X-Git-Url: https://feistymeow.org/gitweb/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=database%2Ffortunes.dat;h=2c74bc1daa5c8e620d0f4509193880c142a91feb;hb=9fd22b6e5c4bb1aa1b3975da8d4d436664a0a03d;hp=069bf36228d7abe4877dd54c5b5cb7978a0e5a62;hpb=2952ccf47b80174880141a7ecfa122089f349b8d;p=feisty_meow.git diff --git a/database/fortunes.dat b/database/fortunes.dat index 069bf362..2c74bc1d 100644 --- a/database/fortunes.dat +++ b/database/fortunes.dat @@ -37185,3 +37185,105 @@ appreciates spiritual rather than mundane goals one has become an active practitioner of initial perspective.(p.117) -- H.H. the Dalai Lama, "The Path to Enlightenment", edited and translated by Glenn H. Mullin, published by Snow Lion Publications +~ + When doing lamrim meditations, it is important to know clearly the state of +mind you want to reach as a conclusion to the meditation. Lamrim texts +describe the purpose of each meditation, and we want to make sure that our +mind arrives at that conclusion and not at an incorrect or irrelevant +conclusion. For example, when meditating on the disadvantages of the self- +centered thought, our mind may twist that meditation and conclude, "I'm a +horrible person because I'm so selfish." This is the wrong conclusion to reach +from that meditation. The Buddha didn't teach the disadvantages of self- +centeredness so that we would deride ourselves. + If you meditate on a lam rim topic and arrive at an incorrect conclusion, +the meditation hasn't been done correctly. In the above case, thinking, "I'm +a bad person because I'm so selfish," indicates that we have misunderstood the +purpose of the meditation and probably have fallen into an old pattern of +putting ourselves down. Stop and ask yourself, + "What conclusion does the Buddha want me to reach from this meditation? He +wants me to ascertain that the self-centered mind is the actual 'enemy' that +destroys my happiness. Self-centeredness is not an intrinsic part of me; it +is not who I am. It's an incorrect, but deeply entrenched, thought that +creates problems for me. I can free myself from it. Since I want to be +happy, I will realize this selfish attitude for what it is and will stop +following it! Instead, I will cultivate love and compassion for all beings." + This is the conclusion you want to reach.(p.58) + -- Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, "Guided Meditations on the Stages of the + Path", foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, published by Snow Lion +~ + Greed is a form of desire. However, it is an exaggerated form of desire, +based on overexpectation. The true antidote of greed is contentment. + For a practicing Buddhist, for a Dharma practitioner, many practices can act +as a kind of counterforce to greed: the realization of the value of seeking +liberation or freedom from suffering, recognizing the underlying +unsatisfactory nature of one's existence, and so on. These views also help an +individual to counteract greed. But in terms of an immediate response to +greed, one way is to reflect upon the excesses of greed, what it does to one +as an individual, where it leads. Greed leads one to a feeling of +frustration, disappointment, a lot of confusion, and a lot of problems. + When it comes to dealing with greed, one thing which is quite characteristic +is that although it arises from the desire to obtain something, it is not +satisfied by obtaining it. Therefore, it becomes limitless or boundless, and +that leads to trouble. The interesting thing about greed is that although the +underlying motive is to seek satisfaction, as I pointed out, even after +obtaining the object of one's desire, one is still not satisfied. On the +other hand, if one has a strong sense of contentment, it doesn't matter +whether one obtains the object or not; either way, one is still content.(p.32) + -- H.H. the Dalai Lama, "Healing Anger: The Power of Patience from a + Buddhist Perspective", translated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa, published by + Snow Lion Publications +~ +We will hereby start scouring the net for people who say git is hard to +understand and use, and just kill them. They clearly are just polluting +the gene pool. + -- Linus Torvalds +~ +i got nothin'. +~ + What is the Bodhisattva's Way of life? It is the way of life that follows +naturally from having cultivated the awakening mind of bodhicitta. +Omniscience is achieved only through the process of purifying the disturbing +emotions within your mind. It cannot be achieved merely through wishes and +prayers. We have to train in eliminating all the specific disturbing emotions +within your mind. We have to train in eliminating all the specific disturbing +emotions by relying on specific antidotes. + All the activities of a Bodhisattva can be included in two major categories: +the practice of skillful means and the practice of wisdom. If the practices +of giving, ethics, and so forth are to be perfected, they should be supported +and influenced by the practice of wisdom. Without the practice of wisdom, the +first five of the six perfections cannot actually become practices of +perfection. In order to cultivate such wisdom, you must first cultivate the +genuine unmistaken philosophical view that is known as the view of the Middle +Way, or Madhyamika. + ...even when you have understood the wisdom realizing emptiness, that alone +will not become a powerful antidote to ignorance if it is not supported by +other practices such as giving, ethics, patience, and so forth. Mere +understanding of selflessness is not sufficient to defeat the disturbing +emotions.(p.76) + -- H.H. the Dalai Lama, "Stages of Meditation", root text by Kamalashila, + translated by Geshe Lobsang Jordhen, Losang Choephel Ganchenpa, and + Jeremy Russell, published by Snow Lion Publications +~ + The many tantras of both the Ancient and New traditions unanimously agree +that these, and others, are the consequences of violating the pledges. + + Means of Restoration + The proclaimers' vows, like a clay pot, once broken cannot be repaired; + The awakening mind commitments, like gold or silver, can be restored; + The tantric pledges, like a dented vessel, are restored by the + practitioner's strength. + --Jamgon Kongtrul + + When is it possible to restore a vow that has been transgressed? All the +tantras and transmissions state that if a monk has incurred a defeat with +concealment, the transgressed vow, like a broken clay pot, cannot be repaired. +An awakening mind commitment that has been transgressed is like a cracked gold +or silver vase which can still be soldered by a blacksmith. A violated vow or +pledge in this Secret Mantra system is likened to a dented golden vessel, +which can be straightened out by the practitioner's own strength. + Pledges are restored through action, precious substances, earnest desire, +contemplation, and reality. + The Great Cleansing can purify all transgressions.(p.296) + -- Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, "Treasury of Knowledge--Book Five: Buddhist + Ethics", trans. by the Kalu Rinpoche Translation Group, under the + direction of Ven. Bokar Rinpoche, published by Snow Lion Publications