i think that line of the monk simply meant he made a lot of ‘progress’ regardless of the conditions or circumstances he was in.

‘An old tree grows on a cold rock in winter,’ ‘Nowhere is there any warmth.’

my translation of this would be ‘i (old tree) made progress in a (cold) hut even w/o any (physical) warmth from anyone’

so sexual act is not necessary to continue his journey.

the hut was burned down because the old lady sheltered and fed him for over 20 yrs, and to her perhaps what she did already meant loving kindness and that the monk should’ve at least showed some care to the girl. clearly, the old woman didn’t understand the poetic response of the monk. it is the monk who journeyed through the path of enlightenment and not the old woman so what authority does she have to judge his progress? so since her relative mind fogs her understanding, she thought the monk didn’t learn anything and it’s useless to continue to shelter him.

While this is a relatively common theme in Buddhist teaching stories, we should be careful about taking this kind of story as a literal example, as in “what would Gessen have done?” Open and honest communication within the Sangha is nurturing of spiritual growth. While remaining centered in our practice, we should be careful of assuming that our spiritual practice justifies sowing confusion.

Is this considered to be a koan? I probably would have called it a teaching story.

Buddhism is still very new to me and I’m so excited to learn more. Buddhism is apart of my eternal soul and everything I’ve ever stood for in my entire life of 44 years.

Thanking you deeply for this website

Billie

I also try to be mindful of the body and breath whenever I am walking, and I try to remind myself to be mindful when sitting or doing something else. If you check the time often, perhaps set checking the time to be a mindfulness bell. You have to find what works for you, and it takes a persistent effort to keep the object/experience as a cue.

To help meditate daily, I made a commitment to meditate every day for at least 5 minutes. I almost always stick to this, since 5 minutes is so little time and I can do it before bed if I haven’t yet. Once I get in the habit of meditating every day, I look forward to meditating because I see the rewards I get from it. Being mindful of the rewards of meditation will help keep up the motivation to do so.

I personally think that matter cannot be created or destroyed at a different time than its native frame of reference, and that existence is relative; it’s meaningless to say that something exists unless it is in our multiverse, because it doesn’t exist relative to us, and we don’t exist relative to it.. So ultimately, creation can happen any moment, without violating my understanding of the universe, as long as its results are undetectable from an external vantage point and ultimately meaningless. What I’m most interested in is not the existence of matter so much as the laws that of physics that underpin it.

Animal = mind + form

Tree has no mind and form with auto reaction but no intention.

Animal have intention.

Form can be both tangible and intangible.

2) Birth and Death is together. Cannot be separate.

3) Death is suffering.

Asks yrself, do U still wan to reborn if U can remember all the past infinite life.

The only way to be no reborn is to return the mind to the nature.

The process to return the mind cannot be the intention way but it’s an automatic way when U see the ultimate truth enough with yr own eyes.

Ultimately truth is

1) Everything is impermanent. (Look at yr own body, U need to keep moving even at sleep.)

2) Everything is suffering (Impermanent –> Suffering)

3) Everything has no real owner or has no self. (It’s all temporary condition, U can not own it)

The illusion come from memory and thinking. Keep looking at yr self whether moving of body or mind.

The mind as as subject is to know the object. Mind and object is different thing

To be continue….

When children misbehave, one helpful strategy is instead of blaming of the children, blame Mara, the demon of ignorance. When we are under stress we know from psychology we exaggerate, and this is the root of ignorance. When children misbehave we are most stressed and are going to have a hard time being high and noble and do the right thing. Physiologically the brain exaggerates especially under times of stress, and ignorance is deepest. The mind wants someone or something to blame. Allowing this thing to be Mara is very helpful. It gives the mind something real and tangible.

The benefits of seeing Mara attacking our children is that it allows us to displace our frustration towards Mara, and fundamental ignorance, which also increases our desire to follow the path. Further, blaming Mara engenders compassion for our children who are being attacked. The children are the victims of misbehavior. They misbehave because they themselves have the causes and conditions of suffering. Using the word “attacked” is important because we would react quickly and strongly to our children being attacked and we would see ourselves on their side, rather than on the opposing side. We stand united in our fight against ignorance!

For example, when my children fight, I quickly think they are being attacked, and I realize that they are doing so because they are both ignorant. I feel bad for them. I see that they fight because they suffer. They suffer because they are attacked. They suffer because they exaggerate. I have great compassion for them. I get angry at Mara instead. I feel like it’s us against Mara. I show them both kindness, and kindly physically separate them. I see them almost as infected with the disease of ignorance. I love them both.

What other discipline issues are there? There are natural consequences, from certain actions such as not wearing a coat outside. The consequence? They get cold.

There are some situations in which the children are doing something dangerous, but these situations should be rare, and if they are not, then you probably have issues with where they are living or where you are taking them. If you have things in your house that you are attached to, then attached to that get damaged, then again this is your issue of attachment.

Discipline just reinforces fundamental ignorance by encouraging the development of a self that has power. The children, nor do we, have power. This is the root of ignorance: the belief in inherent selves and their power.

The other issue that is helpful in children is that children are like emotions that are outside of our body. They react in ways that we cannot control and they can be an amazing teacher. We often want to hide, suppress, or control our emotions. Children remind us this is not possible. Like emotions, they are beyond our control. They are perfect opportunities to practice the Middle Way. This is practicing the dharma. Often people look to meditation as the only way to develop themselves, but practice itself is very valuable. When you have children you have the opportunity to practice selflessness (not to be confused with self sacrifice).

For what it’s worth my children have been professionally evaluated and are constantly evaluated at their school. They both rank exceptionally high on the scales of empathy, security, and assertiveness. In other words, this is not theory, it works.

IF YOU HOLD ON TO ONE OF THOSE OBJECTS, ITS POSSIBLE TO MAKE OTHER SOUNDS.

HOLDING AN OBJECT, LIMITS YOUR HAND’S ABILITY TO MAKE SOME SOUNDS, BUT ENABLES YOU TO MAKE OTHERS.

IF YOU WISH TO MAKE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF SOUNDS, YOU MUST HOLD AN OBJECT, AND EVENTUALLY LET IT GO. NOTHING WRONG WITH HOLDING IT AS LONG AS YOU REALIZE THAT YOU WILL EVENTUALLY LET IT GO. TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN YOU MODULATE THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SPEND HOLDING IT.

PAIN IS ROOTED IN DESIRE, DESIRE TO HOLD IT, BUT USE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DESIRE TO HOLD IT AND YOUR DISCOMFORT AND MODULATE IT AS NECESSARY FOR YOU.