Some things in life are bound to be tricky.
Like traffic jams, shopping malls at Christmas or, you know, when you you hear things like “is there any situation when you can’t practice loving others?”
Gen Dekyong at the weekend.
And I’m thinking “Yes.”
(like duh)
Then she says it a few more times in that helpful / annoying* way she has.
* (delete according to state of mind)
Deluded Minds
It has to be said here that I’m a deluded being, which is Buddhist speak for letting my unpeaceful and uncontrolled mind loose on the world.
Nothing to feel guilty about. We all have one. It’s the source of all our suffering and problems. Deluded minds like sticky, grasping attachment, and anger are the reason people fall in love, and why countries go to war.
They’re why stubbing your toe is so irritating and tripping up in the mall so embarrassing.
Deluded minds are why I can find Dharma teachings annoying sometimes. Even though I’ve been Buddhist for lifetimes and love Dharma to bits.
And I have to admit, I’ve remembered it! As much as it annoyed me at the time, it’s actually quite a good question. Try it ~ it’s wonderfully challenging!
“is there any situation when you can’t practice loving others?…”
I left my iPod with my notes on it in Charlie’s car. But that doesn’t stop Dekyong’s lilting Irish accent giving a voice-over when I’m slipping into irritation at someone.
LoL
Thinking of a situation where I don’t practice loving others isn’t too difficult.
Pretty easy actually.
But seeing as I was spending a whole weekend in the company of hundreds of people, most of whom I only vaguely knew; it would seem that I was stuck with the task of at least trying.
And to be honest, since we were all trying, it wasn’t that hard. Even for me.
And it wasn’t icky false niceness that people trying too hard to be Buddhist are sickeningly guilty of; it was a genuine feeling of social barriers being dismantled and taken away.
Holding others with a tender regard
So, Gen Dekyong’s advice? Something to work on (and more on it later), is to develop a feeling of closeness to others, a warmth towards them.
Dekyong describes this as our ‘homework’ – practicing what Geshe La refers to as ‘holding others with a tender regard.’
Easier with some than others. And and there’s some you wouldn’t want to be anywhere near, let alone close to.
But start easy, and I reckon it might just work.
In fact, it might well give us all that easy, peaceful feeling.
nb:
There are three main delusions, or deluded minds: ignorance, which gives rise to desirous attachment, which gives rise to anger.
These heinous minds are best left behind in favour of wisdom and love.
True, most folk don’t share their delusions (unhappy minds) with the world; but then this is why this blog is here – to air the yucky bits that the people I meet and I have; and the Buddhist answer to them.
Questioning my actions and changing the way I viewed folk definitely felt better for me, and I think maybe all concerned.
Mar 04, 2012 @ 09:08:36
Hi Jas
Nice peice here well captured, it was a great weekend and one that I am trying daily to encapsulate in my daily dealings with others. Pretty sure our path will cross again, until then take great care and keep writing 🙂 xx
Migden 🙂
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Mar 04, 2012 @ 15:07:05
Aww, thanks Migden, it was lovely meeting you there, and having time to discuss Dharma. The ‘MKMC Snippets’ is kinda’ an on-going thing ~ I’m looking forward to typing up yours 🙂
Ooh! Do you have any pics of you / your hands threading malas that you could share with us? I didn’t really take any, which was a pity. It was a beautiful image, you in the pre-dawn main corridor working by lamplight.
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Mar 05, 2012 @ 13:35:06
Hi Jas, Nice post, thanks. Today I managed to get to Medicine Buddha empowerment in London, so feeling blessed. Need to work on the delusions though. Hope you are good and happy. xxx
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Mar 05, 2012 @ 16:34:18
Hello Pi, I’m glad you’re feeling better, and all blessed up. Know what you mean about those deluded minds. Be alright without them.
But yea, I’m feeling like it’s spring, and that always feels good 🙂
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Apr 15, 2015 @ 21:35:38
beautiful blog, lovely post….you write in such an admirable way….you write in a way that helps people to solve their own questions….very valuable
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Apr 26, 2015 @ 08:42:14
Thank you, that’s so kind of you to say.
Much less I’m afraid these days.
Best wishes for your lovely blog.
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Apr 27, 2015 @ 21:58:44
thank you xxx
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Apr 29, 2015 @ 17:14:43
🙂
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