Blog | THREE WORLDS - AESTHETIC, SOCIAL, & SPIRITUAL

The cool wisdom Moonlight of Maitreya

Mon, 07 May 2012 07:03:23 -0700

The cool wisdom Moonlight of Maitreya - a concise summary of the Buddhist path for a generation and a world so full of bewilderment that it's lamp it is difficult to find in the storm

The entry into the Buddhist path comes about by turning away from Samsara as a refuge and going for refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. It is carried forward by overcoming the 5 hindrances within the 1st stage of meditation accomplishment and accomplishing the reorientation to a Buddhist life as measured by the manifestation of the 37 factors of enlightenment in the 2nd stage of meditation accomplishment.

The practice of Buddhist meditation is carried forward by calming the mind and insight wisdom which culminates in the effortless ability to fall into undistracted alert and concentrated meditation. This is also called access concentration.

Calming the mind is measured by obtaining the 9 stages of concentration and the capacity to ascend the 4 formless meditative absorptions which culminate at the summit of the 4th Dhyana or Jnana.

A Small Basket of Small Texts of Small Price

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:03:52 -0700

A Small Basket of Small Texts of Small Price to Support a Larger Understanding of the Yogacara Mahayana as they understood themselves in their own World

For about $100 you can build a small library to study some of the foundational language of the Yogacara. This list isn’t trying for an academic approach like my other attempt at making a list. [ps: Kambala’s Alokamala is a treasure. It is parallel to a Guide to the Bodhisattva Path by Shantideva - but for the Yogacara. Actually, you might read this as an alternate Chapter Nine on Wisdom for the Bodhicaryavatara.]

Shun’ei, T., 2009. Living Yogacara: An Introduction to Consciousness-Only Buddhism, Wisdom Publications.

- The book is written by the head of the Japanese Hosso sect (Yogacara in Japan), and covers the basics of Yogacara thinking. It delves into theories of the mind the 8 consciousness, the discriminating mind, and notion of Buddha-nature. It's coverage of the Alaya store conscious is a term I've heard in brief in other Buddhist books, but never understood nor appreciated until now.

The meaning of life

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:59:12 -0700

The Meaning of Life

Atheism, Buddhism, Existentialism

and the Argument for an Upright Life

Speaking from my own experience I can say that every person that I have ever met is like myself in that they would say that their life means something. I would say that my life at this moment and the life I would have lived after having passed away ought to be viewed as a statement about what life is and what life means. In other words, our human life is a kind of commentary to existence itself. What do you say?

I want to talk a little about what I have come to believe about the meaning of life.

There are several fundamental things that gives life meaning. First of all, the idea of life having a meaning is meaningful.

“Having meaning” itself in this context “means” that one’s life has a quality of expressing one's own essential character and experience and a flavor - an experience of a life as a meal that is worth the effort put in to having lived it.

Foundational amongst the fundamentals of life is “the meeting of one's own needs”. And immediately after learning to cry out for food, solace and cleaning up a new born child learns to count its fingers and toes and as it begins to grow through childhood it then learns and takes very much to heart the degree to which he or she feels embraced into their life by their own family and their own community and the degree to which they are provided with an education into assuming some role to play in their community.

Yogacara Bibliography and Resource Locator

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:07:13 -0700

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I. WEB RESOURCES:

A. Professor Ron Epstein's Online Publications

http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~rone/OnlinePublications.htm

"The Shurangama Sutra: a Reappraisal of Its Authenticity." A paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Oriental Society, March 16-18, 1976, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"The Transformation of Consciousness into Wisdom: The Path of the Bodhisattva according to the Ch'eng Wei-shih Lun," Vajra Bodhi Sea: A Monthly Journal of Orthodox Buddhism. Part One: vol. 15, No. 176 (Jan. 1985), pp. 22-23. Part Two: vol. 15, No. 177 (Feb. 1985), pp 15-17. Part Three: vol. 15, No. 178 (March 1985), pp. 14-15.

(translation and explanation) Xuanzang (Tripitaka Master)."Verses Delineating the Eight Consciousnesses." Vajra Bodhi Sea: a Monthly Journal of Orthodox Buddhism; Pt. 1, Dec. 1997, pp. 37-38; Pt. 2, Jan. 1998, pp. 35-36; Pt 3, Feb. 1998, pp. 34-35; Pt. 4, March, 1998, pp. 33-34; Pt. 5, April, 1998, pp. 34-35; Pt. 6, May, 1998, pp. 31-32; Pt. 7, June, 1998, pp. 31-32, 45; Pt. 8, July, 1998, pp. 31-32; Pt. 9, Aug., 1998, pp. 32-33; Pt. 10, Sept., 1998, pp.; Pt. 11, Oct., 1998, pp. 38-39, 42; Pt. 12, Nov., 1998, pp.

Towards a Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra translation project?

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 06:22:28 -0700

Towards a Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra translation project?

Is there a Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra translation project? Dan Lusthaus wrote me that the 17-bhūmi sequence of the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra would be a good framework for pursuit of the Yogācāra.

