Kyle Woodruff's Blog: TheDevoutHumorist - Posts Tagged "buddhism"
TDH #4
If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought,
pain follows him,
as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 1, Verse 1
(Translated by Friedrich Max Müller)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buddhism was the second religion that spoke to me, perhaps because it didn’t have a deity and I was agnostic at the time I found it (though now a believer in God). It seemed there were more practical applications to improve your time here on earth, rather than rules and traditions that might allow you to avoid burning in a fiery afterlife.
I’ve had an on-again, off-again relationship with meditation over the years, but a recent discovery of the sensory deprivation tank has taken that practice to a new level. I would highly recommend trying it. Don’t draw the cart of pain as an ox burdened with evil thoughts.
pain follows him,
as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 1, Verse 1
(Translated by Friedrich Max Müller)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buddhism was the second religion that spoke to me, perhaps because it didn’t have a deity and I was agnostic at the time I found it (though now a believer in God). It seemed there were more practical applications to improve your time here on earth, rather than rules and traditions that might allow you to avoid burning in a fiery afterlife.
I’ve had an on-again, off-again relationship with meditation over the years, but a recent discovery of the sensory deprivation tank has taken that practice to a new level. I would highly recommend trying it. Don’t draw the cart of pain as an ox burdened with evil thoughts.
TDH #11
By effort and heedfulness,
discipline and self-mastery,
let the wise one make for himself
an island which no flood can overwhelm.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 2, Verse 25
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You don’t need to buy into a special belief system in order to practice Buddhism. Instead, the Buddha taught a set of practices to help others realize enlightenment for themselves. It’s a religion not built on faith, but on the verification of whether or not this practice can help us let go of the cause of our own suffering.
Our perception of the world is shaped by how our minds are conditioned--by culture, by upbringing, by the past, by our opinions. We can become prisoners of our own minds, bound by these perceptions. We see a muddied version of reality that causes unnecessary suffering. Buddhism teaches about reality as it is, versus reality as we perceive it to be.
With effort, heedfulness, discipline, and self-mastery--all of which are free and can be applied immediately--we can create a Heaven, a blissful little island for ourselves, right here on earth.
discipline and self-mastery,
let the wise one make for himself
an island which no flood can overwhelm.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 2, Verse 25
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You don’t need to buy into a special belief system in order to practice Buddhism. Instead, the Buddha taught a set of practices to help others realize enlightenment for themselves. It’s a religion not built on faith, but on the verification of whether or not this practice can help us let go of the cause of our own suffering.
Our perception of the world is shaped by how our minds are conditioned--by culture, by upbringing, by the past, by our opinions. We can become prisoners of our own minds, bound by these perceptions. We see a muddied version of reality that causes unnecessary suffering. Buddhism teaches about reality as it is, versus reality as we perceive it to be.
With effort, heedfulness, discipline, and self-mastery--all of which are free and can be applied immediately--we can create a Heaven, a blissful little island for ourselves, right here on earth.
TDH #18
A fool who knows his foolishness is wise
at least to that extent,
but a fool who thinks himself wise
is a fool indeed.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 5, Verse 63
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For some reason this quote reminded me how any time my ego starts to inflate, I feel like The Universe finds a way to knock it down again.
Perhaps bragging about a sale is met with another one falling through.
Perhaps feeling a little too good about physical gains is met with rejection.
Perhaps thinking I’m smarter than I am is met with a situation that shows I know little.
Whatever the response, my ego is checked by humility, my arrogance faced with humbling.
I’ve found life to be more stable and enjoyable when maintaining a constant degree of gratitude for what I have, and a recognition that it is not I who deserves all the credit.
Better to live with awareness of any foolishness I have than to walk around thinking about how great I am.
at least to that extent,
but a fool who thinks himself wise
is a fool indeed.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 5, Verse 63
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For some reason this quote reminded me how any time my ego starts to inflate, I feel like The Universe finds a way to knock it down again.
