This is fantastic. I have actually been thinking of doing this myself. Im so happy you are initiating this important project! I write regularly about Dharma and am so happy to have come across your work. Looking forward to reading more. https://gregorypettys.substack.com/
What a great idea and so generous of you! Hope you and Lucy are well and good. I tried to sign up for the network but couldn't figure out how to sign in which seems to be required.
Thank-you so much. I am getting so sick of the American Scream -politics.
THE MIDDLE WAY
What he attempted next was something new. A middle way between self-indulgence and the rigours of self-mortification. Moderation would be his radical new approach from now on. The Buddha’s change of tact would bring a greater clarity to his examination of the human condition. The Buddha came to believe that all we can know for sure is how we experience the world, and that it is our minds that determine what kind of experiences we have. Throughout history, many others have acknowledged this fundamental truth.
Using his meditation skills he examined the internal workings of his own mind. And what the Buddha discovered contradicted the assumptions people held about the permanence of the ‘soul’, or of the self. He realized that the external world, as we experience it, was constantly changing and that we were constantly changing too! Our material form (body), our feelings, our perceptions, our mental formations, and our consciousness were all in perpetual flux. In Buddhism this is called impermanence. Therefore, all efforts to identify a permanent self were futile, because a permanent or independent ‘self’ did not exist. Furthermore, identification with the self as a completely isolated entity caused suffering. This is why the Buddha said, ‘Nothing is to be clung to as ‘I, me, or mine.’
The Buddha had this realization and came to believe that the idea of a permanent self was not the solution to the problem of the human condition but instead, was the root of human suffering, because it made us selfish and self-absorbed. Here, I urge caution about the concept of ‘non-self’. It’s the idea of a permanent self that is totally separate from all life, people, Mother Nature. ‘Ego’ and ‘Self’ are different. We do need to suspend the ‘ego’ to alleviate suffering and’ letting go’ of our fixed views and certainty regarding the nature of reality. However, in Zen Buddhism, our mind contains the body and the body contains the mind. In fact in our mindfulness practices we mediate the body and mind at the same time.
To rid oneself of this deep-seated delusion of independent self was the way to liberation. That realization would allow one the freedom to not get caught in the ‘I, me, or mine’ which is really the fundamental cause of suffering. The Buddha came to believe that there is a way or path to overcoming suffering. His teaching would be based on rediscovering our true nature, which is referred to as ‘non-self nature’. If we could extinguish the delusion of self, we could see things as they truly are and our suffering would end. We have, then, the capacity to take control over our own lives. He realized that there is a plasticity to our minds and character and that living in the world with the right attitude is fundamentally empowering. Basically, he was saying, ‘Know yourself and the world is yours’, like the other great thinkers of his time: Socrates, and Lao Tzu. It is cognitive psychology twenty-five centuries before the term was invented.
I hope i didn’t offend you as most writers are American. I come from the Northern Tundra of Canada where our longest election in history was 38 days and we have 5 parties, so a coalition government can say , Sorry, can’t do that. So basically its hockey and Don’t eat the yellow snow. .
What a great idea, Maia!! it's beautiful to see others building community. Have you seen the Cook out Library from Marc Typo? It's the same idea as well, for Black authors.
It probably will be ; ) But good work, I'm creating something I'd like to see. At some point, depending on the scope of this, I might invite collaborators.
Hey Nessa! Go ahead and look at the form... I did set a few basic criteria that I explain there. Happy to DM with you if it would help to discuss a bit more.
What a lovely and important offering. I’m currently helping my friend Dylan with his memoir titled Liberation of Being: Allowing Terminal Illness to teach us How to Live. His approach living with ALS is founded in zen philosophy. The pre-release campaign begins soon and will be available on Amazon early fall, hopefully before he exits this world. He can no longer type/communicate exit simple yes/no questions, but it would be wonderful to share his campaign or at the very least, a link to his book, once it’s out? I’m open to your thoughts!
Thank you for the mention, Maia! And what a beautiful project!
Good stuff, Maia - and thank you!
Well done Maia, this is a great idea. I am not a Buddhist writer but I love learning about it. I will steer anyone I come across over this direction.
I love this! Thank you for your awesome work!
This is fantastic. I have actually been thinking of doing this myself. Im so happy you are initiating this important project! I write regularly about Dharma and am so happy to have come across your work. Looking forward to reading more. https://gregorypettys.substack.com/
Wonderful, Maia. Have been thinking of you. Hoping you and Lucy are recovering well. 🙏🏼
What a great idea and so generous of you! Hope you and Lucy are well and good. I tried to sign up for the network but couldn't figure out how to sign in which seems to be required.
Hi Cyndi, Thanks, we are good!
