Turtle

"Imagine that the whole earth was covered with water, and a man was to throw a yoke with a hole in it into the water. Blown by the wind, that yoke would drift north, south, east and west. Now, suppose that once in hundred years a blind turtle would rise to the surface. What do you think? Would that turtle put his head through the hole in the yoke as he rose to the surface once in a hundred years?"

"It is unlikely Lord."

"Well, it is just as unlikely that one will be born as a human being; it is just unlikely that a Tathagata, a Noble One, a fully enlightened Buddha should arise in the world; and it is just as unlikely that the Dhamma and discipline of the Tathagata should be taught. But now you have been born as a human being, a Tathagata has arisen and the Dhamma has been taught. Therefore, strive to realize the Four Noble Truths."

Friday, December 30, 2011

The Four Brahmaviharas

This is yet another post about the brahmaviharas.. Can't help it. Ever since the retreat, I keep on reflecting on how much guidance I've had on how to manage my emotions, which emotions should I "choose" to have.. Yes, it's actually possible to choose which emotion to apply in various circumstances and most of the time I manage to pick one to apply. As long as they are one of these four, or any other good emotions, then I know I'm "safe".

The other one is concentration on breathing, which really helps tremendously to calm down my emotions and my thoughts.. Strangely, yesterday night before I went to sleep, I actually am able to see that whenever my thoughts are not in the present, or whenever I'm thinking about something, it's obviously not the present because I'm thinking either about the past or the future, my thoughts and emotions are stirred and I became more active in a sense which makes it harder to go to sleep, and I have to constantly tell my mind what I was thinking of, and bring it back to the present breath..

I think both works hand in hand to make me more mindful of what's going on..


~ttg @ Realized Tranquility of the Heart~
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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

allow me to share my view.

emotions arise according to its nature, instead we choose them. it could lead to a mind trap if we tend to choose emotions.

We do can observe its nature. How and why it arise through patient, deep observations.

When there's a situation that trigger angers, then anger it is. We can choose not to react to the anger. We can response to it skillfully, base on our ability, capability, capacity (wisdom) and definitely base on the circumstance and situation we are in. (conditions)

This is where kamma comes into picture. Though we can't blame everything to it, but everything is part of kamma be it our own, the others, or even the nature, and surroundings.

May 2012 brings greatness :)

aik

2:12 PM
turtlegurl said...

Using your example, when anger arises, overcome it with love? Isn't that something like overcoming one emotion with another? Though the latter one has to be cultivated...

9:22 AM

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