Sarva Dharma Samabhava

This BuddhismNews.it article is an interesting read. It discusses Ghandi's and Ambedkar's views on Nationalist Muslims. The article begins with a statement by Ghandi:

Scriptures cannot transcend reason and truth. They are intended to purify reason and illuminate truth. Every formula of every religion has, in this age of reason, to submit to the test of reason and universal justice if it is to ask for universal assent. Error can claim no exemption even if it can be supported by the scriptures of the world.

Buddhists would find nothing to disagree with here. Buddha himself suggested that we try the teachings on... that we experiment with thoughts and actions, that we evaluate the results of our thoughts and actions to determine their merit. Everything in Buddhism is subject to the test of reason. Each practitioner is encouraged to be a thorough examiner.

Sarva Dharma Samabhava means equal validity of all religions. This was a concept that Ghandi believed strongly. Ambedkhar dissented. In this post 911/post 77 world, Ambedkhar's words feel somewhat prophetic. Seeking answers to his questions Do the Islamic scriptures pass the tests of reason and universal justice and brotherhood? Do these scriptures allow its adherents to live peacefully with persons professing other faiths? his findings were not in tune with Sarva Dharma Samabhava. He believed:

Islam [is] an exclusive, intolerant and monopolistic religion.

Well, arguably it can be... but we can't count out the non-violent, peace-seeking Muslims who promote Islam as a religion of peace. Despite the violent demonstrations we see that contradict this (unfortunately more frequently as of late) I'm holding out for Sarva Dharma Samabhava. I agree with Ghandi... we can work towards a world where muslims and non-muslims can live in peace with respect and understanding. Perhaps, as we work towards that world, we should also listen to and heed Ambedkar's concerns. I found some truth in what both men were saying.

What's Hard?

Next time you find yourself lamenting about how hard sitting practice is, check out this entry by haikupoet. She relates a story from her teacher:

my teacher once said that some of her longtime students were complaining one night about sitting, and how hard it was. she just said: hard? what's hard? you're just sitting!

That's just perfect, isn't it! I might just post this quote on the wall where I sit. Thanks haikupoet.

Saying Goodbye to My Teacher

We've been gently prepared for many months for this day. After giving five years of service to Still Point as founder and lead Dharma teacher, P'arang took her final bow today and left with the metta and well wishes of so many.

It could've been so overwhelming... saying goodbye to someone who has given so much, who has meant so much to all of us... But I realized today amidst all these happy practitioners that though she is off on another adventure, she will always be with us. Everything that Still Point is... practice that is serious but doesn't take itself too seriously, belly laughter, compassion... all of it will remain as a part of our legacy.

I picked up a book I've been wanting in the bookstore today... in it, there is a poem that really captures the day:

Parting Creates Beauty

Parting creates beauty.
The beauty of parting is not in the fragile gold of morning,
in the seamless silk of night,
in deathless immortality,
or the undying blue of heaven.
My love, without parting I wouldn't live again in laughter
     after dying in tears.

Ah, parting.
Beauty creates parting.

[... from Everything Yearned For: Manhae's Poems of Love and Longing, pg. 5]

So today fulfills a promise and opens a new chapter for us all. May we always know when to shift course and go where the wind carries us.

Summer Reading

I just finished Volume 6 in Buddha, a manga series by Osamu Tezuka. Tezuka is an amazing storyteller. As usual, his works are not entirely true to historical accounts, but I would be hard pressed to find someone who would say he doesn't stick to the spirit of the story.

I think my favorite passage in this volume was Chapter 8, the Sermon at Elephant's Head Mountain. Buddha speaks to his disciples about tempering desires and living simply without grasping so much:

Think of yourself as a fire, and let all your desires and worries die out, just like a fire... you will then gain health, of mind and body alike.

As ususal, the art is amazing.

I'm also reading a work by Paulo Coelho. Several passages in By the River Piedra, I Sat Down and Wept are likely to become favorite quotes, like this one:

You have to take risks, he said. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.

Every day, God gives us the sun-and also one moment in which we have the ability to change everything that makes us unhappy. Every day, we try to pretend that we haven't preceived that moment, that it doesn't exist-that today is the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow. But if people really pay attention to their everyday lives, they will discover that magic moment. It may arrive in the instant when we are doing something mundane, like putting our front door key in the lock; it may lie hidden in the quiet that follows the lunch hour or in the thousand and one things that all seem the same to us. But that moment exists-a moment when all the power of the stars becomes a part of us and enables us to perform miracles.

