Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Are Progressives screwing America? (video)

Jimmy Dore; Seth Auberon, Ashley Wells, Pfc. Sandoval (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Dr. Fauci calls in and cusses up a storm. What are Dems doing to us?

The LOVE (metta) I found in Buddhist Burma

Sayalay Khema Cari, Thabarwa Center, Italy; Ellie Askew, Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

When I arrived in Burma (Myanmar), I had to share a room with a fellow meditator, a Burmese gal. On the first night, I was provided with clean bedsheets and a mosquito net, but I didn't want to use the net.

The Burmese woman insisted I use it, as there were many mosquitoes. But I didn't want to, and she gave up asking. The next night she removed her own mosquito net. I was surprised and asked her why. She explained that if she were under her mosquito net, all the mosquitoes in the room would bite me. So she wanted to share the bites with me. ❤️

I want to love without limits.

That day I understood how different and how much kinder the minds of Theravada Burmese Buddhists are.

This story describes exactly their way of seeing things: Not only would they share what little they had, but they would share another person's burden, too. They would endure more to reduce someone else's suffering. At least that's what they would aim to do by their intention. I became a Western Buddhist nun. Every culture has beautiful qualities. We can learn from all of them to help recover our humanity and develop our hearts to be as vast as the sky.

US intel warned Trump in Nov. 2019

Mike MacRae as foulmouthed Dr. Fauci, Jimmy Dore (jimmydorecomedy.com, April 2, 2020); Justine Coleman (TheHill, 4/8/20), ABC News; Pfc. Sandoval, Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly

US intelligence warned in November that coronavirus spreading in China could be "cataclysmic event": report

I'm the administration expert, not this idiot.

U.S. intelligence officials warned in November that the coronavirus spreading in China’s Hubei region could become a “cataclysmic event,” ABC News reported today [4/8/20].

The military’s National Center for Medical Intelligence (NCMI) documented concerns about the initial stages of the pandemic in an intelligence report, two officials familiar with the document told ABC News, which added that the document highlighted how the virus was disrupting life and business and threatened the population in the area.

Intelligence was reportedly obtained through wire and computer intercepts along with satellite images showing the new disease was not under control in China.

The report highlights that officials had knowledge to begin acting against the coronavirus months before it struck the U.S., ABC News noted.

This is goin to be serious. - Oh really? IDK

"Analysts concluded it could be a cataclysmic event," one of the sources told the network, who added that the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon’s Joint Staff, and the White House were briefed "multiple times."

After the NCMI report, policymakers, decisionmakers, and the National Security Council (NSC) at the White House were repeatedly briefed on the issue, a source added.

The coronavirus first appeared in the President’s Daily Brief of intelligence matters [though it is widely believed that Trump does not read because he has a very limited attention span, possible illiteracy, and is very disinterested in anything "boring"] in early January, according to ABC News.

I'm an expert on this, the only real expert, and I say we get everybody back to work.

Those who worked on presidential briefings in Republican and Democratic administrations said the initial concerns would have gone through weeks of vetting and analysis before appearing in the daily brief.

"The timeline of the intel side of this may be further back than we’re discussing," a source said of preliminary reports from Wuhan, the city considered the initial epicenter of the outbreak in China. "But this was definitely being briefed beginning at the end of November as something the military needed to take a posture on."

You mean that a$$hole knew and ignored it?

The Trump administration has repeatedly said it could not have prepared for the pandemic, but the president’s critics have said the administration should have done more.

As of Wednesday morning, almost 400,000 Americans have tested positive for the virus, with at least 12,911 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The Pentagon and the White House National Security Council did not immediately return requests for comment on the ABC News report. More

TRENDING: Coronavirus, Trump, Fauci, Biden, Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders QUITS (video)

Bernie Sanders; Silly Reviews; Jimmy Dore; Seth Auberon, Pfc. Sandoval, Wisdom Quarterly

I knew he'd quit! I'm a demented sexual predator.

The mainstream media has just announced that Bernie Sanders QUIT. Again. Like the last time he led progressives to slaughter using Plan B, backing failed establishment candidate Hillary. Now is it time to get behind Joey Biden? Bernie Sanders needs a cabinet position, so he's ridin'. He'll do whatever the Party, not his party because he's an Independent, tells him. Way to obey and betray the people, B. Feel the Bern! The DNC's power shall not be questioned because, sadly, AOC's in the bag, too. It was announced at 11:45 AM (ET) as the "feckless" coward explained. Bernie wants your money, votes (to get more delegates), and says he'll go to the Democratic convention to try to have an influence.

