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Two Kinds Of Lion’s Roar
May. 16 | Truths are only surprising to those used to non-truths. – Shilashanti Two of the most important scriptures in the Pali canon are the Great Discourse on the Lion’s Roar (Maha-sihanada Sutta) and the Short Discourse on the Lion’s Roar (Cula-sihanada...
The Noble Abstain From False, Divisive, Harsh & Frivolous Speech
May. 8 | Renounce falseness and cultivate trustworthiness. Renounce divisiveness and cultivate harmoniousness. Renounce harshness and cultivate peacefulness. Renounce frivolousness and cultivate meaningfulness. – Shilashanti Kālāmas, a learned noble disciple...
Some Truths Revealed On Revealed ‘Truths’
May. 3 | ‘Come Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by [1] repeated hearing; nor [2] upon tradition; nor [3] upon rumor; nor [4] upon what is in a scripture; nor [5] upon surmise; nor [6] upon an axiom; nor [7] upon specious...
The Wheels Of Spiritual & Worldly Power
Apr. 26 | Without the spiritual wheel of the Dharma, all worldly wheels but turn in endless cycles, seemingly getting somewhere but nowhere. – Shilashanti “The monks since the time of the Buddha have represented the wheel of truth and righteousness, the...
How To Not Sleepwalk Through Life
Apr. 18 | You act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire. – Seneca Like Buddhists, Stoics advise us to contemplate the world’s impermanence. “All things human,” Seneca reminds us, “are short-lived...
Two Ways To Overcome Lust
Apr. 10 | Where another man prays ‘Grant that I may possess this woman,’ let your own prayer be, ‘Grant that I may not lust to possess her.’ Where he prays, ‘Grant me to be rid of such-and-such a one,’ you pray, ‘Take from me my desire to be rid of...
Four Ways To Overcome Anger
Apr. 3 | Anger is like those ruins which smash themselves on what they fall. – Seneca Suppose we find that despite our attempts to prevent anger, the behaviour of other people succeeds in angering us. It will help us to overcome our anger, says Seneca, [1] if...
The Buddha’s Words On Loving-Kindness (Karaniya Metta Sutta)
Mar. 27 | [1] He sleeps in comfort. [2] He awakes in comfort. [3] He sees no evil dreams. [4] He is dear to human beings. [5] He is dear to non-human beings. [6] Devas (gods) protect him. [7] Fire, poison, and sword cannot touch him. [8] His mind can concentrate...
Should You Eat Animals?
Mar. 20 | [W]e are supposed to be the refuge and protector of all infinite beings. The beings with unfortunate karma that we are supposed to be protecting are instead being killed without the slightest compassion, and their boiled flesh and blood are being presented...
Samantabhadra & Manjusri Bodhisattvas’ Greatest Dedication Of Merits
Mar. 14 | Those who make this heartfelt aspiration for the Bodhisattva way Will be free of all lower rebirths, Free of harmful companions, And will quickly see Amitabha, Infinite Light. – Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (The King Of Prayers) In order to train just...
Both The Haves & Have-Nots Suffer
Mar. 6 | Who you are is defined by what you’re willing to struggle for. – Mark Manson One of the realizations [of the Buddha] was this: that life itself is a form of suffering [as it includes ageing, sickness, death, and all kinds of mental suffering...
Four Kinds Of Unskilful & Skilful Speech
Feb. 27 | Good bodily conduct, good verbal conduct, good mental conduct. A person endowed with these three things is to be recognized as a wise person. – The Buddha (Lakkhana Sutta) Unskillful Verbal Action [The Buddha]: “And how is one made impure in four...Uncover Your Forgotten But Never Lost Treasure
Feb. 20 | If a Bodhisattva intently ponders The profound Tathāgata store Possessed by all sentient beings, He will quickly attain the unsurpassed Bodhi [i.e. Buddhahood]. – Śākyamuni Buddha (Mahāvaipulya Sūtra Of The Tathāgata Store) … [A]s...
Make Your Bed
Feb. 12 | Make up your mind, to better your mind, to better mind your words and deeds, to better your life. – Shilashanti Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room,...
