problems and delights become a stepping-stone for understanding the suffering
and happiness of all beings.
-- Pema Chodron's "Compassion Cards", published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+Tuvaṭaka Sutta: The Discourse on Being Quick
+
+(The Buddha said,)
+"Let them completely destroy the root
+Of conceptual differentiation,
+That is, [the idea] ‘I am the thinker.’
+Ever mindful, they train to subdue their cravings.
+
+"They shouldn’t get entrenched in any teachings they know
+Whether their own or that of others.
+Good people say that
+Being entrenched is not release.
+
+"They would not, because of this, think themselves
+Better, worse, or equal [to others].
+Experiencing many things,
+They don’t take a stand in thoughts of themselves."
+
+ The Buddha’s first teachings in this poem are particularly important.
+Here he emphasizes the destruction of the root source for conceptual
+proliferation which he describes as being either the idea "I am the
+thinker" or the thought "I am." While the grammar of the Pali phrase
+allows for both translations into English, the two options both identify some
+form of conceit as the basis from which a problematic differentiation of
+concepts with which the world is categorized arises. When this conceit is
+uprooted, the conceptual proliferation stops. A sage does not categorize or
+conceptualize the world with any fixed reference point of existing as "I."
+ While training to become such a sage, a monastic should avoid swelling up
+with conceit, which is described as thinking they are better, worse, or equal
+to others. The alternative to such comparative thinking is to have a mind
+that is still and unmoving like a calm sea. Many of the training instructions
+the Buddha mentions can be understood as support for having a still, peaceful
+mind.
+ -- Gil Fronsdal, "The Buddha before Buddhism: Wisdom from the Early
+ Teachings", published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+I. Path of Accumulation
+
+ One who has the Mahayana family cultivates bodhicitta, receives teachings
+from masters, and makes effort in the virtues until the heat of wisdom is
+attained. During this time, progress is classified in four stages:
+realization, aspiration, greater aspiration, and achievement. Why is this
+called the path of accumulation? Because on it, one gathers the accumulations
+of virtue in order to become a vessel for the realization of heat and so forth.
+Therefore, it is called the path of accumulation.
+
+ These are also called the root virtues which are similar to liberation.
+At this stage, twelve of the branches of enlightenment are practiced:
+
+ A. the four types of mindfulness,
+ B. the four types of perfect abandonment, and
+ C. the four feet of miracle powers.
+
+The Four Types of Mindfulness are:
+
+ 1. sustaining mindfulness of the body,
+ 2. sustaining mindfulness of feelings,
+ 3. sustaining mindfulness of the mind, and
+ 4. sustaining mindfulness of phenomena.
+
+These four occur during the lesser stage of the path of accumulation.
+
+The Four Types of Perfect Abandonment are:
+
+ 1. abandoning nonvirtues which have been created,
+ 2. not allowing new nonvirtues to be produced,
+ 3. producing the antidotes, virtues which have not arisen, and
+ 4. allowing those virtues which have arisen to increase.
+
+These four occur during the middle stage of the path of accumulation.
+
+The Four Feet of Miracle Powers are:
+
+ 1. the absorption of strong aspiration,
+ 2. the absorption of perseverance,
+ 3. the absorption of the mind, and
+ 4. the absorption of investigation.
+
+These four occur during the greater stage of the path of accumulation.
+ -- Gampopa, from "The Jewel Ornament of Liberation", published by Shambhala
+ Publications
+~
+II. Path of Application
+
+ The path of application begins after perfection of the path of
+accumulation. It has four stages corresponding to the realization of the Four
+Noble Truths: heat, maximum heat, patience, and realization of the highest
+worldly dharma. Why is it called the path of application? Because there, one
+makes an effort to directly realize truth.
+
+A. Five Powers. Furthermore, during the stages of heat and maximum heat,
+five powers are practiced:
+ the power of faith,
+ the power of perseverance,
+ the power of mindfulness,
+ the power of absorption, and
+ the power of wisdom awareness.
+
+B. Five Strengths. During the stages of patience and highest worldly dharma,
+five strengths are practiced:
+ the strength of faith,
+ the strength of perseverance,
+ the strength of mindfulness,
+ the strength of absorption, and
+ the strength of wisdom awareness.
