From Ego to Essence

"With the insight into our profound interrelatedness you know that actions undertaken with pure intent have repercussions throughout the web of life, beyond what you can measure or discern." - Choegyal Rinpoche

"Purpose of the body (genetics) is to serve mind, purpose of the mind is to serve knowledge, purpose of the knowledge is to serve Life." - susMita Barua

Knowledge without practice is lame; practice without knowledge is blind. Life that is continually changing and unfolding in its higher expression is not obligated to conform to any human theory or institution; theory and practice by necessity must embrace, evolve and be informed by Life, Here and Now. - Susmita Barua

Bhikkhus, just as the dawn is the forerunner and first indication of the rising of the sun, so is right view the forerunner and first indication of wholesome states. For one of wholesome (samyak) view, bhikkhus, wholesome intention springs up. For one of wholesome intention, wholesome speech springs up. For one of wholesome speech, wholesome action springs up. For one of wholesome action, wholesome livelihood springs up. For one of wholesome livelihood, wholesome effort springs up. For one of wholesome effort, wholesome mindfulness springs up. For one of wholesome mindfulness, complete concentration springs up. For one of complete concentration, wholistic knowledge springs up. For one of wholistic knowledge, total deliverance springs up. - Buddha in Anguttara Nikaya 10:121 Note the word 'samyak' has been incorrectly translated as 'right' as in the Eight-fold Path.

"Kamma, oh monks I declare is intention" - Buddha

"Bhikkhus, Ignorance, avijja is the forerunner of the arising of demeritorious factors; lack of moral shame, ahirika, and lack of moral dread, anottappa, are only its followers,¹ . Bhikkhus, one who is ignorant and lacking in wisdom would hold Incorrect View. In one who holds Incomplete View there would arise Incorrect Thinking, one who has Unwholesome Thinking, would utter Unwholesome Speech; one who utter Incorrect Speech would take Unwholesome Action: one who takes Erroneous Action would engage in Unwholesome Livelihood; one who engages in Wrong Livelihood would make Unskillful Effort; one who makes Incomplete Effort would practise Unskillful Mindfulness: one who practises Unskillul Mindfulness would develop Unskillful Concentration." - Avijja Sutta, Buddha's Discourse on Ignorance, Mahavagga Samyutta

Note: The word 'Wrong' in English often has a connotation of 'sin' which has no place in Dhamma, avijja is spiritual ignorance of true Nature of Reality. In the Bible, "sin" actually renders Hebrew and Greek words which literally mean "missing the mark," i.e., behaving inadequately or unskillfully. The sinner, then, is like an unskillful archer who misses his aim (could this be the real meaning of Zen and the Art of Archery?). But this comes, very close to the idea of akusala kamma or "unskilled action" in Buddhism.).