“If one speaks or acts
with a cruel mind, misery
follows, as the cart follows
the horse … .
– the Dhammapada (circa 500 BC) a version of Buddhist scripture
MISERY IS NO PLACE TO LIVE –
“Relapses are often
fatal. We have attend-
ed funerals of loved ones
who died from relapse. They
died in various ways. We of-
ten see relapsers lost for
many years, living in
misery.” (The Basic
Text, p. 79)
“If one speaks or acts
with a cruel mind, misery
follows, as the cart follows
the horse … . If one speaks or
acts with a pure mind, hap-
piness follows, as a sha-
dow follows its source.”
– the Dhammapada (circa 500 BC) a version of Buddhist scripture
Provide some examples of where your actions or words caused either joy or misery, lately?
The Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha (1:24:41)LP
I Will Follow – U2 (3:37)
Buddhist Hz Negativity Cleansing Meditation (9 hours)
The Crow and the Swan
from the Mahabharata
“There lived on the other side of the ocean a Vaicya (commoner) who had an abundance of wealth and corn. He performed sacrifices, made liberal gifts, was peaceful, devoted to the duties of his own order, and pure in habits and mind. [Vaicya] had many sons whom he loved, and was kind unto all creatures. He lived fearlessly in the dominions of a king that was guided by virtue.
There was a crow that lived on the refuse of the dishes set before those well-behaved young children. Those Vaicya children always gave the crow meat and curds, and milk, and sugared milk with rice, and honey, and butter. Thus fed with the refuse of their dishes by the young children of that Vaicya. The crow became arrogant and came to disregard all birds that were equal to him or even superior.
It chanced that on a time certain swans of cheerful hearts, of great speed and capable of going everywhere at will and equal unto Garuda himself in range and speed of flight, came to that side of the ocean.” …(https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0105.html)
The glass is either half full or half empty. What would you say your mindset is like and how has it affected your way of living?
I caused some misery by not being forthright with my existing real estate agent and going to another. Still patching that up. I believe I gave the girl I’m buying a home from some solace and joy in sharing my personal touching story. She can now hopefully part with the home that she loves without any resentment or sadness in her heart.
I sometimes find it easy to see how I create my own misery – always in hindsight. My life is constantly changing: births, deaths, changes (including “reversals of fortune”). My interpretation of events, for me, creates a range of emotions from joy to misery. Do I see my circumstances as abundance or as lack? The ball will be pitched – I get to choose whether I swing at it or not.