+ -- Gampopa, in "The Jewel Ornament of Liberation", published by Shambhala
+ Publications
+~
+III. Path of Insight
+
+ The path of insight begins after the highest worldly dharma and consists
+of calm abiding as a basis for special insight focused on the Four Noble
+Truths. Four insights correspond to each of the Four Noble Truths, making a
+total of sixteen—eight patient acceptances and eight cognitions: the patient
+acceptance of the cognition of the dharma with respect to suffering, the
+cognition of the dharma with respect to suffering, the patient acceptance of
+the cognition that is the subsequent realization with respect to suffering,
+the cognition that is the subsequent realization with respect to suffering,
+and so forth.
+ Why is it called the path of insight? Because there, one realizes the
+Four Noble Truths which were not seen before. At this stage there are seven
+of the branches of enlightenment:
+ the perfect mindfulness branch,
+ the perfect discrimination branch,
+ the perfect perseverance branch,
+ the perfect joy branch,
+ the perfect relaxation branch,
+ the perfect absorption branch, and
+ the perfect equanimity branch.
+ -- The Jewel Ornament of Liberation, by Gampopa, published by Shambhala
+ Publications
+~
+IV. Path of Meditation
+
+The path of meditation practice begins after the realization of special
+insight. It has two paths:
+ A. the path of worldly meditation practice and
+ B. the path of meditation practice beyond the world.
+A.
+ Worldly Meditation Practice consists of the first, second, third, and
+fourth meditative stages, and the formless stages of increasing the infinite
+nature of space, increasing the infinity of consciousness, increasing the
+nothing-whatsoever-ness, and increasing neither perception nor non-perception.
+There are three purposes to practicing this meditation:
+
++ suppressing the afflicting emotions which are the subject of
+abandonment in the path of meditation;
++ establishing the special qualities of the Four Immeasurables and so
+forth; and
++ creating the foundation for the path beyond the world.
+
+B.
+ Meditation Practice Beyond the World consists of the furthering of calm
+abiding and special insight, focused on the two types of wisdom. During the
+path of insight there were two “patient acceptances” and two
+“awarenesses” corresponding to each of the Four Noble Truths, making a
+total of sixteen. The eight patient acceptances were completed in the path of
+insight. One becomes familiarized with the eight awarenesses in the path of
+meditation through the calm abiding and special insight related to the four
+meditative concentrations and three of the formless absorptions. Furthermore,
+part of the awareness of phenomena is to familiarize oneself with all the
+realization of dharma-as-such. Part of the continuity awareness is to
+familiarize oneself with all the realization of primordial wisdom. The state
+of neither perception nor non-perception is merely worldly meditation because
+the movement of sensation is so unclear.
+ Why is this called the path of meditation? Because there, one becomes
+familiar with the realizations that one achieved in the path of insight. At
+this stage, there are eight of the thirty-seven branches of enlightenment:
+
++ perfect view,
++ perfect conception, perfect speech, perfect action,
++ perfect livelihood,
++ perfect effort,
++ perfect mindfulness, and
++ perfect absorption.
+ -- Gampopa, from "The Jewel Ornament of Liberation", published by Shambhala
+Publications
+~
+ Your eggnog to rum ratio should be 23% to 77%. I would then spice the
+eggnog with nutmeg and use more than you're comfortable with because sailors
+used to use it as [a] hallucinogen...
+ Also, enter on a reindeer. And if you enter on a reindeer, stay on the
+reindeer. And if you can’t reach something because you’re too high up
+sitting on the reindeer, just ask for help. That goes for life, too. Don’t
+be afraid to ask for help and stay on that reindeer.
+ -- T.J. Miller’s recipe for the perfect holiday party
+~
+if you can't beat them, join them, and subvert them from the inside.
+ -- fred t. hamster
+~
+regarding christmas cards...
+"i would create my own as a desktop publishing activity, with all new current
+stuff. but it's way too much effort. basically, i can either give you a
+present or make you a card. which do you prefer?"
+ -- thus spake slackathustra.
projects / feisty_meow.git / blobdiff