What could be more up my alley? A witty vegetarian take-off of a Gilbert & Sullivan tune, performed with puppets and subtitles, so you get the humor in the clever lyrics. Kudos all around, friends. This one will soon be all over the Internet.
Nipun Mehta Talks At Stanford on Gandhi & Giftivism. Don't Miss!
This lecture is highly recommended for people interested in selfless giving, inspiration and living a life based on courageous faith in principle. What is Giftivism? Come find out. There will be meditation, an hour talk, and dinner with Q&A. Location: Oak Room, Tresidder Union; January 31, 2012, 5:30pm-8:30pm.
Update: Huge Solar Flares Passed Us By, Apparently
Interesting report about solar flare activity last week that will hit "a glancing blow" on Earth this week.The sun emitted the most powerful solar flares since 2005. Astronomers are warning of possible disruptions of air travel over the poles, sattelite communication, as well as increased Northern Lights displays visible further south than usual. Back up your hard drive and unplug it after you back it up! More info here.
UPDATE: Maggie Koerth-Baker over at Boing Boing posted a terrific piece about Coronal Mass Ejections (Solar Flares) and links to an article that describes the very real effects on Internet technology that could happen if and when such ejections hit Earth full-on. Apparently, this time we dodged the bullet. Read the Boingboing.net article here.
Australian Downpour on a Metal Roof in Queensland
This is the third day of a non-stop downpour. I stuck my recorder out the door to capture the sounds of a monsoon on my metal roof. Folks are evacuating near the rivers and low-lying areas. Our monastery sits on higher ground but the rivercourses that channel the water around the buildings are at peak right now. My roof is leaking!
Here is a normal sunny day.
Give a listen to the sound of a downpour on a metal roof:
The Front Yard: Paramita House In All Weather
So here in Queensland, in Mudgeeraba, (means, "a place where someone told lies") the sun shines daily but oh my, when it rains....
Happy Lunar New Years Day To You! (It's Dragon Year!)
It's that time again, when stores across Asia shut for ten days and big city streets fall silent. Families travel back home, eat familiar, once-a-year delicacies, grandchildren score $$ in red envelopes from doting grandparents; and everyone renews. Debts are settled, windows have been washed, new threads a-sportin', mother's home a-visitin', hey it's Chinese New Years! Tomorrow people visit temples to light incense and seek good luck, As if the Buddha were a small-town magistrate who with some incense and a dollar tossed in the box could be bribed to fix your luck for a year. No matter, it's good luck for the incense seller -- bad luck for those who have to breathe the smokey air in the temple.
For practicing Buddhists the first day of the lunar new year is the celebration of Maitreya Bodhisattva's anniversary. Maitreya is famous for having subdued his temper through learning "patience under insult." You simply can't upset him. Insults, curses, even blows will not get his goat or shake his equanimity. He has a big belly, not from greed for food but from holding all the chi (qi) that people have thrown at him. Swear at him, cut him off in traffic, insult his mother, he endures it all because he has subdued himself - - his false pride and vanity are long gone. He sees through the surface of relationships and understands that you wouldn't be giving him grief if you had peace of mind. Why increase your afflictions by getting caught up in your unresolved drama? It has nothing to do with him, and he won't waste a second of precious lifetime struggling with hurt feelings or animosity.
Maitreya Bodhisattva has a poem that it's worth repeating at Lunar New Years: The Old Fool.
The Old Fool: Maitreya Bodhisattva
The Old Fool wears tattered clothes,
And fills his belly with tasteless food;
He patches his robe to keep out the cold,
And as things come, so they go,
His belly’s big cause he can hold,
Praise so hot and blame so cold,
He splits his face in a smile so full
At the situations he finds laughable,
The jewel of patience, it’s a pearl so rare.
If someone scolds the Old Fool,
He simply agrees,
If someone hits the Old Fool,
He smiles and falls down on his knees
Spit in his face, he lets it dry - -
He’s not upset, and you save your energy,
If you look elsewhere for the Dao,
Who’s the Old Fool anyhow?
The jewel of patience, it’s a pearl so rare.
His belly’s big cause he can hold,
Praise so hot and blame so cold,
He splits his face in a smile so full
At the situations he finds laughable,
Now you’ve heard of his patience gongfu,
Maitreya wants to share it with you,
If you set this aside and go seeking the Dao - -
Who’s the old fool, anyhow?
Acts of Kindness Page 26
Acts of Kindness Page 26
Where did these stories come from? Find out here
Strike!
I was waiting for the bus this morning when a stranger pulled up and told me that bus drivers across the city had gone on strike. Later, as I was driving to work I saw another commuter unknowingly waiting for the bus in the rain. Inspired by the random act of kindness shown to me earlier, I stopped and passed on the news of the strike to this person. Just as anyone else would have done given the same situation!
