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The Buddha's Guide to Inner Peace: Practical Applications for Mental Health
In our fast-paced world, where stress and mental health challenges are increasingly common, the timeless teachings of Buddhism offer a profound path to inner peace and well-being. Rooted in spirituality and practical wisdom, the Buddha's guide to inner peace provides tools for managing mental health, fostering resilience, and cultivating a deep sense of tranquility. This article explores the spiritual context of these teachings and presents a practical toolkit for incorporating them into daily life.
Understanding the Buddha's Teachings on Inner Peace
The essence of Buddhism lies in the pursuit of enlightenment, a state of profound inner peace and liberation from suffering. Central to this pursuit are the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which offer a framework for understanding and overcoming the root causes of mental distress.
The Four Noble Truths
The Truth of Suffering (Dukkha): Acknowledges that suffering, in various forms, is an intrinsic part of human existence.
The Truth of the Cause of Suffering (Samudaya): Identifies craving, attachment, and ignorance as the primary causes of suffering.
The Truth of the End of Suffering (Nirodha): Proclaims that liberation from suffering is possible by eliminating its causes.
The Truth of the Path to the End of Suffering (Magga): Outlines the Eightfold Path, a practical guide to ethical living, mental discipline, and wisdom.
The Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path consists of:
Right Understanding: Comprehending the nature of reality and the causes of suffering.
Right Intention: Cultivating intentions of renunciation, goodwill, and harmlessness.
Right Speech: Speaking truthfully, kindly, and constructively.
Right Action: Engaging in ethical and non-harmful actions.
Right Livelihood: Pursuing a livelihood that does not cause harm to others.
Right Effort: Cultivating positive states of mind and avoiding negative ones.
Right Mindfulness: Maintaining awareness of thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Right Concentration: Developing deep concentration through meditation.
Practical Toolkit for Mental Health
Integrating the Buddha's teachings into daily life requires commitment and practice. Here’s a practical toolkit to help you incorporate these principles into your routine, fostering mental well-being and inner peace.
1. Mindfulness Meditation
What it is: Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment with non-judgmental awareness.
How to practice:
Set aside a specific time each day for meditation.
Find a quiet space, sit comfortably, and close your eyes.
Focus on your breath, observing each inhalation and exhalation.
When your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to your breath.
Benefits: Reduces stress, enhances self-awareness, and promotes emotional regulation.
2. Practicing Compassion (Metta Meditation)
What it is: Metta meditation involves cultivating loving-kindness towards oneself and others.
How to practice:
Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
Begin by focusing on yourself, repeating phrases like “May I be happy, may I be healthy.”
Gradually extend these wishes to loved ones, acquaintances, and even those with whom you have conflicts.
Benefits: Increases empathy, reduces negative emotions, and fosters a sense of connection.
3. Embracing Non-Attachment
What it is: Non-attachment involves letting go of clinging to desires and outcomes.
How to practice:
Reflect on areas where attachment causes distress.
Practice letting go by acknowledging the impermanent nature of all things.
Cultivate acceptance of the present moment, regardless of its imperfections.
Benefits: Reduces anxiety, enhances resilience, and promotes inner peace.
4. Ethical Living (Sila)
What it is: Ethical living involves aligning actions with moral principles.
How to practice:
Reflect on the ethical aspects of your daily actions.
Commit to practicing Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood.
Strive to avoid causing harm and to act with integrity and kindness.
Benefits: Fosters trust, reduces guilt, and promotes harmonious relationships.
5. Mindful Breathing
What it is: Mindful breathing involves paying close attention to the act of breathing.
How to practice:
Throughout the day, take moments to focus on your breath.
Notice the sensations of breathing in and out, allowing it to anchor you in the present moment.
Benefits: Calms the mind, reduces stress, and enhances focus.
6. Reflective Journaling
What it is: Reflective journaling involves writing about your thoughts and experiences.
