I saw this email in my inbox this morning and knew I had to read it immediately. I have spent the last few days immersed in helping to rally neighbors & prepare a statement in opposition to a building contractor’s request to change certain restrictions. These restrictions are currently in place and they protect my neighborhood and wildlife from proposed changes that I perceive as harmful. After reading this I was struck by two things, the truth of your words and the fact that I never felt anger or resentment towards the people who submitted these variance requests to the city for approval. I approached this with the intention of doing the best I could and understanding they have their point of view as I have mine. I feel pain and sadness for the wildlife primarily as they are always the innocent victims of the rapid devastating change we humans too often inflict upon them. If the contractors achieve getting the current restrictions overturned I will refocus on relaying to our wildlife the urgency of moving their families to safer ground.
Again my thanks for posting an article that is deeply meaningful to me.
As almost always, new~always these dharma messages arrive at preciously the most auspicious moment when the lesson offered is just the perfect lesson needed in the moment. AHHH!!! Much gratitude for the divine timing! And blessings to you, David, for your thoughts/words/deeds and for the beings who support the dharma way. May we all feel the peace that surpasses understanding. I have been a student of the Sufi path for over half my life and recently immersing myself in the words and practices offered by the historical Buddha...may all beings be happy, may all beings be well...Om shanti Om Shanti Om shanti Om...Blessings, Mirabai
Thank you for your latest posting. Often the hardest thing to do is say nothing when someone is expressing their point of view which seems totally incorrect to ones own views.
Thank you once again for updating us on the progress of the DGL nunnery, good luck to the nuns taking their exams.
I found this explanation really helpful, David. As an autistic adult, I find many things difficult. My brain process things differently. So I want to ask if you know of any Buddhist research, resources or teachings to help an autistic such as myself better understand and practice these things? Changing programming seems easy, changing hardwiring less so. Or maybe not?
Thank you for supporting the causes you do, David. It is marvellous to see the Nunnery flourishing and so many others benefiting as a result.🙏🐈
Nothing springs immediately to mind, Erin, but I will do some asking around. I wonder if any other subscribers can answer Erin's question about Dharma resources for autistic adults?
Yes it can be a relief, Sarah. As well as a challenge. It certainly helps make for happier relationships when can overlook those areas where people are clearly mad! :)
Thank you David. We don’t always need to agree with everything we hear or read. However that does not mean we need to stay silent. We are entitled to say why we disagree.
It doesn’t make us right but we do have the freedom to agree or disagree and we should use our right to do so otherwise we inadvertently accept what is said. The part of our disagreement should be known for what it is. Then others can have an idea of why we choose to disagree. This might just make sense to the blind followers and enable them to change their minds.
Thank you David for making this obvious to us all.
Thank you for this much-needed reminder, David. I so love receiving your emails on Saturday morning - what a precious gift to start the weekend with! 🙏🏼💖
A very wise comment. Many thanks, Once it is obvious that the other person is not open to considering another point of view, there is absolutely no point in getting annoyed. It just makes us upset and creates unhelpful energy. It is also the case that as none of us know everything, we too need to consider whether what the other person is saying has, or could have, some validity. If a situation needs changing, then, instead of being stuck in useless argument, the better method is to try to find another way round. If that is impossible, then best to accept what is, but without sacrificing one's own point of view.
thank you so very much for this precious contemplation which - as it often “happens” - has arrived at the exactly right moment. Too often I let myself entrap in indignant reactions to things people say and do although I know it’s not only of no use but also harms myself. With this post you have put me back on the “right path” inviting me to change my way to see things and to review my way to react.
Many sincere thanks Susanna. It was a confronting post that I felt I should write and I am glad that you and other readers have accepted it in the spirit in which I intended!
This is so helpful in many ways, David, but I struggle with gratuitous cruelty to animals and people and having compassion for the perpetrators (I know there is cruelty as a result of need for food and money, but what about purely evil cruelty (a recent example haunts my thoughts as I write this). Can the perpetrators ever be viewed compassionately?
Hi Sue - good question. And I completely empathise with your question, I feel the same way about the running of the bulls etc. The Buddhist presentation of karma, unpalatable as it may be, is that whatever suffering we inflict on others, will be experienced ourselves in the future. And because karma multiplies, it may be multiple times what we have inflicted. The beings suffering at the hands of other beings are experiencing this as a result of some karma they previously created. We just can't see it, because we can't see the the causes that led to the current effects. It could have been lifetimes ago.