(Q/T) See Bernie Sanders cower and grovel as he quits. All candidates have
"suspended" their campaigns when quitting, so do not cling to that as hope.

Why? Bernie’s tweets reveal FAILED leadership

Jimmy Dore with Bernie campaigner David Sirota (The Jimmy Dore Show, April 5, 2020)

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Stef Zamorano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/miserablelib

Edited by Arno Bolbolian: https://twitter.com/Arneasy

Edited by Koki Miyazaki

About The Jimmy Dore Show: #TheJimmyDoreShow is a hilarious and irreverent take on news, politics and culture featuring Jimmy Dore, a professional stand up comedian, author and podcaster. With over 5 million downloads on iTunes, the show is also broadcast on KPFK stations throughout the country.

Venus meets the Pleiades (Seven Sisters)

Deborah Byrd (EarthSky.org, April 3, 2020; Pat Macpherson, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

This week Venus – the brightest planet and dazzling “evening star” – passes the Pleiades star cluster [possibly our original home], also known as the “Seven Sisters.” Look west after sunset. Venus and the Pleiades meet every eight years [as the skies move over earth, giving the illusion that the earth is spinning, which is illusory according to Eric Dubay and others' systematic observations]. PHOTOS

"Frosty, Heidi, & Frank (FHF) Show" keeps the morning entertainment coming (KLOS 95.5 FM, fhfshow.com). Engineer Eric, drunk Frank, Marci Fridays, and reporter Heidi. Frosty's been furloughed.

Pandemic? What's really going on? (video)

Jeff Rense, David Dees (rense.com, ddees.com); Pfc. Sandoval, S. Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly

You want me to take over for Joe?

Why are we preparing for war and using so much "war" language? Something is afoot and the doctors are ready to roll out in expectation of a big rise in patients this week and next? Yet people fail to question, gripped with fear, trained for a new world order of autocratic rule and lockdowns. Agenda 21? The "invisible enemy" is all around, and anything can be done in its name. And what's worse, we'll welcome it. We'll demand it. "Protect us, restrict us, order us, save us." Question. It's Orwellian and Huxleyian, a Brave New World Order. Big Brother (Google) is watching.

Coast to Coast Show on 4/7/20
Jon Rappoport (nomorefakenews.com)
Shepard Ambellas (intellihub.com)

What a police state looks like as "jackbooted thugs" round up seniors or any

suspected asymptomatic COVID-19 ("the new SARS") coronavirus carriers

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Year's biggest supermoon tonight, April 7-8

Bruce McClure (earthsky.org/tonight); Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Moon over Garden of the Gods (devas), Colorado Springs (Joe Randall/Facebook/EarthSky)

Full moons at apogee (farthest from Earth, left) and perigee (closest to Earth, right) in 2011. Composite image by C. B. Devgun in India for EarthSky. Using the eye alone, it’ll be difficult to notice any size difference for the full moon of April 7-8, 2020. But moon-watchers might notice that this is a very bright full moon, and Earth’s oceans will feel an extra pull.

What's a "supermoon"? (EarthSky)

In North America we often call the April full moon the Awakening Moon, Pink Moon, Grass Moon, or Egg Moon. In 2020, this April full moon also presents the closest (and thereby largest) supermoon of the year.

This full moon more closely coincides with lunar perigee – the moon’s closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit – than does any other full moon in the year 2020.

Will we notice that the moon is larger than usual? Probably not...unless one is a very experienced and discerning observer.

Moon (Trish Minogue Collins/EarthSky)

The angular diameter of a supermoon appears about 7% larger than that of an average-size full moon, and about 14% bigger than the angular diameter of a micro-moon or mini-moon (the year’s most distant and therefore smallest full moon), perhaps not enough to be noticeable to most of us using the eye alone.

On the other hand, will we notice that the full moon of April 7-8 is particularly bright? Yes! Well, maybe...if we’re observant moon-watchers. Why? That’s because supermoons can be up to 15% brighter than an average-size full moon, 30% brighter than a micro-moon.

The moon comes closest to the Earth for the entire year when it reaches perigee on April 7, 2020, at 18:08 UTC. Of this year’s 13 lunar perigees, this is one of only two that comes closer than 221,830 miles (357,000 km). More

The full moon Buddhist observance (sutra)

Bhikkhu Khantipalo (trans.), Visakhuposatha Sutra: "Discourse to Visakha on the Lunar Observance with the Eight Practices" (AN 8.43, PTS: A iv 255); Dhr. Seven, Ellie Askew (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

April 7th's full moon has many names: "Awakening Moon," "Pink," "Seed," "Sprouting Grass," "Pascal," "Egg" (c.f. "Goose-Egg" in Beard 1918), "Fish," "Frog," "Sap," "Spring Moon" (Farmers' Almanac).

