Josh Bartok - More Daily Wisdom: 365 Buddhist Inspirations

MORE DAILY WISDOM

Wisdom Publications

199 Elm Street

Somerville MA 02144 USA

www.wisdompubs.org

2006 Wisdom Publications

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system or technologies now known or later developed, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

More daily wisdom : 365 Buddhist inspirations / edited by Josh Bartok.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 086171296X (pbk. : alk. paper)

ISBN 978-0-86171-722-4 (ebook)

1. Buddhist devotional calendars. 2. Buddhist meditations. I. Bartok, Josh.

BQ5579.M65 2005

294.3'4432dc22

2005025139

ISBN0-86171-296-X

First Edition

09 08 07 06 05

5 4 3 2 1

2LR-2OT.2OM

Special thanks to Kristin Lambert whose assistance was instrumental to the preparation of this work.

Cover design by Laura Shaw.

Interior design by Gopa &Ted2, Inc. Set in Weiss 11/15pt.

Wisdom Publications books are printed on acid-free paper and meet the guidelines for permanence and durability set by the Council of Library Resources.

Printed in Canada.

Dedicated to all members of our human family
throughout space and time.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

As the Buddhas teachings take deep root and begin to come to fruition in America, we have an unprecedented opportunity. For the first time in history, the many streams of Buddhism flow side by side, in some cases intermingling, and in all cases enriching each other.

We good-hearted seekers responding to the truth of suffering in ourselves and the world are in a position to benefit from centuriesin some cases millenniaof the refined traditions of Buddhist wisdom from all over the world. We are boundlessly lucky to have so many teachers beckoning us further on the path to freedom and great joy. We can hear the ancient Chinese masters of Chan and their modern descendents in the Japanese-derived lineages of Zen; we can be touched by the teachers and treasured oneslamas and rinpochesof the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition; we can learn from the renunciants of the School of the Elders, the Theravada tradition; and we can walk together with modern-day monastics and with laypeople striving to manifest the Buddhas teachings in their lives. Whats more, we have the opportunity to taste the uniquely Western flavors of teaching, as traditional Buddhism stretches its own boundaries in the dialogue with psychology and psychotherapy, social activism and yoga, Judaism and Christianity.

It is my hope that the diverse teachings in More Daily Wisdom will serve as a series of inspirations, invitations to take this dialogue deeply into our own hearts and minds. And it is my intent that the page-a-day format allows you the spaciousness to mine the true treasure of all of these wise words. I hope you find value in this collection. And may we realize the Way together.

Josh Bartok

Somerville, Mass.

A WORD ON WORDS

Certain Buddhist words have entered the English language in their Sanskrit forms, and so for ease of reading, More Daily Wisdom uses Dharma, karma, and nirvana even in places where the author of the book from which an excerpt was taken used the Pali words Dhamma, kamma, and nibbana.

If we are in a good mood when we get up in the morning, if there is a warm-hearted feeling within, automatically our inner door is opened for that day. Even should an unfriendly person happen along, we would not experience much disturbance and might even manage to say something nice to that person. We could chat with the not-so-friendly person and perhaps even have a meaningful conversation. Once we create a friendly and positive atmosphere, it automatically helps to reduce fear and insecurity. In this way we can easily make more friends and create more smiles.

JANUARY 2

We may need permission, from time to time, to allow ourselves to relax, to not be so hard on ourselvesto simply be at ease and happy. We need to learn to be kind to ourselves.

JANUARY 3

If we are true to the steps we take, the travel makes sense and the journey confirms itself.

JANUARY 4

In mindful gratitude

for such freedom as I have,

may I overcome

ignorance and apathy

and become a force for good.

JANUARY 5

One appears before ones parents as a child, before ones child as a parent, before ones husband as a wife, before ones wife as a husband. At work, the face and form one takes on depend upon the position one occupies. This is our true form. There is no clump called I moving from this spot to that spot, instant by instant. Rather, through particular encounters with particular people, within each encounter, within each transition, something called I makes its appearance. Thus it is that what seems to be outside yourself is, in reality, your complement, that which gives this instant of your life its glow.

JANUARY 6

Hell does not exist from its own side; the negative mind makes it up.

JANUARY 7

Once Id achieved my goal I had to admit to myself it wasnt what I expected and that it did not in fact make everything perfect. And this will happen to anyone who attains any kind of success no matter how it is defined even if success is defined as complete, unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment. You will discover upon reaching it that whatever it is, its not what you expected and nothing is any more perfect than it ever was.

JANUARY 8

We can be surprised by the obvious questions beginners ask that perhaps we ourselves could have asked.

JANUARY 9

The scriptures say that when the mind indulges in sensual objects, it becomes agitated. This is the usual state of affairs in the world, as we can observe. In their quest for happiness, people mistake excitement of the mind for real happiness. They never have the chance to experience the greater joy that comes with peace and tranquility.

JANUARY 10

Wherever a person goes, his deeds, like a shadow, will follow.

JANUARY 11

If a thought arises, take note of it and then dismiss it. When you forget all attachments steadfastly, you will naturally become zazen itself. This is the art of zazen. Zazen is the Dharma-gate of great repose and joy.

JANUARY 12

The source of our own happiness is within ourselves.

JANUARY 13

The Buddha stated clearly that saying only what is true is not sufficient for skillful speech. Speaking skillfully also requires saying what is useful for the listener to hear.

JANUARY 14

No matter how wise and compassionate our teachers may be, they cannot walk the path for us.

JANUARY 15

If you want enlightenment, abandon to its depths all ordinary attachment to deeds and behavior, principles and obligations, opinions and interpretations; be as before the birth of your mother and father, separate from all external phenomena, neither sinking into internal quiet nor settling in the void.

JANUARY 16

When others out of jealousy treat me wrongly with abuse and slander, I shall train to take upon myself the defeat and offer to others the victory.

JANUARY 17

We say that mental activity is like the deadly poisonous cobra. If we dont interfere with a cobra, it simply goes its own way. Even though it may be extremely poisonous, we are not affected by it; we dont go near it or take hold of it, and it doesnt bite us. The cobra does what is natural for a cobra to do. Thats the way it is. If you are clever youll leave it alone. And so you let be that which is good. You also let be that which is not goodlet it be according to its own nature. Let be your liking and your disliking. Treat them the same way as you treat the cobra. Dont interfere.