Once upon a time there was a girl more intelligent than anyone else. Really; gosh, that’s unusual! Her name was Oceané, and she was born under a sal tree in Fawkner. Really, what, like the Buddha? Well, if the truth be told, she arrived a teeny weeny babe, that her mother gasped at, and said, “All that effort for that.” This was actually at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, in Parkville Victoria, under the watchful eye of Lord Buddha, otherwise known as Glynn White, friend of Weary Dunlop and Frank Forster.
Her mother Grace, was a nurse, who happily, naturally enjoyed looking after the welfare of others. This is somewhat debatable, however.
After growing up a bit, from the age of about five years, there was Leeda, a guide friend, born to take care of the blind. We used to share cups of tea together, specially arranged with Oceane’s own formal tea ceremony. Much later a Buddhist temple was constructed nearby.
More Dharma Practice
Enjoyment arises from practicing ethical conduct correctly and rejoicing in virtuous deeds.
Moving right along. Don’t seem to be too good at those daily entries. The year has really rolled on by. Today I’ve been considering social work as a career possibility. There is an accelerated two year program at Monash which looks interesting. Still there is more money in psychology apparently. Christian still favors psychology.
Just went for a swim this morning and then cooked lunch. Have to try and get back into an earlier wake up routine. Last night I didn’t get to sleep till too late and then woke up late. That is really annoying. The swim felt grand though, so maybe there is hope for me yet.
Buddhist Advice
Buddhist Advice for the virtuously motivated.
A$300.00
Verna sounded not so good today when I rang her. Health really is a day to day thing. This afternoon Debbie is giving me a massage. The massage really works wonders. I am enjoying seeing her. It is really very kind that she has offered to massage me.
Julia will be back in 9 days.
Today is hot outside. The cricket is on. Australia and New Zealand test series. Not much on Foxtel.
More Dharma Practice
Enjoyment arises from practicing ethical conduct correctly and rejoicing in virtuous deeds.
A$20.00
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If you think you don’t have thoughts like this, be more honest with yourself. Young people, middle aged people especially all wonder about how to create a virtuous living, right livelihood for themselves. Once I read a book when I was twenty-one by Thich Nhat Hanh. He talked to the world about the need for white action. What is white action? Really, it is His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama that talks profoundly about this subject. His Holiness is a safe, reliable and valid spiritual guide, and He is my root guru.
Yesterday Geshe Doga said to Vanessa, “Money enough.” What does this mean? Well, on the positive side, maybe I won’t end up begging on the street, or isn’t this what many Buddhists are doing these days? How are Mahayana Buddhists doing well financially? If you put ethics first, you really need to work with a culture of people who value ethical conduct over materialistic, and selfish, or destructive motivations. Geshe Doga suggested “Computers?” Vanessa thought, OK and what about investigating science even further?
Buddhist science is way more advanced than western ideology (philosophy, psychiatry and psychology). Mind scientists study the mind. Many people don’t even recognise the Hum, the mind, the heart. They, Mahayana Buddhists, study the heart, (meaning, the mind). Now, even though the mind has an interconnection with the brain and the other organs of the body, the mind, is clear and knowing. Psychiatrists study the brain. Buddhists study the body, speech and mind.
More Dharma Practice
Enjoyment arises from practicing ethical conduct correctly and rejoicing in virtuous deeds.
A$20.00
As a mind scientist and philosopher, the study of Lo Rig, Mind and Mental Factors, is essential to working out how to abandon negative states of mind, the six primary delusions and the secondary delusions, (see Alexander Berzin Archives). Buddhists must also focus on how to cultivate Bodhicitta; the bodhicitta motivation, aspiring to and engaging in the deeds of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, to progress along the path to the cessation of suffering and to eventually attain the cessation of suffering, liberation – (freedom from throwing karma, (meaning action)), and Buddhahood.