U. from Sydney, Australia
New Dimensions
Meeting with and listening to Rev. Heng Sure's musical way of teaching the Dharma as well as other topics at the "Council for a Parliament of World Religions" in Melbourne recently gave new dimensions to ways of teaching. Religious teaching tends often to be bone dry and as a result many people - especially young ones - loose interest. This musical way I believe can open their hearts and minds to a better world.
MB from Malmo, Sweden
Pure Land and Police Fine
My co-worker often asks what I do while I volunteer at a Buddhist temple and how do I feel when I meditate. She is interested in learning Buddhism but she thinks it's too difficult for her. I gave her a book on Pure Land. Last week she went into the office and told me she got a police fine for talking on the phone while driving to work. "Oh that was hard!" she said, "I kept telling myself, Pure Land! The police are doing their job. Great Job! Amitabha! They are doing well. Pure Land! I am not going to be angry! Pure Land!!" Later on she added, "I am not sure how Pure Land had helped me but I am actually not that upset, so I thank you for your book." So...I hope this Paramita music CD would help her more =)
I. from Sydney, Australia
Staying Open
Maybe we perform many priceless acts of kindness in a day and every day. That is how it feels for me being an acupuncturist and working in a community clinic setting. Some of those acts of kindness are really my job. I should be listening and paying attention to my interactions with people. I am constantly learning to get better at that too. I also experience great joy in those acts of kindness. It does not feel like a one-person exchange but a series of events of communication between people that open other possibilities to happen. As an example, yesterday I was volunteering after my shift to help the evening shift, as that is part of my job. It turned out perfect because I was working with another practitioner and was able to accomplish more by getting her input. Usually we work alone as practitioners on our shifts. I was struggling with an email to send someone to suggest a medicinal tea to them. It turned out by sharing with the practitioner what I was doing, she was able to tell me we had in stock a perfect tea for the situation. It seemed magic to me. A tea they had ordered and could not use and then this moment arrives and by a series of decisions and staying open with communication, it became a complete experience for me.
E. from Berkeley, USA
Doing Time, Doing Zazen
A couple of weeks ago, I helped out at my local Soto Zen temple, stuffing many zafus (meditation cushions) for people doing time in prison. With the guidance of the Soto priest, they will do zazen to help them get rid of their marijuana-addiction. I am a strong believer of rehabilitation instead of harsh punishment in the prisons. The people who's serving time are human beings like everybody else, and they need our support and our compassion.
Y.K.H.N. from Kristiansand, Norway
Giving
In the sutra of the past vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva, the Buddha explained very very clearly to us that there are three kinds of giving. They are giving of wealth, giving of Dharma and giving of fearlessness. When I read the sutra, I was extremely excited to learn how these types of giving enable one to plant blessings, and the more I read the sutra, the more it gave me encouragement to do more giving. For example, when I saw some beggars on the street or those who are sick, I would immediately take out my wallet and give my money to them and sometimes I would buy them food and nutritious drinks. And when I returned to Indonesia, my sister and I would buy fish from the market and liberate them in a safe river near my house. My heart was full of joy whenever I did meritorious work. These are examples of me giving wealth to the poor and giving fearlessness to the animals.
Buddha's Disciple from Pleasant Hill, United States
Searching for Justice
I helped a friend find legal representation after her university mistreated her following an attack by another student. Talk about a double dose of suffering! I hope she can heal, complete her degree, and find work in a field she loves.
S from Portland, Oregon
I Didn't Get Angry
(Again a story from me, 3rd time, this time to pass on to a new friend for his birthday - so here's the story:) I was volunteering at a school in a project about injustice in the world. A macho-type guy from a grade which was not in the project came up and started telling me i'm a hippie - obviously and intentionally trying to insult me. It didn't take effort not to use anger in responding. :) may all beings have non-anger. Amituofo
F from Leeuwarden, Holland
Anger Is Bad News
i was all angry at this guy for derailing some process that i thought i wanted to happen, and it messed up my shoulders and the world got dark. totally bad news. then it was remembered to me the Dalai Lama said about the Chinese that people who seem to be mean to you are good teachers, and then this other thing from some other text that said if people abuse you in public you should say, 'Yeah, well, you're right probably, okay, thanks!'. Ha ha! Now i'm not angry at all. i guess this is just kindness to myself, but maybe it counts? i certainly won't yell at that guy or anything. He's just doing his best! thanks!
M. from Northampton, USA
Laung Pho
Today I helped Laung Pho to the meditation hall, this makes me feel like I’m doing something kusala (wholesome) at this time my mind was not affected by lust, hate or greed.
S B from Fresno, United States
Buddhist Christmas Carols Once Again
Tis the season for Buddhists to wish we had beautiful seasonal songs praising the Three Jewels. With that wish in mind we post yet again for your Holiday cheer some carefully selected holiday tunes with a Dharma message - - may your days be merry and bright!