Perhaps bragging about a sale is met with another one falling through.
Perhaps feeling a little too good about physical gains is met with rejection.
Perhaps thinking I’m smarter than I am is met with a situation that shows I know little.
Whatever the response, my ego is checked by humility, my arrogance faced with humbling.
I’ve found life to be more stable and enjoyable when maintaining a constant degree of gratitude for what I have, and a recognition that it is not I who deserves all the credit.
Better to live with awareness of any foolishness I have than to walk around thinking about how great I am.
TDH #25
A solid rock by wind is undisturbed.
The wise by praise and blame are unperturbed.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 6, Verse 81
(Translated by Verado Bhikkhu)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maybe I’d heard this analogy before, but this same visual came to me in a meditation a few years ago: that I needed to become an emotional rock amongst the winds of chaos.
My reaction to praise was an enlightening realization; not because I’d let it go to my head to inflate my ego, but instead, whenever I received a genuine compliment, I’d brush it off with a joke. I realized this, ironically enough, during a stand-up comedy class. My routine in progress went well, and a peer sung my praises. But instead of a thank you, I swatted it away with self-deprecating humor.
My natural reaction stuck out to me then and made me wonder how long I’d been doing it for. My whole life, practically (which I write about in more detail in a book I plan to release someday, so I won’t disclose the rest here. The short of it is, my brain had been wired to feel praise was foreign, or think I didn’t deserve any).
Perturbed is an understatement for how being (unjustly) blamed has made me feel. The hair trigger on this one is better now, but I’m not quite the stoic I’d like to be in this department just yet. It’s been one of the deepest childhood triggers to dig deep into and unwire.
The lesson here from this gem of wisdom is simple and clear: Strive to be that rock in the wind.
The wise by praise and blame are unperturbed.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 6, Verse 81
(Translated by Verado Bhikkhu)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maybe I’d heard this analogy before, but this same visual came to me in a meditation a few years ago: that I needed to become an emotional rock amongst the winds of chaos.
My reaction to praise was an enlightening realization; not because I’d let it go to my head to inflate my ego, but instead, whenever I received a genuine compliment, I’d brush it off with a joke. I realized this, ironically enough, during a stand-up comedy class. My routine in progress went well, and a peer sung my praises. But instead of a thank you, I swatted it away with self-deprecating humor.
My natural reaction stuck out to me then and made me wonder how long I’d been doing it for. My whole life, practically (which I write about in more detail in a book I plan to release someday, so I won’t disclose the rest here. The short of it is, my brain had been wired to feel praise was foreign, or think I didn’t deserve any).
Perturbed is an understatement for how being (unjustly) blamed has made me feel. The hair trigger on this one is better now, but I’m not quite the stoic I’d like to be in this department just yet. It’s been one of the deepest childhood triggers to dig deep into and unwire.
The lesson here from this gem of wisdom is simple and clear: Strive to be that rock in the wind.
TDH #33
Hatreds never cease through hatred in this world;
through love alone they cease.
This is an eternal law.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 1, Verse 5
(Translated by Nārada Thera)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The other night I did three hours in the float tank. Sounds like a while, but I got so emerged in processing past traumas that it was really a timeless experience.
One thing that popped up was some anger I’ve been holding onto since high school. I was surprised to see this incident pop up, as I thought I’d moved through it already, but this was a slightly different angle of the same experience. (Goes to show how long even the nuanced baggage will linger in your body if you never address it.)
I let my body do as it will in this relaxed state as I face the same reoccurring emotions. Oftentimes that includes unwinding in weird positions, certain muscle contractions, or even an uncontrolled (almost seizure-like) shaking of the head at times. It’s really quite strange to observe, and not as easily achieved in meditations where gravity and other stimuli are involved. It’s like the negative tensions are being squeezed out like a towel wrung out of water.
(Reminds me of a book on my bookshelf I keep meaning to read called The Body Keeps The Score.)
