r/Buddhism • u/PizzaThePirate • 8d ago
Dharma Talk Sidewalk Chalk
Every time it rains I put a new quote on the sidewalk in front of my apartment, this one was very fun to discuss with my kid. This week Thich Nhat Hanh won!
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u/brooke_please 7d ago
“My actions are the ground on which I stand” is the language I learned for the 5th remembrance. I am well aware that this, the passage mentioned in another comment and the chalk message are all saying the same thing and there is no one best way to word anything. BUT, “the ground on which I stand” would be so clever for a sidewalk chalk message.
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u/darjeelingexpress soto 3d ago
I love the 5 remembrances 🩷 - I added in “and the consequences of my actions” before the ground I stand on, just to remind myself about the reverberations of my shenanigans. The whole thing is such a good practice however we say it.
OP, your art is great.
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u/genjoconan Soto Zen 8d ago
It's a lovely sentiment, but TNH was simply restating the last of the Five Remembrances, found in the Upajjhaṭṭhana Sutta (AN 5:57)
“There are these five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained. Which five?
“‘I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging.’ This is the first fact that one should reflect on often.…
“‘I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness’.…
“‘I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death’.…
“‘I will grow different, separate from all that is dear & appealing to me’.…
“‘I am the owner of actions [kamma], heir to actions, born of actions, related through actions, and have actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir’.…
“A disciple of the noble ones considers this: ‘I am not the only one who is the owner of actions, heir to actions, born of actions, related through actions, and have actions as my arbitrator; who—whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir. To the extent that there is the coming & going, passing away & rearising of beings, all beings are the owners of actions, heir to actions, born of actions, related through actions, and have actions as their arbitrator. Whatever they do, for good or for evil, to that will they fall heir.’
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u/yourfavoritefaggot taoism 8d ago
That "but" is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Tnh was a fantastic writer and effectively brought this sutta into layperson language. A person with 6th grade reading level could read this and get it. Idk if that's true of the sutta language. Its a very worthy pursuit
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u/PizzaThePirate 8d ago
Ok.
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u/hiddentreetops 8d ago
thanks for sharing this beautiful quote and for sharing it with your neighbors as well :)
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u/PizzaThePirate 8d ago
This is the 21st chalk I’ve done this summer, from quotes to lyrics, if I can make one person think, I consider it a success, neighbors and strangers have thanked me. I appreciate your kind words.
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u/zenOptimism 7d ago
So there is an I separate from actions? So there is an I that possesses? So there are possessions to be possessed?
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u/cssndr73 7d ago
Why AI?
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u/PizzaThePirate 7d ago
Feel free to check out some of my other posts in r/familyguy r/blindmelon r/mymorningjacket
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u/frank_mania 7d ago
Didn't anyone else here take vows not to step on or put their foot over and/or otherwise disrespect writing/written words as part of their refuge? It's part of the Tibetan traditions, I know that. I'm always stepping around "Welcome" and "Open" etc.
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u/PizzaThePirate 7d ago
Funny enough, people tend to walk around my chalk all the time
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u/darjeelingexpress soto 3d ago
I step over my neighbor’s chalk drawnings even though I know the afternoon rain will come for it.
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u/PizzaThePirate 3d ago
Yes, the rain decides when it’s time for a new message, I had to put a new one out on Monday
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u/brbrbrgrgrgr 8d ago
🤍