I'm about a fourth of the way into this one. If you liked The Alchemist, try this one out... It's good.

Zen and the Art of Webring Maintenance

I've been the Ring Manager for the Buddhist Blogs webring since its inception in February of 2005. This was the first webring I'd ever created or managed, and I'm not sure I've handled all aspects of ring management properly.

One of the things I've struggled with is the idea of standards. As an American, I'm very much "pro free speech." I don't really want to editorialize it by selecting only the rings I think fit nicely into the group or by denying bloggers admittance because I don't necessarily agree with what they have to say. For the most part, I think I've been sticking to the original goal... personal weblogs/journals only... must write frequently on buddhism or a buddhist-take on issues/current affairs... no commercial sites. Those of you who browse the ring... let me know how I'm doing here. Would you want the ring to be more selective? If so, how?

Another thing I've struggled with is how to feature sites, when, and why. On this particular point I could also use some feedback from those willing to give it. It was easy when Tom was writing Blogmandu... it sort of made sense to feature a digest that covers/summarizes Buddhist Blogs and their content. (sidebar: Tom, I really hope you are coming back.)

I guess I'm wondering the following:

1. Would ring members like to vote on Featured Sites? If so, how often? Weekly? Monthly? Quarterly?
2. Should we feature sites based on *hot* current content? One way we could determine what's *hot* is by looking at posts that are heavily commented...
3. Should we do away with Featured Sites altogether?

There are so many Blog aggregation resources available out there... Kinja Digests, Blogrolling, Zen Unbound's Tasty Links, etc. The webring will never include all of the great Buddhist Blogs that are out there... perhaps because people don't know about it... perhaps because they just don't want to join. Given this, is the webring still a valuable resource?

How can we keep it fresh and make it better?

Other Sources for Buddhist News

I've been reading Buddhist news articles published on the Buddhist Channel for a while now. Today, I found two new online sources for Buddhist News:

1. Topix.net hails a Buddhism category. I have just added their RSS feed to the Links page of this site.
2. A new member of the Buddhist Blogs webring is aggregating news articles at http://buddhismnews.blogspot.com/

Actually, I found the article I just posted about and learned about Topix.net through the Buddhism News blog... so a hat tip to the author for compiling the resources.

Why Blacks Choose Buddhism

Every now and then, an article appears that points to the shifting spiritual climate in the African American community. Another such article was published last month in the Los Angeles Wave. The article does not bring forth a fresh perspective (I'm not really suggesting that it should)... instead it recapitulates the same themes that run through similar articles.

First, Andrea Joseph-Conley speaks to why the transition from Church to Sangha can be difficult for African Americans:

“I think that they are afraid to change from what they’ve been doing in the past because of the social structure,” said the 53-year-old Los Angeles resident. “All the friends and family, the support groups are based in church. It would be like in the pioneering days, to be out on the frontier by yourself.”

Later comes a statement that perhaps speaks to the number of African Americans practicing Nichiren. A bit more research could have uncovered that all Buddhists don't necessarily chant the Lotus Sutra (or it's title) as part of their practice:

The second aspect of the Buddhist religion — practice — is achieved by chanting daily “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.”

Then it closes with an opinion about Christianity and Christians expressed by one of the author's interviewees:

“As far as Christianity and Christians, I think they’re hard to find,” she said. “I know there are churches on every corner, but I think true Christians are hard to find. [And] it’s hard to address [Christianity], because [Christians] really are hard to find.”

I don't have much commentary. Just thought I'd share the article so those who may be interested can read for themselves.

Daily Dharma

My greatest attainment is when I'm tired, I sleep;
when I'm hungry, I eat.

— Layman Pang

Can Zen Practice Fight Obesity?

According to this Buddhist Channel article, mindful eating can change eating habits, reduce binge eating, increase the enjoyment of food, and help us to be clear about when we have had enough.

I'm trying to lose weight. Last week, I walked almost two miles every night after work. I have workout tapes that I use. But what's interesting to me is that I find that when I'm caught up in my "I'm focused on losing weight now" mode, I'm not practicing as much. I'm tired from walking and working out the night before, so I'm not waking up early enough for sitting practice in the morning.

