Let go of the past! Let go of the future! Let go of the present and cross over to the farther shore of existence. With your mind wholly liberated, you shall come no more to birth and death.
- Buddha
Friday, April 18, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Buddhist Thought
These teachings are like a raft, to be abandoned once you have crossed the flood. Since you should abandon even good states of mind generated by these teachings, How much more so should you abandon bad states of mind! Conquer the angry man by love. Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness. Conquer the miser with generosity. Conquer the liar with truth. -The Dhammapada
Friday, April 11, 2008
Buddha's Beginning
SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA'S LIFE STORY
Prince Siddharta Gautama was born some 2,500 years ago as a prince in what is now called Lumbini in Nepal. At his birth, many special signs appeared. His father asked a sage living in his kingdom for advice on his son. The sage predicted that Gautama would become either a great King or a great spiritual teacher.
The King wanted his son to be his successor and tried to keep him far away from all matters of life that could incline him to a spiritual life. Gautama usually spent his life in his father's palace, surrounded by all the possible luxuries of the time. He proved to be a special child, being quite intelligent as well as an excellent sportsman. He married to a beautiful woman he loved, and they had a son.
When Gautama was 29 years old, he discovered there was much suffering in the world around him. Traditionally it is explained that he suddenly recognised the problems of sickness, old age and death when visiting the city. Being shocked by the suffering of all living beings, he decided to search for way to end it. He left his wife and child, the palace and even his royal clothes, and started out on a spiritual quest.
Gautama studied under various teachers and followed their practices until he mastered them all. His first teacher was Alara Kalama who taught a form of meditation leading to an exalted form of absorption called "the state of no-thingness", a state without moral or cognitive dimension. Gautama saw this was not going to solve suffering, and continued his search.
The next teacher was Udraka Ramaputra who taught him meditative absorption leading to “the state of neither perception nor non-perception”. Again, Gautama realised this was not the state he was looking for. (Both Alara and Udraka are by some scholars considered to be Jain followers.)
Next, he tried extreme ascetic practices at Uruvilva in North India, with five other ascetics who turned into his followers. In the end, Gautama nearly died of starvation.
After about six years of searching, he realised that just wearing down his body did not generate new insights, but rather leads to weakness and self-destruction. When he decided to give up extreme asceticism, his five students left him.
The 'Bodhi' tree in Bodhgaya
The Sarnath stupa, at the place of the first teachings
He then sat down in a place now called Bodhgaya (North India) under a Bodhi-tree and decided not to get up anymore until he discovered the truth. Just a short time later, he became a fully enlightened Buddha. This means that he actualised all positive potentials of a sentient being and rid himself of all negative qualities. With this, he realised the true nature of existence and suffering (emptiness), and how suffering can be ended. (On the right is a descendant of the original Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya.)
Seven weeks after enlightenment, the Buddha gave his first discourse in Sarnath, near Varanasi (see image below right). Here he taught the 4 Noble Truths. The Buddha continued to teach during his life, until passing away at the age of 81.
The Buddha once summarised his entire teachings in one sentence:
"I teach about suffering and the way to end it".
Prince Siddharta Gautama was born some 2,500 years ago as a prince in what is now called Lumbini in Nepal. At his birth, many special signs appeared. His father asked a sage living in his kingdom for advice on his son. The sage predicted that Gautama would become either a great King or a great spiritual teacher.
The King wanted his son to be his successor and tried to keep him far away from all matters of life that could incline him to a spiritual life. Gautama usually spent his life in his father's palace, surrounded by all the possible luxuries of the time. He proved to be a special child, being quite intelligent as well as an excellent sportsman. He married to a beautiful woman he loved, and they had a son.
When Gautama was 29 years old, he discovered there was much suffering in the world around him. Traditionally it is explained that he suddenly recognised the problems of sickness, old age and death when visiting the city. Being shocked by the suffering of all living beings, he decided to search for way to end it. He left his wife and child, the palace and even his royal clothes, and started out on a spiritual quest.
Gautama studied under various teachers and followed their practices until he mastered them all. His first teacher was Alara Kalama who taught a form of meditation leading to an exalted form of absorption called "the state of no-thingness", a state without moral or cognitive dimension. Gautama saw this was not going to solve suffering, and continued his search.
