“Coolnes” – What Is It?
Welcome to this week’s topic, “Coolness,” using the cartoon and article below as the trigger for comments.
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DHARMA THE CAT’S COMMENT
It’s always so much fun making Bodhi say “Aarghhh!”
AUTHOR’S TAKE by David Lourie
COOLNESS
I have come to understand the meaning of “coolness” in spiritual terms.
A person is `cool’ when he or she is free from pressing desires (grasping) which always produce dissonant emotions (uncoolness).
An uncool person squirms with needs, waiting for the next coffee or cigarette or chance to break into the conversation, and thus is a state called “senseless agitation,” like Bodhi in the cartoon above.
On the other hand, a cool person is free of cravings and repulsions, and is thus in an empowered state of equanimity.
Being cool and detached is not being cold and uncaring. I’ve noticed that when I’m feeling cool and requiring nothing from the situation, it seems to clarify my thoughts, and in this state I tend to respond to other people’s agendas more, instead of my head being full of my own agenda.
To me, coolness means more compassion and less self-ness – the opposite of being heated.
Interestingly, the ultra-cool Buddhist who has realized nirvana is often referred to as “fully blown out,” referring to the flame of desire he has extinguished within himself. –- David Lourie
Anger Management
This week’s topic is “Anger Management.” The cartoon below is by visiting Australian cartoonist Nik Scott (nscott@iprimus.com.au). Your opinions are invited! .
Get Dharma’s Cartoon eBook at www.DharmaTheCatCartoons.com
DAVID LOURIE’S TAKE
Most people I’ve talked to agree that the Free Tibet protests at the Olympic Torch relays would have elicited more sympathy among people not already aligned with the cause, had the protesters maintained a peaceful demeanour, and a state of mind that is worthy of the Dalai Lama’s noble Buddhist values.
But because many of the demonstrators were so full of anger, some feel that their protests were only preaching to the converted.
It appears on the surface of things that China is beginning to soften it’s hard line on Tibet, thanks to the protestors’ efforts. However, their new willingness to talk might only be an appearance which belies the ugly truth – only time will tell.
I personally believe that like attracts like. So if one wants to end the violence of any government against its people, then behaving peacefully will be more a more likely path to a lasting success.
What do you think?
– David Lourie
“Why Celibacy?”
Welcome to this week’s topic for discussion, “Why Celibacy?”, using the cartoon below as the trigger for comments. Your opinions are invited! This blog is updated every Sunday night.
Get Dharma’s Cartoon e-Book at www.DharmaTheCatCartoons.com
DHARMA THE CAT’S COMMENT
“It’s appropriate to maintain a balance between spiritual pursuit and worldly responsibilities. But it’s also helpful to know when your kidding yourself! Bodhi’s “method” is neither a spiritual pursuit nor a responsibility.”
AUTHOR’S TAKE by David Lourie
Is there any benefit for lay people who are on a spiritual path to practice celibacy, or is it just for monks? Can any harm come from ignoring such a strong natural desire?
The choice comes easily for a typical Buddhist or Catholic monk, because they have no choice in the matter – they are required to do it.
The Catholic monks have a centuries-old tradition of celibacy which is now enforced by the Church hierarchy. And the Buddhist practice of celibacy has an even older tradition, based on the precept that one shall not engage in inappropriate sex, meaning sex which is harmful to anyone in any way.
But we lay practitioners do have a choice in the matter, and there is a long history of debate about this issue among us, as well as among the mendicants of many religions.
Over the years, the main argument against celibacy is that it unnaturally denies the ‘human’ side of our nature that God (or whatever) created, and thus celibacy should not be considered a ‘virtue’ for lay people, even if they are on a spiritual path.
Buddhist monks agree with the idea that the sex drive is a natural part of the human makeup. However, they go on to point out that our basic nature is a very good thing to get beyond and transcend, according to their spiritual values. Not only that, but the Buddha’s second of four fundamental truths states that all our suffering is rooted in those perfectly natural desires like the sex drive. Thus to a Buddhist, natural desire is precisely the thing to get beyond, as one progresses along the spiritual path.
