One may wonder if certain aspects of the tradition of celebrating Christmas fits with buddhist culter and can be used for similar purpose and the answers is: yes of course.

One might see it like a Uposatha observance and use the objects of devotion for cleaning the mind and get long lasting benefits from it.

While the first three refections might be alien at this time for those not very familar, the other three recollections are possible to use for everyone:

Sīlānussati, recollecting one own virture (in abtaining from taking life, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, refrain from incorrect speech, taking indoxicants causing heedlessness. Each of you has resources to relay on this memory to gain harmless and rightous joy and also to give ground for it every time. For someone used to practice other ways a little, it should be no problem at all.

Cāgānussati, recollecting one generosity, lack of stingyness, openhandedness, open for request... that might be one which is for it's base strong practiced in Christmas times. So not only in action but also to recollect on it for a helth selfestimate and joy with it is suggested.

Last but not least:

Devatānussati, recollection the virtues, talents in one self equal the gods, devas (angles). This is the main point which can be used in a way Buddha suggested. To recoice not only on the goodness and gains of special beings, but also reflect on the attributes which cause one to come into such states. God, gods, devas, angles and special humans: all of which is avaliable in the christian collection of objects of devotion.

Whatever conviction they were endowed with that — when falling away from this life — they re-arose there, the same sort of conviction is present in me as well. Whatever virtue they were endowed with that — when falling away from this life — they re-arose there, the same sort of virtue is present in me as well. Whatever learning they were endowed with that — when falling away from this life — they re-arose there, the same sort of learning is present in me as well. Whatever generosity they were endowed with that — when falling away from this life — they re-arose there, the same sort of generosity is present in me as well. Whatever discernment they were endowed with that — when falling away from this life — they re-arose there, the same sort of discernment is present in me as well.' As he is recollecting the devas, his mind is calmed, and joy arises; the defilements of his mind are abandoned, just as when gold is cleansed through the proper technique. And how is gold cleansed through the proper technique? Through the use of a furnace, salt earth, red chalk, a blow-pipe, tongs, & the appropriate human effort. This is how gold is cleansed through the proper technique. In the same way, the defiled mind is cleansed through the proper technique. And how is the defiled mind cleansed through the proper technique? There is the case where the disciple of the noble ones recollects the devas... As he is recollecting the devas, his mind is cleansed, and joy arises; the defilements of his mind are abandoned. He is thus called a disciple of the noble ones undertaking the Deva-Uposatha. He lives with the devas. It is owing to the devas that his mind is calmed, that joy arises, and that whatever defilements there are in his mind are abandoned. This is how the mind is cleansed through the proper technique.

May you find inspiration here for a good use of these days, for pleasures not connected with harm and so of much more lasting and refined joy.

May you spend meritorious, peacefull and auspicious days in what ever current circumstance and perceptions you mind be for now. May you be able to discover pleasures of deeper and long lasting quality and by avoiding any harm for other with it gain the given manifold back and give a possitive impact for your fellows and society.

Marry Deva-Uposatha!
Mudita and Anumodana!

Here the Sutta quoted also in Khmer language: ១០. ឧបោសថសុត្តំ (10. Uposathasuttaṃ) sut.an.03.071

Why is it that those who proselytize the virtuous life make it sound despairingly boring?

"French"-gradfather, Nyom,

Once you have tried simply sensual pleasures, all the rest is just a remix... just increasing more desire and seek for more strange ways.

It's like a child would find certain undertakings of adults boring. Just if seen the drawbacks of sensual pleasures one may find confidence that other kind of pleasures, harmless for one self and others, and therfore also much more lasting.

After all they seldom give ground for freedom of remorse, virtue does, and lasting joy is always a matter of freedom of remorse. It producing such in artifact ways of what is why people actually tend to indixications and drugs, not only that it burns away what ever wealth gained but make things more and more worse, till a point where no more upward can be ever grasped. If getting possible addicted to virtue when facing its "miracles" it lead to more and more ease and release, out of the hamsterwheel.

At least, only if put into action fuits can be seen. Just give it a try is better to scratch and read the pack of medicine all the time.

Try it. It's free and makes free for everyone everywhere getting knowing it and gain conviction into it.

Maybe some inspirations: food for thought: The Karma of Happiness - A Buddhist Monk Looks at Positive Psychology
And: The Healing Power of the Precepts
Story of Yasa, a son of a money lender

“This is the way leading to wisdom: when visiting an awakened person, to ask … ‘What, when I do it, will be for my long-term welfare and happiness?’”

At least, heavenly sensual pleasures, even still after them, are as well gained by virtue. What would you need to do to dwell in a realm in reunion of goose-feet-devas (known as Apsara here)? There is more the the human awarness in the realm of sensuality. Still bored if promised such?

If Grandfather would not have done virtuous deeds in the past (even he might not remember) he would not even have come in contact of certain "fine" pleasures in this gifted life. So there is any reason of reflecing on ones virtues equal the Gods and Devas. Phenomenas have causes and even if having just a good pocked of merits they are not lasting and easy is it forgotten how to gain.