How to practice:
Set aside time each day to write about your thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Reflect on how the principles of the Eightfold Path can be applied to your daily life.
Benefits: Increases self-awareness, promotes emotional processing, and clarifies thoughts.
7. Seeking Supportive Community (Sangha)
What it is: A Sangha is a community of practitioners who support each other in their spiritual journey.
How to practice:
Join a local meditation group or an online community focused on Buddhist teachings.
Participate in group meditations, discussions, and study sessions.
Benefits: Provides support, encourages consistent practice, and fosters a sense of belonging.
Food For Thought
The Buddha's guide to inner peace offers a profound framework for managing mental health challenges. By incorporating mindfulness meditation, practicing compassion, embracing non-attachment, living ethically, engaging in mindful breathing, reflective journaling, and seeking a supportive community, you can cultivate a deep sense of inner peace and resilience.
Embrace these practices with an open heart and a spirit of curiosity, allowing the timeless wisdom of the Buddha to guide you towards mental well-being and spiritual growth. Through consistent practice, you can navigate the complexities of modern life with grace and tranquility, fostering a lasting sense of inner peace.
#BuddhistWisdom#InnerPeace#MentalHealth#MindfulnessMeditation#CompassionateLiving#NonAttachment#EthicalLiving#SpiritualWellness#EmotionalResilience#BuddhistPractices#MindfulLiving#MentalWellBeing#StressRelief#BuddhistTeachings#DailyMindfulness
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Zen Buddhism Part Two
Karma
Karma means intended action, and is a dynamic concept. It is not fate or predestination, but a consequence of what has gone before. In other words, you are now in circumstances because of your thoughts and decisions, and this is an on-going process. That is, new actions create new Karma. Intention is a major part of Karma. If you come home and accidentally trip over the dog and hurt the animal, this is not intended and has no effect. However, after a hectic day, you come home and kick the poor dog, then negative Karma is generated. All the combined intended actions add up to what you are now. Karma is the reaping of past actions, but also offers the possibility of determining our own future with our actions and thoughts today. This means that no future event is locked in
Obviously, we also are subject to non-karmic forces such as the ageing of our bodies. And there are circumstances, which are natural and also affect our lives. But in addition to that, the Buddha said that we are subject to this karmic effect where the ethical actions and thoughts we have will have a positive effect on the future and on our spiritual development.
Human beings are constantly giving off physical and spiritual forces in all directions. In physics we learn that no energy is ever lost; only that it changes form. This is the common law of conservation of energy. Similarly, spiritual and mental action is never lost. It is transformed. Thus Karma is the law of the conservation of moral energy.
Rebirth
There is a subtle difference between rebirth and reincarnation as expounded in Hinduism. Buddhism rejects the theory of a transmigrating permanent soul, whether created by a god or emanating from a divine essence.
Rebirth is not a simple physical birth of a person; for instance, John being reborn as a cat in the next life. In this case John possesses an immortal soul which transforms to the form of a cat after his death. This cycle is repeated over and over again. Or if he is lucky, he will be reborn as a human being. This notion of the transmigration of the soul definitely does not exist in Buddhism.
In Buddhism, rebirth is part of the continuous process of change. In fact, we are not only reborn at the time of death; we are born and reborn at every moment. This too, like many other Buddhist teachings, is easily verifiable by reference to our own experience and by reference to the teachings of science. For instance, the majority of the cells in the human body die and are replaced many times during the course of one’s life. Even those few cells which last one’s entire life undergo constant internal changes. This is part of the process of birth, death and rebirth. If we look at the mind too, we find that mental states of worry, happiness and so forth are changing every moment. They die and are replaced by new states. So whether we look at the body or the mind, our experience is characterized by continuous birth, death and rebirth.