And Catholic monks generally agree with the Buddhists, that attachment to sexual desire is a major hindrance to spiritual progress. So there seems to be a strong consensus among these deeply religious mendicants.
Two years ago, at an inter-faith gathering of Buddhist and Catholic monks in Northern California, the subject of celibacy was discussed in depth by those practicing it for religious reasons.
“Raging desire takes away choice and freedom,” summed up the Buddhist Rev Kusala Bhikshu. “The senses must be controlled in order to be free.”
The Catholic monks pointed out how monastic life demands a profound understanding and acceptance of solitude. “Celibacy is a tool,” said Brother Gregory Perron from St. Procopius monastery in Indiana, “a skilful means, like intentional simplicity of life, by which our heart is burrowed out and the core of our being laid bare. By embracing it, the monk accepts the aloneness that characterizes every human being.”
Lay practitioners and religious householders might not be prepared to take on this rigorous point of view, held mainly by mendicants who have renounced their worldly possessions and issues.
Some lay practitioners point out that for them, suppressing a natural desire can also become a hindrance, or distraction to spiritual practice.
The Catholic and Buddhist mendicants actually agree with that idea, that suppression can be harmful. But they describe their approach to celibacy as being different to suppression, They say it’s a skilful re-directing of those mundane feelings into new, more elevated directions – such as spiritual devotion, good works and a more intimate relationship with their Creator.
Psychologists might call this method ‘sublimation,’ as opposed to suppression.
The Buddhist method of achieving celibacy without harm also avoids suppression. Their way is to accept and observe any sexual feelings that arise, without being drawn in, and without judgement or remorse. The process is simply to watch these thoughts and feelings come and go, with intelligent reflection on the mind’s activity, without repressing them, and without remaining attached to them.
It’s a matter of just letting go, and watching desire pass through your mind, remaining mindful that the more you ‘resist’ or suppress it, the stronger it becomes.
In their engaged dialogue, both the Buddhist and Christian monks agreed that celibacy is essential to any seriously dedicated follower of a spiritual path, regardless of whether they be lay or ordained. For lay people, Mahatma Ghandi us a prime example of a married householder who practiced “chastity” within his marriage, to remain focussed on his spiritual path.
Many Catholic monks, by remaining celibate, manage to re-direct their desires into a more loving relationship with God – or as some would say, with Jesus. They see celibacy in a positive light, as being an expression of ‘mature sexuality.’
They say that for religious practice, right thought is as important as right behaviour, so they re-direct all their thoughts of sex into thoughts of God or Jesus.
What do you think – would celibacy keep your own spiritual practice on course better, or would it only make things more difficult?
– David Lourie
Cartoon “Torch Relay?”
Welcome to this week’s topic for discussion, “Torch Relay?”, using the cartoon below from http://torchrelaybeijing2008.org/ and http://www.youngtibet.com/torch/moreinfo.html as the trigger for comments. Your opinions are invited! .
Get Dharma’s Cartoon eBook at www.DharmaTheCatCartoons.com
DAVID LOURIE’S TAKE
HERE ARE SOME WAYS WE CAN HELP TIBET
Many are now asking, “How can I, as one individual person, help Tibet gain the autonomy from Chinese rule they have been asking for?”
Well, there are several ways, and they’re all easily done.
Beijing has now blocked Dharma The Cat’s blog (this one), as well as many other Buddhist web sites, from being seen by the Chinese people. But The Cat and I have decided to wear this censorship as a Badge Of Honour, considering what good company we’re in!
Cartoon courtesy of www.mackaycartoons.net
Traditionally, in the political realm (but not in the Buddhist realm), turnabout is considered fair play, so many are suggesting it would be appropriate and just to ban the Olympic torch relay in all countries outside China. For more on this idea, see http://torchrelaybeijing2008.org/ http://www.youngtibet.com/torch/moreinfo.html.
