tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451300714261219172011-07-01T06:14:03.685-07:00My reflections and anecdotesUpasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-19320884336356652792011-02-11T19:36:00.000-08:002011-02-11T19:36:55.007-08:002011-02-11T19:36:55.007-08:00

I am no longer going to post on this blog, please visit my new blog: http://karmalawyer.blogspot.com/

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-87416330171891589822011-02-11T19:06:00.000-08:002011-02-11T19:06:31.308-08:002011-02-11T19:06:31.308-08:00

I would appreciate any comments on the below conceptualization of karma, even if you don't necessarily believe in it: karma is a mental factor, separate from the physical/mental action and results thereof. More accurately, karma is the urge to act.  A. Karma is a mental factor born of three separate mental factors: Distinguishing- recognition of the object at which our action will be directedWe

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-8788913433133617572010-06-05T21:02:00.000-07:002011-02-11T20:25:31.323-08:002011-02-11T20:25:31.323-08:00

(This is a revised draft of my letter to the editor published in the Star Tribune) As the nation prepares to watch BP’s impending lawsuits, we should reflect on the fact that courts cannot make oil drilling safer (‘How to sue an oil company’, 5/23.) O’Neill is right that these companies have not increased preparedness for oil disasters, and will not. This is because civil law provides no real

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-82279950896091673882010-04-24T18:15:00.001-07:002010-04-24T19:03:50.278-07:002010-04-24T19:03:50.278-07:00

One of the reoccurring themes of the law as I understand it is issue framing. This is an apparently a powerful way to persuasively advocate. Regardless of the merits of issue framing, I find myself presented with the difficulty of speaking either passionately or impartially.Impartiality is a quality that I strongly value, and one that I try to instill. However, at the same time I am told over and

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-29895627745215158882010-03-17T20:27:00.001-07:002010-03-17T21:04:18.864-07:002010-03-17T21:04:18.864-07:00

I like it when I hear about Buddhist Concepts in the media. Delusion is the latest word I've hear thrown around. According to author Michael Lewis, it was delusion that caused the recent financial meltdown and failure of the major US banks. In The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, Lewis essentially describes how Wall Street effectively fooled themselves into believing that the high risk

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-62277249057028614772010-03-17T20:23:00.001-07:002010-03-17T20:24:35.257-07:002010-03-17T20:24:35.257-07:00

I've been working on a new site for the meditation group. Check it out meditationclub.org

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-21924160237550327652010-02-06T10:03:00.000-08:002010-02-06T10:14:51.718-08:002010-02-06T10:14:51.718-08:00

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know that I am back in the second semester of law school. I am also applying to jobs right now. Things are going well. Although, there is not a lot of time for blogging.I took down the link from my facebook page to the blog because I was not quite sure about advertising to potential employers so many writing samples from early college to now.Anyway, I plan to

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-69487849543272694132009-12-27T18:50:00.001-08:002009-12-27T19:59:02.153-08:002009-12-27T19:59:02.153-08:00

The ability to think through complex situations that have no clear meanings is like a double edged sword, things that don't need to be questioned can get analyzed to death. This is dangerous because other issues that lie around the corner may require your complete mental energy to tackle, but the mind spins its wheels thinking up solutions to problems that don't exist. When the time comes to

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-80519493644612696372009-10-18T08:52:00.000-07:002009-10-18T09:37:24.682-07:002009-10-18T09:37:24.682-07:00

Vulnerability seems like a weak state, but I think that is only a weak state if vulnerability is coupled with unpreparedness. Whether in the spiritual, or mundane way. Preparedness to reap the consequences of actions, and being mentally steady, able to just watch without judging whatever happens, be it good or bad is an extremely precious gift that one can only give to oneself.Mental stability is

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-48245270084705912682009-10-03T15:49:00.000-07:002009-10-03T16:00:48.459-07:002009-10-03T16:00:48.459-07:00

Today I had an acupuncture treatment. The TCM specialist told me that I had a qi deficiency in my spleen and heart. The treatment suggested was weekly acupuncture sessions followed by a regimen of herbal supplements.The session was more painful than I thought it would be. I had a needle on my head, face, and a pair on my stomach, arms and legs. However, the pain dulled away for the most part;

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-80133821851765153142009-09-26T18:42:00.000-07:002009-09-26T19:03:20.932-07:002009-09-26T19:03:20.932-07:00

Now that i've done 3 weeks of law school, I feel somewhat qualified to speak about it.The funny thing about it is that everyone is practicing to be an advocate, so they all give you advice; so a lot of work is just trying to sort out the bad advice from the good advice. Plus, everyone qualifies their advice with, "but do what works best for you." I guess this is more modest than, "this is 100%

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-48195463567200820822009-08-18T17:46:00.000-07:002009-08-18T18:08:01.613-07:002009-08-18T18:08:01.613-07:00

I didn't realize how much work moving here would be. I'm finally settling in, and starting to be able to relax. It's like I was barely myself for much of the past week. Although, it was definetly a good experience. The moving gave me a glimpse into what I usually just take for granted. Especially shelter and food, even with the little money we had, these requisites weren't so easy to come by on

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-55260961036899884272009-07-31T16:52:00.000-07:002009-07-31T17:13:17.199-07:002009-07-31T17:13:17.199-07:00