Who? Who? Who!
O Western Land of Utmost Bliss (O Little Town of Bethlehem)
O Western Land of Utmost Bliss
How pure we see thee lie.
Your lotus flowers give birth to us,
Our karma purified.
The vows of Amitabha,
The one of Limitless Light,
Saves everyone who says his name,
Reborn in pure delight.
Silent Mind (Silent Night)
Silent mind, holy mind,
All is calm, all is bright,
Deep Vipassanna, thoughts rise and fall,
With clear insight detached from them all,
Sit in heavenly peace, sit and contemplate.
O Zabuton (O Tannenbaum) (A zabuton is that square flat cushion on which you set your round meditation cushion, or zafu, in the Zapanese Zen tradition.)
O Zabuton, O Zabuton
Thy kindness is substantial,
I sit upon thee night and day,
With folded legs and ankles.
Thy batting saves my knees from pain,
Through hot & cold you don't complain,
O Zabuton, O Zabuton,
Compassion's insulation.
Here We Come to Meditate (Here We Come A Wassailin')
Here we come to meditate,
Among tea leaves so green,
Here we come to meditate so fair to be seen,
Peace and joy come to you, please perfect your wisdom too
May the Buddhas bestow on you a happy new year,
May they send you a happy new year.
Acts of Kindness Part 25
Acts of Kindness Stories Page 25
Where did these stories all about? Find out here
Teaching The Dharma To All Who Walk By
I attend college in Poultney, Vt. About everyday I sit in zazen on a hill where people frequently pass by. Sometimes people come up to me and ask questions about meditation and the practice of mindfulness but other times I simply preach by smiling and saying no words at all to those who walk by. I also practice this on the steps of the dining hall. I wrote a poem on the experience. The Step Sutra/Straight spine on the stairs/Pillars, lotus womb and Bodies grooved into their rightful points of the universe/A passerby asks "What are you doing?"/I smile spine erect reply "just sitting here."/Not useless babble but compassionate sermon!/My sermon my sutra Smile at all the passerby/Revolve around your heart.
All is Buddha from Woodbridge, USA
Loud Kindness
A good friend of mine and I were sitting at a busy cafe in downtown Oslo. We had been discussing our different perspectives on our buddhist practices and on how to better introduce buddhism to the growing Norwegian laity. At some point in the evening a group of friends sitting to the table on my right rise to leave. In the corner of my eye I see that one of the girls has unknowingly dropped her purse under her chair. I interrupt the interesting conversation I was having by rushing over, getting the purse and calling in not a quiet voice across the cafe "Your purse!". Needless to say she was happy and grateful, although slightly flummoxed by my loud behaviour. I felt happy and a bit surprised by my behaviour for I am usually a very reserved and quiet person. But it was also a nice mundane reminder, that kindness does not always have to be appropriate to the social situation, and an act of kindness does not necessarily have to be a comfortable act. A kind act is not, at least on the face of things, always in keeping with ones character either. To break with social norms and personality traits, it seems to me, is sometimes necessary for kind acts to come about. Of course it helped to have a good friend to give me a pat on the back, while letting the cafe resume it's usual buzzing. Our conversation took a turn into the teachings of karma, naturally.
DVA from Oslo, Norway
Dear Reader, Before Reading, Please Go Look At The Sky For A Second...
This story isn't really about an act of kindness *I* did, but two that two people did for me yesterday and today. For the last few years, I've been telling my friends at university, through text-messages or SMS, to look at the sky whenever I think it's particularly beautiful: an almost unnatural greenish-yellow haze near the horizon blending to an unnaturally deep purple on perfectly clear days, towering thunderclouds, those almost-completely-white overcast days that make every tree and building look like it's been painted on paper--the universe's canvas. I've had a fascination with the sky ever since going to Texas, where the sky is HUGE beyond description. (I live in New York, so my sky before going to Texas had always been hemmed in by trees and buildings, and hadn't had the same gravity.) Some friends, as you would expect, find this annoying, but others like it and actually do go look at the sky. Some tell me it reminds them of "the little things." One, who sent me a message yesterday, told me the messages helped her remember not to take everything in her life too seriously, to the point of constantly worrying about every little thing. Other friends have started to reply: "Oh, yes. Very beautiful! =) " So the acts of kindness I received yesterday and today were from a friend in Nebraska (who's sky is radically different from mine because of the 1,300 mile distance between us), who said, "The sky here is amazing tonight," and from my girlfriend, who said, "Look at the sky. Wow." So, reader, check the sky out--it's beautiful!
DR from West Islip, NY United States of America
Small Act of Kindness
My wife left our house for a Doctor's appointment. I didn't wake her up in time to get there without rushing. While she was on her way, I called the doctor's office telling them that she might be late. When she arrived, the receptionist told her that her husband informed them that she would be there. Everything turned out okay. My wife thanked me. Small act of kindness.