I’m continually surprised by how many layers of the onion there are to peel away. Countless times I’ve addressed major incidents in my life and thought, “There. I’m all healed now!” Nope. More subtle layers still exist as I dig further and further. (I guess it makes sense since there’s thirty plus years of life to dig through, but most of them seem to stem from adolescence and earlier--the most formative years, I suppose.)
Something that came to mind after being wrung out was how the other person involved was a “pawn” of God (for lack of a better term), steering me down a path that’s influenced the life I live today. I held onto hatred for this person for so long, but now I could see this was a really brother of mine, shaping me into the man I am now. Without his actions, who knows what path my life could have taken. It may have been something completely different, less desirable, not the same it is now. Who knows. In realizing this, the hatred I once had became love, and the tension gone.
through love alone they cease.
This is an eternal law.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 1, Verse 5
(Translated by Nārada Thera)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The other night I did three hours in the float tank. Sounds like a while, but I got so emerged in processing past traumas that it was really a timeless experience.
One thing that popped up was some anger I’ve been holding onto since high school. I was surprised to see this incident pop up, as I thought I’d moved through it already, but this was a slightly different angle of the same experience. (Goes to show how long even the nuanced baggage will linger in your body if you never address it.)
I let my body do as it will in this relaxed state as I face the same reoccurring emotions. Oftentimes that includes unwinding in weird positions, certain muscle contractions, or even an uncontrolled (almost seizure-like) shaking of the head at times. It’s really quite strange to observe, and not as easily achieved in meditations where gravity and other stimuli are involved. It’s like the negative tensions are being squeezed out like a towel wrung out of water.
(Reminds me of a book on my bookshelf I keep meaning to read called The Body Keeps The Score.)
I’m continually surprised by how many layers of the onion there are to peel away. Countless times I’ve addressed major incidents in my life and thought, “There. I’m all healed now!” Nope. More subtle layers still exist as I dig further and further. (I guess it makes sense since there’s thirty plus years of life to dig through, but most of them seem to stem from adolescence and earlier--the most formative years, I suppose.)
Something that came to mind after being wrung out was how the other person involved was a “pawn” of God (for lack of a better term), steering me down a path that’s influenced the life I live today. I held onto hatred for this person for so long, but now I could see this was a really brother of mine, shaping me into the man I am now. Without his actions, who knows what path my life could have taken. It may have been something completely different, less desirable, not the same it is now. Who knows. In realizing this, the hatred I once had became love, and the tension gone.
TDH #41
Focus not on the rudenesses of others,
not on what they've done or left undone,
but on what you have and haven't done yourself.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 4, Verse 50
(translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I met a woman the other morning who told me, “I held my phone up for an hour to take a time-lapse video of the sunrise for my mother, and when I sent it to her all she sent back was a thumbs up.” She laughed and said, “Why do we even have mothers!?”
There was laughter on the outside, but I imagine there was a twinge of pain on the inside.
All I could think about was how this disappointment comes down to failed expectations, wanting someone else to be something they’re not.
I had a similar “failed expectations” moment flare up the other day when someone no-showed me last second without explanation. I think all you can do is move others into a category of people with a different standard of ethics and behavior that better suits them, then continue upholding your own. Moping over wishing they were different doesn’t help you, and it certainly won’t change them. And lowering your expectations of everyone around doesn’t do much good either. Simply observing who they are objectively is the move (in my opinion). Then you’ll appreciate those who align with your own standards all the more.
Aim for that non-attachment [target emoji]
not on what they've done or left undone,
but on what you have and haven't done yourself.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 4, Verse 50
(translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I met a woman the other morning who told me, “I held my phone up for an hour to take a time-lapse video of the sunrise for my mother, and when I sent it to her all she sent back was a thumbs up.” She laughed and said, “Why do we even have mothers!?”
There was laughter on the outside, but I imagine there was a twinge of pain on the inside.
All I could think about was how this disappointment comes down to failed expectations, wanting someone else to be something they’re not.
