Whether you realize it or not, right now you are cycling through endless cycles of birth, death and rebirth.
A door opens. A chance encounter. A new dawn.
The play of life unfolds in moments. Constantly searching for the next one perpetuates the cycle of becoming. We all have the habit of trying to make something of ourselves, not seeing what we already are.
Clarify your practice. Let your practice clarify you.
Showing posts with label birth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birth. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Monday, April 23, 2018
Becoming.
Becoming is one of the twelve links of dependent origination. It immediately follows craving and fixation and is part of the larger cycle leading to birth, aging, sickness and death.
The source of becoming lies in suffering, pain and dissatisfaction. Our unresolved condition leads to the experience of a deep satisfaction and the desire to escape that pain and sorrow. Craving and desire gradually build and grow in our mind until we eventually become fixated and attached.
Atttachment can take many forms. We can be attached to physical forms, ideas, perceptions, and routines. We can be fixated on food, habits, mental states or feelings. Anything that we perceive to be a solution to the suffering we are trying to escape.
That attachment gives rise to becoming. Becoming forges new tendencies, new actions (karma!). It becomes the patterning that eventually gives rise to a new life.
We continually cycle through these experiences. Birth isn't just our birth into this life. We are always going through the cycles of birth and death. We enter into new relationships, new jobs, new endeavors. We manifest new aspirations, accomplish new goals.
Birth is the result of becoming. We live hundreds of lifetimes in this one life.
Birth always leads to aging, sickness and death. We eventually grow tired of the way things are. We start to notice the problems and inadequacy of situations. Things start falling apart. The truth of suffering once again becomes apparent in our lives.
The habit that we have is to then start the process of craving and desire all over again. Seeking out a new rebirth. Seeking out a better life.
In our confusion, we cycle again and again.
The source of becoming lies in suffering, pain and dissatisfaction. Our unresolved condition leads to the experience of a deep satisfaction and the desire to escape that pain and sorrow. Craving and desire gradually build and grow in our mind until we eventually become fixated and attached.
Atttachment can take many forms. We can be attached to physical forms, ideas, perceptions, and routines. We can be fixated on food, habits, mental states or feelings. Anything that we perceive to be a solution to the suffering we are trying to escape.
That attachment gives rise to becoming. Becoming forges new tendencies, new actions (karma!). It becomes the patterning that eventually gives rise to a new life.
We continually cycle through these experiences. Birth isn't just our birth into this life. We are always going through the cycles of birth and death. We enter into new relationships, new jobs, new endeavors. We manifest new aspirations, accomplish new goals.
Birth is the result of becoming. We live hundreds of lifetimes in this one life.
Birth always leads to aging, sickness and death. We eventually grow tired of the way things are. We start to notice the problems and inadequacy of situations. Things start falling apart. The truth of suffering once again becomes apparent in our lives.
The habit that we have is to then start the process of craving and desire all over again. Seeking out a new rebirth. Seeking out a better life.
In our confusion, we cycle again and again.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Born free.
When you enter a new situation, a new job, a new city, a new life, what are your primary concerns?
We are concerned about our parents and teachers, the neighborhood and school district, the crime and homelessness. We care about the class we are in or the team we are on. Reputation, notoriety and association are all a big deal.
These are deep seated concerns. We care about where we are born. We have an innate predisposition to seek out positive rebirths, positive circumstances.
The purification of rebirth isn't to be reborn in the wealthiest neighborhood with the best schools and the best odds of getting into the best colleges with the best sports teams. No. The purification of birth is to able to enter any situation, any circumstance, any life and to be unstained by its faults.
When we are able to take any form and not be bound, then we are truly free. Taking the conditions that you find yourself in, using them as the basis of the path, and transforming them through wisdom to bring benefit to others, that is freedom.
The rest is just bondage in gold chains.
We are concerned about our parents and teachers, the neighborhood and school district, the crime and homelessness. We care about the class we are in or the team we are on. Reputation, notoriety and association are all a big deal.
These are deep seated concerns. We care about where we are born. We have an innate predisposition to seek out positive rebirths, positive circumstances.
The purification of rebirth isn't to be reborn in the wealthiest neighborhood with the best schools and the best odds of getting into the best colleges with the best sports teams. No. The purification of birth is to able to enter any situation, any circumstance, any life and to be unstained by its faults.
When we are able to take any form and not be bound, then we are truly free. Taking the conditions that you find yourself in, using them as the basis of the path, and transforming them through wisdom to bring benefit to others, that is freedom.
The rest is just bondage in gold chains.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
A garland of lives.
The continuum of lives is neither one nor many.
Manifold expressions arise in all their diversity
from the single sphere of original purity.
Manifold expressions arise in all their diversity
from the single sphere of original purity.
Friday, November 1, 2013
A Simple Vessel.
What was your intention upon entering the womb in this life?
Was it to be rich, famous and successful?
To wine and dine at the finest restaurants?
Was it to see the latest blockbuster, buy the newest gadget?
To play in a band, write a book?
Was it to find your partner, raise a family?
To live a long time, to be healthy?
Was it to run wild, experience everything under the sun?
What was it?
It is a strange question, but if you had an intention for entering the womb,
what was it?
Was it one of those?
Or was it to awaken to the truth.
To share generously and love.
To bring benefit to others, to make an impact in people's lives.
Was it to empower the weak, to feed the hungry.
Maybe it was as simple as to take impermanence as your vessel,
and to live a life of compassion.
Was it to be rich, famous and successful?
To wine and dine at the finest restaurants?
Was it to see the latest blockbuster, buy the newest gadget?
To play in a band, write a book?
Was it to find your partner, raise a family?
To live a long time, to be healthy?
Was it to run wild, experience everything under the sun?
What was it?
It is a strange question, but if you had an intention for entering the womb,
what was it?
Was it one of those?
Or was it to awaken to the truth.
To share generously and love.
To bring benefit to others, to make an impact in people's lives.
Was it to empower the weak, to feed the hungry.
Maybe it was as simple as to take impermanence as your vessel,
and to live a life of compassion.
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