Mind activities of a Stone boy

I saw this movie probably twenty years ago when it came out. I vaguely remember that it was a very inspirational movie. I was such a lonely young man who knows only love in theory. My take away from the movie is that one has to love everybody in order to gain love from that special someone. That message has stuck in me ever since. Twenty years later now, to love everybody still remains a elusive goal. I could only try and work hard on it. Watching this movie this past Saturday on the Solstice night brings a fresh perspective again. The story of the movie somehow reminds me of the practice of Buddhism. We are given constant rebirth to the human realm to have the chance of practicing spirituality. We'll do it again and again through lots of sufferings and misgivings.. then one day finally awakened and learned... Then really work hard toward the *goal*... I saw this post by a monk online and found it very appropriate. The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new lan

Satipatthana Sutta (The Discourse on the Establishing of Mindfulness), which is the one of the core scripts for Theravada Buddhism school. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satipatthana_Sutta ) I found this a pretty good interpretation on "contemplating the body in the body". http://buddhism.about.com/od/theeightfoldpath/a/Mindfuless-Of-Body.htm This is even better interpretation: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wayof.html Here is the Chinese translation regarding that contemplating the body/feelings/mind/mental qualities in the body/feelings/mind/mental qualities 安住於身，循身觀察 安住於受，隨觀感受 安住於心，隨觀心識 安住於法，隨觀 諸法

translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. There he addressed the monks, "Monks!" "Yes, lord," the monks replied. The Blessed One said: "When a monk is intent on the heightened mind, there are five themes he should attend to at the appropriate times. Which five? "There is the case where evil, unskillful thoughts — imbued with desire, aversion, or delusion — arise in a monk while he is referring to and attending to a particular theme. He should attend to another theme, apart from that one, connected with what is skillful. When he is attending to this other theme, apart from that one, connected with what is skillful, then those evil, unskillful thoughts — imbued with desire, aversion, or delusion — are abandoned and subside. With their abandoning, he steadies his mind right within, settles it, unifies it, and concent

This is a very easy and effective way to bring myself back the the present. I can just tell myself what I am aware of at that moment... it will bring me back the present moment when I find myself lost in thoughts, the future or the past. I am aware of my chewing on food now.. I am aware of the sensation of my finger tips when I am typing.. I am aware of the brightly lit monitor as my eyes stare at it. I am aware of the calling of my wife..

"life is finite nothing is forever all problems are relative" ~~Bob of Holland

I found this one to be read frequently.. Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was staying at Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Pleasance. The Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying, "Bhikkhus," and they replied to him saying, "Reverend Sir." The Blessed One spoke as follows: "Five things should be reflected on from time to time, by the bhikkhu who is intent on the higher consciousness. What five? When evil unskillful thoughts connected with desire, hate, and delusion arise in a bhikkhu through reflection on an adventitious object, he should, (in order to get rid of that), reflect on a different object which is connected with skill. Then the evil unskillful thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (his subject of meditation). Like an experienced carpenter or carpenter's apprentice, striking hard at, pushing out, an

I just watched ARGO last week. It is a fascinating story about one CIA spy rescued the six hostages out of Canadian embassy in Tehran. You must admire the courage of this CIA agent but at the same time how unsophisticated of Iranian region at that time. Now, you're done with the movie and went to the web to search for more information about the incident. You came to realize that the movie did not portray the real incident objectively. The movie screen writer/director just adapted the real event to a very compelling story to tell. It seems fraud in that regard. a bit disappointment... So, it is to say about Lance Armstrong's story. How can a cancer survivor win 7 tour de France? It turned out that he treats. It is a great disappointment... So, on to this new movie about Journey's new vocalist, "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey". It is such a powerful story and a very inspiring one. Then, you realize how corrupt the  Philippines  society is.

Gangaji reminds me that the freedom is always there. Having strong desires and getting addiction to things are inevitable in life. Instead of suppressing them, one could try fully embrace them and learn what they really are. In the mist of strong emotions and feelings, there is always a freedom to be still and not to be swayed by the desires and habits. The freedom is always there..

The fifth mindfulness training, the mindful consumption, has always been a challenge to practice. Over the new year holiday retreat at the Blue Cliff Monastery, a lay man said that it is possible to consume alcohol mindfully. I wonder how he did it. I surely can't do so. Every time I drank a bottle of beer, I immediately notice that I could not think as clear as I would like to. Yes, sometimes, that is a sensation that I would like to enjoy, but these days, I sense that it is a loss of clarity in mind. My brain cells are getting killed. So, is it possible to mindfully consume the unmindful things? My life experiences tell me no in the most cases. Still, we could learn a lot from our mistakes so we don't make the same mistakes again. In that regard, we do mindfully consume the unmindful things....