Journal Tuesday 3 April 2018

I go for refuge until I’m enlightened

To the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha

From the virtuous merit I collect from practicing giving and other perfections

May I attain the state of a Buddha for the sake of all sentient beings. (Repeat 3 times).

Where we are without refuge is in a very unholy reality. I am writing down thoughts of the moment to document just how sad and sorrowful it is without making proper attempts at genuine Buddhist practice. I went for a walk today in the Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. It’s a tragic type of experience delving into the city’s experience of mental and emotional torment, turmoil and suffering.

It may be called a pure land, or is it just another example of how out of control humans are with each other. People push and shove on the pathways, refusing to get out of each other’s way, not adhering to any sort of ordered traffic arrangement. It’s noisy, conjested on the streets outside, people yell at the top of their unholy voices and scream like out of control lunatics. It’s disgusting watching people’s lack of wisdom and general reluctance to observe fully the white actions of body, speech and mind.

The gardens are not an example of people showing any recognition of inner peace and harmony. Nevertheless, it is important to try to walk a bit, perhaps for an hour each day, to refresh the body, and to observe and practice some state of inner health and wellbeing. I always suggest just walking and watching one’s own inner continuum in silence. If you are with a friend, even more so. Don’t engage in any sort of mindless mental flow and nonsense.

So, I’m commenting and teaching on Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, by the great and honorable Pabongka Rinpoche. We are just listening to the first two verses of the text. As I was saying, this famous transmission of the dharma was given in Tibet, the holy land of Tibet, before the revolting Chinese communists invaded, slaughtered and exacted their murderous and genocidal campaign against what is a humble, religious, devout and for the most part peaceful and relaxed nation of people.

 

As I walked the path to Buddhahood today, I noticed the anger and the hatred in the minds of young people, listening loudly to their beat box in the park, showing no regard for the welfare of others. Threatening aren’t they? What’s wrong with noise? You need a quite and tranquil environment in which to progress, train, pacify and tame the wild flow of the mind.

Yibedee, Yibeda, that’s all folks for today. Try to stay calm and relaxed. This is not porky pig from Warner Brother’s Cartoons talking however.