Monday, August 2, 2010

nibbana, nirvana

The goal of Buddhist practice, cessation, is not annihilation, but an extinction of the suffering of wanting things to be different than they are. When we come into balance of internal and external circumstances we are free to live and love without grasping. We are not indifferent, but responsible, acting with skill and wisdom.

Indeed the sage who's fully quenched
Rests at ease in every way;
No sense desires adhere to him[her]
Whose fires have cooled, deprived of fuel.
All attachments have been severed,
The heart's been lead away from pain;
Tranquil [s/he] rests with utmost ease,
The mind has found its way to peace.

Andy Olendzki's translation of Cullavagga 6:4.4

2 comments:

  1. An agited mind seems to be an unhealth choice in life, but in some cases an agited mind it is not an individual choice, a lack of internal locus of control. In some cases an agited mind is a product of a negative environment such as chronicle patterns of injustices, being part of a dysfunctional family. Some things in life can not be the way as they are; in fact, some suffering, striving, and existential crises is necessary to change the status quo.Love can be this active social acting to reach out to those who are unable to escape the boundaries of "tamas".

    carlos moreira

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  2. Thank you for making this point, Carlos. We are called to act with skill and wisdom. There is often injustice in the causes and conditions unfolding in our lives and in the lives of others. "Accepting things as they are" does not mean we don't ever take action. It is more like seeing clearly, not pretending. We want to contribute to healing and not become part of the problem. By accepting things as they are, our actions can come from peace rather than anger or vengeance. Our actions can be skillful and not add to our suffering or that of others. How many times in history do the victims become the persecutors? Can we heal injustice through peace?

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