Hmmm, not sure why it would be requiring you to sign in, I'll check on that. In the meantime I have you and your newsletter on my list!
Thanks!🙏
Cyndi -- give the form another try. I just changed a setting which I think means you no longer have to sign in via Google.
Yay yay yay! This is going to be a hub of wisdom and beauty. I’m so looking forward to it.
Thank-you so much. I am getting so sick of the American Scream -politics.
THE MIDDLE WAY
What he attempted next was something new. A middle way between self-indulgence and the rigours of self-mortification. Moderation would be his radical new approach from now on. The Buddha’s change of tact would bring a greater clarity to his examination of the human condition. The Buddha came to believe that all we can know for sure is how we experience the world, and that it is our minds that determine what kind of experiences we have. Throughout history, many others have acknowledged this fundamental truth.
Using his meditation skills he examined the internal workings of his own mind. And what the Buddha discovered contradicted the assumptions people held about the permanence of the ‘soul’, or of the self. He realized that the external world, as we experience it, was constantly changing and that we were constantly changing too! Our material form (body), our feelings, our perceptions, our mental formations, and our consciousness were all in perpetual flux. In Buddhism this is called impermanence. Therefore, all efforts to identify a permanent self were futile, because a permanent or independent ‘self’ did not exist. Furthermore, identification with the self as a completely isolated entity caused suffering. This is why the Buddha said, ‘Nothing is to be clung to as ‘I, me, or mine.’
The Buddha had this realization and came to believe that the idea of a permanent self was not the solution to the problem of the human condition but instead, was the root of human suffering, because it made us selfish and self-absorbed. Here, I urge caution about the concept of ‘non-self’. It’s the idea of a permanent self that is totally separate from all life, people, Mother Nature. ‘Ego’ and ‘Self’ are different. We do need to suspend the ‘ego’ to alleviate suffering and’ letting go’ of our fixed views and certainty regarding the nature of reality. However, in Zen Buddhism, our mind contains the body and the body contains the mind. In fact in our mindfulness practices we mediate the body and mind at the same time.
To rid oneself of this deep-seated delusion of independent self was the way to liberation. That realization would allow one the freedom to not get caught in the ‘I, me, or mine’ which is really the fundamental cause of suffering. The Buddha came to believe that there is a way or path to overcoming suffering. His teaching would be based on rediscovering our true nature, which is referred to as ‘non-self nature’. If we could extinguish the delusion of self, we could see things as they truly are and our suffering would end. We have, then, the capacity to take control over our own lives. He realized that there is a plasticity to our minds and character and that living in the world with the right attitude is fundamentally empowering. Basically, he was saying, ‘Know yourself and the world is yours’, like the other great thinkers of his time: Socrates, and Lao Tzu. It is cognitive psychology twenty-five centuries before the term was invented.
I hope i didn’t offend you as most writers are American. I come from the Northern Tundra of Canada where our longest election in history was 38 days and we have 5 parties, so a coalition government can say , Sorry, can’t do that. So basically its hockey and Don’t eat the yellow snow. .
I am not a fan of U.S. electoral politics (though i am quite politically engaged in other ways) so you didn't offend me a bit ; )
Thank you, Maia!
I'm not what you'd consider a writer of Buddhadharma, but I enjoy reading and learning. Looking forward to your project taking form.
What a great idea, Maia!! it's beautiful to see others building community. Have you seen the Cook out Library from Marc Typo? It's the same idea as well, for Black authors.
Oh thank you for telling me about Marc Typo's library -- I'll check it out!
Thank you for taking this on. Sounds like a lot of work.
It probably will be ; ) But good work, I'm creating something I'd like to see. At some point, depending on the scope of this, I might invite collaborators.
I am so grateful you are offering this resource! Thank you, Maia!
I want to submit it only bc i am a Dharma inspired human and I think it woven in that way but not sure what the qualifications are.
Hey Nessa! Go ahead and look at the form... I did set a few basic criteria that I explain there. Happy to DM with you if it would help to discuss a bit more.
Do you know Softening Time by Elena Brower? Very lovely and Buddhist inspired. And I love the idea of a dharma Substack!
I don't know of that Substack... please do share this post with Elena and encourage her to submit the form!
What a lovely and important offering. I’m currently helping my friend Dylan with his memoir titled Liberation of Being: Allowing Terminal Illness to teach us How to Live. His approach living with ALS is founded in zen philosophy. The pre-release campaign begins soon and will be available on Amazon early fall, hopefully before he exits this world. He can no longer type/communicate exit simple yes/no questions, but it would be wonderful to share his campaign or at the very least, a link to his book, once it’s out? I’m open to your thoughts!
I love this idea, Kimberly. Let's stay in touch about this, feel free to DM me.
Thank you!