I also notice that for me, my weight loss efforts tend to focus 90% on being more active, and maybe 10% on changing the way that I eat. What this article reminds me of, is that the way that I eat means more than just the foods that I pick. How often do I really just sit down and eat without thinking about the next thing I have to do? How often do I try to center myself before I sit down in front of my plate? How often do I mindlessly pick something for lunch based on convenience instead of picking something my body will really appreciate and use well?

Among other things, mindful eating means not gorging absent-mindedly while doing something else like watching TV or chattering away, and learning to tell when you feel full enough or that you've reached "taste-specific satiety."

This is the phenomenon by which, after four or five bites, taste buds lose their sensitivity to the chemicals in food that make it taste good. It is taste-specific satiety that explains why the first bites of chocolate taste better than later ones and why, when you cannot manage another bite of steak, you have plenty of enthusiasm for ice cream. Once you recognize that you're losing the pleasure of a certain taste, it's easier to stop eating it.

This article is a lesson to me. Slow down. Taste your food. Notice it. Appreciate the textures, the scents, the warmth, the coldness. Really pay attention. Breathe between bites. Notice your body. Bring the same present moment awareness you cultivate on the cushion to each and every mealtime... not just formal meal times (breakfast, lunch, dinner) but the moments when you want to snack.

When you want to snack, notice what you are craving. Are you hungry? Do you just want the taste of something sweet or salty? What about that Hershey's bar... Do you have to eat the whole thing just because you opened it? They do section it off into nice tiny bite sized rectangles. Next time I think I need chocolate I might just take one section at a time, slowly, and try to notice when that sweet craving is actually satisfied... try to notice when I cross the line between enjoying a little chocolate and eating it because it's there.

On Being Glad at Heart

I've been missing the Sangha. Car trouble has prevented me from venturing out too far, and I haven't heard a dharma talk in weeks. I just noticed that the Father's Day message has been posted on the Still Point website.

As a single parent, I shift between the archetypal (some might say traditional, "old fashioned" or stereotypical "gender") roles of father and mother... strong disciplinarian, provider, nurturer, educator... it runs the gamut. And I could relate to everything said about parenthood from a father's perspective. The talk was based on the Sabbasava Sutra:

It took me a while to find a sutra aimed at fathers but, thank Buddha, there is one. Its official title is The Getting Rid of Cares and Troubles Sutra. To be the fathers we want to be we need to do just that, get rid of cares and troubles. Here are the seven behaviors the Buddha offered up to show us how to do it. They are:

1. Getting rid of cares and troubles through insight;
2. Getting rid of them by restraint;
3. Only using things they were designed for;
4. Endurance;
5. Avoidance of things that can harm us;
6. Dispersal of negative thinking; and
7. Heedfulness.

As a parent, the focus seems to often be on getting rid of the cares and troubles of your children... tending to them when they are sick... and guiding them so they don't become too consumed by their cares (be they desires for things or too many things, desires to do things that are unskillful, desires to hold on to unskillful habits or emotions) and instead learn to maintain a healthy balance. To begin, we must learn to be skillful with our own cares and troubles. Next in the Dharma talk came a great teaching on developing presence of mind:

Getting rid of cares and troubles through insight is about letting go of trains of thought that don’t do us any good. Buddha offered a specific listing:

1. Did I exist in the past?
2. Did I not exist in the past?
3. What was I in the past?
4. Shall I exist in the future?
5. What shall I be in the future?
6. How shall I be in the future?
7. Am I?
8. Am I not?
9. What am I?
10. How am I?

You get the picture. The instructions are clear: stop the questioning. You are missing your life.

How often do we find ourselves preoccupied in the presence of our kids? We work all day and bring work home... either physical/actual work or the emotional and stressful burdens of work. Sometimes we take in too much... news, television, time on the phone with friends, time wrapped up in our own pursuits... so that we have nothing left for them.

This summer for me has become about finding some balance here. Turning off the television. Spending time reading, taking walks together, playing board games, and just enjoying the company of my daughter... taking back the time I spent worrying about what's coming next and just sinking into now. Being at home when I'm at home.

The dharma talk goes on to expound further on each of the seven things we can do to get rid of cares and troubles. Read it if you are so inclined. I was particularly moved by the final words:

Can we do all these things? Of course. All the time? Nope. Here’s the secret punchline to the sutra. Even trying, just doing our best, makes us "glad at heart." Buddha promised. Smack in the middle of that "glad at heart" is a wonderful parent.