You Know Your Practicing Dharma When....

[iloveds]

Obstacles arise in the mind that split you from your practice, distractions that have a way of making you not keep up with your daily sadhanna, makes you think there is always tomorrow, makes your mind feel sleepy, dull, and in slow mode.

Feel free to add to this list... I'm sure we are or will experience both good and bad signs of practice.
Share it out people!

[iloveds]

You don't have to say the last word in every argument you have with your spouse

[Positive Change]

You bite your tongue when all you want to do is to just explain (justify?) why it is NOT your fault.

You accept that not all negativity that comes to you is not worth the anger or frustration and that you need to just understand it is happening for a reason and not say "why me?"

You get positive compliments from your friends that you seem different and less angersome or negative.

You can actually accept criticism and not be defensive or argumentative.

You learn to say sorry without having to be asked or pointed out that you have hurt someone.

[Damian.D]

As you get older your mind doesn't become stiff with its outlook on life. I seen some bitter people who just plain make getting old something I don't look forward too. More and more though I am thinking about my death. People are dropping off in my family from my parents generations. You know the aunties and uncles who as a kid you looked at as always being there. Now with the fate that awaits all of us I do feel my time is close also.

I'm sure after a lifetime of feeding the ego, that its not a good way to go.

[Barzin]

You start to look at things from the other person point of view.  And start to not think about "me, me, me..."  Even when we ourselves are right, we will use many ways to help the person to understand better, we do not give up, complain or get angry.  Always practice with the 8 verses of thought transformation.

[diamond girl]

Your  purpose in life is greater than for yourself.

People around you are in a better emotional and mental state because you cared.

You are clear that everything you do has responsibility and affects other people, and even extends to affecting all living beings.

You can put aside your self-indulging mind and think bigger.

Life is not always cherry blossom trees and a walk in the park; yet you do not complain, both verbally and in your mind.

[Roberto]

Life is not always cherry blossom trees and a walk in the park; yet you do not complain, both verbally and in your mind.

I like this "not complaining both verbally and in your mind... nice way of putting it. Even internally has effect.

[iloveds]

what comes out our mouths, how we walk, talk, how we carry our bodies is a matter of control, and sends messages out to the whole world what we view ourselves to be like. So internally will always be reflected externally, unless we have control over these elements.

empty cans make much noise.
slow but sure wins the race.

chinese horoscopes come to mind for some reason?
met some fine roosters who funnily enough, had the mannerisms of that animal.

you know your practicing when your outside reflects the changes on the inside.

[triesa]

To all who are practising the dharma...........



You know you are practising the dharma
When you offer your guru with clean samaya

You know you are practising the dharma
When diligently you do your daily sadhanna

You know you are practising the dharma
When you offer the victory to others

You know you are practising the dharma
When you act in kindness to someone who has hurt your mama

You know you are practising the dharma
When we stop blaming the others

You know you are practising the dharma
When is easier to be close to people you used to push farther

You know you are practising the dharma
When you are thinking more of how to benefit the others

You know you are practising the dharma
When you make no fuss in your own drama

You know you are practising the dharma
When it is easier for you to say “sorry” to others

You know you are practising the dharma
When all in all you really want to learn the dharma

Triesa

[Helena]

When your mind and heart are in sync with no more dialogue about what you want, need, like or dislike, etc. It is not about you anymore. And it is perfectly ok. Because you are not here for you. You are here for others.

When we undertake the responsibility and care to relieve the suffering of others, we will also relieve our own suffering as well.

[diamond girl]

To all who are practising the dharma...........



You know you are practising the dharma
When you offer your guru with clean samaya

You know you are practising the dharma
When diligently you do your daily sadhanna

You know you are practising the dharma
When you offer the victory to others

You know you are practising the dharma
When you act in kindness to someone who has hurt your mama

You know you are practising the dharma
When we stop blaming the others

You know you are practising the dharma
When is easier to be close to people you used to push farther

You know you are practising the dharma
When you are thinking more of how to benefit the others

You know you are practising the dharma
When you make no fuss in your own drama

You know you are practising the dharma
When it is easier for you to say “sorry” to others

You know you are practising the dharma
When all in all you really want to learn the dharma

Triesa

Very beautiful Triesa! Thank you. You have truly put in poetry the summary of who we can be when we practice Dharma.

Your poem makes anger seem so futile. It makes what we feel about ourselves so small and insignificant.

Practicing the Dharma has made me look at things rather differently. Things that would have made me lose it before, now makes me think how I can help. People who drive me up the wall before, are now my teachers to nurture my compassion.

[Roberto]

When you reduce the amount of time chasing your own pursuits and seek out using your time to do more to benefit others. Friday night after work drinks doesn't bring any relief for a week of samsaric stress. Yet helping feed the poor makes you even more tired but feeling satisfied and worthwhile.

\\ at least that hows it felt just last weekend, inspired by my friends charity drive I decided to go see what takes up most of his time nowadays. He used to be  part of the furniture at my local bar, not anymore... BTW He quit his job to go at this fulltime.

[Positive Change]

Practicing the Dharma has made me look at things rather differently. Things that would have made me lose it before, now makes me think how I can help. People who drive me up the wall before, are now my teachers to nurture my compassion.

Diamond girl... I love what you have summed up here. At the end of the day it is how we perceive and react to our daily "challenges/obstacles" that makes up the sum of our existence here in this lifetime.

We are so preoccupied with trying to justify or defend ME that we fail to see everyone else around us. That is truly what it means to "focus out" and that to me is practicing Dharma. And gosh, how lucky if we are able to realise this or have a Guru to point this out to us and act upon it and NOT continue in a path of meaningless pursuits that goes on and on and on to no end...

[dsiluvu]

To all who are practising the dharma...........



You know you are practising the dharma
When you offer your guru with clean samaya

You know you are practising the dharma
When diligently you do your daily sadhanna

You know you are practising the dharma
When you offer the victory to others

You know you are practising the dharma
When you act in kindness to someone who has hurt your mama

You know you are practising the dharma
When we stop blaming the others

You know you are practising the dharma
When is easier to be close to people you used to push farther

You know you are practising the dharma
When you are thinking more of how to benefit the others

You know you are practising the dharma
When you make no fuss in your own drama

You know you are practising the dharma
When it is easier for you to say “sorry” to others

You know you are practising the dharma
When all in all you really want to learn the dharma

Triesa

What a lovely poem, like a prayer Thank you triesa... and so I add to you list... my reminder and prayer for today...

You know you are practising Dharma
When everyone says you should not, but you do it anyway

You know you are practising Dharma
When each time you fail, you get up again and try again

You know you are practising Dharma
When someone slaps you, you give the other cheek

You know you are practising Dharma
When someone has hurt you, but you still love and forgive them

[Damian.D]

i'd have to say

... learning to let go / or just plain letting go.

This could be to an attachment, to a person alive or dead, to a situation you wish to be in but don't have the karma to receive, to oneself, ones pleasures so that others benefit.

Isn't it funny how much the "I" plays out in our day to day lives. Driving, the most revealing of all, watch how those around us handle their vehicle and you can see just how much the "I" show's its ugly face. Walk the shops and see the "I" buying things for the self!

Seeking a permanency in the pursuits of happiness (latest gadgets, designer clothes, designer girlfriend or boyfriend, likes dislikes)

Can we be in all this (samsara) but not be stuck in it that our entire being becomes focused on portraying the outward appearance of our internal egos.

Funny but that's what we all are taught growing up the world over. Its soo fake!