Posts tagged with "buddhism"
Monday, 16. October 2006, 18:42:24
life, People, buddhism
We are here on earth to do good for others.
What the others are here for, I don't know.W. H. Auden
We say we waste time, but that is impossible. We waste ourselves.Alice Bloch
There are two types of people: Those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am!", and those who say, "Ah, there you are".Frederick L. Collins
Life comes in the form of opportunities, which are easy to recognize, after they have been wasted...Javan
Every man dies. Not every man lives.Tim Robbins
All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.Swami Vivekananda
Suffering is not a prerequisite for happiness.Judy Tatelbaum
Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.Sir Claus Moser
Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.Hsi-Tang
Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.Henry J. Kaiser
Isn't it strange? The same people who laugh at gypsy fortune tellers take economists seriously ...Cincinnati Enquirer
Have you ever noticed? Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac!George Carlen
If you believe everything you read, better not read.Japanese proverb
Friday, 22. September 2006, 07:12:36
buddhism, Linux, People, humor
As many of you might know, I'm a buddhist and a linux freak as well. In april this year I was happy more than usual, because I've found this issue (below)on the website of
Mr. Richard Stallman , who is one of the spiritual leaders (a guru actually) of the
Church of Emacs... Thanks to him and to
Mr. Tenzin Gyatso I'm able to publish all about the new Yellow Hat Linux right here:
Dharamsala, India, 1 April 2006The Dalai Lama today announced the official release of Yellow Hat
GNU/Linux. Produced by the Gelugpa or "Yellow Hat" sect of Tibetan
Buddhism, this GNU/Linux distribution is designed to encourage
benevolence and cooperation. The Dalai Lama said, "The experience of
sharing free software will teach all human beings the principle of
benevolence toward other beings. Software is formalized knowledge,
and sharing knowledge in the GNU spirit is a human duty. The
GNU/Linux system offers beings a way to follow the path of benevolence
while using computers."
Yellow Hat GNU/Linux not only supports the Tibetan language, it also
comes with a full library of Buddhist texts in Tibetan, Chinese and
English. The Tibetan and Chinese versions are in the public domain;
the English translations are newly made and released under a free
license. "Users will advance in programming skill and advance towards
enlightenment at the same time," said the Dalai Lama. To encourage
users to move toward nirvana, a chain of users groups known as GELUGPA
(GNU-Enlightened-Linux User Groups for Passion Abatement) is being
established.
Programmers who have achieved enlightenment become capable of what is
called "egoless programming", and can then use the Dbu debugging
environment. As an integrated development environment, designed
specifically for egoless programming, it also serves as a reminder of
the essential unity of all things. Dbu is named after the Tibetan
province of Dbu, whose name is pronounced "oo" as in "food". If you
see a programmer look at a screen and say "oo!", he is probably using
Dbu, or wishing he were.
Source code for Yellow Hat GNU/Linux is available on CD-ROM; selected
beautiful passages of code can also be ordered as hand-painted tankhas
for display on your office wall.
The Chinese authorities immediately banned the distribution, claiming
that it includes a photo of the Dalai Lama; however, the Yellow Hat
development group says it is really a photo of Phil Silvers, included
so that DeCSS can display it before playing a film.
Chinese spokesmen firmly insisted that "Yellow Hat GNU/Linux will
never catch on in China." When confronted with reports that a
prerelease version is already widely used in parts of Siquan, Qinghai
and Gansu provinces, they said that "This means nothing--those areas
are really part of Tibet."
When asked what response they expect from Red Hat, the Dalai Lama's
spokesmen said that "The Nyingma or Red Hat sect disagrees with us on
various points, but all Tibetan sects regard the Dalai Lama as the
leader of the Tibetan people. So we don't expect them to criticize
the Gelugpa sect for venturing into the software field."
The Dalai Lama's spokesmen refused to comment on rumors that the
Yellow Hat sect plans to merge with the Church of Emacs.
The association between the Dalai Lama and GNU/Linux is an April fool,
but the background information about Tibet is accurate--even the fact
that Dbu is pronounced "oo". Thanks to Mary Fischer for providing
this information. Regarding Phil Silvers, see
http://www.mtgmedia.com/more_intl_business_protocol.htm
A group of egoless programmers in Dharamsala
Saturday, 26. August 2006, 08:18:25
buddhism
Webster Online Dict.:
compassionPronunciation: k&m-'pa-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin compassion-, compassio, from compati to sympathize, from Latin com- + pati to bear, suffer -- more at PATIENT
: sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it
synonym see PITY
- com·pas·sion·less /-l&s/ adjective
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
To be compassionate is an importand part of my job (social worker) and my life as well. But - what actually is compassion? Is it just a feeling, an attitude? Is it maybe some mixed, undefined emotion? Or something more ...? Through my behaviour I've found out, that I have some attitude that could be called compassion, but - on the other hand - is it not just a selfish wish to make my ego happy (look, what a compassionate being am I, and the like ...)? It is somehow very easy to recognize compassion within the others, but to find it within my own mind is much more difficult. An eye cannot sees itself. But, isn't it enough just to live with some compassion attitude? Maybe. I don't know...
However, the only explanation of compassion, that fits my pattern, my understanding of it ... I've found in the words of Dalai Lama (maybe because I'm a buddhist).
So here it is for those who wants to know more about it:"My message is the practice of compassion, love and kindness. These things are very useful in our daily life, and also for the whole of human society these practices can be very important.
"Basically, universal responsibility is the feeling for other people's suffering just as we feel our own. It is the realization that even our own enemy is motivated by the quest for happiness. We must recognize that all beings want the same thing we want. This is the way to achieve a true understanding, unfettered by artificial consideration.