They scared us, "Fear the moon." The Church ruined the calendar, selling us fear-based "improvements." The moon, the planet's timekeeper, is good. It's natural. Just look up and know when things are. And 13 is good, like the 13 lunar months of four weeks each (13x28=364+plus Day Zero, New Year's Day=365). The moon marks the "sabbath" (uposatha) day in Buddhism, a Dharmic tradition.

Virtue/merit (good karma) is the way to happiness.

Thus have I heard. At one time the Exalted One [the Buddha] was staying near Savatthi at the Eastern monastery in the mansion (given by) Migara's mother.

Then Visakha [Note 1], Migara's mother, approached the Exalted One, bowed, and sat respectfully in a suitable place [to one side]. When she was seated the Exalted One said:

"Visakha, when the lunar observance (uposatha) undertaken with its eight component practices [2] is entered on, it is of great (karmic) fruit, of great advantage, of great splendor, of great range.

"Visakha, how is the lunar observance undertaken with its eight component practices that, entered on, is of great fruit, great advantage, great splendor, and great range?

April 7, 2020 is the Awakening Supermoon
Awakening Super Moon brightest of 2020 (smithsonianmag.com)

"Herein [3], Visakha, a noble disciple considers:

"'For all their lives enlightened disciples (arhats) dwell having abandoned taking the lives of living beings, refrain from killing living beings, they have laid down their cudgels, laid down their weapons.

The golden hued Buddha taught Visakha.

"'Instead, they are conscientious [4], sympathetic, full of compassion for the good of all living beings. So today I dwell, for this whole night and day, having abandoned taking the lives of living beings, refraining from killing living beings.

"'I am one who has laid down my cudgel, laid down my weapon. I am conscientious, sympathetic, full of compassion for the good of all living beings. By this practice, following after the enlightened, the lunar observance will be entered on by me.'

"It is undertaken by this first practice.

"[One further considers:] 'For all their lives the enlightened disciples dwell having abandoned taking what is not given, refrain from taking what is not given.

"'Instead, they are takers [only] of what is given, those who expect only what is given, themselves become clean without thievery. So today I dwell, for this night and day, having abandoned taking what is not given, refraining from taking what is not given. I am a taker [only] of what is given, one who expects only what is given, and by myself become clean without thieving. By this practice, following after the enlightened, the lunar observance will be entered on by me.'

"It is undertaken by this second practice.

"[One further considers:] 'For all their lives the enlightened dwell having abandoned erotic (unchaste) conduct.

"'Instead, they are of chaste conduct, living reserved, refraining from sex which is the way of common society. So today I dwell, for this night and day, having abandoned unchaste conduct.

"'Instead, I am of chaste conduct, living reserved, refraining from sex which is the common way of society. By this practice, following after the enlightened, the lunar observance will be entered on by me.'

"It is undertaken by this third practice. ….

What is the result?

Countless worlds in 31 Planes of Existence

"Visakha, thus indeed is the lunar observance entered on and undertaken with its eight component practices, of great fruit, of great advantage, of great splendor, of great range.

"How great a fruit? How great an advantage? How great a splendor? How great a range?

"Visakha, it is just as though one might have power, dominion, and rulership [11] over 16 great countries abounding in the Seven Treasures [12] — that is to say, Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Vajji, Malla, Ceti, Vansa, Kure, Pancala, Maccha, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kamboja. Yet it is not worth a 16th part of the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices.

For what reason? Miserable is rulership over humans compared with celestial (heavenly) bliss.

"Visakha, that which among humans is 50 years is one night and day of the shining ones (devas) of the Four Great Kings, their month has 30 of those days, their year twelve of those months. The lifespan of the shining ones of the Four Great Kings is 500 [figuratively "a large number"] of those heavenly years.

"Now here a certain woman or man, having entered on the lunar observance, undertaken with its eight practices, at the breakup of the body, after death, may arise to fellowship with those shining ones of the Four Great Kings. Such a thing indeed is known, Visakha.

"It was in connection with this that I said: Miserable is rulership over humans compared with heavenly bliss. …

Full moon, Supermoon, Minneapolis (Wiki)

"Visakha, that which among humans is 1,600 years is one night and day of the shining ones with sway over others' creations (paranimmitavasavatti devas), their month has 30 of those days, their year 12 of those months. The lifespan of those shining ones is 16,000 of those heavenly years.

"Now here a certain woman or man, having entered on the lunar observance undertaken with the eight practices, at the breakup of the body, after death, may arise to fellowship with the these being. Such a thing indeed is known, Visakha.

