Tag Archives: Spirituality

Karma and Blame – The Great Middle Way

Assigning blame is emotionally charged. Whether we assign blame to others or ourselves, the negative emotion that accompanies blame is unskillful.

Blame entails not only assigning responsibility for an unwelcome consequence, but also imputing malice or evil intent to the one performing the act.

The law of karma, as taught by the Buddha Shakyamuni, lies beyond all concepts of human morality, right and wrong, good and evil. It is merely the understanding that causes produce effects. Gravity does not intend for us to fall and hurt ourselves when we trip; fire does not intend to cause us pain when our skin is burned by a flame.

When water comes in contact with a surface, that surface becomes wet. We do not blame the water for making the surface wet –that is its nature. Similarly, when our wrong views (ignorance of the nature of self and all phenomena) and afflicted emotions (attachment, aversion, and indifference) lead us to act in unskillful ways, there is no question of guilt and blame.

The purpose of acknowledging the law of karma is instructive, not punitive. When we understand that there is a relationship of cause and effect between our actions and the consequences we experience, we are liberated from victimhood. We are no longer subject to a random universe where evil befalls us without rhyme or reason. We are free to make our own way.

We do not study the law of karma to learn the specific reasons ‘why’ something happens. That exercise is futile. We understand the law of karma in order to make the determination to place positive, skillful causes in the continuum of our experience from here onwards.

The law of karma, of cause and effect, is not meant to lead us to recrimination, guilt, and blame. On the contrary, it is the acceptance of our capacity to be free from suffering and the causes of suffering, and embrace happiness and the causes of happiness.

Source: Karma and Blame

Misty Rain on Mt. Lu – Su Tung-P’o

“Misty rain on Mount Lu,
and waves surging in Che-chiang.
When you have not yet been there,
many a regret surely you have;
but once there and heading homeward,
how matter-of-fact everything looks!
Misty rain on Mount Lu,
and waves surging in Che-chiang.”

—- Su Tung-P’o

Source: Misty Rain on Mt. Lu – Su Tung-P’o

Change Your Emotions – Great Middle Way

To manifest any given emotional state, we develop a pattern:

We focus our attention on a specific feeling (pleasant or unpleasant) and magnify it.

We generate a supporting discursive thought process and identify with it.

We assume a compatible breath pattern and physical posture.

If you want to change your emotional state, change your focus, your self-talk, your breath, and your posture.

via www.greatmiddleway.wordpress.com

Peace and Clarity – Buddhism and The Dharma Via GreatMiddleWay

 

These two mental states are conducive to correct knowledge. Which two?

Peace and clarity.By developing peace, what purpose is served? Mind is purified.

By purifying mind, what purpose is served? Craving is abandoned.

By developing clarity, what purpose is served? Wisdom is developed.

By developing wisdom, what purpose is served? Ignorance is abandoned.

Defiled by craving, the mind is not released [from emotional agitation], and defiled by ignorance, wisdom is not developed.

Thus, abandoning craving through peace, there is liberation of the mental fluctuations, and abandoning ignorance through clarity, there is liberation by wisdom.—Buddha

Shakyamuni, Vijjābhāgiya Sutta

Source: Peace and Clarity

1st Precept — Great Middle Way

In the Dhammika Sutta, the Buddha says that ‘not to kill’ means three things: You do not do it yourself; you do not get others to do it; and you do not encourage, condone, applaud, aid, and abet when others do it. What more does one need to prove that one cannot observe this precept […]

via 1st Precept — Great Middle Way