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100 Tweets about Buddha-dharma, the institution that carries it, and the culture around that institution:
1. That you find suffering uncomfortable (and love comfortable) IS buddhanature
2. Buddhism is the oldest missionary religion.
However, Buddha is said to have suggested monks to not teach until specifically requested for teachings.
This tradition of requesting teachings is still important in many lineages.
However, Buddha is said to have suggested monks to not teach until specifically requested for teachings.
This tradition of requesting teachings is still important in many lineages.
3. Buddhism has historically been very technology-forward.
Buddhists have been early adopters of drinking tea, printing texts, electronic candles, using iPads/tablets
Buddhists have been early adopters of drinking tea, printing texts, electronic candles, using iPads/tablets
4. In the west, Buddhism is confused with being calm, mindfulness. In the east, Buddhism is confused with being a good person, being a good community member.
These are side effects of the main aim.
These are side effects of the main aim.
5. The Buddhist model of reality for each of us is our mental continuum, which operates under the laws of cause and effect.
If you experience hate in a single moment, you have *created the cause and condition* for the hate to carry through to the next moment.
If you experience hate in a single moment, you have *created the cause and condition* for the hate to carry through to the next moment.
6. Drawn out along an entire lifetime, (or, I dare say, many lifetimes) a given moment of anger/joy/generosity/etc may have an incalculable effect on one’s reality.
Think butterfly effect.
Engaging anger in a single moment bumps up the probability to do so again in the future.
Think butterfly effect.
Engaging anger in a single moment bumps up the probability to do so again in the future.
7. An example of this model at play:
One dharma instruction is to never *give* more than you will regret.
Reason being, giving something and then regretting it is going to stain your memory of generosity. Better to give less, and continue to feel good about generosity.
One dharma instruction is to never *give* more than you will regret.
Reason being, giving something and then regretting it is going to stain your memory of generosity. Better to give less, and continue to feel good about generosity.
8. In India, for a while, Buddhism was a strictly oral tradition.
You can see this in the form of the texts, which are often written in ways conducive to memorization.
You can see this in the form of the texts, which are often written in ways conducive to memorization.
9. Another example of this
You should keep your meditation sessions *very* *very* short.
Better to get up before reaching a point of boredom/agitation/pain, than to introduce bad feelings into your practice. https://twitter.com/vajravibe/status/1339382956851421185
You should keep your meditation sessions *very* *very* short.
Better to get up before reaching a point of boredom/agitation/pain, than to introduce bad feelings into your practice. https://twitter.com/vajravibe/status/1339382956851421185
10. What does a buddha actually *do*?
Well, according to the stories, he seemed to spend most of his time in meditation.
Something important in that point...
Well, according to the stories, he seemed to spend most of his time in meditation.
Something important in that point...
11. In South Asia, where Buddhas are believed to leave samsara to never return, statues are put at the level of people.
In northern Asia, where Buddha’s are believed to stay in samsara to help out, statues are kept elevated.
In northern Asia, where Buddha’s are believed to stay in samsara to help out, statues are kept elevated.