"It was in connection with this that I said: Miserable is rulership over humans compared with heavenly bliss.

"Take no life,

nor take what is not given,

speak no lie,

nor be a drinker of toxic drinks,

refrain from sex and unchaste conduct,

at not at night or out-of-time food,

neither wear garlands

nor indulge with perfume,

and make your bed a mat upon the ground:

This indeed is called the

eight-part lunar observance

taught by the Buddha

gone to disappointment's end.

The radiance of the sun and moon,

both beautiful to see,

follow on from each other,

dispelling the darkness

as they go through the heavens,

illumining the sky

and brightening the quarters

and the treasure found between them:

pearls and crystals

and auspicious turquoises,

gold nuggets and the gold called ore,

monetary gold

with gold dust carried down —

compared with the eight-part

lunar observance,

though they are enjoyed,

are not a 16th part —

as the shining of the moon

in all the groups of stars.

Hence indeed the woman and the man

who are virtuous

enter on lunar observance

having eight parts

and having made merits [14]

bringing forth happiness

blameless they obtain heavenly abodes."

— PTS iv. pp.255-258

[The devotee Vasettha, when he heard this discourse, after the Buddha had finished speaking the above verses, exclaimed:]

"Venerable sir, if my dear kin and relatives were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day.

"Venerable sir, if all the warrior-nobles, Brahmins, merchants, and laborers [the four castes] were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day."

[The Buddha replied:] "So it is, Vasettha. If all the warrior-nobles, Brahmins, merchants, and laborers were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day.

"If this world with its shining ones, destroyers, creators (devas, maras, and brahmas), this generation [of humans] with its shamans and Brahmins [wandering ascetics and temple priests], together with its rulers and humankind were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day.

"Vasettha, if these great sal trees were to enter on the lunar observance undertaken with its eight practices, it would be for their benefit and happiness for many a day, that is to say, if they were [like humans]. What to say of humans!" — [PTS iv. p.259] More

NOTES

1. Visakha: a very generous female lay disciple who, by listening frequently to the Dharma, became a stream-winner (first stage of enlightenment) and who was, perhaps, already a noble disciple (ariya) when this discourse was spoken.

2. Anga: literally, limb; part, component, practice; here meaning practices composing the uposatha or "lunar observance."

3. "Herein": meaning "in the dispensation of the Buddha or Buddha-sasana," the Buddha's instructions or teachings.

4. Lajji: one who has shame or scruples (hiri) about doing harm, and aversion or fear of wrongdoing (ottappa), the two qualities which are called "the world guardians."

5. Saccasandha: "They join the truth" (Commentary).

6. Theta: literally, "firm, established," that is, in the experience of ultimate truth.

7. Paccayika: truth that has been seen by perceiving its conditional arising.

8. Buddhist monastics do not eat from midday until the following dawn.

9. "High beds" refers to beds that are soft and luxurious.

10. Large beds means those in which two people can sleep.

11. Rajjam: lit., "kingship," but meaning generally great authority.

12. The Seven Treasures: gold, silver, pearl, crystal, turquoise, diamond, and coral.

13. If calculated in human years, the devas or shining ones of the Four Great Kings live 9,000,000 years; shining ones of the World of the Thirty-Three 36,000,000 years; of the Yama 144,000,000 years; of the Tusita 576,000,000 years; of the Nimmanarati 2,304,000,000 years; of the Paranimminitavasavatti devas the life is 9,216,000,000 years. Humans can live at most one day in the life of the devas of the World of the Thirty-Three. It is worth reading the story in the Dhammapada Commentary (Buddhist Legends, Harvard Oriental Series, Vol. 29, reissued by the Pali Text Society, London, 1969), called "Husband-Honorer," which brings to life this comparative time scale.

14. Merit (puñña): good karma, which purifies and cleanses the mind/heart of the doer, such as the practice of the three ways of merit-making: giving, moral conduct (keeping precepts), and meditation.

See AN 3.70, AN 10.46, Ud 2.10, "Uposatha Observance Days"

Happy 100th birthday, Ravi Shankar (Beatles)

Indian Sun (Oliver Craske)

Psychedelic innovator for the Beatles, father of Nora Jones, Ravi ("Sun" in Sanskrit) Shankar revolutionized Western rock music in the 1960s and ever since. He would have been 100 today, and his influence lives on.

NPR covers the cultural shift that took place when Shankar taught the Beatles' George Harrison how to play the sitar, an ancient classical Indian instrument.