This is the time of year when many people come to the end of a chapter of their lives. It's almost like dying, only to be reborn again, in another place, doing something else. Sometimes things don't change so much, so the whole deathness isn't really apparent, especially when the change isn't painful.I imagine the stage I'm in is similar to what death is going to be like. Some people would say

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-67190362847299140302009-06-20T20:37:00.000-07:002009-06-20T20:44:34.823-07:002009-06-20T20:44:34.823-07:00

It is amazing how applying perceptions to your experience in life frames the quality of it. Applying the right perceptions to any moment can change it from suffering to the path of awakening. Knowing the proper perception to apply, and knowing the most helpful definition of that perception is the key.There is only one perception that is skillfully applied in all areas of life, mindfulness- not

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-81218611061176127042009-05-25T13:07:00.000-07:002009-05-25T14:05:02.314-07:002009-05-25T14:05:02.314-07:00

No one wants to think that they have wasted their time in any activity, except perhaps the really masochistic people we know. There is the possibility of developing a sense of delight in apathy or self loathsomeness in our personal suffering. At any rate, well adjusted people don't like to look at time wasted. It is depressing to think that all the effort that we put into our activities and jobs

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-58386723552046752072009-05-08T21:22:00.001-07:002009-05-08T21:41:55.440-07:002009-05-08T21:41:55.440-07:00

When intentions are not pure, results are of actions are not pure. I learned this lesson through direct experience in the past few weeks.Up until last Friday I was busy preparing for our annual community outreach event, Law Day. I am happy to say that it went well, it could have been better, but it was an overall success. However, in retrospect, I'm not really sure if it was worth it.Helping

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-74931555791904755452009-04-05T23:07:00.000-07:002009-04-05T23:21:04.381-07:002009-04-05T23:21:04.381-07:00

The more I learn about my life, the more life feels like a love story. I don't mean the sort of romantic love that Hollywood movies perpetuate. No, there is nothing romantic or sensual about the sort of love that I am seeking to cultivate. However, this love is just as beautiful and every bit as powerful as movies like the notebook make passionate love seem.When I feel like my mind needs

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-63744884319387031722009-01-23T19:22:00.000-08:002009-01-23T20:12:23.211-08:002009-01-23T20:12:23.211-08:00

Sometimes I feel bad for not doing enough to help others. Then I think, well at least I'm doing everything that I possibly can to be harmless. Then I consider whether or not that is a morally upright thing to say.I have considered that no matter how much I try, beings will hurt and suffer. So I believe it is best to spend the majority of my energies on improving my personal well being, rather

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-32751322017348501222009-01-04T20:39:00.000-08:002009-01-04T21:15:13.231-08:002009-01-04T21:15:13.231-08:00

It's the first Sunday night of the month. I'm doing my usual routine, downloading all the readings for next weeks seminar, thinking about what I'll write about for my short paper, and reflecting on my experience working at the court.In my placement I sometimes feel conflicted because I am asked to write things that I don't necessarily agree with, I am sometimes discouraged from attempting to do

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-46418725641961322232008-12-04T20:49:00.000-08:002008-12-04T21:17:58.029-08:002008-12-04T21:17:58.029-08:00

I usually get sick every three months. I think this is the longest time period that I have not been sick. I think the last time was about 6 months ago. Which is surprising to me because I would have thought that the stress of working a full time job would have caught up with me. Surprisingly, it hasn't.I do feel stressed sometimes at work, and sometimes at home I think about work and all the

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-45807692441055471502008-11-25T20:31:00.000-08:002008-11-25T20:53:07.090-08:002008-11-25T20:53:07.090-08:00

The Jewel in the Heart of the Lotus from Glenn Marshall on Vimeo.

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-32203094444946915832008-11-08T16:06:00.000-08:002008-11-08T16:49:44.587-08:002008-11-08T16:49:44.587-08:00

This week I've been experimenting with a new meditation technique that Ajahan Brahm often mentions. It is difficult to describe but he offers a helpful simile, let's say your mind is a cup of water. You want to look at the water when it is still, but the harder you try to hold the cup still, the more frustrated you get because the water is always moving a little bit. Eventually your arm gets

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-58861027835237077942008-11-02T20:30:00.000-08:002008-11-02T20:46:55.730-08:002008-11-02T20:46:55.730-08:00

Law School applications can be tough. Although, I think I made it harder on myself than I needed to, but it is hard not to be a little obsessive about this, considering the competitiveness of the applications process.Now that I am done with the initial applications, I have become very dispassionate about law school. Especially the atmosphere, it seems pretty out of tune with the kind of work

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-53812638960676126052008-10-24T21:44:00.000-07:002008-10-25T00:05:37.484-07:002008-10-25T00:05:37.484-07:00

I try to stay positive as much as possible. Working full time has definitely made that more of a challenge, at least some days. It is very easy to slip into a negative mood when you have people who walk around looking for something to be mad at. Luckily, most people are positive in my office.However, from viewing negative attitudes, I realized the power of staying positive. When you meet a

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1545130071426121917.post-72600742282401209622008-10-15T21:45:00.001-07:002008-10-15T22:14:14.522-07:002008-10-15T22:14:14.522-07:00

I am starting to get an appreciation for the time and effort that goes in to the management of the courts. It is very impressive. I also appreciate my job, I am very thankful to be in my position. Although my office is not my ideal work setting. I feel like I have more freedom and potential in this job than any other that I have ever had, and more than I was expecting. I think this is very

Upasaka Mangalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04476379950836762826noreply@blogger.com0