Grist

Ram Dass often said about the things that happen to us "is just more Grist for the mill"
Now no mater what you may thing of Ram Dass the man, or the Guru, this is wonderfulll expression of truth.

I have tried to make a point about practice being the heart of what Buddhismim is all about (for me) and I found a nice Knowledge nugget on Yellowrobe.com* that, while I won'’t say it is perfect, it is really nice.

I will paraphrase here:

What Buddhism IS:
A religion, as a set of practices, to achieve peace
•A religion, as a set of practices, to achieve bliss
•A religion, as a set of practices, to conquer the mind
A religion, as a set of practices, to achieve right concentration
A religion, as a set of practices, to attain Nibbana
A religion, as a set of practices, to achieve right mindfulness
A religion, as a set of practices, to achieve perfect morality

While some could certainly add quite a few things to that and even subtract some on the thought that they are really already covered elseware, or even modify the language used, I do like this concept.

I often think of Buddhisim as a religion of practices that is our mill to process all of the grist in/of our daily lives.

*The Pali Cannon have some views,"The Pali Canon has always been the most well-preserved original teachings of the Buddha because it is maintained by disciples who have faith and reached Arahantship (meaning the person has realized Nibanna and this being the last round of birth)." that some may not find helpful, however I am one to try and help people by means of "the truth the whole truth and anything else that works."Storefront Lawyers