Enduring afterglow of Shankar's life in music
Bilal Qureshi (NPR's All Things Considered, April 7, 2020)

News with a Jewish American slant

Ravi Shankar was hugely important in popularizing Indian classical music in Western pop music. He would have turned 100 years old today. Indian Sun is a new authoritative biography of the Indian musician Ravi Shankar's life, published to coincide with this year's centenary of his birth.

In a career that spanned decades and continents, he singlehandedly introduced Western audiences to the centuries-old classical tradition of Indian ragas -- a complex system of melodies performed as longform improvisations by an instrumentalist and an accompanying percussionist.

He inspired legions of Western and Eastern fans and created a model for stretching the boundaries of an ancient musical tradition. Biographer Oliver Craske traces the full breadth of Shankar's life beyond the known flashpoints of his career -- icon of the 1960s, teacher of George Harrison, and a tour-de-force set at the Monterey Pop festival. More

The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" psychedelic acid bootleg, autumn 1965

Hipster Norman Maslov showcases his Shankar collection, April 7, 2020

Mtn climbing and skiing in living room (video)

MyFrisk #StayAtHome (imgur.com); CC Liu, Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

Simile of the Mountains

Pabbatopama Sutra (SN 3.25) edited by Dhr. Seven based on Ven. Thanissaro (trans.)

Climbing the tallest mountain in L.A., Mt. Baldy, aka Mt. San Antonio (hikingguy.com)

Hollow Earth: Mt. Kailash

Thus have I heard. The Buddha was once residing in Savatthi when King Pasenadi of Kosala approached, bowed, and sat respectfully to one side. The Blessed One asked him, "Well now, great king, where are you coming from in the middle of the day?"

"Just now, venerable sir, I was engaged in the royal affairs of an anointed noble-warrior king intoxicated with sovereignty, obsessed with lust for sensual pleasures, with control of territory, as I rule having conquered a great sphere on earth."

Mountains in the four directions

[The Buddha then asked:] "What do you suppose, great king, if a person, trustworthy and reliable were to come from the east and say, 'Your majesty, please know that I come from the east, where I saw a great mountain as high as the clouds coming this way, crushing everyone [in its path]. Do as you see fit.'

Then a second person were to come from the west...
Then a third person were to come from the north...
Then a fourth person were to come from the south saying [the same thing].

"Great king, if such terrible peril were to arise with wanton destruction of human life — human rebirth being so hard to obtain — what should be done?"

"Venerable sir, if such terrible peril were to arise with wanton destruction of human life — human rebirth being so hard to obtain — what else could be done but conduct in line with Dharma, good karma, skillful deeds, meritorious actions?"

Warning

"Great king, I am informing you, I am announcing to you that aging-and-death are rolling this way! Great king, when aging-and-death are rolling this way, what should be done?"

"Venerable sir, as aging-and-death are rolling this way, what else should be done but conduct in line with Dharma, good karma, skillful deeds, meritorious actions?

Jain symbolic depiction of samsara

"Venerable sir, there are elephant battles [fought by] anointed noble-warrior kings intoxicated with sovereignty, obsessed with lust for sensual pleasures, with control of territory, as I rule having conquered a great sphere on earth. But there's no use for elephant battles, no scope for them, when aging-and-death are rolling this way.

"There are cavalry battles...
chariot battles...
infantry battles...

The cavalry faces the infantry of "enemies."

"In this royal court there are counselors who, when enemies arrive, are capable of dividing them just by their wits. But there is no use for such battles of wit, no scope for them, when aging-and-death are rolling this way.

Gold bullion, thesovereign wealth of humans

"In this royal court there is abundant gold stored in vaults, and with such wealth we are capable of buying off enemies when they come. But there is no use for battles of wealth, no scope for them, when aging-and-death are rolling this way.

"Venerable sir, as aging-and-death are rolling this way, what else should be done but conduct in line with Dharma, good karma, skillful deeds, meritorious actions?"

Age and death are approaching!

"So it is, great king, so it is! As aging-and-death are rolling this way, what else should be done but conduct in line with Dharma, good karma, skillful deeds, meritorious actions?"

This is what the Blessed One said. Having said it, the Tathagatha [the Wayfarer, the Well Gone One, the Welcome One, the One Arrived at Suchness], the Teacher, further said:

Massive towers,

Mountains pressing against the sky,

Are moving in from all sides,

Crushing in from the four directions.

Aging-and-death

Are rolling this way, crushing everyone:

Noble-warriors, Brahmins, merchants,

Workers, outcastes, scavengers,

Sparing no one and nothing.

They demolish everything.

Here elephants can hold no ground,

Nor chariots nor infantry,