I had a similar “failed expectations” moment flare up the other day when someone no-showed me last second without explanation. I think all you can do is move others into a category of people with a different standard of ethics and behavior that better suits them, then continue upholding your own. Moping over wishing they were different doesn’t help you, and it certainly won’t change them. And lowering your expectations of everyone around doesn’t do much good either. Simply observing who they are objectively is the move (in my opinion). Then you’ll appreciate those who align with your own standards all the more.
Aim for that non-attachment [target emoji]
TDH #49
One who, while himself seeking happiness,
oppresses with violence other beings who also desire happiness,
will not attain happiness hereafter.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 10, Verse 131
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Reddit’s r/Buddhism I came across a post about karma and eating animal products.
One commenter said, “When the Buddha was asked about eating meat, he suggested that it isn't wrong per se, and meat isn't impure or evil per se, but killing living things is bad because it harms another, and it should be avoided or minimized.”
I tried to bring a different perspective to the table, though. I’ve found bowhunting to be the most spiritually and nutritionally rewarding way to source your food.
I know this may “violate” the karma of killing another being, but when you take a step back and examine the overall effect, hunting tags are regulated and distributed in numbers that keep the herd’s population in check. Especially in areas where deer, for example, don’t have natural predators, they’ll multiply until there’s too much competition for a limited food supply through the winter and disease starts to spread and more of them run out in the street and cause car accidents. By culling the herd you reduce your own carbon footprint by not shopping at stores, keep the herd population healthier, and reduce the number of potentially fatal and environmentally inefficient car accidents, all while providing the healthiest source of food for your friends and family.
I’ve tried just about every diet there is (all the way down to raw fruitarian), but harvesting your own food from the earth is by far the most fulfilling. Yes, it’s sad watching an animal’s life leave its body by own your hand, but the amount of gratitude you feel during every meal for months after while remembering that moment is incomparable.
Also, the argument that vegans have some kind of moral high ground on hunters because they aren’t contributing to animal death is erroneous in my opinion. Unless you’re farming your own plot of land and surviving off that completely, shopping at grocery stores contributes to mono-cropping, plastic productions, fossil fuel consumption, etc. To say there’s no contribution to animal death in this manner is turning a blind eye to reality.
What my point boils down to is: I’d rather own my role in the circle of life than pretend I’m playing no part.
And these aren’t intended to be shots fired at all vegans, just the ones on their high horse.
I don't think that attitude does anyone any good ;)
oppresses with violence other beings who also desire happiness,
will not attain happiness hereafter.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 10, Verse 131
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Reddit’s r/Buddhism I came across a post about karma and eating animal products.
One commenter said, “When the Buddha was asked about eating meat, he suggested that it isn't wrong per se, and meat isn't impure or evil per se, but killing living things is bad because it harms another, and it should be avoided or minimized.”
I tried to bring a different perspective to the table, though. I’ve found bowhunting to be the most spiritually and nutritionally rewarding way to source your food.
I know this may “violate” the karma of killing another being, but when you take a step back and examine the overall effect, hunting tags are regulated and distributed in numbers that keep the herd’s population in check. Especially in areas where deer, for example, don’t have natural predators, they’ll multiply until there’s too much competition for a limited food supply through the winter and disease starts to spread and more of them run out in the street and cause car accidents. By culling the herd you reduce your own carbon footprint by not shopping at stores, keep the herd population healthier, and reduce the number of potentially fatal and environmentally inefficient car accidents, all while providing the healthiest source of food for your friends and family.
I’ve tried just about every diet there is (all the way down to raw fruitarian), but harvesting your own food from the earth is by far the most fulfilling. Yes, it’s sad watching an animal’s life leave its body by own your hand, but the amount of gratitude you feel during every meal for months after while remembering that moment is incomparable.
Also, the argument that vegans have some kind of moral high ground on hunters because they aren’t contributing to animal death is erroneous in my opinion. Unless you’re farming your own plot of land and surviving off that completely, shopping at grocery stores contributes to mono-cropping, plastic productions, fossil fuel consumption, etc. To say there’s no contribution to animal death in this manner is turning a blind eye to reality.
