The heart has four faces.
Each sees the world in a different way and speaks with a different purpose. Yet,
as each aspect belongs to the same heart, they are inseparable, like the four
directions of a compass.
This image of a
four-faced heart is borrowed from the Buddhist myth of the god Brahma, who had
four faces, one for each of the four kinds of unselfish love championed in
Buddhism. In the language of the Buddha, these are metta, karuna, mudita,
and upekkha. In English they are commonly known as
loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity. Because the god
Brahma is said to dwell (vihara) in these four forms
of love, they are known as Brahmaviharas, translated in English as “divine
abidings.”
We all have the potential
to abide in loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity. When
we know how to do this, these capacities become an inner wealth, more valuable
than any outer riches. To tap into this wealth, Buddhism teaches practices for
developing each of the four Brahmaviharas. Love doesn’t have to be dependent on
ideal circumstances; rather, we can learn to recognize, awaken, and develop it
so it becomes the natural dwelling place of the heart. - Gil Fronsdal, Teacher of Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA
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Our ZHS on-line schedule:
- Mondays: 7-8:30pm - zazen, short service, lecture/discussion
- Tuesdays-Fridays: 5:30-6:10pm - zazen, offering of merit/bows
- Saturdays: 8:00-10:15am - zazen, short service, tea, discussion/study
- For more information: www.zenheartsangha.org)
Special bows for today:
- Please offer bows for Dottie Kelly, Misha's family member, who died of lung disease on May 20th
- Please offer bows for Annette Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died on May 13th from lung cancer
- Please offer bows for Donald Kennedy, former president of Stanford University, who died from COVID-19
- Please continue to offer bows for Nick Battaglia, Camille Spar's father, who died Aprill 13th
- Please continue to offer bows for the family of Alison Templeton, a PS parent, who died on April 1st
- Please continue to offer bows of well-being for:
- Beverly Klemme whose beloved horse Saphire died May 26th
- Rev. Les Kaye, Misha’s Zen teacher, who is recovering at home undergoing chemotherapy
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Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:
- Zen Heart Sangha website: resources about COVID-19: www.zenheartsangha.org
- From our dharma sister, Sue: from the NYX: You may have come across a viral video of a white woman calling the police on a black man, Christian Cooper, who was bird watching in Central Park. The incident set off intense discussions about racism and quickly led to the woman being fired from her job. Sarah Maslin Nir, a Times reporter, joined Cooper for an early-morning bird-watching session
- From our dharma sister, Kathleen: Daily haiku from Cornell https://haiku.mannlib.cornell.edu/
- From our dharma sister, Camille: https://www.boredpanda.com/
stupid-funny-newspaper- headlines/?utm_source=google& utm_medium=organic&utm_ campaign=organic - From Bill: Where the Buddha's lessons began from Lion's Roar Magazine: https://www.lionsroar.com/wher
e-the-buddhas-lessons-began/ - From our dharma sister, Camille: a modern fairy tale about the pandemic:
- From our dharma sister, Lucille, for a little humor on 'What You Should and Should Not Do: https://youtu.be/wVs5AyjzwRM
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Many thanks to those of you who are sending me articles to share, links to helpful information, and for making comments…it is a gift beyond measure. Please know that you can either leave a comment on the blog itself, or send something directly to me and I will be happy to paste it in.
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