The next teacher was Udraka Ramaputra who taught him meditative absorption leading to “the state of neither perception nor non-perception”. Again, Gautama realised this was not the state he was looking for. (Both Alara and Udraka are by some scholars considered to be Jain followers.)
Next, he tried extreme ascetic practices at Uruvilva in North India, with five other ascetics who turned into his followers. In the end, Gautama nearly died of starvation.
After about six years of searching, he realised that just wearing down his body did not generate new insights, but rather leads to weakness and self-destruction. When he decided to give up extreme asceticism, his five students left him.
The 'Bodhi' tree in Bodhgaya
The Sarnath stupa, at the place of the first teachings
He then sat down in a place now called Bodhgaya (North India) under a Bodhi-tree and decided not to get up anymore until he discovered the truth. Just a short time later, he became a fully enlightened Buddha. This means that he actualised all positive potentials of a sentient being and rid himself of all negative qualities. With this, he realised the true nature of existence and suffering (emptiness), and how suffering can be ended. (On the right is a descendant of the original Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya.)
Seven weeks after enlightenment, the Buddha gave his first discourse in Sarnath, near Varanasi (see image below right). Here he taught the 4 Noble Truths. The Buddha continued to teach during his life, until passing away at the age of 81.
The Buddha once summarised his entire teachings in one sentence:
"I teach about suffering and the way to end it".
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Interesting Happenings From San Francisco
Recently, my life has been a jumble of interesting revelations. Also, I've met cool new friends while ending a great friendship because of a very bad decision by him.
Photo's, music and some multimedia has been streaming out my body at a frantic pace. Creating art and self expression continues everyday in some form or another. It's as important to me as breathing air and being alive. It needs to be the focal point of all my future careers and business. My optimism recently has also grown about a possible major and maybe I can finally decide what to persue. Then I can decide on a school and a course of action towards starting class there.
The political realm continues to intensely engage, infuriate and provoke me. Because of my sexual orientation I've no choice but to make myself an example of what a healthy and mostly happy gay man looks like. There are times that I truly feel under attack by religious zealots, homophobia and people who wish to deny my community the same basic rights as other Americans. Most people can't understand what it feels like to be so different and denied.
And are there any gay couples out there who are monogamous? Long term, mature & healthy relationships seems to be missing in our community. Or maybe they never existed. Personally, I'd love to have a traditional one but by no means do I expect it. No one seems sincerely interested and at times this really disheartens me. But keeping the faith in true love continues and will forever be something I know can happen.
This afternoon the Olympic Torch was run through the streets of my City and I barely missed the runners as it ran down Van Ness. It was time for Musics afternoon jaunt and we walked down that street for a few blocks before making a new heading.
I wish it had passed me!! What a photo that would have been!!!
Over all the interesting happenings in San Francisco have been good ones for me. Some have been not so good but that is life.
I remain strong/happy/focused and wish only for the health/best for everyone.
Preparation for lifes big changes must contine. And learning, growing, evoling, creating while loving all of life remain my constant theme.
Nothing ever stays the same and nor shall I.
Photo's, music and some multimedia has been streaming out my body at a frantic pace. Creating art and self expression continues everyday in some form or another. It's as important to me as breathing air and being alive. It needs to be the focal point of all my future careers and business. My optimism recently has also grown about a possible major and maybe I can finally decide what to persue. Then I can decide on a school and a course of action towards starting class there.
The political realm continues to intensely engage, infuriate and provoke me. Because of my sexual orientation I've no choice but to make myself an example of what a healthy and mostly happy gay man looks like. There are times that I truly feel under attack by religious zealots, homophobia and people who wish to deny my community the same basic rights as other Americans. Most people can't understand what it feels like to be so different and denied.
And are there any gay couples out there who are monogamous? Long term, mature & healthy relationships seems to be missing in our community. Or maybe they never existed. Personally, I'd love to have a traditional one but by no means do I expect it. No one seems sincerely interested and at times this really disheartens me. But keeping the faith in true love continues and will forever be something I know can happen.
This afternoon the Olympic Torch was run through the streets of my City and I barely missed the runners as it ran down Van Ness. It was time for Musics afternoon jaunt and we walked down that street for a few blocks before making a new heading.
I wish it had passed me!! What a photo that would have been!!!