In America, some Republican Congressmen have proposed legislation that would ban President Bush and other U.S. official from attending the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics. They have already met with the Chinese ambassador about this.
On the other hand, many Buddhists are recommending a less confrontational approach, as endorsed by Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who has threatened to resign his secular role if the violence among his followers in Tibet continues (although he would remain their spiritual leader). Appealing for the help of fair- minded people everywhere in preserving Buddhist values in Tibet, he is quoted as saying, “Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.”
That’s why many French Olympic team members, instead of boycotting either the torch relay or the Games, plan to sew a badge onto their uniforms that shows their solidarity with Tibet, and they will wear it during the torch relay through France.
Also taking a non-violent approach, the Avaaz Organisation is running a worldwide “naming and shaming” campaign to put “unprecedented global pressure” on China to behave better towards Tibet,. You can see this at http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_report_back/4.php/?cl=69740543. They’re now getting 100,000 signatures per day on their petition to world leaders, with over 1.5 million so far.
Hollywood actor Richard Gere is a Buddhist, and has long been championing the Free Tibet movement. “Now he opens up to www.beliefnet.com about his meditation practice, about what we should do about the Olympics in China, and about his own heartbreak at seeing the “compassionate, forgiving, patient” monks of Tibet lose their center and resort to violence in recent protests.” Read more on this at http://preciousmetal.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/richard-gere-is-always-watching-the-mind/#more-729
I’ve seen recent unconfirmed internet reports that the so-called “monks” who demonstrated violently in Tibet were actually Chinese infiltrators planted there by the Beijing authorities. I’ll be interested to see if this is confirmed.
The Beijing government claims it is acting in a humanitarian manner, within the law, and that it has nothing to hide. But if that’s true, then why are they keeping journalists, and even foreign tourists, out of the Sichuan province and other areas of unrest?
And why would Beijing ban their people from reading the Buddhist point of view on the internet, if their attitude toward human rights generally is really as they claim it is?
Some feel that politics should be kept out of the Olympics altogether. As the Venerable J M Dharmakara Boda says, “The problem is that neither side wants to end the rhetoric and political spin, so that could very well represent what the Olympics will become… it shouldn’t be about politics, but bringing the world together.”
So, should we leave the Olympics alone, and instead boycott Chinese consumer products?
Some have suggested this could be accomplished just by boycotting Wal-Mart, an American retail super-chain that imported over 25 million dollars of Chinese goods into America last year, which in turn cost 3008,000 American jobs in 2006 alone — almost 80 job losses per Wal-Mart store in the U.S. That gives many American supporters of Tibet a double motivation to boycott Chinese products via Wal-Mart.
If you would like to participate in the Free Tibet cause, you can go to the “No Torch In Tibet” campaign at. http://torchrelaybeijing2008.org/ http://www.youngtibet.com/torch/moreinfo.html, or else write the IOC (International Olympic Committee) at: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/notorch
FOR TIBET WEB SITES, see: http://www.tibetsites.com/Tibet_Cartoons.htm.
An interesting related article is at http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/04/qa-on-tibet .
And here’s another very interesting related site: http://preciousmetal.wordpress.com/
So, in the contest of Beijing vs Tibet, who do you think will be “taking home the Gold?” Your comment is welcome! – David Lourie
Cartoon “Perfect Storm” by Nik Scott
Welcome to this week’s topic for discussion, “Perfect Storm”, using the cartoon below by visiting Australian cartoonist Nik Scott (nscott@iprimus.com.au) as the trigger for comments. Your opinions are invited! .
Get Dharma’s Cartoon eBook at www.DharmaTheCatCartoons.com
DAVID LOURIE’S TAKE
The arrogance of the Chinese government (not the people) seems to know no bounds. I find it outrageous. Talk about living in the past — their behaviour exhibits the discredited social mores that drove European colonization more than a century ago.