What I have found is the summary of the entire Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra by Dan Lusthaus and Charles Muller,

And in the the 1st of 5 parts of the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, the Mahabhūmi, which lists the 17 bhūmis contents, we have these bhūmis spoken for:

• [b](bhūmi 8)[/b]) The stage with mind - sacittaka-bhūmi 心地. (fascicle 13) in Wayman, A., 2002. Buddhist Insight G. Elder, ed., Motilal Banarsidass Pub.

• [b](bhūmi 9)[/b]) The stage without mind - acittaka-bhūmi 無心地. (fascicle 13) in Wayman, A., 2002. Buddhist Insight G. Elder, ed., Motilal Banarsidass Pub.,

• [b] (bhūmi 14)[/b]), (anon compilation), (Florin Deleanu translator), 2006. The Chapter on the Mundane Path (Laukikamiirga) in the Sriivakabhumi, dissertation, STUDIA PHILOLOGICA BUDDHICA Monograph Series XXa, Tokyo The International Institute for Buddhist Studies of The International College for Postgraduate Buddhist Studies,

The Māhavastu on Maitreya (40-43)

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:36:44 -0800

Such, Māha-Maudgalyāyana is the"natural"career. And what is the "resolving " career? There have elapsed immeasurable, incalculable kalpas since a Tathāgata named Śākyamuni, an Arhan, a perfect Buddha, proficient in knowledge and conduct, a Sugata, an unsurpassed knower of the world, a driver of tameable men, and a teacher of devas and men, appeared in the world. Now, Māha-Maudgalyāyana , Śākyamuni's city was named Kapilavastu, and so on.At that time I was a merchant, and after I had made an offering of rice-milk to Śākyamuni, I made a vow to win enlightenment.

When (the Bodhisattvas) have laid up an abundant store of merit, and have body and mind well developed they approach the beautiful Buddhas and turn their thoughts to enlightenment, [each vowing).

"By the merit I have formerly laid up in store, may I have insight into all things. May not my vow come to naught,but may what I vow come to pass.

"May my store of the root of merit he great enough for all living beings.Whatever evil deed has been done by me, may I alone reap its bitter fruit.

The Heart Sutra

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:27:19 -0800

The Heart Sutra: Prajnaparamita-Hridaya-Sutra

oṃ namo bhagavatyai ārya prajñāpāramitāyai!

Avalokita, the Holy Lord and Bodhisattva, was moving in the deep course of the Wisdom which has gone beyond.

Verse 1

ārya-avalokiteśvaro bodhisattvo gambhīrāṃ prajñāpāramitā caryāṃ caramāṇo vyavalokayati sma:
panca-skandhās tāṃś ca svābhava śūnyān paśyati sma.

He looked down from on high, He beheld but five heaps, and He saw that in their own-being they were empty.

Verse 2

iha śāriputra: rūpaṃ śūnyatā śūnyataiva rūpaṃ; rūpān na pṛthak śūnyatā śunyatāyā na pṛthag rūpaṃ; yad rūpaṃ sā śūnyatā; ya śūnyatā tad rūpaṃ. evam eva vedanā saṃjñā saṃskāra vijñānaṃ.

Here, O Sariputra,

form is emptiness and the very emptiness is form ;

emptiness does not differ from form, form does not differ from emptiness, whatever is emptiness, that is form,

the same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness.

Verse 3

iha śāriputra: sarva-dharmāḥ śūnyatā-lakṣaṇā, anutpannā aniruddhā, amalā avimalā, anūnā aparipūrṇāḥ.

A Thought Question in Reference to the civilians killed by US Drones overseas:

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:20:09 -0800

A Thought Question in Reference to the President's reported remarks about civilians killed by US Drones overseas:

IF: Mexican drug and arms dealers escape in SUVs across the border into Texas.

AND: The Mexican police force send helicopters north into US airspace and use 50 caliber guns to blow them away on the freeway - but also kill a few US citizens in their automobiles.

THEN: How many dead US citizens would constitute "not .... a great number of civilian casualties.", a number to which the President Obama has referred would be acceptable in overseas innocent civilian drone casualties?

Leo Rivers, Cottage Grove, OR

Arguments from Silence - Emptiness, Yoga, and 2 Rare Buddhist Books

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:12:03 -0800

The Mahayana is a bird that flies on 2 wings or it falls to the ground. (in my opinion)

The 1st wing is that of the emptiness school which points out the dependent origination of all phenomena and the non-self nature of all composite things deeply understood is that of what they call emptiness. All composite things, either virtuous or non-virtuous, have the same ultimate nature of emptiness openness.

This distinction is between relative reality which is a construction that arises as the flowering of a plant established in the seed of a self nature and of absolute wisdom which embodies the understanding of the non-self nature of all things.

The 2nd wing is that of the school of Buddhist yogis who point out that the rigorous distinction of relative and absolute truth, while the fact of the matter, is a formulation both rigorous and austere that, to put it simply, leaves people on a precipice or a crisis in which a world full of life and living is placed on one side of an abyss that is razor blade thin yet razor blade sharp placing the immediacy of transcendent Buddha wisdom on the other side of the rainbow.

“What is the Buddha” and “How does Buddhism work?”