What my point boils down to is: I’d rather own my role in the circle of life than pretend I’m playing no part.
And these aren’t intended to be shots fired at all vegans, just the ones on their high horse.
I don't think that attitude does anyone any good ;)
TDH #57
He who inflicts violence on those who are unarmed,
and offends those who are inoffensive,
will soon come upon one of these ten states:
Sharp pain, or disaster,
bodily injury, serious illness, or derangement of mind,
trouble from the government, or grave charges,
loss of relatives, or loss of wealth, or houses destroyed by ravaging fire;
upon dissolution of the body that ignorant man is born in hell.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 10, Verses 137-140
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you ever ripped someone’s ear off?
Yeah, me neither. But Joe has (my ex-military friend mentioned in the prior post). Then he smashed the guy’s leg with a cinder block to finish off the fight.
Was this in war, you ask? Was this a means of survival? Well, more like a dispute over a wave while surfing at the beach. But to be fair, the other guy started it (at least that’s how Joe tells the story), he just finished it.
This whole event came to surface when Joe asked what I did last weekend. When I told him I’d recently bought a surfboard he said, “Oh, Jesus. You’re done for.” When I expressed that I’m convinced sharks don’t like the way I taste he said, “It’s not the sharks you have to look out for. It’s the surfers. They can be real assholes.”
Only having met nice surfers so far, I asked him to expand upon what he meant. And so trickled into my own ear the tale of how he accidentally bumped into another wave rider who had a bit of a temper when it came to surfing etiquette.
Joe was confronted by this long haired trouble-maker back on the beach and tackled him into the sand. On break from his military duties and trained in martial arts, Joe had the good wits to grab a hold of this fellow’s auditory appendage and bring him to the ground with him.
“He left the beach without an ear that day,” said Joe, not expanding much more on the fight other than the grand finale of cinder block smashing. Then he said, “I’ll give you a piece of advice when it comes to fighting. Always take body parts with you.”
Then, like it was nothing, he transitioned into what a good workout surfing can be. Imagine being so numb to violence that a story about ripping another guy’s ear off just sort of fades into the background as you discuss the cardiovascular benefits of paddling through tides.
I think what Buddha’s trying to say here is don’t pick a fight with someone unless you know who you’re fighting, lest some bodily injury soon come upon thee. Or, perhaps, don’t pick a fight at all.
and offends those who are inoffensive,
will soon come upon one of these ten states:
Sharp pain, or disaster,
bodily injury, serious illness, or derangement of mind,
trouble from the government, or grave charges,
loss of relatives, or loss of wealth, or houses destroyed by ravaging fire;
upon dissolution of the body that ignorant man is born in hell.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 10, Verses 137-140
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you ever ripped someone’s ear off?
Yeah, me neither. But Joe has (my ex-military friend mentioned in the prior post). Then he smashed the guy’s leg with a cinder block to finish off the fight.
Was this in war, you ask? Was this a means of survival? Well, more like a dispute over a wave while surfing at the beach. But to be fair, the other guy started it (at least that’s how Joe tells the story), he just finished it.
This whole event came to surface when Joe asked what I did last weekend. When I told him I’d recently bought a surfboard he said, “Oh, Jesus. You’re done for.” When I expressed that I’m convinced sharks don’t like the way I taste he said, “It’s not the sharks you have to look out for. It’s the surfers. They can be real assholes.”
Only having met nice surfers so far, I asked him to expand upon what he meant. And so trickled into my own ear the tale of how he accidentally bumped into another wave rider who had a bit of a temper when it came to surfing etiquette.
Joe was confronted by this long haired trouble-maker back on the beach and tackled him into the sand. On break from his military duties and trained in martial arts, Joe had the good wits to grab a hold of this fellow’s auditory appendage and bring him to the ground with him.