I'll drink to that. Frankly that's just too "f" ing much dogma for me. It's hard enough struggling to do the best you can without throwing in a hodgepodge of alien deities and other highly imagined theological allegories. Alcohol cleans chakras reasonably well.

dogma: meaning "philosophical tenet", derived from the Greek 'dogma' (Greek δόγμα) meaning literally "that which one thinks is true" and 'dokein' (Greek dokeo) "to seem good."

Well there are common dogmas, low dogmas, really benefical, ... dogmas sometimes out of ones range.

Just to consider, since clincing on certain dogmas (especially unreasonable) has always to do with knowing and not and the "fox and the graps" strategie does not really broaden ones ways.

"There are, young householder, these six evil consequences in indulging in intoxicants which cause infatuation and heedlessness:

(i) loss of wealth,
(ii) increase of quarrels,
(iii) susceptibility to disease,
(iv) earning an evil reputation,
(v) shameless exposure of body,
(vi) weakening of intellect.

Wouldn't it better to consider a possible benefit and seek and ask for ways?

Just a story of the longer gone past... it was usual in the office my person work as, longer time ago, to spend times more "relexed" and some beers. It was always a certain joy, just that it had many unconfortable side effects like tiredness and impact on health. We had a college, a certain leader, who was very religious. He was always totally include but nearly never drunk even a little, yet he always had even more to contribute and my person asked him self once: "How is it that all "need" to drink to gain what he seems to be owning naturally."

If working that out it leads to benefit.

If the would be a way to gain similar or even better joy and pleasure without any harm for your self, others no costs at all... wouldn't you not try to gain such?

The thing with clincing on dogmas of no real benefit is that it requires 1. the realication of stress and suffering with it and 2. to have a relayable alternative, best not just shown by words but living samples around to gain sufficent faith to put an effort in correcting ones thinking.

Just to consider once again: if there would be welbeing and no burden of troubling thoughts, an ease, no dirt around, would there be a need to put into much "chemical cleaning"?

Or, if not causing to make dirt, would the be not much lesser burden? So the solution does not really start with ways of cleaning but in preventing of dirt and the first 4 precepts act as such. Being no more that burdened by own produced dirt, it's easier to let go of chemical cleaning with all its drwabacks and high sacrifies.

As for having certain motivation, one uses recollecting on those who actually did it and recollection on ones own capabilities and even if short, times one can remember that it is possible. And, since drinking has generally the quality that one lend to it is never really taken serious an respected at large, aside of those with similar burden, one can even recollect that the Devas, those virtuous, those one respects, friends, are watching all over the time and know ones failures. This is the certain use of those one does not out of reason often wish to do not exist around. Since they actually have never ideas of ill-will but can be reasonable considered as being of goodness, why not making use of them?

Isn't it at least not just a lack of self estimation? A kind of aversion torward one self that drives one to reject good ways?

Just thoughts and no need to fear, they would even not grasp after taking away ones holded dogmar and possession.

Watch out the Devas, they are not at all boring and burdensome but quick in coming and going where ever it might make sense.

Blessed days are caused by one actions, in the past and especially in the present and how one reacts to the present arising fruits, Grandfather, so all ways open and a matter of one little wise choice after another. Its fruits come by their given causes so better then to watch out how to gain fruits easy is to watch out to give the proper cause in ways of thoughts, speech and bodily deeds.

It's a good time, with much support around, now,grandfather, and time is running out for giving good causes possible fast.

Mudita

In Simple Terms
108 Dhamma Similes

No Match for an Ox

An ox that's been pulling a loaded wagon a long way — the closer the sun lowers to the horizon and evening comes on, the faster it walks, because it wants to reach its destination quickly. It misses its home.

We human beings, the older we get, the sicker we get, the closer we are to dying: That's the time when you have to practice. You can't make old age and illness an excuse not to practice, or else you'll just be worse than an ox.

Just for the case Grandfather would like to asks for some good general guides how to reach there grapes: Sigalovada Sutta (total culture and religion free and very reasonable dogmas, easy to prove if right)

It isn't because you talk too much, but rather you dwell on what I consider predictable. Find your Nirvana but stop spreading predictable gospels. Could we please talk of cabbages and king

Username Taken wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2017 9:52 pm Samana Johann, may I ask what is your Nationality?

Seemingly my person talks to much. And a proper answer migh give even more unwished confusion. Why do burdensome things? After all its a place dedicated to talk on kings, daily stories and other things.

Don't let you be burdened here and may you find always possible best happiness with ease.

Metta & mudita

I prefer my confusion unwashed and am highly suspect of any happiness outside of spontaneous laughter which comes with ease. Keep what you need and reject the rest.

grandfather, then let Atma try to leave our maybe a Christmas bessing, receiveable, here, since the most ease and releasing laughing accures when one reminds his foolishness in the past, although some might think "hey, at what the hell is he laughing abou me...!"

Infinite Good Humor

Nyom Usermane taken, if asking in Khmer (khema, pali, meaning person or land a peace) maybe Khmer might be proper to answer "what kind of birth are you bound to" or just a being in this realm or beyound, or not ever giving much thought when actually possible wounded by an arrow would be my person suggestion generally in regard of such questions.

May you find reasons to laught about your self, not out of arising greed, but out of having earned this heavingly joy by insight and good to be realeased.

That is what Devatanusati is good for and no need to harm anyone for its gain, not even one self.