Over all the interesting happenings in San Francisco have been good ones for me. Some have been not so good but that is life.
I remain strong/happy/focused and wish only for the health/best for everyone.
Preparation for lifes big changes must contine. And learning, growing, evoling, creating while loving all of life remain my constant theme.
Nothing ever stays the same and nor shall I.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Buddhist Thought
All conditioned things are impermanent - When one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.
- Buddha
- Buddha
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Buddhist Thought
Buddha: One is the way to gain the other is the way to Nirvana. Knowing this fact, students of the Buddha should not take pleasure in being honored but should practice detachment.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
oRigiNal
A poem
damon burns 2008
"I'M oRiGinaL!"
Music MAkeR, stylez creator
heart breaker
Love maker
vinyl -player
-dance floor- sound system -
Bo0tie Quaker
Thought provoker
blunt smokers
coke manipulator
money holder
ass smacker &
the hand clapper
To all the
Funk haters
mIc fakers
money takers
skin flayers
All ya'll diRty dick teaserz
Im fresh/till death
Well, I'm not sure where It's gOing &
Icould keep up flowing
Cuz it sure does feEl good
ShoWing ya'll
How to be original
I've got soMe more rhyme
If you'd give me some time
To re-explain
How to be Original
NumbEr1.
STop buyIng A syStem
thatz hastens ouR dying
En-sAlves babies wild cryings &
CrEates soul less clones
sans any oRigNal
Number2.
Do uR oWn thAng
but make it somEthing
that shows
Ur OriGinaL
Im fresh/till death
damon burns 2008
"I'M oRiGinaL!"
Music MAkeR, stylez creator
heart breaker
Love maker
vinyl -player
-dance floor- sound system -
Bo0tie Quaker
Thought provoker
blunt smokers
coke manipulator
money holder
ass smacker &
the hand clapper
To all the
Funk haters
mIc fakers
money takers
skin flayers
All ya'll diRty dick teaserz
Im fresh/till death
Well, I'm not sure where It's gOing &
Icould keep up flowing
Cuz it sure does feEl good
ShoWing ya'll
How to be original
I've got soMe more rhyme
If you'd give me some time
To re-explain
How to be Original
NumbEr1.
STop buyIng A syStem
thatz hastens ouR dying
En-sAlves babies wild cryings &
CrEates soul less clones
sans any oRigNal
Number2.
Do uR oWn thAng
but make it somEthing
that shows
Ur OriGinaL
Im fresh/till death
Friday, March 21, 2008
Premonition
From the Country
That eats
The most meat
And sits
On the highest cliff
The Future Chief
From Abraham
Shall win
The highest seat
Those in charge
Become alarmed
That change
Happens most
Too swift
They've never lost
And brought to us
At time
the greatest harm
A Plan hatched
By them
To kill the man
And replaced
With the womAn
From HilsLary
She approves the dudes
And then they move
To do the Final deed
To tie the hands
Of Future Plans
To secure her power Strong
One wonders why
Those alabie
Lie with the sweetest smile
They were the ghost
From dead waRs post
And fixed the fiRe bomb
To blow up when
His time begins
To start change
For the throngs
That eats
The most meat
And sits
On the highest cliff
The Future Chief
From Abraham
Shall win
The highest seat
Those in charge
Become alarmed
That change
Happens most
Too swift
They've never lost
And brought to us
At time
the greatest harm
A Plan hatched
By them
To kill the man
And replaced
With the womAn
From HilsLary
She approves the dudes
And then they move
To do the Final deed
To tie the hands
Of Future Plans
To secure her power Strong
One wonders why
Those alabie
Lie with the sweetest smile
They were the ghost
From dead waRs post
And fixed the fiRe bomb
To blow up when
His time begins
To start change
For the throngs
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Cost of War
With today being the five year anniversary of Bush war against Sanity I thought it approitate to post some sombering thoughts on this misguided path.
The dollar cost of invading and occupying a foreign country: over 400 Billion US dollars and counting!
Number of US soldiers/ and Iraqi citizens killed during Operation Iraqi freedom: over 3000 dead US solders and counting. Over 300,000 Iraqi's killed.
The most frequently cited figure is the 29,320 soldiers wounded in action in Iraq as of Thursday. But there have been 31,325 others treated for non-combat injuries and illness as of March 1.