The 'evil beings' curently inflicting pain are setting themselves up for even worse pain in the future. They have no idea of this, of course, which is the basis on which we may view them with compassion.
Because most beings don't really believe in karma, they are caught in an endless cycle of disatisfaction, perpetuated by ignorance about the nature of reality.
I do appreciate so much about Buddhist teachings that we are asked to think about them and not just accept them without question! Also that we are still free to live by the teachings of other religions while still incorporating the wonderful Buddhist philosophies of love and compassion.
In this case I think I find it most comforting to be able to pray to the God I have talked to for seventy years for the spirit of gentle beings that have been treated cruelly and ask forgiveness for those who are being cruel, with the love and compassion for all beings that Buddhism is teaching me -
I delayed reading this until the moment when energy could be devoted to listening carefully. Ahhhh, what an important thing to absorb, the need to listen and to not raise our emotional temperature. The image of the tongue depressor with its messages has encouraged me to create my own small reminder of these wise words. The story of the 3 different beings walking into the bar resonated with me. An excellent approach to conveying this notion, our karma predisposes us to see what lies in front of us. Thanks again for your time and gifts to us.
Thank you so much Nimrod, for sharing this. I love your use of the phrase 'not raise our emotional temperature' - beautifully put! And goes to the heart of this message.
Indeed it is, and I think we all benefit from receiving gentle nudges to remind us that those on the other side of arguements often feel equally righteous!
I saw this email in my inbox this morning and knew I had to read it immediately. I have spent the last few days immersed in helping to rally neighbors & prepare a statement in opposition to a building contractor’s request to change certain restrictions. These restrictions are currently in place and they protect my neighborhood and wildlife from proposed changes that I perceive as harmful. After reading this I was struck by two things, the truth of your words and the fact that I never felt anger or resentment towards the people who submitted these variance requests to the city for approval. I approached this with the intention of doing the best I could and understanding they have their point of view as I have mine. I feel pain and sadness for the wildlife primarily as they are always the innocent victims of the rapid devastating change we humans too often inflict upon them. If the contractors achieve getting the current restrictions overturned I will refocus on relaying to our wildlife the urgency of moving their families to safer ground.
Again my thanks for posting an article that is deeply meaningful to me.
I am so very glad that this message comes at a helpful time, Michele.
As almost always, new~always these dharma messages arrive at preciously the most auspicious moment when the lesson offered is just the perfect lesson needed in the moment. AHHH!!! Much gratitude for the divine timing! And blessings to you, David, for your thoughts/words/deeds and for the beings who support the dharma way. May we all feel the peace that surpasses understanding. I have been a student of the Sufi path for over half my life and recently immersing myself in the words and practices offered by the historical Buddha...may all beings be happy, may all beings be well...Om shanti Om Shanti Om shanti Om...Blessings, Mirabai
My heartfelt thanks for your beautiful message, Mirabai.
What a wonderful and kind way to save our energy...we don't have to agree, just listen....
Exactly! Thanks Trisha!
Especially helpful is the two-sided sign of “Tell me more” and “This has nothing to do with me”.
Thank you for sharing this heartful teaching.❤️
My pleasure, Shirin.
Thank you for your latest posting. Often the hardest thing to do is say nothing when someone is expressing their point of view which seems totally incorrect to ones own views.
Thank you once again for updating us on the progress of the DGL nunnery, good luck to the nuns taking their exams.
I agree ... a very tough thing to do. Many thanks Wendy!
I found this explanation really helpful, David. As an autistic adult, I find many things difficult. My brain process things differently. So I want to ask if you know of any Buddhist research, resources or teachings to help an autistic such as myself better understand and practice these things? Changing programming seems easy, changing hardwiring less so. Or maybe not?
Thank you for supporting the causes you do, David. It is marvellous to see the Nunnery flourishing and so many others benefiting as a result.🙏🐈
Nothing springs immediately to mind, Erin, but I will do some asking around. I wonder if any other subscribers can answer Erin's question about Dharma resources for autistic adults?
Thank you, David, and also anyone who can share any resources. 🙏
Thank you David, AS always, timely, helpful, easy to understand ( maybe a little more tricky to do sometimes but hey... work in progress).