In Buddhism we do not believe in an abiding entity, in a substance that trans-migrates. We do not believe in a self that is reborn. This is why when we explain rebirth; we make use of examples which do not require the transmigration of an essence or a substance. For example, when a sprout is born from a seed, there is no substance that transmigrates. The seed and the sprout are not identical. Similarly, when we light one candle from another candle, no substance travels from one to the other, and yet the first is the cause of the second. When one billiard ball strikes another, there is continuity, the energy and direction of the first ball is imparted to the second. It is the cause of the second billiard ball moving in a particular direction and at a particular speed. When we step twice into a river, it is not the same river and yet there is continuity, the continuity of cause and effect. So there is rebirth, but not transmigration. There is moral responsibility, but not an independent, permanent self. There is the continuity of cause and effect, but not permanence.
No-self
All life, yours, mine, your family and friends, is like a flowing river. While it may appear the same when you look at a river, each moment is different and every view of the river is different. Nothing in nature is what it was the moment before. Every living thing is in a continuous state of flux. As we live, we take on both positive and negative habits and we cling to ideas which we associate with "our permanent selves". But our permanent self is a myth, and once we learn that, we can look beyond the need to have life stay the same. Each person has a physical body which is dependent on food and warmth, and develops in response to those inputs and to the ageing process. Our feelings change with our mood and our time in life and as a direct result of perceptions which comes from what we see and hear around us. We make decisions based on our feelings and perceptions
#ZenBuddhism#Meditation#Mindfulness#ZenPhilosophy#ZenTeaching#BuddhistPractice#Enlightenment#ZenMaster#ZenMind#ZenLife#ZenKoan#Zazen#Buddhism#Spirituality#InnerPeace#BuddhistWisdom#ZenArt#BuddhistMeditation#ZenPrinciples#ZenWay#today on tumblr
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What’s The Main Ingredient In The Laba Porridge?
The What Porridge? The Laba Porridge is a congee dish that Buddhists prepare every year during the celebration of The Laba Festival. The Laba Festival occurs on the eight day of the twelfth month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The term “Laba” is derived from the date of the festival, and is actually a chinese term – “La” is the pronunciation for the chinese character 腊 which represents Lunar Month and “Ba” is the pronunciation for the chinese character 八 which means Eight. The eighth day of the twelfth month is also the day of the enlightenment of the Buddha.
Why Porridge? During the Buddha’s endeavor in search of the right path in attaining enlightenment, he started with extreme ascetic practices that did not reveal the path and left him starving and weak. A village girl named Sujata was on her way to visit a tree-god with a bowl of milk porridge in her hands, and seeing the Buddha in his emaciated state, she mistook him for the tree-god and offered him the milk porridge which the Buddha accepted.
The Buddha then regained his energy and sat under the Bodhi tree in meditation, vowing that he would never arise until he attained the answer to the truth to awakening. After 49 days of meditation, the Buddha attained enlightenment at the age of 35. Thus, the Laba porridge is prepared to represent the milk porridge that was offered to the Budhha and to commemorate the Buddha’s path to enlightenment.
What’s The Main Ingredient In The Laba Porridge? It’s a beautifully rich mixture of red dates, lotus seeds, red beans and grains cooked in deliciously hot sweet broth, but the main ingredient in the porridge is actually the ASPIRATION – the aspiration to attain perfect enlightenment after consuming the porridge, just like what happened to the Buddha.
So, how about giving the Laba porridge a go today?