The atheistic Chinese government has been trying to kill off Tibet’s natural culture and Buddhist spirituality, in stages.
Among other things, Beijing is pro-actively colonizing Tibet with a Chinese atheist population.
They have already tried to install a puppet monk of their own choosing to replace the Dalai Lama, but the monk in question ended up not cooperating.
This secular Beijing government has presumed to grab control over reincarnation itself, even though they don’t believe in it, by officially “authorising” which Tibetan Lama is eligible to reincarnate as Tibet’s spiritual leader – as if that could be regulated!
And as the world becomes more aware of Beijing’s growing dishonesty, the Chinese government is censoring the news that goes to its own citizens, by blocking access to most major Buddhist web sites, and other web sites that would reveal the truth.
Even this blog is now blocked from being accessed by the Chinese people, along with most of the major Buddhist websites worldwide.
MY SUGGESTIONS: I think every country in the world should boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympics, unless things turn around. I would also like to see a worldwide consumer boycott of Chinese products, until Tibet’s rightful autonomy is re-instated.
And wouldn’t it be great if all the athletes at the Olympics sewed “Free Tibet” labels onto their uniforms for the opening ceremony!
– David Lourie
Cartoon “The Death Of The Buddhist Ideal” by Ven J M Dharmakara Boda
Welcome to this week’s topic for discussion, “The Death Of The Buddhist Ideal,” submitted by the Ven. J M Dharmakara Boda (www.mahabodhi.net) and featuring the avatar character from “The Other Shore” series as the trigger for comments. Your opinions are invited!
Get Dharma’s Cartoon eBook at www.DharmaTheCatCartoons.com
VEN DHARMAKARA’S TAKE
In her latest letter on the Buddhist Channel, Visakha Kawasaki has once again twisted the words of another person in her attempt to propagate political agendas and behaviors that are inconsistent with the Buddha-dharma, attempting to further derail any meaningful discussion about what a peaceful demonstration actually requires of its participants.
David Lourie, myself, and others were horrified at the sight of Tibetan monks kicking in doors and breaking out the windows of Chinese shop owners, events that were covered by western media prior to the Chinese military’s most recent crackdown in the region.
Let’s first examine what a “peaceful demonstration” is from within Ghandian non-violent Satyagraha movement. A “satyagrahi” (one who practices satyagraha) refuses to inflict injury on others and must be willing to shoulder any sacrifice which is occasioned by the struggle which they have initiated, rather than pushing such sacrifice or suffering onto their opponent, always providing a face-saving “way out” for the opponents.
This understanding of what a peaceful demonstration represents is reflected in “Ahimsa”, where participants are not simply requested to refrain from inflicting injury on others, it’s demanded of them or they shouldn’t be at the demonstration in the first place.
Doesn’t this sound a lot like the Bodhisattva ideal?
Even though their respective countries have a long way to go before their dream is realized, both Mahatma Ghandhi and Martin Luther King were able to succeed because this was exactly what they advocated, not what we’ve seen being passed off as “peaceful demonstrations” by the pro-democracy movement.
Many pro-democracy groups involved in the unrest in Tibet, as well as Myanmar, seem to ignore this and have no problem enabling the opposite to occur because they do not understand the principles behind Satyagraha, long enough what a peaceful demonstration constitutes.
The best example of this can be found in the words of John Ackerly, the president of the International Campaign for Tibet, who has recently stated that “Tibet’s movement for justice and freedom cannot be reduced to the burning of Chinese shops,” which is true, but in his statement he not only downplays the violent behavior of many participants in the demonstrations, but he also makes no mention of the fact that some of these Chinese shop owners had actually died a horrible death at the hands of these demonstrators.
Sure, it’s easy for some people to turn a blind eye to this unfortunate event because many people see these Chinese shop owners as invaders of Tibetan culture and society. It’s just as easy to justify this behavior by declaring that these demonstrations didn’t occur in a vacuum, that they were the total sum of the frustrations faced by the people of Tibet, but at the end of the day MURDER is still MURDER, regardless of how one attempts to package the event or the fact that the Chinese government has done the same on a much larger and unimaginable scale.
