: The End of all Suffering!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ceasing_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Stilling_of_Clinging.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Signless_Nibbana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Nibbana_True_Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Peace.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Long Speeches of the Buddha. Digha Nikāya. Book II [306-314] 
Thread: The Foundations of Awareness. Mahāsatipatthāna Sutta 22.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=251033
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/digha/index.html

Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

The 1st Noble Truth: All this is Suffering!!

Friends:

 The 1st Noble Truth: All this is Suffering!!

The blessed Buddha once said:
One should dwell reflecting on all phenomena as mental states in the light
of these Four Noble Truths. How does one do so? One sees, understands,
and knows it as it verily is:

All this and such is suffering! Craving is the cause & origin of all suffering!
The total absence of all craving is the ceasing of all suffering!
This Noble 8-fold Way is the only method to eliminate all suffering!

And what, Bhikkhus, is this 1st Noble Truth of Suffering?
Birth is suffering, ageing is suffering, decay is suffering, death is suffering.
Sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, & discontent are suffering. Being joined
with any disliked is suffering. Being separated from any liked is suffering.
Not getting what one wants is suffering. Getting what one does not want is
suffering. In short, the five clusters of clinging are suffering.
And what, Bhikkhus, is birth?
In whatever being & group of individuality, there is birth, coming into being,
emergence, appearance, manifestation of the 5 clusters clusters of clinging,
development of the ability to sense, that, Bhikkhus, is called birth...
And what, Bhikkhus, is ageing?
In whatever being & group of individuality, there is ageing, decaying, broken
teeth, grey hair, wrinkled skin, shrinking & fading away, weakening of the
ability to sense, that, Bhikkhus, is called ageing...
And what, Bhikkhus, is death?
In whatever being & group of individuality, there is a passing away, cut off,
disappearance, death, dying, an ending, a breaking-up of the clusters, a loss
of the body, a loss of the mind, that, Bhikkhus, is called death...
And what, Bhikkhus, is sorrow?
Whenever, by any kind of tragedy, one is feeling pain, sorrow, frustration,
distress, internal misery, or internal sadness, that Bhikkhus, is called sorrow.
And what, Bhikkhus, is lamentation?
Whenever, by any kind of misfortune, anyone is affected by something sad
and there is crying out, grieving, moaning, wailing & weeping, that is called
lamentation...
And what is pain?
Whatever bodily painful feeling, bodily unpleasant feeling, whatever painful
or unpleasant feeling resulting from bodily contact, that is called pain...
And what, Bhikkhus, is sadness?
Whatever mental painful feeling, mental unpleasant feeling, all frustration
resulting from mental contact, that, Bhikkhus, is called sadness...
And what, Bhikkhus, is discontent?
Whenever, by any kind of anguish, one is disappointed, dissatisfied, feeling
discomfort, dismay, uneasiness, frustration, that is called discontent...
And what Bhikkhus, is being joined with the disliked?
Here whoever has unwanted, undesirable and disliked sights, sounds, smells,
tastes, touches or mental states, or whoever are forced into association, &
dependence to enemies, that is called being joined with the disliked...
And what is being separated from the liked?
Here whoever has what is wanted, liked, and pleasant sights, sounds, smells,
tastes,  touches, mental states, or whoever enjoys company of well-wishers,
mother or father, brother or sister, younger or elders, friends or colleagues,
and then is loosing this company, connection, or union, that is called being
separated from the liked...
And what is not getting what one wants and getting what one not wants?
In beings subject to birth, ageing, decay, sickness & death, this wish arises:
"Oh may we not meet any birth, ageing, decay, sickness & death." But such
freedom cannot be gained by naive wishing. In all beings prone to sorrow,
lamentation, pain, sadness, stress & frustration this childish wish arises:
"Oh may we not be afflicted by any sorrow, lamentation, pain, or sadness", 
despite none such freedom ever can be won by mere wishing.
That is not getting what one wants, while getting what one not wants...
And what, Bhikkhus, are the five clusters of clusters of clinging?
The five clusters of clusters of clinging are as follows:
The cluster of clinging to all kinds of form,
The cluster of clinging to all kinds of feeling,
The cluster of clinging to all kinds of perception,
The cluster of clinging to all kinds of mental constructions,
The cluster of clinging to kinds of consciousness.
These are the five clusters of clusters of clinging, that all are suffering.
And that, Bhikkhus, is called the 1st Noble Truth of Suffering...

More on 1st Noble Truth: This is Suffering:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Samsaric_Dread.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Devoured_by_Delight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sour_Sense_Sources.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Samsaric_Round.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_3_Divine_Messages.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Long Speeches of the Buddha. Digha Nikāya. Book II [308-] 
Thread: The Foundations of Awareness. Mahāsatipatthāna Sutta 22.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=251033
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/digha/index.html

Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

International Women’s Day!

Please join us in celebrating
the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day!