Veterans Affairs predicts it will treat 330,000 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2009 — a 14 percent increase over the 2008 estimate of 263,000 — at a cost of nearly $1.3 billion.
For the 2009 budget, the White House requested $93.7 billion for the VA, including $41.2 billion for medical care for all veterans — not just those from Iraq and Afghanistan. That's an increase of $2.3 billion over the current budget.
Earlier this week, a federal judge in San Francisco held the first hearing in a class-action lawsuit filed by two vet groups, including Sullivan's, against the VA alleging their neglect in treating suicidal soldiers. The lawsuit asks that the VA immediately screen and treat all potentially suicidal veterans.
According to VA research obtained last month by The Associated Press, 144 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan committed suicide from the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001 through the end of 2005. Statistics from 2006 and 2007 were not yet available.
In November, President Bush signed legislation directing the VA to improve its mental health training for staff and do a better job of evaluating and treating veterans.
The Associated Press News Research Center in New York contributed to this report.
The dollar cost of invading and occupying a foreign country: over 400 Billion US dollars and counting!
Number of US soldiers/ and Iraqi citizens killed during Operation Iraqi freedom: over 3000 dead US solders and counting. Over 300,000 Iraqi's killed.
The most frequently cited figure is the 29,320 soldiers wounded in action in Iraq as of Thursday. But there have been 31,325 others treated for non-combat injuries and illness as of March 1.
Veterans Affairs predicts it will treat 330,000 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2009 — a 14 percent increase over the 2008 estimate of 263,000 — at a cost of nearly $1.3 billion.
For the 2009 budget, the White House requested $93.7 billion for the VA, including $41.2 billion for medical care for all veterans — not just those from Iraq and Afghanistan. That's an increase of $2.3 billion over the current budget.
Earlier this week, a federal judge in San Francisco held the first hearing in a class-action lawsuit filed by two vet groups, including Sullivan's, against the VA alleging their neglect in treating suicidal soldiers. The lawsuit asks that the VA immediately screen and treat all potentially suicidal veterans.
According to VA research obtained last month by The Associated Press, 144 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan committed suicide from the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001 through the end of 2005. Statistics from 2006 and 2007 were not yet available.
In November, President Bush signed legislation directing the VA to improve its mental health training for staff and do a better job of evaluating and treating veterans.
The Associated Press News Research Center in New York contributed to this report.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
A Late Night After the Beach
Music and I had busy days yesterday. We spent time with friends out at Baker Beach in Geoffrey's RV. Three humans and three canines meant there was perfect numerical balance.
The weather was bracing but the sun was setting in the West and the sky was mostly clear. Our local Ocean was not so passive today! It pounded onto the beach sending tall waves toward us much faster than the dogs could get away from. As if they really didn't want to get wet and sandy??! A couple times I found myself running up the beach to avoid getting wet and cold shoes. The pups loved it tho spending- most of the time herding each other, playing fetch, keep away and tag.
A perfect sunset with friends and the dogs. Ahhh, perfect!
After taking 330 photos, eating Burger king and arriving home it was time for a hot bath and some sleep for me and my canine companion.
I woke up around 1:30am and here I am.
Early morning has arrived in Fog City. Soon sleep will over take me again. Here are a few pics from the beach with Music, Geoffrey, Tony, Howie, Donna and me.
Damon Burns.
Enjoy. Ciao main!
The weather was bracing but the sun was setting in the West and the sky was mostly clear. Our local Ocean was not so passive today! It pounded onto the beach sending tall waves toward us much faster than the dogs could get away from. As if they really didn't want to get wet and sandy??! A couple times I found myself running up the beach to avoid getting wet and cold shoes. The pups loved it tho spending- most of the time herding each other, playing fetch, keep away and tag.
A perfect sunset with friends and the dogs. Ahhh, perfect!
After taking 330 photos, eating Burger king and arriving home it was time for a hot bath and some sleep for me and my canine companion.
I woke up around 1:30am and here I am.
Early morning has arrived in Fog City. Soon sleep will over take me again. Here are a few pics from the beach with Music, Geoffrey, Tony, Howie, Donna and me.
Damon Burns.
Enjoy. Ciao main!
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