Comments for This Upasika Life http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress Diary of a Buddhist and the Community she Communes with Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:52:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Turn-around and What Do You See? by Sakula Mary Reinard http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress/2010/turn-around-and-what-do-you-see/#comment-15 Sakula Mary Reinard Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:52:20 +0000 http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress/?p=37#comment-15 Hi Tracy,<br /><br />This is good hear! Thanks for sharing your experience of hope, I found this uplifting.<br /> You said "Skillful means are called forth. It is easy to "rest with what is" but I believe our youth are more inclined towards engagement." Wow, lucky you :)<br />I find 'resting-with-what-is' one of the most challenging and humbling aspects of the Buddha's teachings. Gandhi was a supreme example of restraint in this regard, not acting on the very human tendency to consider striking out against violence but rather to observe reactions and restrain action til one can move with peace and goodwill. As long as one acts from a place of peace and goodwill I don't see anythign in the Buddha's teachings that would discourage any form of action. To "rest with what is" does not, in my humble opinion, mean non-action, quite the opposite ;)<br /><br />Thanks for your comment Tracy, nice way to start the day!<br />Sakula Hi Tracy,

This is good hear! Thanks for sharing your experience of hope, I found this uplifting.
You said "Skillful means are called forth. It is easy to "rest with what is" but I believe our youth are more inclined towards engagement." Wow, lucky you :)
I find 'resting-with-what-is' one of the most challenging and humbling aspects of the Buddha's teachings. Gandhi was a supreme example of restraint in this regard, not acting on the very human tendency to consider striking out against violence but rather to observe reactions and restrain action til one can move with peace and goodwill. As long as one acts from a place of peace and goodwill I don't see anythign in the Buddha's teachings that would discourage any form of action. To "rest with what is" does not, in my humble opinion, mean non-action, quite the opposite ;)

Thanks for your comment Tracy, nice way to start the day!
Sakula

]]> Comment on Turn-around and What Do You See? by Tracy McDonald http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress/2010/turn-around-and-what-do-you-see/#comment-14 Tracy McDonald Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:52:29 +0000 http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress/?p=37#comment-14 Wow! I am a college prof and mother of two 20-somethings. In just the past two or so years, I have seen a subtle shift in my students. For most of my teaching career (25+yrs), my perception was that sadly, the majority of my students could be characterized by apathy and viewed "getting ahead" as their life goal. A subtle shift seemed to emerge as it became evident to the mainstream that climate change is a very real threat and is not a "theory." For the first time in my career, a great number of my students rose to the occasion. The critical thinking and resolve they showed in working to making the world a better place and the actions they took were nothing short of astonishing. Look at the record numbers that voted in the recent presidential election. I have confidence in this generation and I feel more positive about the future of of those who come after us than I have ever have. My only fear is that the current economic crisis has taken us all off track since you have to eat to be able to engage in activism. Unfortunate, because time is really of the essence. Still, I have faith. Skillful means are called forth. It is easy to "rest with what is" but I believe our youth are more inclined towards engagement. Wow! I am a college prof and mother of two 20-somethings. In just the past two or so years, I have seen a subtle shift in my students. For most of my teaching career (25+yrs), my perception was that sadly, the majority of my students could be characterized by apathy and viewed "getting ahead" as their life goal. A subtle shift seemed to emerge as it became evident to the mainstream that climate change is a very real threat and is not a "theory." For the first time in my career, a great number of my students rose to the occasion. The critical thinking and resolve they showed in working to making the world a better place and the actions they took were nothing short of astonishing. Look at the record numbers that voted in the recent presidential election. I have confidence in this generation and I feel more positive about the future of of those who come after us than I have ever have. My only fear is that the current economic crisis has taken us all off track since you have to eat to be able to engage in activism. Unfortunate, because time is really of the essence. Still, I have faith. Skillful means are called forth. It is easy to "rest with what is" but I believe our youth are more inclined towards engagement.

]]> Comment on It isn’t easy Being Me by charlita http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress/2009/it-isnt-easy-being-me/#comment-13 charlita Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:04:06 +0000 http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress/?p=36#comment-13 well said Sakula. and well done.<br /><br />blessings, well said Sakula. and well done.

blessings,

]]> Comment on Western Resolution meets Eastern Resolve by Alistair http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress/2009/western-resolution-meets-eastern-resolve/#comment-12 Alistair Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:25:00 +0000 http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress/?p=35#comment-12 A benefit of resolve for me is that it doesn't seem to need a significant start date like I feel a resolution should have.<br/><br/>So it's 10:18 on the Jan 30 and I can tap into resolve, once my resolutions have fallen by the wayside (and they do), they languish "I've fallen and I can't get up" till the next significant date (my birthday, May day, Jan 1st) revives them.<br/><br/>Right now I resolve to note every time I re-summon my courage to return to whatever wholesome state I had resolved to be in. <br/><br/>Thanks for the encouragement, Sakula and Ajahns A benefit of resolve for me is that it doesn’t seem to need a significant start date like I feel a resolution should have.

So it’s 10:18 on the Jan 30 and I can tap into resolve, once my resolutions have fallen by the wayside (and they do), they languish “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” till the next significant date (my birthday, May day, Jan 1st) revives them.

Right now I resolve to note every time I re-summon my courage to return to whatever wholesome state I had resolved to be in.

Thanks for the encouragement, Sakula and Ajahns

]]> Comment on Western Resolution meets Eastern Resolve by jkhines http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress/2009/western-resolution-meets-eastern-resolve/#comment-11 jkhines Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:43:00 +0000 http://thisupasikalife.com/wordpress/?p=35#comment-11 My experience was a resolve to make resolutions, some of which I've already forgotten. Instead I'm going to focus on a single thing and stick with it.<br/><br/><a HREF="http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/calvin-and-hobbes-relativism.gif" REL="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Or not.</a> My experience was a resolve to make resolutions, some of which I’ve already forgotten. Instead I’m going to focus on a single thing and stick with it.

Or not.

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