So I am off for 11 days of mediation. I will miss you all... If you stop and read this please leave a comment if you just say hello.... See ya'll when I get back...
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is evil; it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good; it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Which one do you feed?
Currently
listening
:
Back in Black
By
AC/DC
Release date: 2003-02-18
I see bumper stickers all the time that talk of peace. And then right next to them I see bumper stickers about hate for President Bush.
I dare all who want peace to Love President Bush to recognize his actions hate fear and love the man.
Freedom of speech is not wanting only the people who say what you agree with but freedom of speech is allowing those you dispise and diasgree with to speak at your house, with no arguements, but just a listening as you would a child with love.
History of Buddhism
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Quiz/Survey
History of Buddhism. The Buddha was born in the 6th Century B.C. After attaining Enlightenment at the age of 35 until his passing at the age of 80, he spent his life preaching and teaching. He was certainly one of the most energetic man who ever lived: for forty-five years he taught and preached day and night, sleeping for only about 2 hours a day.
The Buddha spoke to all kinds of people: kings and princes, Brahmins, farmers, beggars, learned men and ordinary people. His teachings were tailored to the experiences, levels of understanding and mental capacity of his audience. What he taught was called Buddha Vacana, i.e. word of the Buddha. There was nothing-called Theravada or Mahayana at that time.
After establishing the Order of monks and nuns, the Buddha laid down certain disciplinary rules called the Vinaya for the guidance of the Order. The rest of his teachings were called the Dhamma which included his discourses, sermons to monks, nuns and lay people. The First Council
Three months after the Buddha's passing, his immediate disciples convened a council at Rajagaha. Maha Kassapa, the most respected and elderly monk, presided at the Council. Two very important personalities who specialized in the two different areas - the Dhamma and the Vinaya - were present. One was Ananda, the closest constant companion and disciple of the Buddha for 25 years. Endowed with a remarkable memory, Ananda was able to recite what the Buddha spoke. The other personality was Upali who remembered all the Vinaya rules.
Only these two sections - the Dhamma and the Vinaya - were recited at the First Council. Though there were no differences of opinion on the Dhamma. Before the Buddha's Parinibbana, he had told Ananda that if the Sangha wished to amend or modify some minor rules, they could do so. But on that occasion Ananda was so overpowered with grief because the Buddha was about to die that it did not occur to him to ask the Master what the minor rules were. As the members of the Council were unable to agree as to what constituted the minor rules, Maha Kassapa finally ruled that no disciplinary rule lay down by the Buddha should be changed, and no new ones should be introduced
This was still an oral transmission of the word of Buddha
The Second Council One hundred years later, the Second Council was held to discuss some Vinaya rules. A group of monks left the Council and formed the Mahasanghika - the Great Community. Even though it was called the Mahasanghika, it was not known as Mahayana, And in the Second Council, only matters pertaining to the Vinaya were discussed and no controversy about the Dhamma is reported,
The Third Council
In the 3rd Century B.C. during the time of Emperor Asoka, the Third Council was held to discuss the differences of opinion among the bhikkhus of different sects. At this Council the differences were not confined to the Vinaya but were also connected with the Dhamma. At the end of this Council, the President of the Council, Moggaliputta Tissa, compiled a book called the Kathavatthu refuting the heretical, false views and theories held by some sects. The teaching approved and accepted by this Council was known as Theravada. The Abhidhamma Pitaka was included at this Council.
Coming of Mahayana
Between the 1st Century B.C. to the 1st Century A.D., the two terms Mahayana and Hinayana appeared in the Sutra of the Lotus of the Good Law. About the 2nd Century A.D. Mahayana became clearly defined. Nagarjuna developed the Mahayana philosophy of Sunyata and proved that everything is Void in a small text called Madhyamika-karika. About the 4th Century, there were Asanga and Vasubandhu who wrote enormous amount of works on Mahayana. After the 1st Century AD. the Mahayanists took a definite stand and only then the terms of Mahayana and Hinayana were introduced
What is the same between Mahayana and Theravada?
- Both accept Sakyamuni Buddha as the Teacher. - The Four Noble Truths are exactly the same in both schools. - The Eightfold Path is exactly the same in both schools. - The Paticca-samuppada or the Dependent Origination is the same in both schools. - Both rejected the idea of a supreme being who created and governed this world. - Both accept Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta and Sila, Samadhi, Panna without any difference.
Week 1 Assignments for our Happiness Ho’s
Current mood: ecstatic
First time Ho's Pick three, one which you can share your experience, one which you tell no one ever, and one that when you read you say "there is no way I am going to do that."
1. Take the opportunity to feed something or someone that you would normally not. Prepare a cake for your neighbor; make a meal for family or friend when it is not a normal activity.
2. Give a random person $5, or buy a stranger a cup of coffee or the next person in line at a fast food restaurant add there meal into your bill.
3. Some one in your life that you have trouble or issues, do something nice for them, with no expectations.(NO EXPECTATION, do it to be nice, not to get a thank you)
4. Go two hours while awake with out talking out loud or to your self.
5. A single day with NO WHITE Lies, if you don't really mean have a nice day don't say it or really mean it.
6. Wash the dishes with no music, TV or distraction, focus on washing the dishes and do the best job possible, dry and put away the dishes, even if you have a dishwasher.
7. Spend 4 hours watching for judgment of others and write each time you judge.
8. For One Day say one TRUE Nice things to everyone you speak with.
9. For one day no flirting.
10. For one day watch and see when you are reacting to others vs. speaking with purpose.
thoughtful
jolly
happy
awake
annoyed
accomplished