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#Repost @siddharthasintent ・・・ Four-Point Advice by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö At the feet of the guru, I pay homage. Recollecting impermanence and death, Averting attachment to this life and cultivating renunciation— These are the three means of limiting your concerns. This is the instruction for turning the mind to Dharma. Recognize sentient beings as your parents, Meditate intensively on love and compassion, And cultivate the supreme attitude of cherishing others above yourself. This is the instruction for progressing along the Dharma path. All phenomena throughout the universe, These vague, unexamined perceptions, Are, when investigated, just like an illusion. This is the instruction for pacifying confusion on the path. Genuine dharmatā, awareness and emptiness, Untainted by thoughts of intellectual analysis— Sustain it nakedly as pure self-knowing. This is the instruction for confusion dawning as wisdom. Elaborating further it would all become vast, But this covers the fundamental points. These four instructions include all the Dharma, So put them into practice in this way. . . [Source www.lotsawahouse.org] #dzongsarkhyentserinpoche #jamyangkhyentsechökyilodrö #rimé #khyentselineage #buddhistmasters #buddhistpractice #savewisdomnow https://www.instagram.com/p/CB5IROTgeOLf-zBMaIu1PyxuWnA8lhD8OY2-5o0/?igshid=i7mdn7soe1a9
#repost#dzongsarkhyentserinpoche#jamyangkhyentsechökyilodrö#rimé#khyentselineage#buddhistmasters#buddhistpractice#savewisdomnow
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Very spiritual place and so quiet. It’s good place to reflect myself🙏🙏本当にスピリチュアルな場所。喧騒を離れて自分を振り返るために良い場所です🙏🙏🙏#spiritual #meditationspace #meditation #buddhist #buddhism #buddha #buddhistmonk #buddhistpractice #總持寺 #後醍醐天皇 #横浜鶴見 #曹洞宗 #曹洞宗大本山總持寺 #神社仏閣巡り #仏閣 #仏教 #横浜観光 (at Sōji-ji) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwa1GGJDXZW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=d01tao0rlr79
#spiritual#meditationspace#meditation#buddhist#buddhism#buddha#buddhistmonk#buddhistpractice#總持寺#後醍醐天皇#横浜鶴見#曹洞宗#曹洞宗大本山總持寺#神社仏閣巡り#仏閣#仏教#横浜観光
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A student wrote about his healing, which he attributes to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings. About two years ago the student developed two autoimmune diseases —a neurological disorder and fibromyalgia. He had so much pain and fatigue that he had to stop working and his prognosis was poor. After reading Rinpoche’s book Ultimate Healing, he did the Medicine Buddha practice every day and his health began to improve, so he could return to fulltime work. He still has quite a bit of pain and fatigue, but his health has continued to improve. In addition to the Medicine Buddha practice, he does powa for dead animals, including deer, foxes, squirrels and cats. He now dedicates the merit of everything he does to the well-being of all those with sickness and pain. The student thanked Rinpoche for all his wonderful teachings, and for the opportunity to do the home study program now available through the FPMT.
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#Buddhism #BuddhistPractices #WayOfLife #BeBetter #BeKind #Compassion
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Jours 11.1
[Today's reading 今日閱讀］
在禪的文學裡，intimacy（翻譯成親密關係）這個字常常和開悟是相提並論的。在古典的禪宗開悟的故事裡，一個和尚或尼姑常會為了哭啼或大笑，因為在過程中了解到這個世界的一切都是分不開的，每一件人事物，就算是本我，同樣是無我也是整體，而這整體同樣是無我也是本我的意思。這些很有啟發性的故事不就是告訴了我們，“愛”實際上比情感更加的廣泛和深入嗎？愛就是本我真正的果實，一切自我的形象也都是如此而已。
In zen literature the word intimacy is often used as a synonym for enlightenment. In the classical zen enlightenment stories, a monk or a nun is reduced simultaneously to tears and laughter as he or she suddenly recognizes that nothing is this world is separate, that each and every thing, including one's own self, is nothing but the whole, and that the whole is nothing but the self. What are such stories telling us if not that love is much wider and deeper than an emotion ? Love is the fruition of, the true shape of, one's self and all that is. ～ Norman Fischer， taking our places
#生活 #今日閱讀 #禪修 #佛學 #出家人的故事 #旅行 #瑜珈 #哲學人生 #zen#zenpractice #buddhistmonk #oneida #normanfisher #buddhistpractice#yogapractice
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Lama Surya Das – Awakening Now – Ep. 82 “Seeing with Naked Awareness”
This time on the Awakening Now Podcast, Lama Surya Das teaches the first steps in practicing Dzogchen non-meditation and seeing with naked awareness.
