I vow to realize equality

[MalleableGirlParts]

Hi my friends,

I pondered this particular precept during my sitting. I know I'm supposed to just sit, but I realized I needed this one right now. I repeated this in my head over and over and after several minutes of this it took on a greater meaning than I've considered.

I've thought of this, and all of the precepts, kind of superficially. "Cultivate, actualize, practice...yada yada yada" Thinking I understood, but having not begun to grasp the scope.

I started to really see this in an interconnected sense. I judge certain people and often place myself above them in one way or another. I vacillate between sometimes pretending I don't judge and other times really embracing judgement. I'm starting to see all of our paths as the same. From our birth and growth to our decline and death. Like waves on the ocean: some are fierce, some are mellow, some enormous and others barely there, but they are part of the whole and none better or worse.

I judge my mom. I judge alcoholics that are my patients. I judge politicians I don't agree with. I judge other drivers. I judge myself.

It won't go away overnight, but there is liberation to be had. A way to embrace and engage and experience that is devoid of the weight of condemnation.

I don't know. It's late and these are some thoughts. I didn't want to lose them and I definitely wanted to share. Maybe it'll give some little something to somebody. Somewhere.

Thanks.

[Jundo]

We have to judge in this life. "Like waves on the ocean: some are fierce, some are mellow, some enormous and others barely there, but they are part of the whole and none better or worse." And yet, we sailors must know the different waves, how to judge them. We must know the difference between poison and potatoes, lilacs and poison ivy.

But we should cling lightly to our judgements. Most of us judge too much, are too judgmental and closed to other views.

Also, we should know the place which is beyond all judgement and rating except that, from the startless start, all is Good and Whole.

Lovely post. Now, try to sit without pondering too much!

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Bion]

Thanks for sharing, Jenn. I think none of us drop judgments entirely. Funny enough, even the Buddha classified people into all kinds of categories, based on their actions and practices, calling some wise, other foolish, ignorant. Yet, he does give a wonderful piece of advice in the Dhammapada, right after instructing us not to speak harsh and not to use harsh words as they may be blows that will bring blows in return. He says : "If you can be in silent quietness like a broken gong that is silent, you have reached the peace of Nirvana and your anger is peace." It stands out to me that the Buddha points to self-control and not feeding the anger, not acting upon those judgments, but rather, remaining silent and at peace, admitting that yes, it will arise.
In a different passage though, he does clearly point to the need for judgment, when he says "It is a joy to see the noble and good, and to be with them makes one happy. If one were able never to see fools, then one could be for ever happy". So, clearly, in order to establish who is noble and good and who is a fool, we need to make a judgment. And since all humans are subject to delusion, it is safe to say we can never be separate from "fools". So, in my understanding, it is our duty as followers of the Way to practice with this very nature of ours, use this judgmental mind for good, to make right decisions, to be kind, compassionate, to employ self-control and learn how to remain silent sometimes and make our anger into peace.
Just my two cents!

Gassho
sat lah

[MalleableGirlParts]

We have to judge in this life. "Like waves on the ocean: some are fierce, some are mellow, some enormous and others barely there, but they are part of the whole and none better or worse." And yet, we sailors must know the different waves, how to judge them. We must know the difference between poison and potatoes, lilacs and poison ivy.

But we should cling lightly to our judgements. Most of us judge too much, are too judgmental and closed to other views.

Also, we should know the place which is beyond all judgement and rating except that, from the startless start, all is Good and Whole.

Lovely post. Now, try to sit without pondering too much!

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

Thank you for your response! Yes, absolutely I still need to recognize poisonous people or interactions.

And thank you for the gentle admonishment. Lol!

[Chikyou]

This is something that I also find myself struggling a bit with. Perhaps “struggle” isn’t the right word. I am aware that I find myself engaging in unwholesome judgements often and have to remind myself that this isn’t the way.

Gassho,
SatLah
Chikyō

[MalleableGirlParts]

Thanks for sharing, Jenn. I think none of us drop judgments entirely. Funny enough, even the Buddha classified people into all kinds of categories, based on their actions and practices, calling some wise, other foolish, ignorant. Yet, he does give a wonderful piece of advice in the Dhammapada, right after instructing us not to speak harsh and not to use harsh words as they may be blows that will bring blows in return. He says : "If you can be in silent quietness like a broken gong that is silent, you have reached the peace of Nirvana and your anger is peace." It stands out to me that the Buddha points to self-control and not feeding the anger, not acting upon those judgments, but rather, remaining silent and at peace, admitting that yes, it will arise.
In a different passage though, he does clearly point to the need for judgment, when he says "It is a joy to see the noble and good, and to be with them makes one happy. If one were able never to see fools, then one could be for ever happy". So, clearly, in order to establish who is noble and good and who is a fool, we need to make a judgment. And since all humans are subject to delusion, it is safe to say we can never be separate from "fools". So, in my understanding, it is our duty as followers of the Way to practice with this very nature of ours, use this judgmental mind for good, to make right decisions, to be kind, compassionate, to employ self-control and learn how to remain silent sometimes and make our anger into peace.
Just my two cents!

Gassho
sat lah

Thank you for your insight! It's like not judging, but also not NOT judging either. :-)

[Hosai]

A monk asked, "How do students differ in their understanding?"
The master said, "They are like horses. The best runs at the shadow of the whip. The next moves when the whip touches the skin. Another only when it cuts the flesh. The worst does not move until it breaks the bone."

_/\_
sat/ah
hōsai

[Dainei]

I definitely wanted to share. Maybe it'll give some little something to somebody. Somewhere.
Thanks.

Thank you MalleableGirlParts your words touched me and were needed!

Gassho
Dainei
Sat

[MalleableGirlParts]

Thank you MalleableGirlParts your words touched me and were needed!

Gassho
Dainei
Sat

I'm very happy to hear! ❤️