We have to keep training the mind/heart in line with the path of practice.
As a result it'll get gradually more familiar with the practice the Buddha taught, bit by
bit. It'll keep getting more tractable, malleable, tame, so that it wanders
off only occasionally, only once in a long, long while.
It'll rarely get
lost. If we were to strap it down too tightly, it might struggle to get away. So
we may have to put it on a long leash.
But whether we keep it on a
slack or tight leash all depends on which technique we find
works for us. The strategies needed for training the heart/mind aren't the
same for everyone.
Some people really have to force it, come down
hard on it, go without food and water. But it all comes down to whatever
works in keeping the mind/heart within its proper bounds.
The "Sentinelese" are the world's most isolated tribe. They are uncontacted humans living on North Sentinel Island, India, one of the Andaman islands in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean.
Get out: American missionary killed by tribe
They vigorously reject all contact with outsiders. The Indian government altogether abandoned their plans to establish contact with the Sentinelese. Many believe that it is vital to respect their wish to remain uncontacted. Contact with them would endanger them because they have no immunity to common diseases. It is vital to leave them be. If not, the entire tribe might be wiped out. Contact imposed on other tribes on the Andaman islands has had a devastating impact.
Luck can seem synonymous with randomness. To call someone lucky is usually to deny the relevance of their own effort, intelligence, hard work, or talent.
As Professor of Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK Richard Wisemanputs it:
Lucky people “appear to have an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time and enjoy more than their fair share of lucky breaks.”
What do these people have that the rest of us don’t? It turns out “ability” is the key word here.
Beyond their level of privilege or the circumstances they were born into, the luckiest people may have a specific set of skills that bring chance opportunities their way. Somehow, they’ve learned ways to turn life’s odds in their favor.
“His research is hilarious.”
Demystifying this luck skillset has been a personal project of Christine Carter, a sociologist and senior fellow at the Greater Good Science Center, at the University of California at Berkeley. A few years ago, she was putting together an online course for families on raising happier kids.
She translates research findings on qualities such as gratitude, mindfulness, and happiness into quantifiable, teachable skills.
Amidst her work, she stumbled upon a funny little concept that seemed to be entangled with all these things -- luck. More
Sivali's super karmic good luck Wisdom Quarterly Wikipedia edit
Buddhist Sivali gave himself luck by his profitable karma and gained enlightenment.
Ven. Sivali gold amulets (WQ)
Ven. Sīvali (Thai พระสีวลี, Chinese 尸婆羅) is an enlightened (arhat) Buddhist monk widely venerated among Theravada Buddhists.
He is the Buddhist "patron saint" of travel, for he -- by his great karma -- is believed to ward off misfortune at home, such as fire and theft. His veneration predates the introduction of Theravada Buddhism into Burma.
Ven. Sīvali, whose statue is often mistaken for that of the Buddha, is typically depicted standing upright and carrying a walking staff, an alms bowl, and Buddhist mala beads.
Thai good luck Ven. Sivali talismans
Born to Queen Suppavasa, young Sīvali is said to have remained in his mother's womb for seven years because of past karma.
After a week in labor, his mother gave birth to a precocious boy who could immediately speak.
Thereafter, the historical Buddha's chief male disciple foremost in wisdom, Ven. Sariputra, ordained Sīvali into the Sangha.
Burmese Buddhists believe that Sīvali is still living and that he can be invoked to come by a special incantation. His mere invisible presence brings prosperity and good fortune.
Sivali Paritta: special incantation (chant) to call forth protection
Karma: sharing is merit
Attractive gold Sivali talisman
Eating modestly: This type of eating is very good, both in terms of worldly success and of the Dharma [spiritually beneficial, profitable in the gaining of enlightenment and liberation]. Take Ven. Sivali as an example.
He ate modestly. How? All that most of us know about Ven. Sivali is that he was extremely wealthy in terms of the donations (dana) he constantly received. But where did that wealth come from? It comes from eating modestly.
Eating modestly is the source that gives rise to wealth. What Ven. Sivali did was this: whenever he received cloth, he would not wear what he had received until he had given some of it as a gift to someone else.
When he received food in his alms bowl, he would not eat until he had given some of it as a gift to someone else.
No matter which of the Four Requisites [permissible for Buddhist wandering ascetics and intensive meditation practitioners] he received --
food
clothing
shelter
medicine
no matter how much or how little -- once it was in his possession, he would not use it until he had shared some of it with those around him.
When he received a lot, he would make a large gift to benefit many people. When he received just a little, he'd still try to benefit others. This gave rise to all sorts of good things. [It is one of Buddhism's Four Bases of Popularity].
Thanks! I feel lucky now, and it shows!
His friends loved him, his community loved him, and they were kind to him. This is why being generous [and unbiased in our generosity rather than preferential to some] is said to tie the knot of friendship and to wipe out our enemies.
So that's what Ven. Sivali did. When he passed away from his previous lifetime and was reborn in his final lifetime (final because it is when he finally achieved awakening and complete liberation from all rebirth and all suffering), he gained all kinds of wealth and never had to go hungry.
Even when he went to travel or live in places where food should have been scarce, he always enjoyed plentiful abundance and never suffered scarcity, never had to do without... More
FREE: The Los Angeles Fall Vegan Food Fest is this Sunday, November 25th, 2018, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm in Griffith Park at the Crystal Springs Picnic Area.
DETAILS
Karma: kindness causes beauty
Join this vegan fest at Griffith Park, an event that's completely FREE and open to the public.
Fest attendees will hear from inspiring local speakers, listen to live music from special musical guest Annette Conlon, win awesome raffle prizes, challenge friends in fun yard games, and more!
A full list of food vendors, speakers, and others is coming soon! This is a fun and family-friendly event. Bring kids by the Barefoot Books Kids Corner for fun activities, story time, and face painting.
Organizer
The 2018 Fall Vegan Food Fest is organized by the Factory Farming Awareness Coalition (FFAC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people to help save animals, the environment, and our own health through our daily food choices.
VOLUNTEER AND TROT FOR FREE This event would not be possible without the amazing volunteers who help out! Signup to volunteer at the trot and/or food fest here: signupgenius.com. Vegan Food Fest volunteers get to participate in the Tofurky Trot beforehand for free!
What might it be like to start 2019 with a silent retreat over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend?
What if it's led by Spring Washam, Beth Sternlieb, and Gullu Singh at the serene Royal Way Retreat Center?
During this silent retreat explore how the Buddha's teachings offer a path to inner peace, freedom, and a compassionate heart.
Awareness as developed through mindfulness practice and loving-kindness (metta) are the essential ingredients to any spiritual life.
Awareness leads to clarity, insight, and understanding. Altruistic love opens the heart, allows a kind embrace of ourselves, and connects us intimately with all of life.
The fusion of love and mindfulness supports a compassionate response to the pain we encounter in ourselves and in life.
Buddhas point, and we practice.
In this retreat of meditation practice we will discover how these qualities are intimately related and mutually-supportive and why they are necessary in any journey of awakening in learning to live wisely and kindly in the world.
We will draw guidance from the teachings and practices of the Buddha and inspiration from the life of the great Christian Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who beautifully expressed in his words and actions the power of compassion and in response to suffering and injustice in our world.
This retreat will include comprehensive meditation instruction for sitting and walking meditation, as well as talks, group discussions, and mindful movement.
It is suitable for beginning and experienced students. Time in retreat allows us to step out of the complexity of our lives and to listen deeply to our body, heart, and mind.
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