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:50:07 -0800

Is Buddhism like a political party platform, a list of concepts with which you concur. If you agree with all of those ideas then you are a Buddhist?

Is Buddhism a ladder of thoughts? If you think certain thoughts in a certain order that is like walking a certain number of steps from your backyard into the forest where at the base of the tree you have buried your personal treasure?

Is Buddhism a description of the universe? And is the universe something about which there are facts that are absolutely true and untrue? Is discovering those facts about the universe the game?

Buddhism is none of these things, really.

Take a look at who the Buddha was and what he was doing when he did what he did that was so special, supposedly.

The Buddha lived 2400 years ago in a time in a small principality that is near the border of what is today India and Nepal. At that time the religion was a cookbook religion. For every event in life there was a religious right you paid a professional priest to read to enhance that experience. This was a religion of the Vedas. And society have gotten to the point where people were dissatisfied with that cookbook religion because it simply didn't seem to work to make life meaningful.

The Social Face of the Bodhisattva

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:50:10 -0800

The first priority of the Social Face of all Buddhists is a recognition that Hatred is the greatest of the Mara because anger sets afire all virtues on contact and even burns the heart so it is turned against the thought of self-taming and benevolence. One torch waved in anger and thoughtlessness - one torch that sets one tree ablaze - can then spread that fire through all that tree’s limbs, and from there through the canopy of all the forest!

A Bodhisattva of any Tradition of Buddhism must make a wish to end the anger that is pandemic in the World and resolve to end War, as War is the great sower of the seeds of heritable anger in the World. A buddhist must call on the strength and example of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of all times and places for the guidance and the strength of courage and endurance and patience of peace in their own hearts to engage whatever social activities call a witness to their bodies, speech and mind as an opposition to the Words of War, the Economic Profit of War, the Mental Taste for War and to, (with peaceful but aggressive resistance), impede the Deeds of War.

shout it out

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:17:13 -0700

"Occupy Wall Street" .......MEANS..........."The USA belongs to Main Street!"- Leo Rivers

OCCUPY WALL STREET

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:27:06 -0700

This was unanimously voted on by all members of Occupy Wall Street last night, around 8pm, Sept 29. It is our first official document for release. We have three more underway, that will likely be released in the upcoming days: 1) A declaration of demands. 2) Principles of Solidarity 3) Documentation on how to form your own Direct Democracy Occupation Group. This is a living document. you can receive an official press copy of the latest version by emailing c2anycga@gmail.com.

Declaration of the Occupation of New York City

As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.

As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.

Magic and Mysticism

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 07:59:45 -0700

Ceremonial magic is the way we locate our own personal mythology and use it to voice a poem or revelation that shows the World a picture taken of it from the outside as seen by angels.

Mysticism is using that personal mythology to reconcile us back into letting go of mythology, (and Self Centeredness),...

and sets us free to exist as pure Being... a pure being acting on behalf of Heaven for all those suffering in the World.

Leo Rivers 6:47 am 09/24/2011

Wait until the Soufflé Falls

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:16:12 -0700

The Truth about 'Class War' in America

While I agree with so much of what has been said about management of public money by critics of our Tax system, I am afraid we live in a world in which our “freedom of choice” to determine how money is spent is seen as being properly a choice of foods, clothing and other manufactured goods channeled through corporate distribution channels.

While a largely symbolic tax the wealthy surcharge may be levied against the super duper rich - it will only be a way to maintain the appearance of our Beauty Contest System of choosing between Mean Face and Happy Face Corporate Population Managers (Presidents).

No serious person believes the USA or any significant nation will cease weapons manufacturing, stop vying for the remaining Natural Resources, or in any serious way consider a National Economic re-structuring based on crating a economic structure configured to a self-sufficient society built on internal national resources. The last hurrah in viable across the board Social Change was the failure of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1983. It was no accident of History that the Air Traffic Controllers Union was broken by President Reagan in 1981. The whole idea of “mass change” is a pipe-dream - look at the results of the Arab Spring. Even now “Here comes the New Boss, same as the old boss” is playing as the elevator goes down.

Generosity

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:10:09 -0700

Getting over yourself makes room for others - it is an opening of space that is the first step of the Practice of Generosity.

Think of picking a scab on the back of your arm draws your focus in to make you withdraw your horizon in excluding the World as an octopus moving into an abandoned shell.

What is the object of focused attention increases in aspect and solidity. If you worship a god it grows in might and presence in the company of gods.

Suffering can become a powerful whirlpool that gains in speed the louder you scream - even if you imprison it in silence.

Forms imprisoned in shadows - their solidity dissolves when made the object of dispassionate observation.

Dispassion of observation leeches the venom of solidity to the degree we dilate our horizon with inclusion of others and let go of self centeredness.

Generosity of recognition of suffering as the Condition of incarnation opens the heart and lets the terrible darkness of selfishness flee an open house of the heart.

This is why a Bodhisattva can engage altruistic intention and conduct and then lay down in the grass like a bee at the end of its season.

First Post

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:04:19 -0700

MY OWN EPITAPH

In "the End"

Life will seem brief.

so, brief but kind

be you.