"At the heart of Buddhist philosophy is the notion of compassion for others. It should be noted that the compassion encouraged by Mahayana Buddhism is not the usual love one has for friends or family. The love being advocated here is the kind one can have even for another who has done one harm. Developing a kind heart does not always involve any of the sentimental religiosity normally associated with it. It is not just for people who believe in religions; it is for everyone who considers himself or herself to be a member of the human family, and thus sees things in accordingly large terms.
"The rationale for universal compassion is based on the same principle of spiritual democracy. It is the recognition of the fact that every living being has an equal right to and desire for happiness. The true acceptance of the principle of democracy requires that we think and act in terms of the common good. Compassion and universal responsibility require a commitment to personal sacrifice and the neglect of egotistical desires.
"I believe our every-day experience confirms that a self-centred attitude towards problems can be destructive not only towards society, but to the individual as well. Selfishness does not solve problems for us, it multiplies them. Accepting responsibility and maintaining respect for other will leave all concerned at peace..."
Tuesday, 15. August 2006, 15:39:05
buddhism
Jetsun Milarepa,1052-1135 (approx) was one of one of Tibet's most famous yogis and poets, a student of Marpa Lotsawa, and a major figure in the history of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He said:
"The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation."
"Hasten slowly and ye shall soon arrive"
"Though you youngsters of the new qeneration dwell in towns infested with deceitful fate, the link of truth still remains ..."
Here you can read a lot about this saint. With nice pics ...
Saturday, 8. July 2006, 05:52:52
buddhism
Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.
Dalai Lama
Thursday, 20. April 2006, 11:09:44
buddhism
Once the Buddha addressed his diciples thus: "Monks, it may be that ascetics belonging to other sects will ask you what is the purpose of leading a spiritual life under the Buddha.?"
The monks remained silent.
Then the Buddha himself gave the answer: "You should answer them: it is to understand things that should be fully understood that we lead a spiritual life under the Buddha. So what things should be fully understood? They are the five aggregates of clinging: material form, feeling, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness."
From this incident we can see that the path laid down by the Buddha is essentially a path of understanding. The understanding aimed at is not merely conceptual knowledge or a collection of information. Rather, it is an insight into the true nature of our existence. This understanding brings liberation, the release of the mind from all bonds and fetters and issues in the cessation of suffering (Dukkha).
The Buddha offers us the teachings (Dhamma) as a search light that we can focus on our own experience, in order to understand it in correct perspective. To understand our experience or our existence, involves two steps:
* We have to look into the makeup of our being to see what our existence consists of, we have to take it apart mentally, to see how it works, then put it together again and see how it holds together.
* We have to examine our experience in order to discover its most pervasive features, the universal characteristics of phenomena.
From: The True Nature of Existence - By Bhikkhu Bodhi (slightly edited)
Sunday, 2. April 2006, 07:37:22
buddhism
Freedom: 1. The state of being free; exemption from the power and
control of another; liberty; independence.1913 WebsterI know some people, who think they are free: without wishes, without relationships, without passion... But - are they really so free as they declare themselves? I doubt. I think that they are just afraid of so called conventional, "real" life... Why do I think so? Because I was one of them for many years: a prisoner in a cage of so called freedom. Such life is somehow without a risk, but it's without any deep responsibility, it's like an egoistic attitude (even - sometimes - when such people are full of "compassion", "love")...
To be really free means for me something different: it's an ability to involve myself in almost everything that might appear without fear, attachment and the like - but with great responsibility and respect of other people's freedom. To be free also from some fiction of my own freedom. But, on the other hand, maybe I'm just "born to be wild"... who the hell knows?
Do you know, what I mean?
Sorry because of my bad English... 
Wednesday, 18. January 2006, 16:16:09
buddhism
Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.
Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
He is able who thinks he is able.
He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.
He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.
Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
However many holy words you read,However many you speak,What good will they do youIf you do not act on upon them?
I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.
Sunday, 15. January 2006, 08:38:51
buddhism
What we think, we become.
Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.
When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear.
Without health life is not life; it is only a state of langour and suffering - an image of death.
Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.
You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.
Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.
Monday, 12. December 2005, 11:35:40
buddhism
It's our most important Mantra.
It refers to those primal Light within each of us, we call it The Buddha Nature, non - dualistic state of mind, clear vision...
This "light" is basically the core of our consciousness, the source of our mind (at least we believe so). To experience mentioned light is actually to attain full Enlightenment.
It is said, that we all experience this light during the dying process.
So I'll see, but I might not be able to share this experience with you...
Monday, 7. November 2005, 19:10:13
buddhism
Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.
Sleep is the best meditation.
Spend some time alone every day.
The purpose of our lives is to be happy.
The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.
Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.
We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.
Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.
Saturday, 5. November 2005, 08:55:54
buddhism
Yesterday I joined a Teaching of my Teacher, ven. Lama Shenphen Rinpoche. Wow! The topic was: 51 mental factors (LoRig in Tibetan - the teaching about how mind actually works...). I was (and I am) surprised: Buddhism already knows for almost two milleniums, what a modern psychology dicovers today or in last hundred years (as far as I know and I've been told during my studies...).
It seems, that here in the West we do not want to accept those acient wisdom, we have a need to discover again and again, what is almost a common knowledge in some parts of the East. Some waste of resources...
What is mind? No matter. What is matter? Never mind.George Berkeley Our knowledge can only be finite, while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite.Sir Karl Raymund Popper Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?Groucho MarxConsciousness: That annoying time between naps.
Friday, 4. November 2005, 08:03:35
buddhism
There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.Dalai Lama
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