“In this practice, we assume our Buddha seat and proceed from there. Allowing the flow of awareness to proceed unhindered. – Lama Surya Das
https://beherenownetwork.com/lama-surya-das-awakening-now-episode-82-seeing-with-naked-awareness/
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Prayer and song, sound and intent, energy and breath, all these things a human needs to practice manifesting in order to reclaim their voice and their power. #tainolanguage Okama 2x – Listen Yukahu Bawa Maorokoti – Yukahu of the sea without grandfather Wabancex Atabey – Goddess Wind Goddess water and earth Hahom 2× – thank you #Potawatomilanguage Ahaw Mamogosnan – oh creator Migwetch jak she gego – thank you for everything Ga gishtoyen – that you have created Ewi madmoygo – I pray Mteno – only (for) Mno bmadzewen – Good health Mine jitmowen – and help Kowabmak ndenwenmagnek 3x – watch over my relations Igwien – heart felt thanks #buddhistmantra Nam Myoho Renge Kyo 3x - Faith and devotion to the Mystic Law of Cause and Effect #prayers #ancientprayers #modernfaith #buddhistpractice #meditation #languagepreservation #endangeredlanguageartproject #okama #listen #hahom #thankyou #migwetch #kowabmak_ndenwenmagnek #watchovermyrelations #nammyohorengekyo #南無妙法蓮華經 #thehumanvoice #song #sound https://www.instagram.com/p/BnpueN8g4_3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=y2hkeymygv61
#tainolanguage#potawatomilanguage#buddhistmantra#prayers#ancientprayers#modernfaith#buddhistpractice#meditation#languagepreservation#endangeredlanguageartproject#okama#listen#hahom#thankyou#migwetch#kowabmak_ndenwenmagnek#watchovermyrelations#nammyohorengekyo#南無妙法蓮華經#thehumanvoice#song#sound
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Cultivating Calm: How Buddhism Can Reduce Anxiety and Stress
In the modern whirlwind of responsibilities and expectations, anxiety and stress have become unwelcome companions for many. Buddhism, with its profound teachings and practices, offers a beacon of hope for those seeking relief from the relentless grip of these afflictions. This article explores how Buddhist principles can help alleviate anxiety and stress, weaving together spirituality and practical techniques to cultivate inner calm.
Understanding Anxiety and Stress in Buddhist Context
Buddhism views anxiety and stress as manifestations of attachment, aversion, and ignorance—fundamental sources of suffering. When we cling to desired outcomes or resist unwanted experiences, we create internal turmoil that disrupts our peace of mind. The Buddha's teachings emphasize impermanence and the transient nature of existence, urging us to release our attachments and find refuge in the present moment.
Buddhist Techniques for Reducing Anxiety and Stress
1. Mindfulness Meditation
What it is: Mindfulness meditation involves paying deliberate attention to the present moment, observing thoughts and sensations without judgment.
How to practice:
Find a quiet space and sit comfortably.
Focus on your breath, noticing the sensations of inhalation and exhalation.
When your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to your breath without criticism.
Benefits: Mindfulness meditation enhances self-awareness, reduces rumination, and promotes a sense of calm by anchoring us in the present moment.
2. Letting Go of Attachments
What it is: Letting go involves releasing attachments to outcomes, desires, and expectations, embracing the flow of life.
How to practice:
Reflect on areas where attachment causes anxiety or stress.
Practice non-attachment by acknowledging impermanence and accepting the present moment as it is.
Benefits: Letting go cultivates emotional resilience, reduces suffering, and fosters a sense of ease and acceptance.
3. Cultivating Compassion
What it is: Compassion involves extending kindness and understanding to oneself and others, alleviating the suffering caused by self-criticism and judgment.
