Samsara

For many of our fellow beings, the cycle known as samsara is a concrete experience of everyday life.

This Friday's video, produced by Douleurs Sans Frontières, captures the truth of samsara as it plays out in many parts of the world. Douleurs sans Frontières works to ease the pain of those injured in conflict zones around the world.

Thanks to Alice, of not2wo, for publishing this video several weeks ago. As Alice said, in her usual direct voice:  "May all beings get off this darned treadmill once and for all..."

Thank you for reading Ox Herding.

Barry

Comments

[Uku]

Barry,

this video was pretty hard to watch for being so realistic and true. Thank you so much for posting this.

Here together, in love, in suffering.

Yours in Dharma and friendship,
Uku

[Alice]

Barry,

I need to tell ya, early this morning, in my dream, you gave me a teaching through your blog! It was wild and piercing pointing out, but unfortunately, it has escaped once awake. Damn! This clearly also means that I spend way too much time on your blog - I'm reading posts you never wrote in my dream. That's how powerful the "Briggsinator" is!

Thanks for the shout-out. Have a good weekend!

[Puerhan]

@Alice ... with that kind of dream did you get around to wondering if actually the "dream" was real and the "awake" state was not? ;-)

[Alice]

@ Puerhan: I'm starting to become quite fond of your smart-assness! ;P

[John Small]

Here I was, watching some of my own samsara coming up. I thought, "Maybe Barry's blog will have some nice thought. Something uplifting." Even before I hit the link, I had a feeling I was setting myself up.

But then it's refreshing when a blog about practice isn't all sweetness and light.

Off the treadmill indeed. Beautiful.

[jill]

Just this week I passed a someone asking for money (via a sign) on Sixth Ave downtown Seattle. He was lumped over in a wheelchair, half covered in blankets in almost freezing weather, one swollen, scarred, and uncovered foot propped up in front of him. BAM! Pain and suffering in my face.I was shaken as I dashed past to a business meeting. Held him in my heart during Kwam Seum Bosal chanting that night.

On a lighter note, I enjoyed your comment to my post! Ha. I had a few date nights on ferries many moons ago!
Thanks,
jill

[Barry Briggs]

Hi Uku - thank you for your comment. Yes, it is hard to watch, but perhaps no harder than watching the sources of dukkha within our own mnds.

Alice, if Ox Herding is occupying your dream-space, then I gotta re-examine what's going on here. Maybe we both need Puerhan to slap us around a little!

Hi John, plenty of samsara to go around. See you at Herkimer's for a cup o' strong samsara!

Hi Jill - Sadly, this is too common of a sight on the streets of our fair city. Unfortunately, it may be even closer to home than we recognize.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments!