May 22, "The Blindmen and the Elephant" Daily Dhamma: A letter to our children

Perceptions are theory-laden, if only to say this is ‘this,’ and that is ‘that.’ Perceptions shape our interpretations of reality, which lead to expectations, which become resentments under construction. Our perceptions are often wrong, so we find ourselves making the same mistakes again and again because of our misconceptions.
The still-point of the Tao is that place where there is no distinction between “this” and “that,” where the sky is indistinguishable from the horizon. We think we’re right and everyone else is wrong, but the Noble Ones say, “Not for sure.”
Mrs. Dhamma's great-grandfather's point of view is summed up by the Japanese word ichinyo--the oneness of all things. We're with him.
It has come to our attention that this channel is playing advertisements during our episodes. We didn't know that, haven't approved it, and are mystified by it. We don't see ads on our feeds, but we subscribed to TH-cam, so maybe that's the difference. In any case, we're not endorsing or even aware of whatever it is they are pushing over our content. This is the world we live in ;-)
If the spirit moves you, please like and subscribe. “Daily Dhamma: A letter to our children” is available on Amazon in both book and Kindle formats. We’d be grateful if you picked up a copy. Below is a table of contents for the book, and a description of the playlists.
Table of Contents:
Humility
January: Humility
February: Right View
March: Right Intention
Sincerity
April: Sincerity
May: Right Speech
June: Right Action
Effort
July: Effort
August: Right Livelihood
September: Right Effort
Gratitude
October: Gratitude
November: Right Mindfulness
December: Right Concentration
Glossary
Sources
We have created nine playlists to make the site more accessible:
1) 1st Quarter (finished): Narration and commentary on the book of the same name, which is available on Amazon in book and Kindle forms. This is the First Quarter only, the overall theme of which is HUMILITY. January: Humility; February: Right View (or Understanding); March: Right Intention. Right View and Right Intention comprise the Wisdom (panna) stream of the Eightfold Path.
All other playlists are works in progress and will be updated as new readings are released:
2) 2nd Quarter: This is Second Quarter only, the overall theme of which is SINCERITY. April: Sincerity; May: Right Speech; June: Right Action. Right Speech and Right Action are part of the Ethical Conduct (sila) stream of the Eightfold Path. They’re in order of appearance, and will be updated as we continue.
3) Meditation: The primary practice of daily Dhamma is meditation or anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing). These are in order of appearance, and will be updated as we continue. Other readings touch on anapanasati, but these are in greater depth. They’re in order of appearance, and will be updated as we continue.
4) Buddhism 101: This includes readings about Buddhism, but omits readings on meditation, which are in a separate playlist. They’re in order of appearance, and will be updated as we continue.
5) Eastern Skies: This includes readings from Eastern sources such as the Bhagavad Gita, Taoism, Confucius, and Japan. It omits Buddhist teachings and commentary, which are covered in greater depth in separate playlists. They’re in order of appearance, and will be updated as we continue.
6) Western Skies: This includes readings from Western sources including the Holy Bible, Thomas Sowell, Eric Hoffer, Viktor Frankl, William Shakespeare, and the Stoics. They’re in order of appearance, and will be updated as we continue.
7) Deadly Sins, Precepts, and their Opposites: This includes readings from the Seven Deadly Sins and the Five Precepts for the Buddhist laity, as well as commentary on their opposites. In addition, we include our version of the Scout Law and other steps one may take to have a successful practice. They’re in order of appearance, and will be updated as we continue.
8) Mrs. Dhamma's Kitchen: Mrs. Dhamma provided the framework for this book. Around 2012, we wrote letters to our youngest sons as they were leaving home. Mrs. Dhamma told them that to have a good life they need Humility, Sincerity, Effort, and Gratitude. These are the four main themes we develop in this extended letter to the people we love the most. Between these cardinal points we have inserted the parts of the Eightfold Path. These are among the best ideas bequeathed to us all. What we’ve learned is that we’re as happy as we want to be, our attitude is entirely up to us, and we are not the boss. Chances are, the same goes for you. They’re in order of appearance, and will be updated as we continue.
9) Dhammabum's Occidental Tourism: Dhammabum is an Occidental tourist, whose views have been shaped by lengthy exposure to the East. These are some of the side effects. They’re in order of appearance, and will be updated as we continue.