Cats who teach me to fly…

“Now, Kalamas, don’t go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, ‘This contemplative is our teacher.’ When you know for yourselves that, ‘These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to welfare & to happiness’ — then you should enter & remain in them.”

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Our purpose in learning Buddhism is not to acquire knowledge;

It is to transform ourselves from selfish to selfless,

from ignorant to awakened,

from arrogant to respectful.

We learn not just by emulating those who are good,

we also learn to be generous by observing those who are selfish,

learn to be moral by observing those who are unrestrained,

learn to be patient by observing those who are demanding,

learn to be deligent by observing those who procrastinate,

learn to have meditative concentration by observing those who are heedless,

learn to have wisdom by observing those who are fearful.

Studying Buddhism without practicing is like studying how to play the piano, without ever touching the keyboard.

Truly learning the teachings is to fully integrate them into our lives.

We do not do so by study alone but by learning and doing.

If we learn but don’t practice,
we’ll end up forgetting.

While learning the Dharma, do not judge or compare.

Absorb it, so the seeds of goodness within can be watered.

It is not the quantity of teachings that matters.

It is how well we practice those that we have.

Ven. Wuling

https://fb.watch/aF5M-QAOec/

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Self-discipline gets us from where we are to where we aspire to be.

It is controlling oneself not others.

It is remaining patient when our anger threatens to erupt.

It is knowing that the way we perform tasks is a reflection of how dedicated we are and how focused our minds are.

Accomplishments do not come from luck or happenstance, they are born of self-discipline.

The more attention we pay to what others are doing, the less we pay to what we are doing.

We harm others not because we are malicious but because we are careless.

Understanding this, with patience and self-discipline, we will become the master of our mind and no longer be mastered by it.

We progress in our practice, not because others make things easy for us, not because they discipline us.

But, when understanding it is up to us, we practice self-discipline.
Self-discipline enables us to stop acting without thought of the consequences.

To, instead, consciously choose how best to act.

Ven. Wuling

https://www.facebook.com/293114410855/videos/321391215994379/

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…ask myself,

“What one small thing can I do today to make the world a better place?”

…Give fearlessness, even if it’s just making someone smile.

…think less often of self-benefit and more often of others.

…bear in mind that even my most fleeting action, my briefest utterance can elicit a profound reaction.

…be as civil with those close to me as I am to strangers.

…choose the qualities that are in the life I inspire to.

Then, before saying or doing anything, I will measure it against those qualities.

…focus my finite energy on matters that I am responsible for and where I can make a positive difference, not on matters beyond my scope regardless of how worthy they are.

…reflect on what I did and what I can improve on, instead of drifting aimlessly through the day.

…live today as if it were my last.

…consider the possible consequences before I react.

…not just dream about being a compassionate person, but strive to be one.

…not be a victim of my past but the purposeful creator of my future.

Ven. Wuling

https://fb.watch/8Xt_Ffm1Ll/

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Karma is about fair and appropriate consequences, not punishment. Everything that happens to us has a cause, a seed. We were its sower. And are its cultivator.

When about to act, we need to remember there are no causes too minor to carry a resultant consequence. So when tempted to take the easy way out, we need to decide if we can live with the consequences.

Remember that comparing ourselves to others is pointless because we all have different karmas. So we should not spend time wondering what another’s karmic consequences will be.

It is our own consequences that we should be concerned with. We should also remember that where our thoughts lead, our behavior follows.

And that all we experience today is the result of our past karmas. As for tomorrow, with one worthy thought, we plant a seed for good fortune. And with one wrong thought, we plant a seed of misfortunate.

I alone am responsible for my life. The bad news? There is no one to blame. The good news? I can change my life.

Ven. Wuling

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