Search results for: "The Sangha"

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  2. From Dependence to Independence
     … And it’s essentially a book on the extent to which we’re dependent on the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, and the extent to which we want to take that dependence and turn it into independence. After all, as the Buddha himself said, he only points out the way; we have to follow it for ourselves. But you have to trust that … 
  3. Conviction & Confidence
     … You cultivate your conviction in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. Those passages we chant every evening—the recollection of the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha—are actually descriptions of what verified conviction is like. Some of the words may seem strange, but it’s useful to reflect on the ones that resonate, the ones that seem relevant to your practice. To begin … 
  4. Making Yourself Worthy of Trust
    When we take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, there’s both the external refuge and the internal refuge. The internal refuge, of course, is the more important. The external refuge in the case of the Buddha would be the Prince Siddhartha, who gained awakening 2,600 years ago. The Dhamma would be the Dhamma in the books and Dhamma talks … 
  5. Thinking Your Way to Stillness
     … recollection of the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, virtue, generosity, and devas. He said to keep these things in mind while you’re living at home with your children and you’ll find that it will lead the mind to a sense of well-being, a sense of confidence, and from that sense of confidence the mind will eventually get concentrated. So these are … 
  6. Fear & Uncertainty
     … confidence in the Buddha, in the Dhamma, and in the Sangha. Remember Ajaan Suwat: After his automobile accident, his ability to teach was compromised by his brain injury. So his teachings always boiled down to the basics: the qualities of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha as refuge. This is what you can depend on. He taught that to everyone who came to … 
  7. Three Levels of Refuge
     … But it does mean giving the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha the benefit of the doubt, trying things on for a while, and really sincerely testing what the Buddha has to say. In taking these things as a refuge, there are actually three levels. On the external level, you take the Buddha and the Sangha as external examples. We’ve got the Dhamma … 
  8. Stand Your Ground
    Every day we chant in which we take the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha as our refuge. What does that mean? It doesn’t mean that we’re hoping for the Buddha to come and help us. The Buddha entered nibbana a long time ago. As for the Sangha, they may not be around when we need them. What we need is a … 
  9. True Values
     … As we chant in praise every day, “those who practice well, those who practice straightforwardly.” The Sangha of the noble ones—the Buddha’s Sangha—gets praised every day all over the world. So, there are things that are worth working for. We’re not here just to relax, rest, and enjoy the present moment. We’re here to use the present moment in … 
  10. Lift Up Your Mind
     … So what do you have to respect? We traditionally respect the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. What does that mean? It means that you respect the human ability to do good—and not only to do good, but through human action to put an end to suffering. That’s something we should find inspiring. If you look at the news these days, human … 
  11. Nobody’s Servant
     … When we take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, as a first step we’re taking refuge in the example they set. That’s one of the reasons why we chant those chants about the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha every night, to remind ourselves of that example. For instance, the example of the Buddha: someone who through his own … 
  12. Magha Puja: Showing Respect with the Practice
     … The idea of taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha is not something quaint and ancient. It really refers to our choices. Are you going to look for your happiness following the example of other people, or are you going to look for happiness following the example of the Buddha and his disciples? That’s your choice, and you have to … 
  13. Inner Refuge Through Inner Strength
     … five steps by which you internalize the qualities of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, and make them your own refuge. All five steps build on heedfulness. You realize that if you can’t depend on yourself, you’re living in a dangerous world, because even your act of taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha becomes uncertain. Some days … 
  14. Strength of Conviction: 2
     … The first three factors are conviction in the Buddha, conviction in the Dhamma, conviction in the Sangha. Conviction in the Buddha means specifically conviction in his awakening: that he really was able, through his own efforts, to attain the end of suffering, and that the Dhamma he taught was well-taught. In other words, he knew what he was talking about. He was a … 
  15. Harmony
     … As the Buddha said, the harmony of the Sangha is what makes the Sangha happy. When the Sangha’s in harmony, it creates a sense of joy. That sense of joy then is more and more conducive to getting the mind to settle down with a sense of well-being, to get into good strong concentration—the kind of concentration where you can stay … 
  16. True Protection for the World
     … You’re part of the Sangha refuge, or the gem of the Sangha. So this practice of sitting here with your eyes closed training your mind is not a selfish thing. It’s protection for yourself so that you eventually become a refuge for others. We can’t wait until the world gets straightened out before we straighten out our own minds, because the … 
  17. Strength from the Basics
     … the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. This is the basic teaching. Thinking about the Buddha reminds us of what can be done with a human life—and gives us good examples. I was talking with someone yesterday who was explaining why she wanted to go to Ajaan Maha Boowa’s funeral. She said it was his example of always being willing to fight … 
  18. Appreciating Merit
    There’s that chant we have at the end of every chanting session: “Through the power of all the Buddhas, all the Dhamma, all the Sangha, may you forever be well.” What is that power? Where does it come from? The Buddha gained his power from his generosity, his virtue, and his meditation, developing concentration, developing discernment all the way to nibbana. As did … 
  19. The Power of Human Effort
    Every evening, we have chants in honor of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, recollecting their virtues before we meditate. This is a good way of uplifting the mind—or as the texts say, gladdening the mind. These recollections put you in the right mood to meditate. You think about the kind of person the Buddha was, the person who found this path … 
  20. Refuge
    In the Pali phrases for taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, the word sarana, which we translate as refuge, can also mean something you remember, something you hold in mind, something you keep in mind. This is part of the way in which it becomes your refuge. You try to keep the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha in mind … 
  21. Calm & at Ease
     … Okay, you drop those topics and think about the Buddha, the Dhamma, or the Sangha, whatever you find inspiring. Let them into the world of your mind. The world of your mind is determined by what and who you allow inside. If you’re going to start thinking unskillful thoughts, you have a tendency to block out the memory of certain people. It’s … 
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