The Foolish and the Wise (sutra)

Crystal Quintero, Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Wisdom Quarterly (Bala-Pandita, SN 12.19)

"If the traveler cannot find [greater or equal] to go with one, let one travel alone rather than with a fool for company" (H. Hopp Delaney/H-K-D/flickr.com).

I think therefore I am not...

At one time the Blessed One was residing in Savatthi where he said: "When a foolish person is obstructed (hindered) by ignorance and craving, this body is the result.

There is both this body (internal rupa, dhatu) and external name-and-form. Here within this teaching, dependent on this duality, there arises contact at the six sense bases.

Touched by one or all of these, the foolish (unthinking person) is sensitive to pleasure and pain (which one necessarily misunderstands and identifies with rather than seeing them clearly and dispassionately as ti-lakkhana, as bearing the Three Universal Marks of Existence).

"A great rock is not disturbed by the wind; the mind [heart] of a wise person is not disturbed by either honor or abuse" -- or any of the eight worldly conditions of life.

The Wise

Great minds think a d--- Michele Bachmann

"When a wise person is obstructed by ignorance and craving, this body is the result. There is both this body (internal) and external name-and-form. Here within this teaching, dependent on this duality, there is contact at the six sense bases. Touched by one or more of these, the wise person is (also) sensitive to pleasure and pain.
 
"So what difference, what distinction, what distinguishing factor is there between the wise person and the foolish person?"
 

The fool is his own worst enemy... (H-K-D)

[The monastics replied:] "Venerable sir, for us the teachings (Dharma) have the Blessed One as their root, their guide, and their explainer. It would be good if the Blessed One himself would explain the meaning of this statement. And having heard it from the Blessed One, the monastics will remember it."
 
"In that case, meditators, listen and give close attention. I will explain."
 
"As you say, venerable sir," they responded.
 

Wise Reflection (BPS.lk)

The [Buddha] explained, "The ignorance with which the fool is obstructed, the craving with which the fool is linked, through which this body has resulted, has not been abandoned by the fool, and that craving has not been destroyed/abandoned. Now why is that? It is because the fool has not practiced the supreme life for the ending of suffering.

"Therefore, at the break up of the body, one is headed for yet another body (form). Headed for a body, one is not entirely freed from rebirth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, disappointment, or despair. I tell you, one is not entirely freed from disappointment and suffering.
 

"Gods" Sakka and Brahma go to the Buddha

"However, the ignorance with which the wise is obstructed, the craving with which one is linked, through which this body has resulted, has been abandoned by the wise, and that craving has been destroyed/abandoned. Now why is that? It is because the wise person has practiced the supreme life for the ending of all suffering.

"Therefore, at the break up of the body, one is not headed for yet another body. Not headed for a body, one is entirely freed from rebirth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, disappointment, or despair. I tell you, that person is entirely freed from disappointment and suffering."

The (Buddhist) Prayer of St. Francis

Steven Goodheart (FB); Gary Saunders, Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly

St. Francis, Essenes, earliest Christians lived like Buddhist monastics (gardenvisit.com)

Kwan Yin/Virgin with child shows evidence of religious syncretism (Dale in China)

 

Good St. Francis and the animals

May I be an agent of love in this world.
Where there is hatred, let me bring loving-kindness;
Where there is injury, forgiveness;

Where there is doubt, insight;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
May I console as well as be consoled.
May I understand as well as be understood;
May I love as well as be loved;
For in giving we receive;
In forgiving, we are forgiven;
In dying to self-centeredness, we are born to the deathless.

• Nirvana is the "deathless"
• Forgiveness (khanti) is one of the Ten Perfections
• Christ was like St. Francis: brother sun, sister moon
• Discovering Guan Yin, Buddhism's Virgin Mary
• Environmental ethics, Christianity and Buddhism

...Buddhas only point the way (hkoppdelaney)

The Buddha: "As a mother would risk her life to protect her child, her only child, even so should one cultivate a limitless heart with toward all beings. With a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings, radiating kindness over the entire world" (SN I, 8).

First Annual Int'l Healing Convention

Amber Larson and Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly; ESPsychics.com; American Federation of Certified Psychics and Mediums.org;  Healers, Heal Thy Selves (MeetUp)

Healers' Convention, Sept. 20-22, North Hollywood (pattinegri.com/ESPsychics.com)

  

Kwan Yin Bodhisattva as healer

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, California (AMCPM) - Lightworkers, psychics, mediums, and energy-healers from around the world will be gathering in Los Angeles this weekend.

 

With messages of love and the mysterious work of the spirit (prana, chi, spiritus), intention produces healing and good energy in magical ways.

Join the very first psychic convention in Los Angeles, California. It begins with a network party on Sept. 20, 21, and 22 at the Beverly Garland Hotel.

Saturday features eight workshops, and a spirit seance. Sunday features the psychic gallery with private readings throughout the weekend. More

• Weekend pass in advance: $111.00/$150.00 at door. Friday evening only:  $35.00  (party with appetizers and live music).  Saturday only:  $85.00. Sunday only: $55.00 Single event special: $15.00 (except Fri)  includes any workshop, seance, gallery.

Healers, Heal Thy Selves

Self-care for everyone

Healers come in all colors (green, red, transparent), shapes (mostly overweight or super skinny), and dimensions (here and beyond). They aren't perfect. They need healing, too, which they usually try to accomplish through helping others. In any case, this is how they seek it. They may need more "self-care." And that's where this MeetUp group comes in handy. Its purpose is to provide a venue for healthcare and other providers of health related and transformational healing services to self-care through meditation, journeying, Reiki (Japanese chi channeling), lightwork, energy work, conscious evolution, shamanic healing, and other uplifting modalities. The group meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays in North Hollywood to collaborate and sponsor one another's well being. The focus is on self-care and empowerment to sponsor the health and well-being of fellow practitioners. It is not a networking group; however, networking with like-minded healers may be an inevitable by-product of attending. More

• "Healer" with or without supernormal powers? (MBTI/Jung)