Can we expect Visakha Kawasaki and other misguided individuals to understand this? Clearly not. Their understanding of what constitutes a “peaceful demonstration” is about as flawed as their understanding of the Buddha-dharma
First – Ven J M Dharmakara Boda
Cartoon “Monks at China Olympics”
Welcome to this week’s topic for discussion, “Monks at China Olympics”, using the cartoon below by Australian cartoonist Nik Scott (nscott@iprimus.com.au) as the trigger for comments. Your opinions are invited! .
Get Dharma’s Cartoon eBook at www.DharmaTheCatCartoons.com
DAVID LOURIE’S TAKE
First Myanmar, now Beijing – when Buddhist monks participate in violent political protests, that is a very controversial event. This is especially true for Buddhist practitioners, and even more so for Buddhist monks, who have taken strict vows to honour and practice the dharma (the Buddha’s teachings), and to obey official the rules of conduct laid down for all ordained monks, for them to remain members of the order.
At the core of the Buddha’s teachings is the notion that in order to realise spiritual enlightenment, one must forsake all worldly attachments, including any attachment to personal and political issues.
In doing this, one has to let go of one’s concern for all problems arising from this ever-changing and often cruel life we’re born into, which is generally imbued with unsatisfactoriness (“dukkha”).
Many people outside Buddhist circles have long queried, “Why don’t Buddhist monks take a more pro-active role in championing human rights?”
The answer is that the official precepts for Buddhist monks, strictly interpreted, don’t allow this sort of conduct.
A fundamental principle of Buddhist conduct is to “not be attached to any outcome” of one’s worldly activities, regardless of what’s at stake. The Buddhist principle of Right Conduct requires monks to never violate the highly valued spiritual states of equanimity and non-violence.
So in difficult times like these, the equanimity and tolerance of any Buddhist monk is severely tested.
Therefore, what would the protesting monks’ ideal solution be, for these conflicting objectives – to improve worldly conditions vs. realizing one’s own spiritual enlightenment?
My own view on this is that if the worldly issues are pulling on a monk so hard that he can’t resist participating in worldly actions like violent protests, which go against the dharma for monks, then he should first remove his robe, and engage in those mundane activities as a non-Buddhist.
But that’s just my opinion, and I know that opinions differ greatly on this subject.
– David Lourie
Cartoon “The Big Bang”
Welcome to this week’s topic for discussion, “The Big Bang”, using the cartoon below as the trigger for comments. Your opinions are invited! This blog is updated every Sunday night.
Get Dharma’s Cartoon e-Book at www.DharmaTheCatCartoons.com
DHARMA THE CAT’S COMMENT
It would be spiritually more beneficial for young Bodhi to focus his attention on practical matters, such as how to stay on the path, rather than seeking to know things he can’t possibly use or verify.
See Multi Faith Commentary about this Topic here:
"A Taoist perspective on “Opportunity”"
"Cartoon “Opportunity”"
"A Baha’i perspective on “The Big Bang”"
"A Buddhist Perspective on “The Big Bang”"
"A Christian perspective on “The Big Bang”"
"A Hindu perspective on “The Big Bang”"
"An Interfaith Perspective on “The Big Bang”"
"An Islamic perspective on “The Big Bang”"
"A Jewish perspective on “The Big Bang”"
AUTHOR’S TAKE by David Lourie
The issue which Bodhi raises — the ultimate origin of existence — falls into a category of issues which the Buddha called “useless speculations.”
It is speculative in the sense that any theory or answer to this issue cannot be verified in the same way you would expect to verify everyday sorts of knowledge. And it is useless because knowing the answer to the query will not have any beneficial effect on your spiritual self-development.
