Category Archives: Dharma

Daddy, what are those on your arm? (Bodhisattva Vows)

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Daddy, what are those, originally uploaded by mindonly.

son: “Daddy, what are those spots on your arm?” (pointing to my incense markings)
me: “Those are my incense markings, I got them at temple”
son: “Why?”
me: “Well, those are a reminder for a commitment I made for the rest of my life. ….And you know, you’re kind of part of that commitment”
son: “I should have those too!”
me: “well, that’s up to you. Someday, maybe you will. Maybe you will…”

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for anyone unfamiliar, it is a (voluntary) part of taking Bodhisattva Vows. Most commonly done within a Chinese Buddhist order.
…joining palms

Present moment

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Almost every night of his life, my son and I read a story together.  As I read tonight laying next to him, I glanced over and saw that he was asleep. It had been a while since that had happened, less and less frequent the older he gets. So I continued to read to the end of the page, ensuring he was sound asleep.

Then I just watched him sleep. There really is nothing quite like watching your child sleep.  Such an amazing example of being in the present moment. Knowing they fell alseep without a worry or care, in absolute security and comfort.

Meditation: A simple starting point

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Recently, my little sister asked for some basic instruction on how she could begin meditating. I wrote up a simple how-to about it, and sent it off to her. I also put out a little Twitter update stating I wrote one up and IntegralChaotic, a friend on Twitter, said they would be interested to read it. So, I have added it here as well. Keep in mind, this is a very basic starting point. 

Much more detail can be put into a how-to of meditation, but I’ve always found this is a good place to start. And, even if you have meditated for years and get out of practice, this is a good beginning point.

If you would like to start – try this for 15 minutes:

- sit  (this could be on the floor, or on a chair [to start with])

- keep your back straight, like you are holding the ceiling with the top of your head (but don’t over do it, you want to be comfortable)

- let your eyelids relax a little, not closed, but relaxed.

- rest your hands together in your lap

- breathe in slowly

- breathe out slowly

- clear your mind. (believe it or not, this is the hardest thing to do.)an easy way to start is counting your breath.

This is one of the basics, and to me, one of the best ways to start.

To do so, you would inhale, then count the exhale. Inhale, then count the exhale. A full in, then out would be 1 cycle.

Next full in, then out would be 2. 

I’ve found that with my relaxed breathing, when I count my breath to 100, approximately 15 minutes have gone by. 

So, not only does the counting help with timing your 15 minutes, it also helps you clear your mind. If you are concentrating on breathing and counting, and nothing else, the mind is therefore nearly clear.  ;)

I am always open to additions, comments, and any replies. 

May it be helpful to you… …joining palms

My thoughts on being a vegetarian.

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The following is a comment I left on DailyBuddhism.com in response to his question: To Meat or Not to Meat?

These are just my own thoughts – I would love to know your thoughts as well. —-

For me, I believe it boils down to the teaching of ’skillful means’ as well as ‘intention’.

Intention: If you kill an animal just to eat it, or, if it is killed specifically for your meal, I feel it to go somewhat against the 1st Precept of No Killing. I have vowed to try and live by the 5 Precepts.

Skillful means: This is where it would be permissible, according to my view of the Dharma. But, it is also where one must ask themselves what their own life dictates.

Example: A monastic that sustains their life from alms, would likely do so by using what is offered. Sometimes meat would be offered. Also, monastics that live in certain areas of the world would have a harder time sustaining a vegetarian lifestyle. Just a reality of this world.

I happen to live in Southern California – it is quite simple and accessible to live a vegetarian lifestyle. Therefore, my skillful means allow me to be a vegetarian. However, when I travel, I do find it difficult in some areas. (When I traveled to New Orleans again years ago after becoming a vegetarian, we’ll just say I ate a lot of bread, salad, and cheese pizza. hahaha) I have also taken Bodhisattva vows for this lifetime. In doing so, I find it important for my path to work as hard as possible to keep a compassionate mind. I cannot do so by sustaining my own life from the suffering and killing of other sentient beings. This keeps me being a vegetarian.

Now, having said all that, both my wife and my son do eat meat. This is something I cannot and will not change. It is a decision each individual must make on their own.

The path of Buddhism does not prosper by forcing others into one’s own way of thinking, but rather through living a life of compassion and helping others either through actions or examples.

….joining palms.

Buddhas Birthday Celebration

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Tomorrow, the little man and I will be going to celebrate the Buddha’s Birthday.

From Venerable: “Saturday, May 19 (1:00 – 4:00 pm) at Cal Poly Pomoma in the Gymnasium. There will be a light-offering cerermony and of course, bathing the Buddha ceremony. Every participant will receive a beautiful lotus flower light.”

I am quite happy this is tomorrow. I feel that I need a small reset, and this is a great place for that. I even think little man is going to behave. I would take pictures, but, Dawn will have the camera for her outing. (more on that later). I’ll see how some camera phone pictures turn out and hopefully post those.

Awesome day

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Today was one of the best days I’ve had in so long. Little Man and I went to temple in the morning. He had a great time walking around (running) and jumping up the stairs.

After that we went to the Orange Circle and; went to Army Navy to look at the camping gear, hung out at the fountain, went to Hot Skates where one of the guys working there gave him a cool sticker (World Industries, and it looks like a smiley face hellraiser, hahaaha), ate at Watson’s (old diner, great place), then we went and got a cupcake at a new place, Mustard’s I believe.

Then, we came home, watch some Thomas video, played Pac-Man, and had a bath.

what a great way to end one week, and begin the next…

LA Time Festival follow up

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Had a great day at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books today. There was an amazing turn out.

(here’s a shot of our booth – #617)

To help at this each year is something I look forward to. The privilege of discussing Buddhism with people who are interested, and often just beginning as I was years ago is wonderful. Being able to relate to them, to offer what I can to assist in whatever questions they have about the temple, about the books, and of course, about Buddhism makes for such an amazing day.

(Venerable Miao Hsi and I)

Tomorrow I am taking Little Man to the festival so we can enjoy looking at books for him. Even though he has shelves full of books, I hope to bring more home for him – a child can never have too many books.

Renunciation

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Quite a few Catholics that I know are having their time of lent now. (or it may have just ended, apologies for not knowing exactly. Is it a week, or the full 40 days?)

I can relate to this in some ways. On one hand; Buddhist retreats I’ve gone to have been put together in such a way that you give up things during the time you’re there. Whether it’s:

  • eating a full dinner at night (they’re quite easy on us with this, compared to the Theravadan monastics, whom do not eat anything past noon – ever)
  • sleeping in comfort (typically a blanket and the floor – or the worlds stiffest bed)
  • wearing jewelry (admittedly an easy one for me)
  • living in silence (sounds wonderful, but let me tell you – this is SERIOUSLY hard)
  • and quite a few others, but you get my point

each of the pieces you give up provide a very direct way of learning. If you think of not wearing jewelry, you consider that it truly is ego that wears the jewelry. If you think of sleeping in comfort, you think of making every waking moment one of practice.

And, on another hand, I’ve personally decided to give up some things for life. Meat. I’m a fairly strict vegetarian. If a sentient being had to die – through skillful means I cannot consider making that my meal. Alcohol. I do not drink. Period. These are personal choices I’ve made. Vegetarianism came from seeing no other choice in my own practice. Giving up alcohol came from very specific vows I took.

So, to my Catholic friends; good luck to you. May each of you find peace in your practice. May your choice to give up, whatever it may be, help you in your life. I know my choices on the things I’ve given up have truly helped me.