How to practice:
Practice loving-kindness meditation, directing well-wishes towards oneself and others.
Cultivate empathy by recognizing the shared humanity in others' struggles and offering support when possible.
Benefits: Cultivating compassion reduces self-focused rumination, enhances emotional well-being, and fosters connection and empathy.
4. Engaging in Mindful Activities
What it is: Mindful activities involve bringing full awareness to everyday tasks, transforming them into opportunities for relaxation and presence.
How to practice:
Choose a daily activity such as eating, walking, or washing dishes.
Slow down and pay attention to each sensation and movement involved in the activity.
Notice any thoughts or emotions that arise without judgment.
Benefits: Engaging in mindful activities reduces stress, enhances appreciation for the present moment, and fosters a sense of peace and contentment.
5. Seeking Wise Guidance
What it is: Seeking wise guidance involves turning to trusted sources for support and advice during times of distress.
How to practice:
Seek out a qualified teacher or therapist who can offer guidance rooted in Buddhist principles.
Participate in a supportive community or spiritual sangha where you can share experiences and receive encouragement.
Benefits: Seeking wise guidance provides perspective, validation, and practical tools for navigating anxiety and stress with wisdom and compassion.
Food For Thought:
Cultivating calm in the midst of anxiety and stress is a transformative journey guided by Buddhist principles and practices. By embracing mindfulness meditation, letting go of attachments, cultivating compassion, engaging in mindful activities, and seeking wise guidance, we can untangle the knots of anxiety and stress, fostering inner peace and resilience.
Incorporate these techniques into your daily routine with patience and dedication, and watch as they gradually dissolve the clouds of anxiety, revealing the radiant clarity and serenity that lie within. With Buddhism as our guide, we can navigate life's challenges with grace and equanimity, cultivating a deep sense of calm that emanates from within.
#BuddhistCalm#AnxietyRelief#MindfulnessPractice#InnerPeace#StressReduction#BuddhistWisdom#EmotionalWellness#MindfulLiving#CompassionateHeart#SpiritualGrowth#CultivatingCalm#BuddhismAndMindfulness#StressManagement#MentalHealthAwareness#BuddhistPractices
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Zen Buddhism Part One.
The Five Precepts
The Five Precepts are not an absolute rigid set of rules, but provide a practical basis for good, ethical living which will produce the right environment in which to seek out our own truths.
The first precept is that of not intentionally killing living beings. We step on ants every day, and this isn’t really with any lack of care, and I doubt if it’s possible to avoid occasionally beating the odd cockroach to oblivion, however, the premeditated killing of other human and senseless killing of animals for sport certainly is not desirable for Buddhists. The primary goal of this precept is to develop concern for the safety and welfare of others and to have compassion for all living things.
The second precept is to take only what has been given. This is broader than not stealing, as it means returning borrowed items, and not taking unfair advantage even when it is still within the laws of the country. This means that you develop a sense of fair play, and generosity towards others.
The third precept often talks about sexual misconduct, but may also be interpreted as not misusing the senses. As the strongest drive after the survival instinct, the sexual drive will dominate our lives and cause much suffering unless directed wisely and skilfully. Living to excess, and in particular excessive eating, also causes grief. This precept encourages us to be content with more simple lives.
In the fourth precept we are encouraged not to speak falsely, not to lie, slander, misrepresent or to gossip maliciously. This teaches us to speak truthfully and kindly and to have positive motives when we approach a discussion.
The fifth precept is most important for today’s affluent Western society, and that is to avoid intoxicants. This includes alcohol, unnecessary drugs, and stimulants such as tobacco and caffeine. This precept is important to develop rational thinking and will allow the development of inner clarity needed for mindfulness.
As always, the Buddha was compassionate and pragmatic, and recommended these rather than dogmatically insisting that these five precepts were essential. But there is considerable good sense in each precept and by living with them every day, the way is then clear to be able to focus on the personal search for enlightened understanding.
