This is straight from the book I'm reading:
Taking refuge is the first step on the Buddhist path to inner freedom, but it is not something new. We have been taking refuge all our lives, though mainly in external things, hoping to find security and happiness. Some of us take refuge in money, some in drugs. Some take refuge in food, in mountain-climbing or in sunny beaches. Most of us seek security and satisfaction in a relationship with a man or a woman. Throughout our lives we have drifted from one situation to the next, always in the expectation of final satisfaction. Our successive involvements may sometimes offer temporary relief but, in sober truth, seeking refuge in physical possessions and transient pleasures merely deeps our confusion rather than ending it.
WOW......does this paragraph ring true with you?? For me it does. Everyone I know has struggled with some sort of addiction or expectation of satisfaction. But it truly can't come from external things. Satisfaction must come from within a person's being.
Treading the Buddhist path should lead to a transformation in the self: a continuous refining of both thought and action, of the way we relate to others and to the world we live in and finally of our self-understanding.
I'm not the type of person to jump headfirst into anything or believe something to be the be all end all. But I am finding there are many concepts and ideals within Buddhism that I really agree with.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Longing for a simpler being...
I have been reading a book recently on Buddhism and so far there are many thoughts, beliefs and feelings that I agree with.
One of the biggest things that I want to work towards is living a simpler life. A life that is not as distracted by material possessions and the outward need of approval etc. I want to feel calm, simple and at ease with myself.
Buddhism talks about the Three Poisons: Desire or Greed, Hatred/Anger, and Ignorance
I wanted to share this article I found as I think all of us could do some good by ridding Greed, Anger and Ignorance.
How to turn "Greed, Anger, Ignorance" into "Precepts, Deep Concentration, Wisdom"
Buddhism teaches Kruna (compassion), but it also focuses on prajna (wisdom), which is inherent in everybody and it can only be manifested by eliminating ignorance by self-cultivation. By using prajna, one is able to turn "greed, anger, and ignorance" into "precepts, meditation, and wisdom".
"Greed, Anger, Ignorance" together are known as the Three Poisons . These are sources of all illusions and desires. These three poisons continuously pollute people's lives, and are obstacles of Enlightenment.
GREED
Greed is a DESIRE or lust; one tries to get hold of something and to get more and more of it. Greed is one of the causes of thefts, some people steal because they're greedy, and they are not satisfied with what they already have. There was a story about a very greedy man who loves candies. One day, his wife bought a jar and organized all his candies in the jar for him. However, when he put his hand in the jar to get candies, he could not pull his hand out again! No matter how hard he pulls, his hand is still stuck in the jar. The wife was so worried that she called the firemen to help break the jar open to free his hand. When the jar was broken, they found that the reason why his hand was stuck in the jar was because he grabbed a hand-full of candies and refused to let go, but the jar opening was too small for him to pull the candies out all at once. If he had taken one candy at a time, the firemen wouldn't have to break the jar open to free his hand. Desire, as Tanha, is considered as being one of the Three Daughters of Mara as well.
ANGER
Anger arises when there is rejection on one's wishes; one becomes displeased. It comes in many forms: HATRED, jealousy, abuse, and cruelty. Anger is basically caused by a false belief that the illusory self has loss control over something that is important. When I was in high school, I had a friend who doesn't know how to control his anger. Once he was angry because his teacher would not accept his homework that was handed in late. He was so angry that he started hitting everything in site (i.e., lockers, walls). And as he was walking and wasn't looking where he was going, he hit his hand right into the glass of the fire extinguisher unit and his hand started to bleed right away from the broken glass. From his behavior, we could learn that when we are angry, we are very vulnerable to dangers because we do not have a clear mind and we become very aggressive. However, in the end, we are the one who gets hurt, mentally or physically. The Meditation on the Three Contemplations Sutra states:
If anger rises and you desire
to harm another being
already you have harmed
yourself far more than him.
And that is why you must
often think on compassion;
for compassion keeps from rising
all thought of anger, evil, and pain.
The Buddha said that anger was one of the Five Hindrances , which are state of mind that make us difficult to learn dharma. Therefore, anger causes the loss of all goodness.
IGNORANCE
Ignorance or delusion is a wrong perception of the world. There is a parable from the Scripture of One Hundred Parables. The story is a about a woman who only has one son, but she wanted to have more sons. The woman's friend told her that she has a way to help the woman to pray for more sons but she needs to make a sacrifice. The woman was told that she needs to kill her only son as a sacrifice to get more sons. When the foolish woman was about to kill her only son, a wise man approached her and stopped her and told her how foolish she is giving what she has now to hope for something that might not happen. Some ignorant people do not realize that they're doing something harmful to others and to themselves, and furthermore hope to born to the heaven. These three poisons circle around our world, poisoning our souls, blinding us from seeing the true path to enlightenment. They are poisons that prevent us from leaving the cycle of birth and death. All the worries we get sprung from the three poisons. However, the three poisons can be arrested through "Precepts, Meditation, and Wisdom".
"Precepts, Deep Concentration, Wisdom" are known as the "Three Pillars". They are the guidelines to our lives. When we practice the "three pillars", we'll be walking further away from the "three poisons".
Precept is the training in moral discipline; it prevents wrongdoing. There is the Five Precepts which is no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, and no intoxication (see Sila , moral conduct in Buddhism).
