Dharma: means...

[Peter Kropotkin]

the word Dharma in Indian philosophy means organizing principle...

how do we organize our lives? How do you practice Dharma in your life?
what organizing principle do you use in your life?

Kropotkin

[Peter Kropotkin]

so, what happens if, if you use the wrong organizing principles
in your life? clearly things are not going to go well if you use
the wrong organizing principles... so, what if, what if we are,
collectively and individually, using the wrong organizing principles?

one of the organizing principles we use in the west, is capitalism...
so, what if that is the wrong organizing principle?
and that would explain the unhappiness and discontent we have
in our society/state today?

what would be a better organizing principle to use in America today?

Kropotkin

[Lacewing]

I was taught that one meaning of Dharma is 'truth', and that the way to see that is to be present in the moment, observing what takes place without attaching to any of the noise that arises. I used to regularly attend a local gathering called Dharma Dialogues. I learned that seeing truth is not about 'adding something in particular' -- but rather, allowing the existing 'blockages and noise' to clear away.

Even as I participate in life, I practice being an observer -- like watching and performing in (and directing!) a movie at the same time. When I'm at my best, the organization and flow seem to come naturally.

Perhaps similar to the way people might say 'the music or story wrote itself', I feel like my life is 'writing me'. I fully participate while trying not to block the flow.

How do you practice Dharma?

[Peter Kropotkin]

I was taught that one meaning of Dharma is 'truth', and that the way to see that is to be present in the moment, observing what takes place without attaching to any of the noise that arises. I used to regularly attend a local gathering called Dharma Dialogues. I learned that seeing truth is not about 'adding something in particular' -- but rather, allowing the existing 'blockages and noise' to clear away.

Even as I participate in life, I practice being an observer -- like watching and performing in (and directing!) a movie at the same time. When I'm at my best, the organization and flow seem to come naturally.

Perhaps similar to the way people might say 'the music or story wrote itself', I feel like my life is 'writing me'. I fully participate while trying not to block the flow.

How do you practice Dharma?

K: and an excellent usage of Dharma that is, and the ''truth'' will be addressed
at some point here.. and the question of how I ''Dharma" is an also an excellent
question... I have, over these many years, changed my core
operating/organizing principles... and even today, at my advanced age,
I am still changing and adapting organizing principles... and they
tend to be philosophical in nature...

and this new venture of mine into eastern philosophy has changed
my understanding of existence.. while recognizing that much of what
both the east and west say, are the same things, with different language..
and it is that difference in language that tends to confuse people...

one of the key concepts in the east is mindfulness...and that is present,
although not as evident in the west, as it is in the east....
and this morning, I was, once again, reminded of how I need to
practice mindfulness in all areas, including in how I react and speak to
others...an unhappy wife is something to be avoided at all costs...

so, given that much of the east practices things that are not temporary,
as the west does, we can practice mindfulness our entire lives, it isn't
a ''ad hoc'' practice or a practice that is needed every once in a while..
no, mindfulness is something that is lifelong and can be practiced
until the day one dies and has benefits that aren't always obvious..
like staying married...

so, we can use mindfulness as an operating principle, an organizing
principle in our lives, for all our lives....

what other organizing principles can we use our, entire life?  

Kropotkin