Generosity.

[Tony]

Generosity.

It's a scary old word...I give, they take!

However there is a tremendous amount of wisdom in generosity. When one has a firm foundation, (not arrogance) but a confident foundation, it is easy to consider the needs of others, whatever they might be.

Generosity, goes along with discipline, patience, perseverance, meditation and knowledge, these are all included within one's true natural essence. In our true essence there is no clinging and so there is no avarice. When generosity is non-fixated it belongs to wisdom – it is transcendent generosity.

Discipline, is merely non-attachment in the continuity of resting in our true nature - it is transcendent discipline.

Patience, is remaining in the continuity of true essence, there is no fear. The absence of fear is transcendent patience.

Perseverance, within essence -takes no effort. When we are distracted we make effort - it is transcendent perseverance.

Meditation is remaining in natural essence -it is transcendent meditation.

Knowledge is the outcome of generosity, discipline, patience, perseverance and meditation.

Conduct is meditation in action.
The natural outcome of meditation in action is wisdom.
The natural outcome of wisdom is love.

(Whatever is happening in the world, we cannot do much about, it is the play of collective ignorance, it is a perfect display.
We can do much with our natural mind-aware, that is also a perfect display.)

[The One]

It's a scary old word...I give, they take

Spot on my friend so many people can give advice but they dont like taking advice.

patience is a good quality to have :grouphug:

[Mark]

Sounds familiar. A practitioner of Lo Jong (http://lojongmindtraining.com/) I see. :)

Sending and Taking (tonglen)
Drive all Blames into One
Be Grateful to Everyone.
Abandon any Hope of Fruition

7 Points, 59 Slogans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lojong):

ONE: The preliminaries, which are the basis for dharma practice
1. First, train in the preliminaries; The four reminders.
1. Maintain an awareness of the preciousness of human life.
2. Be aware of the reality that life ends; death comes for everyone; Impermanence.
3. Recall that whatever you do, whether virtuous or not, has a result; Karma.
4. Contemplate that as long as you are too focused on self-importance and too caught up in thinking about how you are good or bad, you will suffer. Obsessing about getting what you want and avoiding what you don't want does not result in happiness; Ego.

TWO: The main practice, which is training in bodhicitta.
Absolute Bodhicitta
2. Regard all dharmas as dreams.
3. Examine the nature of unborn awareness.
4. Self-liberate even the antidote.
5. Rest in the nature of alaya, the essence.
6. In postmeditation, be a child of illusion.
Relative Bodhicitta
7. Sending and taking should be practiced alternately. These two should ride the breath.
8. Three objects, three poisons, three roots of virtue.
9. In all activities, train with slogans.
10. Begin the sequence of sending and taking with yourself.

THREE: Transformation of Bad Circumstances into the Way of Enlightenment
11. When the world is filled with evil, transform all mishaps into the path of bodhi.
12. Drive all blames into one.
13. Be grateful to everyone.
14. Seeing confusion as the four kayas is unsurpassable shunyata protection.
15. Four practices are the best of methods.
16. Whatever you meet unexpectedly, join with meditation.

FOUR: Showing the Utilization of Practice in One's Whole Life
17. Practice the five strengths, the condensed heart instructions.
18. The mahayana instruction for ejection of consciousness at death is the five strengths: how you conduct yourself is important.

FIVE: Evaluation of Mind Training
19. All dharma agrees at one point.
20. Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one.
21. Always maintain only a joyful mind.
22. If you can practice even when distracted, you are well trained.

SIX: Disciplines of Mind Training
23. Always abide by the three basic principles.
24. Change your attitude, but remain neutral.
25. Don't talk about injured limbs.
26. Don't ponder others.
27. Work with the greatest defilements first.
28. Abandon any hope of fruition.
29. Abandon poisonous food.
30. Don't be so predictable.
31. Don't malign others.
32. Don't wait in ambush.
33. Don't bring things to a painful point.
34. Don't transfer the ox's load to the cow.
35. Don't try to be the fastest.
36. Don't act with a twist.
37. Don't make gods into demons.
38. Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own happiness.

SEVEN: Guidelines of Mind Training
39. All activities should be done with one intention.
40. Correct all wrongs with one intention.
41. Two activities: one at the beginning, one at the end.
42. Whichever of the two occurs, be patient.
43. Observe these two, even at the risk of your life.
44. Train in the three difficulties.
45. Take on the three principal causes.
46. Pay heed that the three never wane.
47. Keep the three inseparable.
48. Train without bias in all areas. It is crucial always to do this pervasively and wholeheartedly.
49. Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment.
50. Don't be swayed by external circumstances.
51. This time, practice the main points.
52. Don't misinterpret.
53. Don't vacillate.
54. Train wholeheartedly.
55. Liberate yourself by examining and analyzing.
56. Don't wallow in self-pity.
57. Don't be jealous.
58. Don't be frivolous.
59. Don't expect applause.

[Tony]

Hello Rahkyt,

My word, you are sharp!
It was supposed to be a simplification of six paramitas (perfections). In knowing one, everything else is known.
You are right that it includes LO JONG ( Giving and receiving ).

....all those rules can appear scary!


Tony

[Mark]

You do such a wonderful job of explaining Tony and making things as simple as they should be. Sorry for the lengthy post!

[Tony]

All sentient beings from an ameba to the ninth level Bodhisattva are progressing towards enlightenment.
So we are all at varying level of misunderstanding = ignorance, through countless life times.

Once one recognises one's true nature (though this is not enlightenment..yet, as there is much karma to be exhausted!)
one achieves a sense of well being, or inner joy.

Then one looks out and sees others, that do not know their true nature, and so sadness arises.
This sadness is compassion = love.

You are now suffering from love. It goes with the territory. I wish more people suffered from love.
It doesn't matter what level you are at, there are always others around you who do not quite getting it,
so you can practise compassion.
The more you suffer the more you can empathise with others suffering.
We too, don't quite get it, sometimes.

Being patient is being fearless.

[shijo]

Lets all help each other get to where were going,no point in doing any thing else really.