The Buddha said that some things are unknowable to us. He included himself in this, despite his enlightenment, since by his own reckoning he could remember a vast number of past lives, but none beyond a certain point in time.
To pursue such ‘unknowable’ issues is an intellectual exercise which appeals to some, but not to a serious seeker on the Buddha’s path. The Buddha recommended that we not pursue such issues, but rather to use that time and energy to practice the Eightfold Path instead.
Although there are profound and intriguing issues of cosmology and ontology raised in this cartoon episode, I am not qualified to delve into these things in depth, nor do I feel it’s appropriate for me, so I leave it to others. – David Lourie
Cartoon “Opportunity”
Welcome to this week’s topic for discussion, “Opportunity”, using the cartoon below as the trigger for comments. Your opinions are invited! This blog is updated every Sunday night.
Get Dharma’s Cartoon e-Book at www.DharmaTheCatCartoons.com
DHARMA THE CAT’S COMMENT
I’m always happy to help someone rise above their condition!
See Multi Faith Commentary about this Topic here:
"A Taoist perspective on “Spiritual Growth”"
"Cartoon “Spiritual Growth”"
"A Baha’i perspective on “Opportunity”"
"A Buddhist Perspective on “Opportunity”"
"A Christian perspective on “Opportunity”"
"A Hindu perspective on “Opportunity”"
"An Interfaith Perspective on “Opportunity”"
"An Islamic perspective on “Opportunity”"
"A Jewish perspective on “Opportunity”"
AUTHOR’S TAKE by David Lourie
This episode is a milestone, because Bodhi has finally done something right!
Naturally the young monk is defeated, as usual, in this contest of wills with Dharma The Cat. But, instead of proclaiming his defeat to be a spiritual triumph in disguise, as he usually does, this time Bodhi is wise enough to use the situation for personal growth, rather than judging the outcome of his effort as a triumph or a defeat. Such labelling exercises have no spiritual value, and only lead one’s mind away from clarity.
The personal growth in this instance is giving away his habit, or attachment, to sitting on a cushion to meditate. The Buddha’s teaching indicates that such attachments are the root of all suffering. Hence Bodhi is moving in a beneficial direction (away from suffering) by loosening his attachment to cushions.
Note that in the last frame, little Siam is also making an opportunity out of this situation. Siam’s Second Truth is known as “Non-Conflict.” The principle, simply stated, is this: “When those around you fall into conflict, grab the cheese.”
The outcome of this episode is that Bodhi gains spiritual nourishment from his decision, while Siam gets physical nourishment from hers. – David Lourie
Cartoon “Spiritual Growth”
Welcome to this week’s topic for discussion, “Non-Conflict”, using the cartoon below as the trigger for comments. Your opinions are invited! This blog is updated every Sunday night.
Get Dharma’s Cartoon e-Book at www.DharmaTheCatCartoons.com
DHARMA THE CAT’S COMMENT
Well, young Bodhi believes he has gained the spiritual mastery necessary to rise above my faux paw – but, according to him, only this one time!
See Multi Faith Commentary about this Topic here:
"A Taoist perspective on “Speak For Yourself”"
"Cartoon “Speak For Yourself”"
"A Baha’i perspective on “Spiritual Growth”"
"A Buddhist Perspective on “Spiritual Growth”"
"A Christian perspective on “Spiritual Growth”"
"A Hindu perspective on “Spiritual Growth”"
"An Interfaith Perspective on “Spiritual Growth”"
"An Islamic perspective on “Spiritual Growth”"
"A Jewish perspective on “Spiritual Growth”"
AUTHOR’S TAKE by David Lourie
In this episode Dharma has knocked an item off the table and it has broken. The irony is that Bodhi believes spiritual growth has empowered him to handle this situation with equanimity — but only this once!
Obviously, even further spiritual growth will be needed in order for Bodhi to handle similar incidents in the future — but, typically, Bodhi hasn’t thought it through that far.
He has thus has left himself out on a limb of pride (”pride precedes a fall”) – David Lourie