ART: Hans Thoma

Summer, (1872) by Hans Thoma
 

Hans Thoma was born on 2 October 1839 in Bernau in the Black Forest, Germany. In spite of his studies under various masters, his art has little in common with modern ideas, and is formed partly by his early impressions of the simple idyllic life of his native district, partly by his sympathy with the early German masters, particularly with Albrecht Altdorfer and Lucas Cranach the Elder. In his love of the details of nature, in his precise drawing of outline, and in his predilection for local coloring, he has distinct affinities with the Pre-Raphaelites. (Wikipedia)

Attachment to Anger by TGS

The Gulf Stream (1899) by Winslow Homer

From my Life: Attachment to Anger

Riding the Wildfire Whirlwind

by Me

In the children's book, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, Billy's grandpa teaches him a surefire way to trap raccoons. First, you drill a small hole into a log. Then, place a bright shiny object down in the hole. Next, drive nails along the shaft, so the raccoon can just squeeze in his paw to grab the shiny object. A raccoon comes along, slides its paw easily into the hole and closes his paw around the object. With the object in its closed paw, the raccoon cannot get its paw out. The only way for it to free itself is to release the object, but the raccoon won't release it. It has become trapped by its own greed (attachments).

A similar thing happens to me when a person in my life does things that annoy me to the point of feeling anger. I catch myself constantly having an inner-chat about how selfish, self-centered, and thoughtless that person is and how angry I feel about it - (my "shiny object"). I become stuck - attached to a cycle of thinking about being annoyed and angry - all because I won't let go of that "shiny object". Instead, I keep choosing to attach myself to it. In so doing, I end up choosing to allow that person to control a part of my life. My whole day or week can be wrecked because I simply won't release that "shiny object" and move on.

Fortunately, I am aware and mindful (enough) of what is going on inside my mind. I have learned to pay closer attention to the constant chatter in my mind. So now, when I catch myself replaying aggravating situations or playing out new scenarios in my mind, I stop and lovingly talk to myself about it. On some days I have to do this many times an hour. I have to keep reminding myself that I need to accept things I cannot change, let them go, adapt and flow on around them. I have to remember that my peace of mind is more important than my piece of anger. It comes down to the answer to this question: Do I want to live in a constant state of anger or do I want to live in a constant state of peace? I choose - the choice is mine.

It will take time and mindful awareness of what's being said in my head for me to learn to stop grabbing that "shiny object". I have not learned all the lessons I need to learn yet, but I think I am on the right path.

Lessons to Learn:

Response is a choice: I have a choice in how I will respond to the words and actions of others. Choose to see the situation as a challenge to spiritual growth - a spiritual jazz-ercise.

Accept what is: Once I accept what is, then I can see how to deal with problems more clearly - from a more compassionate perspective.

Forgiveness for what was:  Remember that forgiveness is more about the health of the one who forgives than the one who is forgiven.

Letting go of Anger: Remember what Buddha said, "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." I accept my anger. It is a part of me, but I do not have to grab on and ride that wildfire whirlwind.

Learning Compassion for those who hurt me: The behavior of the person who hurt me is a symptom of the pain, suffering and struggle they are going through in their life. Remember what Jesus said even while they were crucifying him, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

Learn from these Teachers: The people who cause me aggravation are teachers who come into my life to teach me things I need to learn. It is up to me to learn those lessons well.

Continue scanning for my own issues: Are there things I am not seeing in myself - things that I am holding on to (attachments) that I need to let go.

These are difficult lessons but lessons important for continued spiritual growth. Hopefully, something I've said here about my own struggles will be helpful to you.

ART: "Moonlight" by Winslow Homer

Moonlight by Winslow Homer

Winslow Homer (February 24, 1836 – September 29, 1910) was an American landscape painter and printmaker, best known for his marine subjects. He is considered one of the foremost painters in 19th-century America and a preeminent figure in American art.

What is a Bodhisattva?

Compassion by John Pitre

~*~

What is a Bodhisattva?

"A Bodhisattva is an ordinary person who takes up a course in his or her life that moves in the direction of Buddha. You and I, actually, anyone who directs their attention, their life, to practicing the way of life of a Buddha is a Bodhisattva....

The life that flows through each of us and through everything around us is actually all connected. To say that, of course, means that who I really am cannot be separated from all the things that surround me. Or, to put it another way, all sentient beings have their existence and live within my life. So needless to say, that includes even the fate of all mankind—that, too, lies within me. Therefore, just how mankind might truly live out its life becomes what I aim at as my direction. This aiming or living while moving in a certain direction is what is meant by vow.

In other words, it is the motivation for living that is different for a Bodhisattva. Ordinary people live thinking only about their own personal, narrow circumstances connected with their desires. In contrast to that, a Bodhisattva, though undeniably still an ordinary human being like everyone else, lives by vow. Because of that, the significance of his or her life is not the same. For us as Bodhisattvas, all aspects of life, including the fate of humanity itself, live within us. It is with this in mind that we work to discover and manifest the most vital and alive posture that we can take in living out our life."

~Kosho Uchiyama

(from the article What is a Bodhisattvas)

My thoughts:

I think the ideas in the article above can apply to all of us who want and work for decent living conditions for all living beings. Whether you call us Bodhisattvas, Spiritualists, Religious or just a Band of Do Gooders, we must realize that the world NEEDS us. We all must awaken to the awareness that we are all connected and that our actions in this world have an effect on all of us as a whole. 

The more people who take up the mission to add more good in the world by helping others, the more power the good will have in overcoming the bad. There will always be suffering as it is part of the human condition, but there is suffering that is caused by the systems invented by humankind and that suffering can and must be eliminated so that all living beings can Live happier, healthier, fuller Lives. 

~*~

As I read the quote below, I replace the word Bodhisattvas with Do Gooders  - people who make it their their mission to improve the lives of all living beings by helping others, thus adding more good in the world.

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"What the world needs more than anything is Bodhisattvas, active servants of peace, “clothed,” as Longchenpa said, “in the armor of perseverance,” dedicated to their Bodhisattva vision and to the spreading of wisdom into all reaches of our experience. We need Bodhisattva lawyers, Bodhisattva artists and politicians, Bodhisattva doctors and economists, Bodhisattva teachers and scientists, Bodhisattva technicians and engineers, Bodhisattvas everywhere, working consciously as channels of compassion and wisdom at every level and in every situation of society; working to transform their minds and actions and those of others, working tirelessly in the certain knowledge of the support of the Buddhas and enlightened beings for the preservation of our world and for a more merciful future."

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My Thoughts:

Whoever you are. Whatever you do. Wherever you live. Just whatever! Let's add more good to the world by helping those around us. Do something good for others today and tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow!