Blog for Thoughts
Latest Blog Post
Archive
Seeing the Truth is Learning with Right View
Now the mind can see the reality of causes and conditions in a deeper perspective. The letting go within happens for things are understood as nature happening, no one is in control. The mind can come either from an understanding or merely regurgitating what it thought it had understood. No one can tell except the one who is doing it.
Sports Day and Personalness
As I was at the corner taking a break and checking the status of my mind, I came to wonder if winning and losing really existed. If they are man-made concepts, why are they man-made concepts? Can I say that winning-losing is mind-made, not a reality? If yes, how so?
Just Another Life Episode
There was a strong sense of curiosity to experiment, despite it all, in order to find out what might come out of it and also interest to try something different as an opportunity for learning if it is beneficial for my meditation practice. So I decided to just do it. What is the worst that could happen, right?
Beware and Be Aware
Nothing is the norm. There is always a story to tell – whether it is a story spun to perpetuate defilements or for us to see the reality of how our minds function. All is not what it seems and we are never upset for the reason we think it is. Every moment is the chance to make a decision.
Outcome is Certain
I had the meaning that potential, though possibly inherent, necessitates deliberate harnessing before it becomes evident. Yet, there was no certainty surrounding the outcome, viewing potential more as a possibility with varying degrees of probability.
Transcending Preferences
When I first came to understand about dualism and how this principle influences our tendency to operate from a state of preference, I was taken aback by the realization that I had been incessantly wishing for circumstances to be otherwise. I felt compelled to address this pattern. Little did I anticipate the findings that ensued.
Nature as You Have Never Known
My sense of peace was disrupted and many thoughts of how nature may be a curse popped up one after another. They range from minor inconveniences like rain or heat to catastrophic natural disasters such as tornadoes or blizzards. How quickly I changed my mind about nature being such a blessing. The contrast was like day and night.
What Does 2024 Hold?
It can hold little, much, abundant, or nothing. It all depends on which juncture your mind is at. Time forward has much to do with the mind state happening at this moment. It is a bridge to what is in store for the future. If you feel lousy now, the future may look bleak or meaningless. If you feel excited about it, surely there must be something you are looking forward to.
A White Christmas
Something special is working and I observed more intently. There was a thought that reminded how each moment lived is just a memory now. It was an understanding of how it had had to happen the way it did because of how I lived before that. It was perfect as it was and could not have been otherwise.
The World as a Learning Classroom
The convergence of the Covid pandemic and advancing technology has transformed my room into a home retreat space over the past three years, courtesy of Zoom. While I initially believed my mindfulness practice was progressing well, it wasn't until my relocation to Saigon this year that things changed.
The Upside-Down Reality
We often find ourselves placing belief in certain assumptions, only to later uncover that reality doesn't conform with our initial convictions. For instance, we may experience frustration over our children's misbehavior, yet through open and honest communication with them, we come to realize that our judgments are rooted in preconceived notions of their behavior.
Hassles – Spiritual Hazards?!
Have you ever experienced spontaneously reaching out to help but was deterred by a thought of inconvenience? Have you noticed how often our good intentions are derailed by the fear of hassles? Perhaps we know these thoughts of hassle and inconvenience do limit our potentials but we do not realize the extent of this seemingly insignificant menace.
Making Use of Defilement for Learning
Through the Three Meditator’s Jobs (3MJ), I consistently observed to learn further. When I found myself on the receiving end of coercion, I began to question my reactions. After repeatedly responding this way, I recognized a problematic cycle and asked myself, “Why do I have to react like this?”
A Simple Shift in Perspective Yet It Is Not Easy
Isn't it intriguing how our perception shapes everything around us? We believe that what we see, hear, feel, taste, touch, and think are real and personal. It's both true and not quite true at the same time. But why is this the case?
Do You Have What It Takes?
Beginning to see the long dark tunnel we had been in is ironically the first step towards light. When we do not yet understand darkness, we may not appreciate the beauty of light. Embarking on a journey of self discovery is the true purpose of our existence. Without a wise and clear direction to steer us through this tunnel, we may never know what is at the end of it.
Taking Responsibility
Ever reflect on why taking responsibility seems burdensome? We know taking responsibility is the right thing to do, yet... Yes, there's a kind of snag that we don't jump right to it. Taking responsibility lets us feel we have to surrender time and effort. By this, we definitely don't feel free.
Nature and the Nature of the Mind
This mind is expressing itself as it is typing out its understanding so far. The nature of the mind that is appreciative of the journey expresses itself in words while other minds may do so verbally. Whether the nature of such a mind expresses itself in writing or in oral form, it is just but a manifestation of such a state.
A Stranger in My Own Skin
This mind. This body. Ever wondered what they really are, away from what we think we already know? Only when I came into this path, did I learn that all is not as I thought it was. That little question that I had as a child was in fact a voice, that little light in the tunnel. As I delved deeper into the mind, I realised I am a stranger wrapped in a skin.
Learned But Did Not Learn
When I was in school, students were divided into two groups — the Science and the Arts. The elites were categorized into the Science stream while those “not doing quite well” remained in the Arts. There is something not quite right with this system. If learning entails common sense, if learning entails how things work, then, there is no such thing as Science and Arts, isn’t it?
The Mechanics of Right Meditation
When we mull over the subject of mind, we must firstly understand that the mind is not a permanent thing already in existence. In reality, its existence is a result or effect of what is in play or happening. For example, a river is not a thing but an ongoing process that we conveniently call a "river." There isn't a permanent river that holds the water coming through. Rather, "river" is a name or label given to the process of what is occurring.
Start your journey
A thousand mile journey starts with a baby step. Start yours today!