The Six Realms
(Interpreted as state of mind.)
If ego decides it likes the situation, it begins to churn up all sorts of ways to possess it. A craving to consume the situation arises and we long to satisfy that craving. Once we do, a ghost of that craving carries over and we look around for something else to consume. We get into the habitual pattern of becoming consumer oriented. Perhaps we order a piece of software for our computer. We play with it for awhile, until the novelty wears out, and then we look around for the next piece of software that has the magic glow of not being possessed yet. Soon we haven't even got the shrink wrap off the current package when we start looking for the next one. Owning the software and using it doesn't seem to be as important as wanting it, looking forward to its arrival. This is known as the hungry ghost realm where we have made an occupation out of craving. We can never find satisfaction, it is like drinking salt water to quench our thirst.
Another realm is the animal realm, or having the mind like that of an animal. Here we find security by making certain that everything is totally predictable. We only buy blue chip stock, never take a chance and never look at new possibilities. The thought of new possibilities frightens us and we look with scorn at anyone who suggests anything innovative. This realm is characterised by ignorance. We put on blinders and only look straight ahead, never to the right or left.
The hell realm is characterised by acute aggression. We build a wall of anger between ourselves and our experience. Everything irritates us, even the most innocuous, and innocent statement drives us mad with anger. The heat of our anger is reflected back on us and sends us into a frenzy to escape from our torture, which in turn causes us to fight even harder and get even angrier. The whole thing builds on itself until we don't even know if we're fighting with someone else or ourselves. We are so busy fighting that we can't find an alternative to fighting; the possibility of alternative never even occurs to us.
One of the three higher realms is called the jealous god realm. This pattern of existence is characterised by acute paranoia. We are always concerned with "making it". Everything is seen from a competitive point of view. We are always trying to score points, and trying to prevent others from scoring on us. If someone achieves something special we become determined to out do them. We never trust anyone; we "know" they're trying to slip one past us. If someone tries to help us, we try to figure out their angle. If someone doesn't try to help us, they are being uncooperative, and we make a note to ourselves that we will get even later. "Don't get mad, get even," that's our motto.
At some point we might hear about spirituality. We might hear about the possibility of meditation techniques, imported from some eastern religion, or mystical western one, that will make our minds peaceful and absorb us into a universal harmony. We begin to meditate and perform certain rituals and we find ourselves absorbed into infinite space and blissful states of existence. Everything sparkles with love and light; we become godlike beings. We become proud of our godlike powers of meditative absorption. We might even dwell in the realm of infinite space where thoughts seldom arise to bother us. We ignore everything that doesn't confirm our godhood. We have manufactured the god realm, the highest of the six realms of existence. The problem is, that we have manufactured it. We begin to relax and no longer feel the need to maintain our exalted state. Eventually a small sliver of doubt occurs. Have we really made it? At first we are able to smooth over the question, but eventually the doubt begins to occur more and more frequently and soon we begin to struggle to regain our supreme confidence. As soon as we begin to struggle, we fall back into the lower realms and begin the whole process over and over; from god realm to jealous god realm to animal realm to hungry ghost realm to hell realm. At some point we begin to wonder if there isn't some sort of alternative to our habitual way of dealing with the world. This is the human realm.
The human realm is the only one in which liberation from the six states of existence is possible. The human realm is characterised by doubt and inquisitiveness and the longing for something better. We are not as absorbed by the all-consuming preoccupations of the other states of being. We begin to wonder whether it is possible to relate to the world as simple, dignified human beings.
