X-Git-Url: https://feistymeow.org/gitweb/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=infobase%2Ffortunes.dat;h=22f958e36a39258f3ee7d784b295a1f1824050c5;hb=d7e8a05960951d8ce67e36c587726a851e2f5165;hp=e50b2310325f2f6258032b722aa223b1f6336639;hpb=31f1c542c7319d9e2fb9611914531a3e5ce744a3;p=feisty_meow.git

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@@ -42322,4 +42322,171 @@ with its teachings about duhkha, the first noble truth.  They, like the
 inhabitants of all the other nonhuman realms, are victims of their karma and
 are unable to practice a spiritual path to gain liberation.
   -- Reginald A. Ray, in "Indestructible Truth", published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+The Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh writes, "I like to walk alone on country paths,
+rice plants and wild grasses on both sides, putting each foot down on the
+earth in mindfulness, knowing that I walk on the wondrous earth.  In such
+moments, existence is a miraculous and mysterious reality.  People usually
+consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle.  But I think the real
+miracle is to walk on earth...  a miracle we don’t even recognize."
+  -- from Jan Chozen Bays, MD, "How to Train a Wild Elephant & Other Adventures
+     in Mindfulness", published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+Begin the sequence of sending and taking with yourself
+
+Whatever pain you feel, take it in, wishing for all beings to be free of it.
+Whatever pleasure you feel, send it out to others.  In this way, our personal
+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
+~
+Tuvaá¹­aka 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
+~
+    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.
+~
+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