Tonight is the full moon called the Thunder Moon.
July days have the humming energy of a summer storm. The sun is at the peak of it's power, lighting all corners with its radiance, and burning away all non-essentials. It's a month of passion and activity: I'm challenged to stretch, and try new, uncomfortable things. My life expands; my thoughts become clear. I am primed for success.
Today is also Asalha Puja, a Theravada Buddhist festival that takes place on the full moon of July. Asalha Puja celebrates the Buddha's first sermon, in which he set out the teaching of the four noble truths. The day is observed by donating offerings to temples and listening to sermons.
Today is also Asalha Puja, a Theravada Buddhist festival that takes place on the full moon of July. Asalha Puja celebrates the Buddha's first sermon, in which he set out the teaching of the four noble truths. The day is observed by donating offerings to temples and listening to sermons.
Agenda for today:
1. Update my altar
2. Journal queries
3. Study the Four Nobel Truths
4. Practice at my theme of Joy
1. Update my altar:
It's time to clear my altar, and discern what to put on it for July. (For my thoughts on altars see About Altars). I generally keep it simple and choose only things that speak to me and feed me, and reveal what I believe in. I ask, what quality of Spirit do I want to invoke?
Today I cleared everything off and added:
Write about what brings me joy, contentment, serenity, satisfaction, and harmony.
How can I invite more of this into my life?
How can I develop my creative and playful qualities?
3. Study the Four Nobel Truths:
My theme this month is joy-- that's contentment, serenity, harmony, and living with a wide-open, unbiased attitude of appreciation for life. It’s this childlike quality of joy that supports my spontaneous, innovative, creative spirit. Also, my joyous mood is infectious and brings success with my relationships.
Like compassion, joy is a limitless quality. I train in it by noticing the moment it arrives and the moment when I shift away, into disapproval or sorrow. When that happens, I just notice the shift without acting on it or repressing it; I hold my feelings of "not joy" softly so that the barriers to joy might come down.
Besides attention, two other supports for a joyful mind are curiosity and humor. A joyful mind is very relaxed, expansive, and spontaneous.
My joy practices this month:
1. Update my altar
2. Journal queries
3. Study the Four Nobel Truths
4. Practice at my theme of Joy
Today I cleared everything off and added:
- a nesting doll for motherhood and family
- a picture of my new grandson
- an orange candle for joy and creativity
- a kaleidoscope to remind me to look at life from new angles
Write about what brings me joy, contentment, serenity, satisfaction, and harmony.
How can I invite more of this into my life?
How can I develop my creative and playful qualities?
3. Study the Four Nobel Truths:
The Four Nobel Truths are:
- There is suffering;
- suffering is caused by craving;
- there is a state beyond suffering and craving;
- and the way to nirvana is via the eightfold path
Like compassion, joy is a limitless quality. I train in it by noticing the moment it arrives and the moment when I shift away, into disapproval or sorrow. When that happens, I just notice the shift without acting on it or repressing it; I hold my feelings of "not joy" softly so that the barriers to joy might come down.
Besides attention, two other supports for a joyful mind are curiosity and humor. A joyful mind is very relaxed, expansive, and spontaneous.
My joy practices this month:
- Hold my grandson as often as possible!
- Enjoy time in the garden, and watching our ducks.
- Have fun with my students- let myself play.
- Don't over-schedule; allow time for spontaneity and serenity.
- Play with painting new subject matter (ducks? faces?).
- Make fun and happy things with my hands: tie-dyed baby clothes, a mobile, garden art...
- Celebrate life and love with my family.
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