Bravery without Deception - The first category of bravery.
Bravery: Taking a Leap - The second category of bravery.
Bravery: The Vision of the Great Eastern Sun - The third category of bravery.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Bravery - Further Reading
Bravery: Synchronicity of Body and Mind - this is what we were working with during the Heaven Earth and Humanity movement practice (bamboo poles!)
Friday, November 11, 2011
Being Grounded Makes You Happier: A Case Study in Happiness
Which seems like it would be a happier existence: living freely in a Manhattan penthouse as a billionaire among family and friends or being arrested for fraud, stripped of your estate, and condemned to living and dying in prison?
I'm sure you can spot a counterintuitive answer on its way and indeed the answer is the latter. Where do these two options come from?
I was reading Bernie Madoff's interview with Barbara Walters and struck by this:
He says that while he was in jail, during the four months before he was sent to prison, he did think about suicide, but he didn't have the courage," said Walters, who interviewed Madoff about two weeks ago. "But now he says, in prison, he never thinks about it. He's happier in prison."
and his justification?
"I feel safer here than outside. I have people to talk to, no decisions to make. I know I will die in prison. I lived the last 20 years of my life in fear. Now I have no fear because I'm no longer in control."
Even though he had more material wealth and freedom in his old life, the constant struggle to maintain pretenses and the paranoia necessary to keep his lifestyle ate through him.
I'm also reminded of Pema Chodron's comments on the "wisdom of no escape", the peace that comes from accepting that there's no way out of your situation, a conceit that is echoed in research that has been done in cognitive psychology (TED talk). Sometimes we have to drag ourselves kicking and screaming into the cold water before we can realize that the clean refreshment was exactly what we needed.
I'm sure you can spot a counterintuitive answer on its way and indeed the answer is the latter. Where do these two options come from?
I was reading Bernie Madoff's interview with Barbara Walters and struck by this:
He says that while he was in jail, during the four months before he was sent to prison, he did think about suicide, but he didn't have the courage," said Walters, who interviewed Madoff about two weeks ago. "But now he says, in prison, he never thinks about it. He's happier in prison."
and his justification?
"I feel safer here than outside. I have people to talk to, no decisions to make. I know I will die in prison. I lived the last 20 years of my life in fear. Now I have no fear because I'm no longer in control."
Even though he had more material wealth and freedom in his old life, the constant struggle to maintain pretenses and the paranoia necessary to keep his lifestyle ate through him.
I'm also reminded of Pema Chodron's comments on the "wisdom of no escape", the peace that comes from accepting that there's no way out of your situation, a conceit that is echoed in research that has been done in cognitive psychology (TED talk). Sometimes we have to drag ourselves kicking and screaming into the cold water before we can realize that the clean refreshment was exactly what we needed.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Steve Jobs, Trungpa, and Joni Michelle
I was reading through the What Kind of Buddhist was Steve Jobs, Really? article (a great read!) attached to the Ocean of Dharma quote this week and discovered two interesting things:
* One of the books that inspired Jobs to pursue the Buddhist path was Trungpa's Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
* Joni Mitchell's song Refuge of the Roads was written about Trungpa, who was at one point her spiritual advisor.
* One of the books that inspired Jobs to pursue the Buddhist path was Trungpa's Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
* Joni Mitchell's song Refuge of the Roads was written about Trungpa, who was at one point her spiritual advisor.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Bravery
This offering is from Jonathan:
Bravery is letting go of doubt while allowing it to be the only thing
that catches you.
After spending time with the group last night & having a lot of
contemplation on the question, followed by non contemplation today,
this is what it boils down to for me currently. Also happens to be the
product of a boiling hot shower.
Seems appropriate to add that while in Newport, RI recently I attended
a teaching given by Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin & his translator
Jeff. There were many things transmitted but one of the most prominent
& recurring themes was roughly "does exist but not truly established".
Bring this up now because it occurs to me that the essence of that
commentary is influencing the definition presented above.
Jonathan
Bravery is letting go of doubt while allowing it to be the only thing
that catches you.
After spending time with the group last night & having a lot of
contemplation on the question, followed by non contemplation today,
this is what it boils down to for me currently. Also happens to be the
product of a boiling hot shower.
Seems appropriate to add that while in Newport, RI recently I attended
a teaching given by Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin & his translator
Jeff. There were many things transmitted but one of the most prominent
& recurring themes was roughly "does exist but not truly established".
Bring this up now because it occurs to me that the essence of that
commentary is influencing the definition presented above.
Jonathan
Monday, September 19, 2011
Buddhist-themed movie nights?
Joel has proposed creating a regular Dharma-themed movie night. There are a couple of resources available for finding such films, for example
Please feel free to use the comments to discuss :)
Please feel free to use the comments to discuss :)
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Under 30 Fall Retreat - Registration
Good morning warriors!
Our next retreat to Shelburne Falls will take place the last weekend in October, from the 28th-30th. Please register using this spreadsheet: https://spreadsheets.google.
The cost of the retreat will be $80. Payment will be accepted upon arrival at the retreat center. Please contact me directly if this is more than you are able to afford, because we don't want that to stop you from joining us.
Any further details about the retreat will be sent only to those who put their e-mail address on the above spreadsheet. If you aren't positive you will go, but you want to stay in the loop as plans develop, please just note that on the spreadsheet.
love,
Jade
Our next retreat to Shelburne Falls will take place the last weekend in October, from the 28th-30th. Please register using this spreadsheet: https://spreadsheets.google.
The cost of the retreat will be $80. Payment will be accepted upon arrival at the retreat center. Please contact me directly if this is more than you are able to afford, because we don't want that to stop you from joining us.
Any further details about the retreat will be sent only to those who put their e-mail address on the above spreadsheet. If you aren't positive you will go, but you want to stay in the loop as plans develop, please just note that on the spreadsheet.
love,
Jade
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Under 30 Fall Retreat
We are working on choosing a date for the Under 30 Fall Retreat. If you are interested in attending, please add your availability information to the doodle!
http://www.doodle.com/miv5h9qd52kxd8ye
http://www.doodle.com/miv5h9qd52kxd8ye
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