#ZenBuddhism#Meditation#Mindfulness#ZenPhilosophy#ZenTeaching#BuddhistPractice#Enlightenment#ZenMaster#ZenMind#ZenLife#ZenKoan#Zazen#Buddhism#Spirituality#InnerPeace#BuddhistWisdom#ZenArt#BuddhistMeditation#ZenPrinciples#ZenWay#today on tumblr
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ZeN MoNk. #everydayzen #sotozen #bluecliffrecord #kinhin #buddhism #zenmindbeginnersmind #mahayanabuddhism #zenwoman #perfectwisdom #buddhistpractice #warriorwithin #buddhistdoctrine #buddhistcenter #buddhistwarrior #selfessness #buddhistsociety #nobletruth #perfectionofwisdom #emotionalmaturity #mindfulnessparaniños (at Delhi)
#zenmindbeginnersmind#buddhistcenter#buddhistsociety#perfectionofwisdom#zenwoman#nobletruth#mahayanabuddhism#buddhistdoctrine#everydayzen#buddhistwarrior#emotionalmaturity#sotozen#warriorwithin#kinhin#mindfulnessparaniños#bluecliffrecord#perfectwisdom#selfessness#buddhism#buddhistpractice
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#Repost @siddharthasintent ・・・ Vajra Guru Mantra: To Chant or Not to Chant | At the request of Drikung Kagyu Monastery in Tso Pema, north India, Rinpoche recently gave a short teaching (in Tibetan) on the practice of the Vajra Guru mantra on the occasion of the monks’ recitation of 100 million mantras. . Rinpoche explains a number of ways in which we can chant the mantra. But even those of us, lazy buddhists, who may chant whilst walking, talking or even watching TV, if we do our best to generate supreme bodhichitta and pray one-pointedly to Guru Rinpoche, our practice will bring immense benefit to the world; so the masters of the past have said again and again. And what more could we wish for in these uncertain and tumultuous times? A literal translation from Tibetan wouldn't have the same flow that we're accustomed to with Rinpoche's teachings. So instead of subtitles, this time we have structured the translation into easy to read (and remember) bullet points and offer it to you in pdf format. Translations available in: English, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish and Swedish. https://www.siddharthasintent.org/resources/recordings/vajra-guru-mantra-2020/ #dzongsarkhyentserinpoche #gururinpoche #vajragurumantra #mantrachanting #buddhistpractice #mantrasfortheworld #bodhichitta https://www.instagram.com/p/CBf_F5KAky0jrkXPV09ui1znjdO1ugLDkra6ks0/?igshid=kzzsewna4yu8
#repost#dzongsarkhyentserinpoche#gururinpoche#vajragurumantra#mantrachanting#buddhistpractice#mantrasfortheworld#bodhichitta
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Fall at Benedict Inn © 2017 Orlando Gustilo. All rights reserved. #fall #autumn #brushpainting #brushes #digitalart #dailyart #duendearts #ibmretreats #buddhistpractice
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Pre #eclipse #prayers. "Within this illusory vessel vast as limitless space. Into this auspicious fire from the light of the sun. These medicinal substances so lovingly prepared are offered. Infinite clouds of fragrant smoke offering billow forth. Filling the entire Universe with rays of divine radiance, emanations of our Love and Compassion. May this never-ending blessing of Wisdom and Compassion, absorb into us, this place and all beings. May the ages of warfare be peace. May all suffering cease. Awaken and Benefit All. May we all Awaken as One." Thank you @randomrab for inviting me to be a part of your set. #gown by @missvelvetcream #headdress by @plumedserpentess Photo by Jennifer Hans. With @foundfables #thankyou #gratitude @symbiosisgathering @pedrovantol #pray #peace #peaceofmind #compassion #lovingkindness #buddhism #buddhistpractice #meditation #mindfull #prayforall #allinittogether #allforoneoneforall #awaken #thetimeisnow #peaceinpeaceout
#meditation#lovingkindness#awaken#mindfull#peaceinpeaceout#buddhistpractice#thankyou#compassion#eclipse#prayforall#buddhism#peace#headdress#peaceofmind#gratitude#allinittogether#pray#prayers#thetimeisnow#allforoneoneforall#gown
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