Bodhicitta Posted June 19, 2017 Quote Here are my three treasures. Guard and keep them! The first is pity; the second, frugality; the third, refusal to be ‘foremost of all things under heaven.’ Tao Te Ching, LXVII 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 19, 2017 (edited) Quote Whatever is right springs from one of four sources. It consists either in the perception and skilful treatment of the truth; or in maintaining good fellowship with men, giving to every one his due, and keeping faith in contracts and promises; or in the greatness and strength of a lofty and unconquered mind; or in the order and measure that constitute moderation and temperance. Cicero, On Duties Edited June 19, 2017 by Bodhicitta 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cold Posted June 19, 2017 Bravo and thanks for a great thread! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 19, 2017 (edited) 8 hours ago, cold said: Bravo and thanks for a great thread! Thanks, others may chime in too. Edited June 20, 2017 by Bodhicitta Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 19, 2017 (edited) Quote A man should be of good cheer about his soul…if he has earnestly pursued the pleasure of learning, and adorned his soul with the adornment of temperance, and justice, and courage, and freedom, and truth. Plato, Phaedo, 114 Edited June 19, 2017 by Bodhicitta 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 20, 2017 Quote The Master said, It is Goodness that gives to a neighbourhood its beauty. One who is free to choose, yet does not prefer to dwell among the Good—how can he be accorded the name of wise? Confucius, Analects, IV, 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 20, 2017 Quote Human nature is disposed to goodness, just as water flows downwards. There is no water but flows down, and no men but show this tendency to good. Mencius, VI (4th century BCE) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted June 20, 2017 9 minutes ago, Bodhicitta said: Confucius, Analects, IV, 1 I think an exception would be a life of service. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 20, 2017 1 hour ago, Brian said: I think an exception would be a life of service. Do not follow; exception to what? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted June 20, 2017 5 minutes ago, Bodhicitta said: Do not follow; exception to what? One may choose to not dwell among "the Good" in willing to service those in need yet still be wise. The distinction lies in recognizing the choice and understanding what has been chosen. As a general rule, I think Confucius is correct, but I often think he lacked nuance. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 22, 2017 (edited) On June 20, 2017 at 0:57 PM, Brian said: One may choose to not dwell among "the Good" in willing to service those in need yet still be wise. The distinction lies in recognizing the choice and understanding what has been chosen. As a general rule, I think Confucius is correct, but I often think he lacked nuance. The assumption that 'dwelling' means hiding behind gates and walls to avoid contamination from the unwashed lacks 'nuance'. Dwelling can mean where one's mind dwells, not one's body. Even literally, one can go out from the Goodly neighborhood to serve. But not knowing ancient Chinese, I bow to those who do know. Edited June 22, 2017 by Bodhicitta 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 22, 2017 Quote Against an angry man let him not in return show anger, let him bless when he is cursed. Laws of Manu, VI, 48 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted June 22, 2017 Yeah, returning anger with a smile will really piss him off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cold Posted June 22, 2017 2 minutes ago, Marblehead said: Yeah, returning anger with a smile will really piss him off. Funny, but so true! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 22, 2017 3 hours ago, Marblehead said: Yeah, returning anger with a smile will really piss him off. Cute; but remaining impassive is what is meant, not smiling. Blessing when cursed is done silently, not with words. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 24, 2017 Quote Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you. Confucius, Analects, XV, 23 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 24, 2017 . Quote To be innocent is to be not guilty; but to be virtuous is to overcome our evil feelings and intentions William Penn 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted June 24, 2017 Yeah, intentions are not all that hard to get rid of, but feeling?, I think that is very difficult. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 26, 2017 (edited) On June 24, 2017 at 7:53 AM, Marblehead said: Yeah, intentions are not all that hard to get rid of, but feeling?, I think that is very difficult. It may be just the opposite. A base feeling can be ignored or replaced with a contrary one. But the motive or intent driving the feeling is deeper in the mind and will continue to be there suggesting and encouraging. Edited June 26, 2017 by Bodhicitta 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 26, 2017 Quote The true lover of knowledge must, from childhood up, be most of all a striver after truth in every form. Plato, Republic, 6, 485 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted June 26, 2017 (edited) It may be just the opposite. A base feeling can be ignored or replaced with a contrary one. But the intent driving the feeling is deeper in the mind and will continue to be there suggesting and encouraging. I never thought of it that way. You may well be correct. Edited June 26, 2017 by Marblehead Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted June 26, 2017 There is some indication, that through the mechanism of ones feelings, we become notified of our attitudes . Often intents-motivations-attitudes are also being influenced by our feelings. Thus there appears to be an effort to reconcile the two sources. Which we become consciously aware of, secondarily. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted June 26, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, Stosh said: There is some indication, that through the mechanism of ones feelings, we become notified of our attitudes . Often intents-motivations-attitudes are also being influenced by our feelings. Thus there appears to be an effort to reconcile the two sources. Which we become consciously aware of, secondarily. True, but there are motivations deeper than the conscious ones. Vasanas & samskaras are deep-seated habits or tendencies from past lifetimes. So when a conscious intention or attitude (good or bad) keeps reappearing, that suggests it is not superficial. Buddha actually defined karma/action not as a physical, mental or verbal act, but as cetana, which means intention or will. Edited June 26, 2017 by Bodhicitta 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted July 1, 2017 Quote The supreme aim of all religions is to teach men how to live; and the learning and the living are religion itself. The purification of the human heart, the building up of a blameless life, and the perfecting of the soul, these are the great underlying and enduring factors in all religions and creeds the world over. That which is vital in every religion is the striving after, and the practice of, Goodness; all things else are accretions, superfluities, illusions. Goodness — and by Goodness I mean sinlessness — is the beautiful and imperishable form of Religion, but creeds and religions are the perishable garments, woven of the threads of opinion, in which men clothe it. One after another religions come and go, but Religion, being Life itself, endures forever. Let men cease to quarrel over the garments and strive to perceive the universality and beauty of the indwelling form; thus will they become wedded to it, will become one with the supreme Goodness. Religion is Goodness; Goodness is Religion. James Allen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodhicitta Posted July 6, 2017 Quote The virtue of a man ought to be measured not by his extraordinary exertions, but by his every-day conduct. Pascal 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
