http://www.simplelivingforum.net/ Finding inner simplicity. en-US Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:03:35 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.simplelivingforum.net/images/misc/rss.png http://www.simplelivingforum.net/ http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8407-Zen-again&goto=newpost Fri, 14 Jun 2013 02:24:51 GMT *Master Seisetsu was on a fund-raising mission for his temple when a merchant came and brought 500 yen. The master received the money, but without... Master Seisetsu was on a fund-raising mission for his temple when a merchant came and brought 500 yen. The master received the money, but without saying thanks. After a bit the merchant said, "500 yen is a lot of money and yet you have no words of appreciation?"
Immediately the master said, "You're the one who has done a good thing. Why must I thank you?"
With that the merchant understood what the highest good is.

I love this because it illustrates the essence of what I see as being true giving. Unprompted by notions of societal obligations, one sees another as themselves in a situation that one would willingly and easily accept the presence/presents of another and one moves with, and from that seeing. As in the story above, it seems to me that this kind of giving is all giving...and then there is the story of what is owed that comes afterwards.
After I read this, I've noticed that I don't feel that twinge when somebody doesn't thank me for holding the door for them or some other form of public giving to strangers. ]]> Xmac http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8407-Zen-again http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8312-my-fave-buddhist-dude-in-a-bunny-suit&goto=newpost Fri, 31 May 2013 12:30:08 GMT If you know Brad Warner you probably already know he is the buddhist teacher most likely to be in a bunny suit. He is promoting his new book in a... If you know Brad Warner you probably already know he is the buddhist teacher most likely to be in a bunny suit. He is promoting his new book in a variety of new ways and putting short videos on his website. I really am excited about this book and encourage people to buy it!

So here is a video explaining why people should meditate (and him in a bunny suit).

http://hardcorezen.info/why-should-we-meditate/1929 ]]> Zoe Girl http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8312-my-fave-buddhist-dude-in-a-bunny-suit http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8274-Sufi-Wisdom&goto=newpost Mon, 27 May 2013 23:54:00 GMT Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates:

At the first gate, ask yourself, 'is it true?'

At the second ask, 'is it necessary?'

At the third gate ask, 'is it kind?' ]]> Xmac http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8274-Sufi-Wisdom http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8257-experiencing-events-without-the-reactions-you-expect&goto=newpost Sun, 26 May 2013 03:10:42 GMT We were discussing this in our meditation group last night. It was that with regular practice of meditation things shift and what we expect is not... We were discussing this in our meditation group last night. It was that with regular practice of meditation things shift and what we expect is not always what happens but it is okay. One person was talking about how he still watched and liked sports but he was not as caught up in it. He could actually not watch pro sports after feeling he was missing something big if he missed a game he was really missing something. I have also experienced this different times, you are in the middle of something terrible and you experience a moment of joy. I had to mostly let go of the idea that it is wrong to experience that in the middle of some type of difficulty.

Today my experience is that my car almost broke down. It was showing the check engine light most of this week but I simply could not get it in the shop. So it was on my first thing list for Tuesday, and today it went from hiccups to total shuddering and struggling going up hills. Since we were supposed to hike in the mountain, driving UP, we had to turn around and find a shop open, first stopping at home to pick up cash because I don't have credit, and then driving shuddering down the street. At least there was a shop I knew, I have had headlights go out this month and they do those and oil changes for me. Bottom line is that my spark plug wires are unusual and I will not get my car until sometime Tuesday. That means holiday weekend with no car, well my daughter has her car but she works and needs it. I can walk to a grocery store and already bought food, have a ride to church in the morning, it is all okay. I even took the bus to meet a visiting friend for dinner (okay I can understand why my kids really do not like that bus route).

I am feeling tremendously relaxed about it, I am going to work in the garden and cook on Monday but knowing I can't run around and do errands and go overboard is really nice. Kinda like getting snowed in. ]]> Zoe Girl http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8257-experiencing-events-without-the-reactions-you-expect http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8247-How-do-you-react-to-life&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 13:09:31 GMT I think that there is a lot of merit in this thinking regardless of who actually coined the actual words. What do you think? Found on ... I think that there is a lot of merit in this thinking regardless of who actually coined the actual words. What do you think?

Found on
http://lifehacker.com/5873131/life-i...97426#comments

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element.

It is my personal approach that creates the climate.

It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.

In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or dehumanized.

If we treat people as they are, we make them worse.

If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming."

Caveat: Also attributed to Dr. Haim G. Ginott, with slightly different wording.

But the message is the same, and a VERY powerful one if you can adjust your mindset to live by it. (I certainly wish I could do better.) 1 ]]> razz http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?8247-How-do-you-react-to-life