“He left the beach without an ear that day,” said Joe, not expanding much more on the fight other than the grand finale of cinder block smashing. Then he said, “I’ll give you a piece of advice when it comes to fighting. Always take body parts with you.”
Then, like it was nothing, he transitioned into what a good workout surfing can be. Imagine being so numb to violence that a story about ripping another guy’s ear off just sort of fades into the background as you discuss the cardiovascular benefits of paddling through tides.
I think what Buddha’s trying to say here is don’t pick a fight with someone unless you know who you’re fighting, lest some bodily injury soon come upon thee. Or, perhaps, don’t pick a fight at all.
TDH #65
He who checks rising anger
as a charioteer checks a rolling chariot,
him I call a true charioteer.
Others only hold the reins.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 17, Verse 222
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A friend of mine showed me a contemporary “art” museum yesterday. You’d understand why I put “art” in quotation marks if you were there.
Let’s put it this way: The piece that stuck out the most was a giant Walmart receipt blown up to the scale of a small coffin, lying haphazardly on the floor. (Don’t ask why that’s the comparison that came to mind. Perhaps a subconscious belief that’s where this person’s artistic aspirations belong.) I can’t even remember what the purchase was. Something unmemorable, obviously.
Beside the piece of “art” next to this tripping hazard, was a sign that read, “Do not touch,” which made me wonder if the juxtaposition was to imply you should touch the receipt. Was this part of the contemporariness of it all? I’m still unsure.
Maybe I’m a simpleton who believes art takes time, effort, and passion—not a three dollar purchase you can scan at your local print shop and blow up with the push of a button—but when I think of art I think of the Mona Lisa. What might da Vinci think of an oversized display of something you’d throw in the trash?
Surely it couldn’t have been so bad, you say? Well, most of the other “art” required you to strain your eyes because theyweremostlyabunchofpieceswithwordssmushed
togetherlikethisbecauseapparentlythat’sartnow. Or they were giant, bloody, glass stalagmite-looking towers with a sign that said, “Trode!”—whatever that means.
The first piece in the first room was a vase with a giant erection. This was also the first and last sexual piece in the entire gallery, and frankly it was all downhill from there. And doubly frankly, when I decided this was the first and last contemporary art museum I’d see.
What does this have to do with Buddhism, you ask? Absolutely nothing, other than the fact that I had to reflect on why this “art” being on display for a $15 admission made me so angry. I’ll let you know if I ever find the answer.
But then again, without it I wouldn’t have the inspiration for this post now would I?
I guess there’s light after all. #ArtistsInspiringArtists
as a charioteer checks a rolling chariot,
him I call a true charioteer.
Others only hold the reins.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 17, Verse 222
(Translated by Ācharya Buddharakkhita)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A friend of mine showed me a contemporary “art” museum yesterday. You’d understand why I put “art” in quotation marks if you were there.
Let’s put it this way: The piece that stuck out the most was a giant Walmart receipt blown up to the scale of a small coffin, lying haphazardly on the floor. (Don’t ask why that’s the comparison that came to mind. Perhaps a subconscious belief that’s where this person’s artistic aspirations belong.) I can’t even remember what the purchase was. Something unmemorable, obviously.
Beside the piece of “art” next to this tripping hazard, was a sign that read, “Do not touch,” which made me wonder if the juxtaposition was to imply you should touch the receipt. Was this part of the contemporariness of it all? I’m still unsure.
Maybe I’m a simpleton who believes art takes time, effort, and passion—not a three dollar purchase you can scan at your local print shop and blow up with the push of a button—but when I think of art I think of the Mona Lisa. What might da Vinci think of an oversized display of something you’d throw in the trash?
Surely it couldn’t have been so bad, you say? Well, most of the other “art” required you to strain your eyes because theyweremostlyabunchofpieceswithwordssmushed
togetherlikethisbecauseapparentlythat’sartnow. Or they were giant, bloody, glass stalagmite-looking towers with a sign that said, “Trode!”—whatever that means.
