Strive To Awaken

The Gift of Truth . . .

Gregor — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:20:56 +0000

“The gift of Truth excels all gifts, the flavour of Truth excels all flavours. The pleasure in Truth excels all pleasures. He who has destroyed craving overcomes all sorrow ~ Dhammapada 354″

It burns inside of like a fire destroying from the inside out.

Desire is both a thief and a liar, the object of craving is nothing more than suffering gilded in delusion.

Renunciation is the true path to liberation.

Three Goals, Simple Steps to Attain Them

Gregor — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:24:29 +0000

“In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.”

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Financial Fitness : Maintain a monthly written budget, Work towards becoming debt free then start paying yourself.
Physical Fitness : Eat real food, Not too much, Mostly Plants & Work out everyday.
Spiritual Path : Study the Dharma, Maintain a daily sitting practice, Strive to live an ethical life grounded in the five precepts.

Sit Boy, Sit !

Gregor — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:35:15 +0000

“Reason should direct and appetite obey” – Cicero

At the end of the day it feels all to easy to skip meditation practice tonight. Would love to just crawl into bed with a book and be done with it — a little too much time spent crunching numbers on my spreadsheets this evening.

Well off to sit — nobody ever promised that self-discipline would be easy. Besides, once I get myself started the resistance will drop away. Mental formations are impermanent.

Facing Mara

Gregor — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:42:20 +0000

“Mara personifies unskillfulness, the “death” of the spiritual life. He is a tempter, distracting humans from practicing the spiritual life by making the mundane alluring or the negative seem positive”

The tempter of humankind exists within each of us, Buddhist mythology tells of the Buddha’s own temptation at the hands of this deceiver.

The enemy is an internal foe, as human’s we all posses a dual nature, both Mara and Buddha, ultimately our actions will dictate whether we are slave or redeemer.

The man in the mirror is the biggest problem, but also the strongest ally. Tonight, I have chosen my own side in this fight.

May awareness allow us each to abide in the Buddha.

The Earth Will Bear Witness

Do not squander your life . . .

Gregor — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:35:06 +0000

“Life and death are of supreme importance. Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost. Each of us should strive to awaken. Take heed. Do not squander your life.”

—-

I have already spent twenty nine years of this life. Much of that time squandered.

The brutal truth is that life is short. Time is a finite resource.

I am interested in using this space to explore how my own fullest potential can be fulfilled both in practical matters and in terms of my spiritual walk. As a Buddhist that walk would be according the Noble Eightfold Path, the pursuit of awakening.

In addition to discussing Buddhism I expect to be tackling personal finance and health/fitness. I believe that all three areas are complimentary.

Admittedly, claiming awakening as a goal does sound pretentious. However, it’s a simple goal. It’s living an examined life, a life not driven by delusion.