The Planet's Sangha: Buddhist discussions, thought, etc.

Andrew, Jr. · 06-05-2010, 01:51 PM

I am really not afraid of dying, because in that it is like being recycled like an aluminum can. What I am afraid of is being terminally ill and having no support. After what I just experienced, I now know what to expect from my family. Nothing. I am on my own. And that is one bitter pill to take - like so many of us know first hand.

oblivia · 06-05-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew, Jr.

I am really not afraid of dying, because in that it is like being recycled like an aluminum can. What I am afraid of is being terminally ill and having no support. After what I just experienced, I now know what to expect from my family. Nothing. I am on my own. And that is one bitter pill to take - like so many of us know first hand.

Ouch.

That's difficult. Family is difficult. I'm big on the concept of choosing my Family. family is what I was born into, but Chosen Family has earned the right to be there - does that make sense? It empowers me to surround myself with people who truly love me and who are healthy for me without forgetting where I came from.

Andrew, Jr. · 06-05-2010, 01:59 PM

Yes, but I believe in constant forgiveness. I should always be forgiving. No matter what the situation is. Not for them, but for me.

oblivia · 06-05-2010, 02:13 PM

I don't think having a Chosen Family precludes the concept of forgiveness.

But I agree that forgiving is a very healing thing to do for one's self.

Martina · 06-05-2010, 03:25 PM

i am currently reading Pema Chodron's No Time to Lose, which is her explication of Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva. i recommend it.

i recommend all of her books.

roy g biv · 06-05-2010, 05:31 PM

I love this thread. Thank you, Linus, for starting it and thanks to all who have contributed thus far. I look forward to more.

Sparx1_1 · 06-06-2010, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oblivia

I don't think having a Chosen Family precludes the concept of forgiveness.

But I agree that forgiving is a very healing thing to do for one's self.

Forgiving is very healing but that does not mean you should forget or put yourself into the same situation again and again. Sometimes even when you forgive you also have to move on.

Andrew, Jr. · 06-06-2010, 10:37 AM

I never thought of forgiveness as being for other people but for myself. It is like turning the other cheek. To some I am just a dormat for them to walk all over. I will never understand that. I think that after watching two people I loved dearly die horrible deaths from cancer recently, I don't take life for granite. Life is so short. People are people no matter where you go, online or in real life. You have to be comfortable in your own skin, and be proud of who and what you are, and have a faith that you can rely on no matter what it is.

oblivia · 06-06-2010, 06:57 PM

I really liked this recent Daily Dharma as well ....

I like how these make me think.

June 1, 2010
Tricycle's Daily Dharma
Mindfulness Leads to Wisdom

In a state of mindfulness, you see yourself exactly as you are. You see your own selfish behavlor. You see your own suffering. And you see how you create that suffering. You see how you hurt others. You pierce right through the layer of lies that you normally tell yourself, and you see what is really there. Mindfulness leads to wisdom.

- Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, from “Mindfulness and Concentration,” Tricycle, Fall 1998

06-06-2010, 06:57 PM	#9
oblivia Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: she/her Relationship Status: Married, treasured, and adored Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 472 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,582 Thanked 1,430 Times in 359 Posts Rep Power: 0	Daily Dharma from June 1st I really liked this recent Daily Dharma as well .... I like how these make me think. June 1, 2010 Tricycle's Daily Dharma Mindfulness Leads to Wisdom In a state of mindfulness, you see yourself exactly as you are. You see your own selfish behavlor. You see your own suffering. And you see how you create that suffering. You see how you hurt others. You pierce right through the layer of lies that you normally tell yourself, and you see what is really there. Mindfulness leads to wisdom. - Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, from “Mindfulness and Concentration,” Tricycle, Fall 1998

06-05-2010, 01:51 PM	#1
Andrew, Jr. Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Me Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Over the Rainbow in a House Posts: 5,072 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 16,004 Thanked 5,249 Times in 2,216 Posts Rep Power: 0	I am really not afraid of dying, because in that it is like being recycled like an aluminum can. What I am afraid of is being terminally ill and having no support. After what I just experienced, I now know what to expect from my family. Nothing. I am on my own. And that is one bitter pill to take - like so many of us know first hand.

06-05-2010, 01:59 PM	#3
Andrew, Jr. Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Me Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Over the Rainbow in a House Posts: 5,072 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 16,004 Thanked 5,249 Times in 2,216 Posts Rep Power: 0	Yes, but I believe in constant forgiveness. I should always be forgiving. No matter what the situation is. Not for them, but for me.

06-05-2010, 02:13 PM	#4
oblivia Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: she/her Relationship Status: Married, treasured, and adored Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 472 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,582 Thanked 1,430 Times in 359 Posts Rep Power: 0	I don't think having a Chosen Family precludes the concept of forgiveness. But I agree that forgiving is a very healing thing to do for one's self.

06-05-2010, 03:25 PM	#5
Martina Senior Member How Do You Identify?: * Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: * Posts: 4,999 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 13,409 Thanked 18,280 Times in 4,165 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	i am currently reading Pema Chodron's No Time to Lose, which is her explication of Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva. i recommend it. i recommend all of her books.

06-05-2010, 05:31 PM	#6
roy g biv Junior Member How Do You Identify?: he she Preferred Pronoun?: he she Relationship Status: me Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New York state Posts: 23 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 59 Thanked 31 Times in 14 Posts Rep Power: 214891	I love this thread. Thank you, Linus, for starting it and thanks to all who have contributed thus far. I look forward to more.

06-06-2010, 10:37 AM	#8
Andrew, Jr. Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Me Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Over the Rainbow in a House Posts: 5,072 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 16,004 Thanked 5,249 Times in 2,216 Posts Rep Power: 0	I never thought of forgiveness as being for other people but for myself. It is like turning the other cheek. To some I am just a dormat for them to walk all over. I will never understand that. I think that after watching two people I loved dearly die horrible deaths from cancer recently, I don't take life for granite. Life is so short. People are people no matter where you go, online or in real life. You have to be comfortable in your own skin, and be proud of who and what you are, and have a faith that you can rely on no matter what it is.