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Teachings
Dana (Donations for teachers)
The tradition of dana (donations) comes directly from the Buddha, who offered the Dharma freely to all
Dana is one of the few deep values of generosity left in this world where something precious is offered without charge.
Through dana, students offer their support to the ongoing work of teachers. It is an expression of love and trust requiring acts of generosity for those who can afford.
Students offer dana on the understanding that teachers use the money wisely for daily life expenses.
We honour this extraordinary noble tradition to keep the Dharma teachings free from any measurement. We regard the teachings and practices as priceless.
The sangha of students decides through their acts of generosity what to offer.
Your support sustains this noble 2500 year-old tradition and enables teachers to continue their Dharma service. I remain especially grateful as it is my only source of income.
With much gratitude
In the Dharma
Christopher Titmuss
www.insightmeditation.org
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WHO IS A DHARMA TEACHER?
The making of a Dharma Teacher comes primarily from three resources.
First, there is the invitation to teach from an established Dharma Teacher - though there are some exceptions to this.
Second, the Dharma student feels reasonably ready to share her or his understanding of the Dharma with others.
Third, the Sangha establishes a Dharma Teacher.
Regularly, I invite a Dharma student well experienced in practice to assist me on retreats, Dharma yatras (pilgrimages), Dharma gatherings and other programmes. This invitation gives the individual the opportunity to give talks, offer guided meditations, facilitate groups and conduct one to one interviews.
I hope she or he will go on to become established as a Dharma Teacher through receiving invitations to teach and being available to serve others.
A person becomes established as a Dharma Teacher when he or she has a regular teaching programme. I also teach with a number of Dharma Teachers who offer their own annual programme.
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FACTORS COMMON TO RELIGIONS
It is easy to fall into the habit of thinking that our own religion is the 'best' one and that other believers have got it wrong. The following two lists show that religions, even from different cultural and historical backgrounds, have more more in common–for good or for ill–than we may think.
POSITIVE FACTORS
1. Acts of compassion, service, and generosity.
2. Affirms moral basis for life.
3. Change through devotion, faith, meditation, realization, or revelation.
4. Enduring values–love, peace, justice.
5. Means for social change.
6. Recognition of community life.
7. Rituals pointing to “mysterium tremendum”.
8. Support in the face of suffering.
9. Transcendence of cultural conditioning.
10. Points to the highest truth.
NEGATIVE FACTORS
1. Belief in the absolute authority of book, master, or tradition.
2. Belief in the superiority of one's own faith.
3. Discrimination against women.
4. Male hierarchical structures and privileges.
5. Lack of real appreciation of the sacredness of life.
6. Priority of nationalism before enduring religious values.
7. Promise of a Utopia–herein or hereafter.
8. Submissive, unquestioning obedience.
9. Support for wars and the political establishment.
10. Acts done in the name of God that produce suffering.
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JOIN THE 12 HOURS PER DAY FAST
In July 1998, Christopher Titmuss started a modest 12-hour per day fast. It contributes to awareness around our relationship to food and serves as a small fundraiser for the hungry, sick and poor in the developing nations.
Based on the Buddhist monks and nuns tradition of a daily fast from noon to dawn, the guidelines for the fast are simple.
1. A full 12 hours must lapse from the very last bite of food in the evening until the next day. For example, if one finishes eating at 20.00, then one must wait until 8 am the next day before eating anything whatsoever. A biscuit at midnight means no food until noon the next day. Liquids during this 12-hour fast are permitted. One can break the fast for the time of sickness, health needs, pregnancy or extended travel.
2. One gives to support a charity or organisation serving the needs of the poor in the developing nations.
Christopher said: "The 12 hours per day fast is a quiet, daily discipline. Perhaps several days of the week, we go 12 hours without taking a bite to eat. But there are times when it might require letting go of the desire to eat, especially late at night or at the start of the new day.
“The over developed nations and the overweight or those blessed with a healthy diet have a responsibility to the underfed”.
At the turn of the New Millennium, Christopher made a vow to observe the fast for as long as he can into the future. Please consider giving a donation to the Pragya Vihar School in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. See home page for further information. Make your cheque payable (in any currency) to Pragya Vihar School, c/o Gaia House.
With Appreciation.
PS. Pass the word on.
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A RELIGION FOR THE THIRD MILLENNIUM
1. Deep meditation to open consciousness beyond mind's conditioning and restricted perceptions. Love much and want little.
2. Enlighten and liberate our life through realising the Web of Inter-Connection and relationship of all forms of life with each other. Give protection to bio-diversity and a holistic view rather than a reductionist view as science advocates. See Science as a religion.
3. Use education to develop the heart as well as the mind. Use the resources of ancient and contemporary spiritual traditions. Develop awareness and insights to end suffering and bring happiness and security for everyone.
4. Commitment to Right Livelihood (through love for others and environment as much as oneself) rather than selfish pursuit of a career.
5. End the mind-set of 'us and them' and the dualism of separation. Admit as a species, we cannot control our fate, nor are masters of our destiny.
6. Cultivate the sense of community and collective friendship instead of 'self'
7. Develop mindfulness, reflection and meditation in lifestyle, including diet. Develop constructive engagement to resolve conflict rather than destructive engagement. Seek the counsel of the wise.
8. Prioritise wisdom over knowledge, compassion over cleverness, humility over arrogance. Take power away from centralised authority, such as science, politics and religion, and develop networks of wisdom.
9. Replace competition with co-operation. Develop sharing of knowledge and goods and skilful use of resources instead of exploitation.