JB from Opelika, ALUSA
Compassion In Simplicity
My friend’s husband had a stroke earlier this year. I took her some vegetables from the garden. I don't have much money, or much time with life being so demanding, but just taking a few moments to give something I had plenty of, was enough thoughtfulness to let her know I care.
A from Waynesville, NC, United States
^^
My family donates some money to buddhist temples for making and maintaining temple. And I always try to help people who are in need of help like beggars on the street or poor people.
S from Busan, South Korea
A Simple Thank You
Thank you for this opportunity to reflect on giving and kindness. For a few minutes, I had the awful feeling come over me that my self-image (of a selfless bodhisattva, of course) is completely wrong, and that maybe I've been fooling myself completely-- no acts of kindness came to mind at all. There's certainly a lot of truth to that, but after more introspection, I can remember that, yes, OK, there were one or two "grand" selfless things I've done... But perhaps my more effective actions have been very small, tiny ones that I like to repeat as often as possible: thanking other people for THEIR acts of kindness and generosity, via hand-written notes, sent by pony express. I've found that people come alive when they receive this kind of old-school message. It only requires a few minutes of time in my day, yet often recipients of my simple notes are amazed that someone actually "took the time" to simply let them know that something they did was valued and appreciated. People feel validated, lifted, touched, awakened, and sometimes much more. Someone noticed them. In closing, let me also thank you for all your generosity. It's working, and it's deeply appreciated.
AS from Cincinnati, OH United States
To Ease The Pain
I am looking for something, anything, to help my cousin's husband, who is suffering from brain cancer at a young age of 40. He is now blind and partially paralyzed on his right side of face and left side of body. He has trouble speaking and chewing and getting around. My cousin is strong, working and caring for their 2-year old daughter. My heart aches and my eyes tear when I see her and think about them. I hope this music can ease their pain if I can just get it to them (as my insignificant act of kindness).
R from San Francisco, CA USA
The End Of Life Caring
I am a member of the Pure Karma Society in Gold Mountain Monastery, San Francisco. I went to two end-of-life caring cases – to chant Amitabha Buddha‘s name, Heart Sutra, etc. in a funeral and in a cremation ceremony in the past. On July 10, 2009, it was my first time to go to a hospital to help someone who was dying at the moment. The patient was a Buddhist and he wished to have someone/a group who can recite Buddhist Sutras and Buddha‘s name around him when he was dying. However, none of his relatives is Buddhist so his family had no resources at all. Here the story begins: His request came from an email sent by his friend‘s mother (who lives in New York City and also does the end of life caring with the Buddha Light Buddhist Association). The email got passed to the director of the Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care (she lives in Sacramento) and she passed the email to Tzu Chi and Dharma Drum Mountain chapters in San Francisco Bay areas. I also help out in the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association San Francisco Chapter so I got this forwarded email (NYC-Sacramento-San Francisco). After I read the email (3:30pm), I called the director of the Pure Karma Society in Gold Mountain Monastery and she started to call out some volunteers in Gold Mountain Monastery. We (seven volunteers) arrived in the hospital at 7:30 PM. The families already unplugged the oxygen machine (4:00 pm) and they were told by the doctor that the patient could die any time within eight hours. When we arrived, the patient was breathing heavily in coma. The director stood very close to the patient and explained that we were from GMM and came to recite Buddha‘s name for him. We started to chant Na Mo Amitofo for about one hour in a very peaceful ton of voice. Then, the director explained the importance of taking refuges with triple jewels to the patient. We chanted the Amitabha Sutra for another hour. Suddenly, the patient body started shivering for a few seconds and I clearly heard the last breath (sigh) of the patient. Honestly, at that moment, I completed lost my word because I knew that the patient just died in front of us. Every volunteer continuously chanted Buddha‘s name around him peacefully and harmonically. After the patient passed away, we continued to recite the Heart Sutra until 11:00 pm. The whole experience was just unbelievable. We clearly saw the complexion of the patient became brighter and nicer after he died. Two of the volunteers even smelled fragrance around the room when the patient passed away. We truly hope that the patient has been to the Pure Land.
A from Oakland, CA USA
Airport Waiting Line
A few days ago, I was at the airport to go to San Francisco from Seattle. There was a man in front of me who looked really agitated and angry. When I saw him, my mind said, “Oh no, he doesn't look nice he looks angry.” Then my body softened and I remembered that when I feel angry or agitated it’s usually that my mind is telling me something mean or aggressive and it really hurts because I can't relax. So I turned to him and said, “Boy these lines are a pain,” and I smiled. He immediately smiled too and his shoulders relaxed. I thought, “Oh, that's just what I need when I feel that way.” That was so simple. Thanks for doing this!
CB from Seattle, WA USA