Actually also a relief! I can have my ideas and others can have theirs and its OK.
I love it
Yes it can be a relief, Sarah. As well as a challenge. It certainly helps make for happier relationships when can overlook those areas where people are clearly mad! :)
Thank you David. We don’t always need to agree with everything we hear or read. However that does not mean we need to stay silent. We are entitled to say why we disagree.
It doesn’t make us right but we do have the freedom to agree or disagree and we should use our right to do so otherwise we inadvertently accept what is said. The part of our disagreement should be known for what it is. Then others can have an idea of why we choose to disagree. This might just make sense to the blind followers and enable them to change their minds.
Thank you David for making this obvious to us all.
Peter
My pleasure, Peter, and many thanks for all your supportive messages.
Thank you for this much-needed reminder, David. I so love receiving your emails on Saturday morning - what a precious gift to start the weekend with! 🙏🏼💖
So happy you feel this way, thank you Sharadha!
So helpful… thank you so much ..🙏🏽
Many thanks Margaret.
A very wise comment. Many thanks, Once it is obvious that the other person is not open to considering another point of view, there is absolutely no point in getting annoyed. It just makes us upset and creates unhelpful energy. It is also the case that as none of us know everything, we too need to consider whether what the other person is saying has, or could have, some validity. If a situation needs changing, then, instead of being stuck in useless argument, the better method is to try to find another way round. If that is impossible, then best to accept what is, but without sacrificing one's own point of view.
Quite so, Louise. Thanks so much for sharing your response.
Dear David,
thank you so very much for this precious contemplation which - as it often “happens” - has arrived at the exactly right moment. Too often I let myself entrap in indignant reactions to things people say and do although I know it’s not only of no use but also harms myself. With this post you have put me back on the “right path” inviting me to change my way to see things and to review my way to react.
Many sincere thanks Susanna. It was a confronting post that I felt I should write and I am glad that you and other readers have accepted it in the spirit in which I intended!
This is so helpful in many ways, David, but I struggle with gratuitous cruelty to animals and people and having compassion for the perpetrators (I know there is cruelty as a result of need for food and money, but what about purely evil cruelty (a recent example haunts my thoughts as I write this). Can the perpetrators ever be viewed compassionately?
Hi Sue - good question. And I completely empathise with your question, I feel the same way about the running of the bulls etc. The Buddhist presentation of karma, unpalatable as it may be, is that whatever suffering we inflict on others, will be experienced ourselves in the future. And because karma multiplies, it may be multiple times what we have inflicted. The beings suffering at the hands of other beings are experiencing this as a result of some karma they previously created. We just can't see it, because we can't see the the causes that led to the current effects. It could have been lifetimes ago.
The 'evil beings' curently inflicting pain are setting themselves up for even worse pain in the future. They have no idea of this, of course, which is the basis on which we may view them with compassion.
Because most beings don't really believe in karma, they are caught in an endless cycle of disatisfaction, perpetuated by ignorance about the nature of reality.
I do appreciate so much about Buddhist teachings that we are asked to think about them and not just accept them without question! Also that we are still free to live by the teachings of other religions while still incorporating the wonderful Buddhist philosophies of love and compassion.
In this case I think I find it most comforting to be able to pray to the God I have talked to for seventy years for the spirit of gentle beings that have been treated cruelly and ask forgiveness for those who are being cruel, with the love and compassion for all beings that Buddhism is teaching me -
Bless you for starting me on this path with HHC!
Nice Davide, thank you very much for your great post and photos.
Thank you so much for your kind message, Zuzana. I love being called Davide!
I delayed reading this until the moment when energy could be devoted to listening carefully. Ahhhh, what an important thing to absorb, the need to listen and to not raise our emotional temperature. The image of the tongue depressor with its messages has encouraged me to create my own small reminder of these wise words. The story of the 3 different beings walking into the bar resonated with me. An excellent approach to conveying this notion, our karma predisposes us to see what lies in front of us. Thanks again for your time and gifts to us.
Thank you so much Nimrod, for sharing this. I love your use of the phrase 'not raise our emotional temperature' - beautifully put! And goes to the heart of this message.
Righteous indignation is such a hard thing to combat (within oneself)!
Indeed it is, and I think we all benefit from receiving gentle nudges to remind us that those on the other side of arguements often feel equally righteous!