The Spirit of the Warrior

The Spirit of the Warrior

Although we have been made to believe that if we let go we will end up with nothing, life itself reveals again and again the opposite: that letting go is the path to real freedom.

Just as when the waves lash at the shore, the rocks suffer no damage but are sculpted and eroded into beautiful shapes, so our characters can be molded and our rough edges worn smooth by changes. Through weathering changes we can learn how to develop a gentle but unshakable composure. Our confidence in ourselves grows, and becomes so much greater that goodness and compassion began naturally to radiate out from us and bring joy to others. That goodness is what survives death, a fundamental goodness that is in every one of us. The whole of our life is a teaching of how to uncover that strong goodness, and a training toward realizing it.

So each time the losses and deceptions of life teach us about impermanence, they bring us closer to the truth. When you fall from a great height, there is only one possible place to land: on the ground, the ground of truth. And if you have the understanding that comes from spiritual practice, then falling is in no way a disaster but the discovery of an inner refuge.

Difficulties and obstacles, if properly understood and used, can often turn out to be an unexpected source of strength. To be a spiritual warrior means to develop a special kind of courage, one that is innately intelligent, gentle, and fearless. Spiritual warriors can still be frightened, but even so they are courageous enough to taste suffering, to relate clearly to their fundamental fear, and to draw out without evasion the lessons from difficulties. As Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche tells us, becoming a warrior means that "we can trade our small-minded struggle for security for a much vaster vision, one of fearlessness, openness, and genuine heroism .. ." To enter the transforming field of that much vaster vision is to learn how to be at home in change, and how to make impermanence our friend.

—- Sogyal Rinpoche

"Tibetan Buddhists believe that serious illnesses like cancer can be a warning, to remind us that we have been neglecting deep aspects of our being, such as our spiritual needs. If we take this warning seriously and change fundamentally the direction of our lives, there is a very real hope for healing not only our body, but of our whole being."

"Tibetan Buddhists believe that serious illnesses like cancer can be a warning, to remind us that we have been neglecting deep aspects of our being, such as our spiritual needs. If we take this warning seriously and change fundamentally the direction of our lives, there is a very real hope for healing not only our body, but of our whole being."

Pg. 31 - Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Reincarnation story. Very interesting 11 year old boy's story.

This boy has memories and thoughts that couldn't be made up. How is that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF3KqGpxXvo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Recently reading the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings and a commentary by Thich Nhat Hanh made me think about how a teacher in todays schools might approach keeping up with the rapid and often painfil changes in technology.

Recently reading the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings and a commentary by Thich Nhat Hanh made me think about how a teacher in todays schools might approach keeping up with the rapid and often painfil changes in technology.

Eight Realizations for Technology and Education

The first realization is the awareness that the world is impermanent. Technology changes too rapidly for any sane person to keep up.

The second realization
Too much desire brings more suffering. Don't expect too much too soon. Baby steps.

The third realization
Be aware that the human mind is always searching for possessions and never feels fulfilled. Gathering too much is a trap.

The fourth realization
laziness is an obstacle
practice diligently .

The fifth realization
ignorance causes suffering. remember to listen and learn in order to develop understanding and eloquence.

The sixth realization
be generous. Treat all as equals.

The seventh realization
desire leads to difficulties. Although we are in this work
we should try not to be caught up in it. Live simply.

The eighth realization
the fire of change is causing endless suffering everywhere. We should help everyone we can.

One source of the Eight Realizations in their original form.

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/beingssutra.pdf

http://www.drewking.com/8Great.htm

The Eight Realizations. Teaching. And Technology.

These Eight Realizations of the Great Beings made me think about how a teacher in todays schools might approach keeping up with the rapid and often painfil changes in technology.

Eight Realizations of the Great Beings
The first realization is the awareness that the world is impermanent. All political regimes are subject to fall; all things composed of the four elements are empty and contain the seeds of suffering. Human beings are composed of five skandhas, aggregates, and are without a separate self. They are always in the process of change – constantly being born and constantly dying. They are empty of self, without sovereignty. The mind is the source of all confusion, and the body is the forest of all impure actions. If we meditate on these facts, we can gradually be released from samsara, the round of birth and death.

The second realization is the awareness that more desire brings more suffering. All hardships in daily life arise from greed and desire. Those with little desire and ambition are able to relax, their bodies and minds free from entanglement.

The third realization is that the human mind is always searching for possessions and never feels fulfilled. This causes impure actions to ever increase. Bodhisattvas however, always remember the principle of having few desires. They live a simple life in peace in order to practice the Way, and consider the realization of perfect understanding as their only career.

The fourth realization is the awareness of the extent to which laziness is an obstacle to practice. For this reason, we must practice diligently to destroy the unwholesome mental factors which bind us, and to conquer the four kinds of Mara, in order to free ourselves from the prisons of the five aggregates and the three worlds.

The fifth realization is the awareness that ignorance is the cause of the endless round of birth and death. Therefore, bodhisattvas always remember to listen and learn in order to develop their understanding and eloquence. This enables them to educate living beings and bring them to the realm of great joy.

The sixth realization is the awareness that poverty creates hatred and anger, which creates a vicious cycle of negative thoughts and activity. When practicing generosity, bodhisattvas consider everyone, friends and enemies alike, as equal. They do not condemn anyone's past wrongdoings, nor do they hate those who are presently causing harm.

The seventh realization is that the five categories of desire lead to difficulties. Although we are in the world, we should try not to be caught up in worldly matters. A monk, for example, has in his possession only three robes and one bowl. He lives simply in order to practice the Way. His precepts keep him free of attachment to worldly things, and he treats everyone equally and with compassion.

The eighth realization is the awareness that the fire of birth and death is raging, causing endless suffering everywhere. We should take the Great Vow to help everyone, to suffer with everyone, and to guide all beings to the realm of great joy.

These eight realizations are the discoveries of great beings, buddhas and bodhisattvas who have diligently practiced the way of compassion and understanding. They have sailed the Dharmakaya boat to the shore of nirvana, but then they return to the ordinary world, having abandoned the five desires, with their minds and hearts directed toward the noble way, using these eight realizations to help all beings recognize the suffering in this world. If the disciples of the Buddha recite these eight realizations and meditate on them, they will put an end to countless misunderstandings and difficulties and progress toward enlightenment, leaving behind the world of birth and death, dwelling forever in peace.

http://www.drewking.com/8Great.htm