Buddhist Mamma Sangha - January - March - 1st Quarter '09

[Kothi]

Happy New Year!

Here is a quote by William Blake I read in The Inner Journey: Views from the Buddhist Tradition:

He who binds himself to a joy
Does the winged life destroy
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in Eternity's sunrise.

The essay concerned the misconception of Buddhism focusing on human suffering alone, where truly it is about achieving boundless eternal joy.

May such joy be yours in 2009!

[kangamitroo]

happy new year, mamas! i was not here awhile, but finally i seem to have a browser that works. since i have lots of procrastinating to do (i'm job hunting), i may be popping in more often

forgive the lengthy rant here, but it really is related to my buddhism.

i have had a problem at my house lately with mice. it has been a horrible thing keeping me awake at night, because i feel sick to kill them. but i have. because no matter how many things i put into storage containers, they find something to steal. and frankly my family can't afford to have our lentils stolen! for 19 years i have not contributed directly to the death of cows, pigs, or birds...but these mice...put them outside and believe me, the next night they come in and poop everywhere again.
last winter i got a cat, because that seemed more humane, more natural somehow? but he died.

anyhow. this is dharma at the kitchen sink level for me. at the mouse poop in the sink level. being aware of how i am causing harm, and seeking a less harmful remedy (the sisyphan task of filling in all the holes in an old farmhouse).

[Kothi]

Originally Posted by kangamitroo

happy new year, mamas! i was not here awhile, but finally i seem to have a browser that works. since i have lots of procrastinating to do (i'm job hunting), i may be popping in more often

forgive the lengthy rant here, but it really is related to my buddhism.

i have had a problem at my house lately with mice. it has been a horrible thing keeping me awake at night, because i feel sick to kill them. but i have. because no matter how many things i put into storage containers, they find something to steal. and frankly my family can't afford to have our lentils stolen! for 19 years i have not contributed directly to the death of cows, pigs, or birds...but these mice...put them outside and believe me, the next night they come in and poop everywhere again.
last winter i got a cat, because that seemed more humane, more natural somehow? but he died.

anyhow. this is dharma at the kitchen sink level for me. at the mouse poop in the sink level. being aware of how i am causing harm, and seeking a less harmful remedy (the sisyphan task of filling in all the holes in an old farmhouse).

I haven't been as committed in my ahimsa as you, but I have the same problem at the moment - the way I look at it is, we always destroy something in order to live - whether the tiny insects in grains we consume or the homes of termites if we termite proof our home. This is just ecosystem at work - mice droppings are not healthy, and we need to live healthily. I am trying decide what method is most humane though - i'm going out to the hardware store today.

[zoebird]

ok, from a vegetarian perspective, a lot of vegetarians feel that when you are "invaded" you have a right to "self defense" assuming that you've done everything humanely that you could to solve the problem first. nonviolence until there's no other option for you.

now, i'm just putting it out there because a lot of animal rights activists take this very seriously--and they are inspired by buddhism.

but the truth is that we cannot allow our environments to be unsafe for us, or we will injure ourselves, the other people in our household, etc. so we do have to take care.

and yeah, it's really hard--no question! i hate the idea of it too. but you have to take care of the home.

[kangamitroo]

Originally Posted by Kothi

the way I look at it is, we always destroy something in order to live - whether the tiny insects in grains we consume or the homes of termites if we termite proof our home. This is just ecosystem at work.

yes, this is the view i had been sitting with. thinking of how i encourage dd to offer silent thanks to the elements that made her food, and that those small unnoticed lifeforms that are destroyed (through weeding, etc.), well, they are part of the process too. thinking also that i would never see anything wrong with taking animal life in a place where that is the available food. it is important to keep ourselves strong and healthy to do good work, no?

here is my pre-getting out of bed mantra from the past few days: may no harm come to anyone because of me.

may you be free of the root of suffering.

[ejg123]

Hi there! I am just discovering the spirituality message boards. We are not a Buddhist family, but we read about it a lot, meditate, and draw quite a bit from Buddhist teachings in our lives. We struggle a lot too with animal issues - like since I have been pregnant, I've eaten a lot of eggs to try to boost my protein intake, but know that this does cause harm to the chickens. It is so hard to live in our modern world without causing harm to other sentient beings - sweatshop clothes, what to do about the bugs that eat my plants, and so on. I think we can only do the best we can.

I grew up on a farm with many mice in our house. We used the killing traps for a while, which was a bit traumatic for me as a child, so my parents switched to the humane traps and would drop the mice off down the road into the field, so we were at least sure that those exact mice wouldn't be back. A hassle, to be sure, but it helped me deal with it and since then it has become a habit (they still live on the farm) and it is nice to kill less mice. Of course, we all do what we need to do and need to be gentle on ourselves about doing what we can. But if different mice are going to keep re-infesting the house anyway, and it is unlikely that you will significantly reduce the local mouse population via the killing traps, you might sleep better just to relocate the little guys.

In any case, I am happy to have found this thread and will visit more often.

