From: Chris Koeritz Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2017 19:47:23 +0000 (-0400) Subject: moops X-Git-Tag: 2.140.90~157 X-Git-Url: https://feistymeow.org/gitweb/?a=commitdiff_plain;h=b245019b8ea53c93c2aeab9c5226702d597f61ac;p=feisty_meow.git moops --- diff --git a/infobase/fortunes.dat b/infobase/fortunes.dat index 8c1caadf..f9686326 100644 --- a/infobase/fortunes.dat +++ b/infobase/fortunes.dat @@ -42862,4 +42862,65 @@ links that bound them together, commented: -- from "Treasury of Precious Qualities, Book One: Sutra Teachings", by Jigme Lingpa, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, published by Shambhala Publications +~ + When the actual process of dying begins, you pass through eight phases-- +the first four involve the collapse of the four elements, and the last four +involve the collapse of consciousness into the innermost level of mind, called +the mind of clear light. + In the final phase of dying, when all coarse consciousnesses dissolve into +the all-empty, which is the fundamental innate mind of clear light, the myriad +objects of the world, as well as concepts such as sameness and difference, are +pacified in this subtlest mind. At that time, all appearances of environments +and beings withdraw of their own accord. Even for a nonpractitioner, coarse +appearances also withdraw; this withdrawal of conventional appearances, +however, is not due to a perception of reality attained through meditation. +When, in the last phase, the temporary winds that carry consciousness have all +dissolved, the mind (whether of a practitioner or a nonpractitioner) becomes +as if undifferentiated, and an immaculate openness dawns. + -- H.H. the Dalai Lama, from "The Heart of Meditation", translated and + edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, published by Shambhala Publications +~ + There’s a common misunderstanding among all the human beings who have +ever been born on the earth that the best way to live is to try to avoid pain +and just try to get comfortable. You can see this even in insects and animals +and birds. + A much more interesting, kind, adventurous, and joyful approach to life is +to begin to develop our curiosity, not caring whether the object of our +inquisitiveness is bitter or sweet. + When people start to meditate or to work with any kind of spiritual +discipline, they often think that somehow they’re going to improve, which is +a sort of subtle aggression against who they really are. It’s a bit +like saying, “If I jog, I’ll be a much better person.” Or the scenario +may be that they find fault with others; they might say, “If it weren’t +for my husband, I’d have a perfect marriage.” And “If it weren’t for +my mind, my meditation would be excellent.” + But loving-kindness--maitri--toward ourselves doesn’t mean getting rid +of anything. Maitri means that we can still be crazy after all these years. +We can still be angry after all these years. We can still be timid or jealous +or full of feelings of unworthiness. Meditation practice isn’t about trying +to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending +who we are already. + Perhaps we will experience what is traditionally described as the fruition +of maitri--playfulness... + -- Pema Chödrön, from "Awakening Loving-Kindness", published by Shambhala + Publications +~ + In texts we inherited from India, the basic principle is sometimes called +the “fundamental innate mind of clear light” and the “fundamental innate +wisdom of clear light”— these two terms having the same meaning. In other +texts, it is called the “space-diamond pervading space,” whereas in even +others it is called the “jewel mind,” as, for example, when it is said, +“Separate from the jewel mind, there is no buddha and no sentient being.” + Then, in Tibet, in some texts, it is called “ordinary consciousness” +and “innermost awareness.” These terms are used in the context of speaking +about freedom from thought, which is psychologically and experientially +described as “self-release,” “naked release,” and “unimpeded +penetration”; we will be discussing these in detail later. The innermost +awareness is said to be the basis of the appearance of all of the round of +suffering (called “cyclic existence”) and also the basis of liberation +(called “nirvana”). Everything, without exception, is complete in the +continuum of innermost awareness. It is even said to be “naturally arisen,” +since it has always been and always will be. + -- H.H. the Dalai Lama, from "The Heart of Meditation", translated and + edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, published by Shambhala Publications