Dear friends,

International Women’s Day was first celebrated in Europe in 1911, and since then it has grown to become a global day of recognition of the rights and accomplishments of women everywhere.

This year, Buddhist Global Relief is proud to join Oxfam America in celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, and we invite you to join us in supporting this very important initiative.

On March 8, 2011, Oxfam will be sponsoring special events across the country to mark the anniversary. These events will focus on raising public awareness of poverty and hunger, and on celebrating the vital role that women play in feeding the world and acting as agents of change.

We believe that the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day will be an excellent opportunity for all of us to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves. There are a number of ways that you can participate in your own community:

• Host a film screening – Spread the word with Oxfam’s new videos featuring the Sisters on the Planet, a diverse group of women leaders who are committed to fighting poverty and hunger. Get started and order your free DVD here.
• Host a house party – It can be a great way to help people learn more about critical issues and to inspire them to take action. Get started here.
• Hold a meditation or chant-athon fundraiser – In San Francisco, for example, the community of Aloka Vihara is sponsoring an evening of continuous chanting on International Women’s Day to raise funds to support Buddhist Global Relief.
• Hold a Hunger Banquet^© fundraiser – An Oxfam America Hunger Banquet^© is a unique and powerful event designed to give participants a deeper understanding of the problems of hunger and poverty. Request Oxfam’s free Hunger Banquet^© toolkit created especially for International Women’s Day here.
• Post your photo on Oxfam’s Ending Hunger online photobook – It’s a very simple way to declare your support for women. Get started here.

Individuals and organizations all across the country are planning to join Oxfam in celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. You can learn more about them here.

Buddhist Global Relief is pleased to have been among the very first organizations to declare its support for Oxfam’s International Women’s Day celebration in 2011, and we do hope that you will be able to participate.

This event – and your support – can do so much to help women around the world

Thank you in advance for your support. And thank you for all that you do to make a difference in the lives of the world’s poor and hungry.

Warmest regards,

Kim Behan Executive Director Buddhist Global Relief

Liz Carty Strategic Alliances Manager Oxfam America

Buddhist Theory agrees with Quantum Physics!

Friends:

Buddhist Theory agrees with Quantum Physics!

Point 1: The fact of dependency of all phenomena and their spatial inseparability:
The arising of all entities is dependent on other entities! This is the core concept
in Buddhism of co-dependent co-arising (Paticca Samuppada)  which may just be an
expression of quantum entanglement of all mental objects, all mental forms of energy.
On the illusion of space and the impossibility of causal separability please enjoy this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8uZUzuRhk

On the Buddhist doctrine of Dependent Origination (Paticca-Samuppāda):
Cohesive Co-Origination, Dependent_Origination, Collapsible Co-Cessation,
Dependent_Origination, Caused by What, Causes of Emergence, Wise Ontology
Crucial Necessity, Profound_Causality, Past_Cause_Present_Effect, Bound_to_Be

Point 2: Observation itself = mind creates/conditions the observed object in each moment!
All entities = forms of energy have TWO complementary (N. Bohr) characteristics:
1: They are particulate = local = have a definable position in space and time.
2: They are wavelike = non-local = everywhere present = no defined position in space.
Observation = mind causes the wavelike aspects to collapse into particulate existence.
Enjoy this Double Slit Experiment. Note the end difference of observation itself!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc


Consciousness causes the collapse of the probability wave function into manifested reality!

Point 3: There is something real apart from and outside of the dimensions of space and time:
Time & space are not conditions in which we live, but modes by which we think... Albert Einstein.
Time & space are not objective things, but mentally imposed orders of things... Leibniz
Enjoy this illustration of how we might be imprisoned in too few or too many dimensions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc

Regarding the everywhere presence of consciousness humans are as naive as 2D Flatlanders!

Nibbāna is indeed an unborn and uncreated state out-side of space & time:
Climax of Calm, Final Freedom, The Proximate Cause, Peace, What_is_Nibbana,
Nibbana or non-return, Reaching Peace, The_2_Nibbanas, The_Uncreated,
How_to_Enter, Nibbana_True_Peace, The_Entrance, The_Unborn_State,
The_Signless_Nibbana, Nibbana_Still, Imperturbable_Equanimity,
Doctrine of Nibbana.

Point 4: There is not an external reality  independent of the observing mind:
Phenomena comes into being when an observer intentionally observes it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zMr7Z_f0jM

 
Nibbāna is not a place. It is unchanging = without time. Yet it is real! 

As the Buddha Gotama said:
Nibbānam paranam sukham...
Nibbana is the Highest Bliss!
Dhammapada 203-4

Some further clues:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Some_Clues.htm

More on the similarities between Quantum Physics and orthodox Buddhism:
Quantum_Buddhism, Observer Participation, Some_Clues, What_the_Bleep,
Discrete_States, Omniscient_Quantum_Mind, The_Fact_of_No-Self_Anatta,
No_Substance_'Out_There', Coincident_Cross-Consistency, Ontology.

Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net