Much peace. E

[kangamitroo]

welcome, E.

kothi, meant to say i loved the william blake verse. for me, it is easy to let everything become a heavy project. the emphasis on joy reminds me to lighten up.

i have had a few moments lately where i want to gossip, or get irritated over nothing...and the verse from the Dhammapada comes to me:
"as you think and act, so your world becomes." i'm grateful for the reminders.

another: grumpu my, thinking i hate bitter winter. i look outside and see a world sparkling, as if covered in spun sugar. so pretty

[Kothi]

I am SO distracted lately. I can't begin to sit - keep waking up early to do it, then don't. how is everybody doing with practices?

[Theoretica]

Regarding the rodent issue...

http://www.intentblog.com/archives/2...e_to_kill.html

As for finding time to practice, it's REALLY hard to make the time. I know I could find the time, but why is it this battle within myself to do so? Hmm.

What do all of you do to pass on your Buddhist beliefs to your children? I try and teach my kids about balance and calm etc. but would really like some 'hands on' ideas of ways to do this. Any book suggestions, or meditation suggestions for kids etc?

[kangamitroo]

Originally Posted by Theoretica

Regarding the rodent issue...

http://www.intentblog.com/archives/2...e_to_kill.html

thanks for this. i'll check it out.

Originally Posted by Theoretica

As for finding time to practice, it's REALLY hard to make the time. I know I could find the time, but why is it this battle within myself to do so? Hmm.

for me, the best sitting time is after dd is asleep, i shower and then sit. however, this is also my best time for anything else! reading, floor mopping, letter writing etc. the biggest obstacle to sitting is my book addiction. what happens is i sit, my head is more clear--and then i want to read, which would fill my head up again! so i'm trying to enjoy the brief sit in the moment, and be OK with the very-soon-after cluttering

Originally Posted by Theoretica

What do all of you do to pass on your Buddhist beliefs to your children? I try and teach my kids about balance and calm etc. but would really like some 'hands on' ideas of ways to do this. Any book suggestions, or meditation suggestions for kids etc?

my dd has enjoyed sitting in my lap when i am sitting. there is a very visceral sense of her soaking up my calm. in that time, we sometimes talk about what Buddha taught, in very brief terms. i also try to let her know in the day when i could use some quiet time, eg if my mind feels agitated. we don't have a steady habit of sitting together yet, but i am hopeful that a seed is planted.

peace be with you all.

[kangamitroo]

posting today because my Nana is dying of cancer. sometime in the next couple of days (after the car is fixed, i'll be making the 7 hour drive to see her.

so if you do any kind of maitri/metta practice, would you hold us in mind? that her passing is peaceful, and that i can handle this without flipping out

thanks, mamas

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by kangamitroo

for me, the best sitting time is after dd is asleep, i shower and then sit. however, this is also my best time for anything else! reading, floor mopping, letter writing etc. the biggest obstacle to sitting is my book addiction. what happens is i sit, my head is more clear--and then i want to read, which would fill my head up again!

Do you ever find the mindless acts of daily chores to be meditative?

I have found that when I become quiet and centered during the process of certain mundane chores, that the rhythm of the process becomes almost a source of peace within itself.

Not all the time, but if I really work at it I can internalize more calm.

Just wondering if anyone else gets what I'm talking about...or am I just daft? lol

Heyyyyyy we should start lobbying for a meditating smiley

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by kangamitroo

posting today because my Nana is dying of cancer. sometime in the next couple of days (after the car is fixed, i'll be making the 7 hour drive to see her.

so if you do any kind of maitri/metta practice, would you hold us in mind? that her passing is peaceful, and that i can handle this without flipping out

thanks, mamas

I don't know if these will help you, but hoping that they will...

https://www.upaya.org/roshi/dox/Grief.pdf

------------------------------------------------

A Blessing For Those Grieving or Suffering
May you see the light in the darkness during these challenging times.

May you feel the loving presence of those who hold you in their thoughts & prayers.

May your spirit find what it needs to sustain you on this journey.

May you discover your inner strength & face all difficulties with dignity & grace.

May you be filled with comfort, love, strength, grace & a lasting sense of peace.

----------------------------------------------------

Blessing for All Beings
May everyone be happy and safe,
and may their hearts be filled with joy.

May all living beings live in security and in peace
beings who are frail or strong,
tall or short, big or small,
visible or not visible, near or far away,
already born or yet to be born.
May all of them dwell in perfect tranquility.

Let no one do harm to anyone.
Let no one put the life of anyone in danger.
Let no one, out of anger or ill will,
wish anyone any harm.

Metta Sutta (Stuttanipata)
Translated by Thich Nhat Hahn

[kangamitroo]

Originally Posted by Theoretica

Do you ever find the mindless acts of daily chores to be meditative?

I have found that when I become quiet and centered during the process of certain mundane chores, that the rhythm of the process becomes almost a source of peace within itself.

Not all the time, but if I really work at it I can internalize more calm.

Just wondering if anyone else gets what I'm talking about...or am I just daft? lol

Heyyyyyy we should start lobbying for a meditating smiley

not at all daft that is a wonderful feeling when the chores are about being completely present, knowing that each moment of our life is an opportunity for wakefulness. for me, cooking becomes especially maitri practice. i love how it feels when that happens, when i am really present and the food gets filled with love. not all the time, but when it does...so good.

thanks theoretica for the readings