Commentary on the Simpsons – The problems with ordinary appearance and self grasping
In this episode, we look at how Bart is just so distraught because Homer and wifey wifey have decided to go out to some sort of gala event, and they have decided that Lisa is to babysit the children. So, Bart is just outraged and ready to play up. What’s the problem Bart? Samsara is just so annoying! Here we see the bane of meeting with what you do not want and being separated from what you like. The bane of moving from high to low over and over without choice. What’s up Bart’s nostril? Well, I’d say, wrong view.
So what exactly is wrong view, and how does it create sin and negativity, black seeds and negative instinct within the mind? Wrong view imputes inherent existence, it thinks, I inherently exist and so do you, etc. However, that is incorrect. All phenomena lack inherent existence, whilst cause and effect and dependent arising are unfailing. So, the person, the five aggregates are empty of inherent existence. The selflessness of person is that you understand, see and realise the emptiness of the self of person. The selflessness of phenomena is that you don’t grasp at things as being inherently existent in any way at all, you see the emptiness of all phenomena. Even emptiness is empty of inherent existence.
Bart looks at Lisa like she’s the problem in his life and Lisa is looking all good and ready to boss Bart around. What hell! The thing is Lisa is still suffering and also imputing wrong view, so Bart thinks, Lisa, you are no help and just go away and leave me in peace please. The ignorance of a self of person and phenomena is to blame for the misery portrayed and discussed in The Simpsons.
I’m going to try and write about what happened in my retreat and how things got so difficult with my family.
I really need to begin at the beginning. What happened to me as a person, when I started to get to know Geshela and take the teachings at Tara House seriously.
This is a long story, so I will be patient, and try to show what happened to Vanessa and her family, once I developed the bodhicitta mind aspiring to and engaging on the path to the cessation of suffering, to achieve the cessation of suffering, Buddhahood.
More Dharma Practice
Enjoyment arises from practicing ethical conduct correctly and rejoicing in virtuous deeds.
A$20.00
It will take me some time to explain, but I will take it step by step and see what develops.
One of the qualities that attracted Vanessa to Christian way back when Vanessa was twenty-one years of age, and first getting to know Christian, was that Christian was not like all the other Aussie Larrikins that Vanessa knew at the time. Many of the young men Vanessa knew at that time were interested in the football culture and keen on a beer. Vanessa isn’t critical of a friendly, harmonious get together, but non-virtue is no good for anyone.
Time for a change of script.
Vanessa was feeling shocking. Elsa, Verna Anne’s cleaner, approached Vanessa whilst cleaning the apartment. Elsa said, “What music do you listen to Vanessa?” Gosh. Vanessa said, “I gave away, actually lost, all my music when I moved house. This is not due to Geshe Doga saying, No need box. I was unable to pack some things into boxes.” Elsa replied, “That’s a pity, because food, music and whatty whatty were the best things in life.” Really? Elsa then left the room apparently. Did she? Ness surfed and found Vivaldi then a related website, Brana Records, which is now playing a nice Beethoven Piano Concerto No 1 in C.
The other day Vanessa looked up Justin’s website for HUSK. Quite good really. He has opened three stores, one in Toorak, Albert Park and the City (Paris end of Collins St no less). Pretty good going.
Wow, now I’m listening to Rachmaninoff Piano concerto in C minor. I remember this one.
Wednesday Evening
Taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and generating bodhicitta. Then, no, after some time, listening to some MP3. Thinking of emailing Jeremy Cohen, but not too sure. Haven’t heard from Anne today. Ben and Anne told me yesterday that they were travelling to Cairns for lunch, so Anne and Ben are probably tired. Julia hasn’t rung me for a while. Julia got stroppy with Vanessa last time we spoke. Can’t stand to hear an opinion different from her own. Horrible girl.
Just spoke to Anne. Anne isn’t much better. Sounding very removed. It’s the harsh realities of life. What is going to become of me? Worry, worry. Is Mum interested in supporting Vanessa’s dharma practice?