10. Develop a vision of a sustainable world through respect for all species and protection of land, water and air. Acknowledge issues, events and things arise owing to causes and conditions.
11. End the manufacture and dealing in arms and convert all such factories and laboratories for constructive use.
12. Remember to reflect on what we are going to do with our one wild, free and precious life!
Christopher Titmuss
www.insightmeditation.org
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The Three Commitments
I make a commitment to Awakening
I make a commitment to Dharma teachings and practice
I make a commitment to the Community
Awakening expresses full realisation of the Ultimate Truth and insights into the field of existence.
Dharma teachings and practice embrace ethics, awareness, love, meditation, inquiry and all daily activities.
Known as the Sangha, the community includes the awakened ones, and those dedicated to realisation and practices for the sake of all.
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The Five Ethical Foundations
I undertake not to engage in killing or violence.
I undertake not to engage in stealing or cheating.
I undertake not to engage in sexual abuse.
I undertake not to engage in lying and harmful speech.
I undertake not to engage in alcohol or drug abuse.
We express disrespect for these guidelines when we
condone war, executions and destruction of human life
go for what we want, regardless of personal, social or environmental cost
manipulate another for sex
speak without regard for facts or feelings
distort the balance of our mind through intoxicants
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Awareness in Daily Life
To reject any livelihood threatening or destructive to people, animals and the environment and to create useful activities.
To abide with moderation in lifestyle and to make possessions last: recycling, conservation.
To be clear about the number of hours weekly facing a screen (television, computer, cinema).
To work on oneself the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical and on one's relationship with others.
To establish time each day for meditation, stillness and silence.
To stop eating animals, bird and fish.
To keep agreements, to say “yes” or “no” or “I will let you know” and mean it.
To regard all events and experiences, no matter how painful, as a learning experience.
To maintain contact with like-minded people - through community, friends, meetings, pilgrimages, retreats and travel.
To value being over having, sharing over taking, letting of over grabbing hold of, openness over withdrawal, non-violent struggle over inertia.
To support in kindness or cash or both the wide range of individuals, charities and organisations expressing wisdom and compassion.
To be free from the narrow political ideology of the left, right and centre. Instead to ask “Where is the commitment to end suffering?” and to support this priority.
To be receptive to the joys of life - in oneself, others, nature, creativity, the arts, awareness, insight and freedom - and to celebrate the wonders and mysteries of life.
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PRACTICE
Practice is to free the body of destructive patterns, habits and acts of carelessness.
Practice is to free the mind from greed, hate and fear.
Practice is to cultivate inner awareness, to discover depths of meditation and to realise psychological and spiritual insights into the nature of things.
Practice is the active work of the individual transforming herself or himself, alone or with others.
Practice includes equally the social, religious and political features of existence. We influence the world in the course of practice with the willingness to challenge abuse of power.
Practice includes working with various challenges so that all experiences and situations belong to practice. At times, struggle is an essential factor for practice.
Theory without practice is irresponsible. Practice without reason is blind. The route of practice is awareness, experience and application.
Practice is the starting point for insight and awakening. In practice, awakened knowledge manifests as purposeful activity for the welfare of all.
Practice is the translation of a living perception into a resolute awareness, compassionate action and transcendent seeing and liberation.
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PEOPLE'S PEACE TREATY
I VOW TO OBSERVE AND RESPECT THE FOLLOWING:
I vow to dissociate myself completely from any destruction of life, including all acts of war, acts of terror and executions. I will not support any declarations of war initiated by my country or any other that I support.
I vow not to attack or abuse other groups of people (nations, majorities, minorities or individuals.)
I vow to give support to organisations and groups working for peace, justice, political, economic and environmental rights.
I vow to work to end suffering perpetuated through corruption, fear, greed or violence.
I vow to persuade governments, the military, arms manufacturers and arms dealers to lay down their weapons and kill the desire for gain and hate inside of themselves.
I vow to see people rather than the labels attached to people and to be aware of our common humanity.
I vow to work to end anger, aggression or fear within myself as an expression of duty to humanity.
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Prayer of the Heart
Let us keep our heart focussed
Let me find kindness to negate resentment
Let me show generosity to dissolve possessiveness
Let me stand steady in the face of pain rather than live in fear
Let me experience inquiry rather than reaction
Let me be free from clinging and a narrow mind
Let me express compassion rather than indifference
So that my heart connects with the realities of others
So that I stay true to an undying principle
Of treating others as I wish to be treated.
So awareness and respect pervade
My thoughts, words and actions.
To live in such a way brings dignity and nobility to life
And reveals true freedom of being.
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I vow to remember that today is a new day
Full of new beginnings and fresh moments
Today, I will not cling to events of yesterday nor yesteryear
But stay connected with what today brings.
I will not madly pursue my desires at the expense of others
Nor flee from challenging tasks.
I will remain true to the unfolding process of today
Without losing myself in thoughts of what was or what might be.
I will treat today with awareness and sensitivity
Even in the most ordinary of tasks.
I will apply myself wholeheartedly to the fullness of today
For I know that today holds the resource for authenticity.
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A Daily Meditation
Let us be still for a few moments
Without moving even our little finger
So that a hush descends upon us.
There would be no place to go,
Nor to come from,
For we would have arrived in this extraordinary moment
There would be a stillness and silence,
That would fill all of our senses,
Where all things would find their rest.
Everything would then be together in a deep connection.
Putting an end to “us and them”, this against that.
We would not move in these brief moments
For that would disturb this palpable presence;
There would be nothing to be said nor done
For life would embrace us in this wondrous meeting
And take us into its arms as a loving friend.
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