The first piece in the first room was a vase with a giant erection. This was also the first and last sexual piece in the entire gallery, and frankly it was all downhill from there. And doubly frankly, when I decided this was the first and last contemporary art museum I’d see.
What does this have to do with Buddhism, you ask? Absolutely nothing, other than the fact that I had to reflect on why this “art” being on display for a $15 admission made me so angry. I’ll let you know if I ever find the answer.
But then again, without it I wouldn’t have the inspiration for this post now would I?
I guess there’s light after all. #ArtistsInspiringArtists
TDH #73
Winning gives birth to hostility.
Losing, one lies down in pain.
The calmed lie down with ease,
having set winning and losing aside.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 15, Verse 201
(Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Building upon a recent post about preserving the youth, I played kickball last weekend, for the first time since fifth grade. A bunch of middle-aged guys and gals from the gym organized the game in a local park. It was hilarious to watch.
I used to play soccer [brushes of shoulder] so I was alright in the kicking department, but some of my peers were, well, less athletically inclined. Coordination below the waist is lacking for most people who never played sports requiring coordination below the waist, and observing a sudden late-life need for this skill in others is just darn fun.
One guy whiffed at a slow roller so hard you thought he might be Charlie Brown. “I’m not wearing my glasses!” he belted out. Sure, sure, sure.
People who had no inkling of baseball-like rules were the best, slicing a kick over the fence along the foul line and arguing for a home run and whatnot. Good times. Good times.
The best part was how quickly the competitive fifth grade nature snaps back when the game is on the line going into the last inning, arguing over close calls the way you would at recess, half-seriously accusing people you hardly know of being cheaters in a nonsense sport that would leave you sore enough to remember how old you are. There’s something magical about the way old gym games turn grownups into kids again.
Ahh, Life: Why do you bury these joyful moments under so many responsibilities? Why do decades pass between matches on the kickball fields of our existence?
Don’t get confused: Despite the above “wisdom,” there are winners and losers in this life. Clearly Buddha never kicked the winning RBI in an elementary school game in the bottom of the ninth. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I realize this was probably written by someone picked last in gym class every time. Loser.
Now, if you have the balls to find out which one you are, clear your schedule for Sunday. Round two is on.
Losing, one lies down in pain.
The calmed lie down with ease,
having set winning and losing aside.
The Dhammapada - Chapter 15, Verse 201
(Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
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Building upon a recent post about preserving the youth, I played kickball last weekend, for the first time since fifth grade. A bunch of middle-aged guys and gals from the gym organized the game in a local park. It was hilarious to watch.
I used to play soccer [brushes of shoulder] so I was alright in the kicking department, but some of my peers were, well, less athletically inclined. Coordination below the waist is lacking for most people who never played sports requiring coordination below the waist, and observing a sudden late-life need for this skill in others is just darn fun.
One guy whiffed at a slow roller so hard you thought he might be Charlie Brown. “I’m not wearing my glasses!” he belted out. Sure, sure, sure.
People who had no inkling of baseball-like rules were the best, slicing a kick over the fence along the foul line and arguing for a home run and whatnot. Good times. Good times.
The best part was how quickly the competitive fifth grade nature snaps back when the game is on the line going into the last inning, arguing over close calls the way you would at recess, half-seriously accusing people you hardly know of being cheaters in a nonsense sport that would leave you sore enough to remember how old you are. There’s something magical about the way old gym games turn grownups into kids again.
Ahh, Life: Why do you bury these joyful moments under so many responsibilities? Why do decades pass between matches on the kickball fields of our existence?
Don’t get confused: Despite the above “wisdom,” there are winners and losers in this life. Clearly Buddha never kicked the winning RBI in an elementary school game in the bottom of the ninth. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I realize this was probably written by someone picked last in gym class every time. Loser.
Now, if you have the balls to find out which one you are, clear your schedule for Sunday. Round two is on.
TheDevoutHumorist
Ancient wisdom with a modern application (and an often humorist twist)
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