When I used to do regular bicycling, I found myself to be my most meditative and relaxed, even when getting lost in the middle of nowhere. In fact, it was those moments of being lost and letting my mind just listen to the sound of the wheel against the pavement, the sound of the insects in the back, the wind swaying trees and wheat in fields, the birds talking amongst themselves and the sky the bluest of blue -- it was then that I found the closest thing to perfect peace.

I need to find a place like that to bike to here in Los Angeles (not as easy as I thought it would be, especially when on the road). I need to find a new moving meditation I think.

I have been thinking about wisdom and compassion and what they in a Buddhist sense -- not the Hallmark Christian tradition I grew up in.

From Shantideva and others, I have concluded that wisdom is seeing others as separate from us -- not things to make us feel better or worse -- but completely unique beings, who, however, share the same living essence that we do. We are separate and one at the same time. We recognize them as THEM, so them that they could never be anybody but them, every mole and wrinkle amazing because it makes them THEM.

We also vividly see ourselves in them, see our oneness with them. It's a kind of awe in the other's uniqueness with a simultaneous acknowledgement of connection, an experience that ordinarily we only -- very occasionally -- have with our beloveds. And intimate relationships are fraught with fear of loss -- are by, definition, attachment. To be in that state of recognition of other and same -- with others who aren't our beloveds -- that's living in wisdom and compassion.

Compassion means realizing how dear that other life is and, as a result, cultivating a life of our own which does less harm. Loving action results. Loving action, which helps others, is just action not derived from selfishness, action which does not harm. It's not a deliberate effort to do good, to forge a bond or elevate reality in some way, but any action, however banal, that is not motivated by clinging or aversion. One does not manifest loving action or lovingkindness as a thing in itself. We try to be mindful and act without doing harm. Lovingkindness is everything we do when we are present and not harming others. It's not dramatic, not a Hallmark moment.

I find that my practice is progressing even while my life is not what I would like in some ways. I guess it's good enough not to be stuck spiritually, and for that I am grateful. Anyway, practice leads me more and more toward this understanding of compassion, which has little in common with the Christian understanding that I was raised with -- mercy, shared grief, miracle-making, and forgiveness-generating. At its worst, that kind of compassion is a manipulative emotional state that almost reaches out and deposits itself on the other.

Buddhism does see compassion as the force through which we can help others toward liberation. But it's not the notion I was taught, that oozing tube of God ointment.

BUMP! ........

The Four Elements of True Love
 

In the Buddhist teaching of love, there are four elements. The first is maitri – friendship, brotherhood, loving-kindness. And the second is karuna – capacity to understand the suffering and help remove and transform it – compassion. Mudita is the third element – joy – your joy is her joy, her joy is our joy. The last element is upeksha – nondiscrimination. This is a higher form of love. The four qualities have no limits – infinite love – these elements are also call the Four Unlimited Minds.

The bodhisattva of love is in you.

Love Mudita!......

Can anybody suggest any good books explaining Buddhism for total newbies?

Thich Nhat Hanh
 

There are loads of books as well as info online. In fact it could be very overwhelming. I think the common mistakes that people make is to become rigid about their discovery and become caught up with the three major thoughts of Buddhism. I always say just dive in with out much thought. The Buddha says that Buddhism can not be forced, the mind needs to want it.
A great book to start would be Thich Nhat Hanh The Heart of The Buddha's Teaching. A very easy comprehensive book..
Enjoy it.
Namaste!

Good Day To All
 

Namaste
 

Thich Nhat Hahn has recently returned home to Vietnam because he may be close to the end of his physical days.... so in thinking about that here is a video on life and death. I especially loved how he speaks of the wave at the end, the wave is water so it never dies, it simply remains as water. Namaste!

There's a website called dharma seed with hundreds of Dharma talks, mostly by insight meditation folks. You can search by topic or teacher.

http://dharmaseed.org

I recommend

Jack Kornfield
Sharon Salzberg
Sylvia Boorstein
Tara Brach
Guy Armstrong
James Baraz
Kamala Masters

Dharma Talks
 

Thank you for posting that, I love dharma talks, and a great list of teachers.. Namaste!

Peace of Mind