Deep Concentration is achieved through meditation (see Shikantaza as well as Samadhi ). It is the training of the mind. It eliminates the scattering characteristic of ordinary mind and allows it to look directly at itself.
Wisdom is the training in clear perception. A verse from the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, Hui-neng states:
If your mind is in balance,
What need is there to work at morality?
If your behavior is correct,
What use is meditation to you?
If you understand mercy,
Then you still naturally care for your parents.
If you understand faithful conduct,
Then all society will be in order.
Respect of others and ourselves is the key to balancing the mind. If you know how to respect ourselves, we would not be as anxious, therefore our mind would be balanced and practicing morality would be a natural process. We need to free ourselves from thinking that practicing morally is a stiff confinement. Morality is actually the key to our liberation. Deep concentration is from practicing meditation, however, meditation cannot be practiced well without morality. Once we have a balanced mind, and understand morality, our lives would be in accord with the deepest level of meditation. From deep concentration, we get wisdom. By meditation and wisdom, one cultivates one's mind, clearing the clouds of ignorance that is blocking the road to enlightenment. Therefore, it is very important for us to practice the "three pillars" all the time in order to prevent ourselves from being "poisoned" by "Greed, Anger, and Ignorance".
Thought for the day...are you or have you recently felt greed, anger, ignorance/avoidance about something? Let it go.....it's poisoning your well being!
One of the biggest things that I want to work towards is living a simpler life. A life that is not as distracted by material possessions and the outward need of approval etc. I want to feel calm, simple and at ease with myself.
Buddhism talks about the Three Poisons: Desire or Greed, Hatred/Anger, and Ignorance
I wanted to share this article I found as I think all of us could do some good by ridding Greed, Anger and Ignorance.
How to turn "Greed, Anger, Ignorance" into "Precepts, Deep Concentration, Wisdom"
Buddhism teaches Kruna (compassion), but it also focuses on prajna (wisdom), which is inherent in everybody and it can only be manifested by eliminating ignorance by self-cultivation. By using prajna, one is able to turn "greed, anger, and ignorance" into "precepts, meditation, and wisdom".
"Greed, Anger, Ignorance" together are known as the Three Poisons . These are sources of all illusions and desires. These three poisons continuously pollute people's lives, and are obstacles of Enlightenment.
GREED
Greed is a DESIRE or lust; one tries to get hold of something and to get more and more of it. Greed is one of the causes of thefts, some people steal because they're greedy, and they are not satisfied with what they already have. There was a story about a very greedy man who loves candies. One day, his wife bought a jar and organized all his candies in the jar for him. However, when he put his hand in the jar to get candies, he could not pull his hand out again! No matter how hard he pulls, his hand is still stuck in the jar. The wife was so worried that she called the firemen to help break the jar open to free his hand. When the jar was broken, they found that the reason why his hand was stuck in the jar was because he grabbed a hand-full of candies and refused to let go, but the jar opening was too small for him to pull the candies out all at once. If he had taken one candy at a time, the firemen wouldn't have to break the jar open to free his hand. Desire, as Tanha, is considered as being one of the Three Daughters of Mara as well.
ANGER
Anger arises when there is rejection on one's wishes; one becomes displeased. It comes in many forms: HATRED, jealousy, abuse, and cruelty. Anger is basically caused by a false belief that the illusory self has loss control over something that is important. When I was in high school, I had a friend who doesn't know how to control his anger. Once he was angry because his teacher would not accept his homework that was handed in late. He was so angry that he started hitting everything in site (i.e., lockers, walls). And as he was walking and wasn't looking where he was going, he hit his hand right into the glass of the fire extinguisher unit and his hand started to bleed right away from the broken glass. From his behavior, we could learn that when we are angry, we are very vulnerable to dangers because we do not have a clear mind and we become very aggressive. However, in the end, we are the one who gets hurt, mentally or physically. The Meditation on the Three Contemplations Sutra states:
If anger rises and you desire
to harm another being
already you have harmed
yourself far more than him.
And that is why you must
often think on compassion;
for compassion keeps from rising
all thought of anger, evil, and pain.
The Buddha said that anger was one of the Five Hindrances , which are state of mind that make us difficult to learn dharma. Therefore, anger causes the loss of all goodness.
IGNORANCE
Ignorance or delusion is a wrong perception of the world. There is a parable from the Scripture of One Hundred Parables. The story is a about a woman who only has one son, but she wanted to have more sons. The woman's friend told her that she has a way to help the woman to pray for more sons but she needs to make a sacrifice. The woman was told that she needs to kill her only son as a sacrifice to get more sons. When the foolish woman was about to kill her only son, a wise man approached her and stopped her and told her how foolish she is giving what she has now to hope for something that might not happen. Some ignorant people do not realize that they're doing something harmful to others and to themselves, and furthermore hope to born to the heaven. These three poisons circle around our world, poisoning our souls, blinding us from seeing the true path to enlightenment. They are poisons that prevent us from leaving the cycle of birth and death. All the worries we get sprung from the three poisons. However, the three poisons can be arrested through "Precepts, Meditation, and Wisdom".
"Precepts, Deep Concentration, Wisdom" are known as the "Three Pillars". They are the guidelines to our lives. When we practice the "three pillars", we'll be walking further away from the "three poisons".
Precept is the training in moral discipline; it prevents wrongdoing. There is the Five Precepts which is no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, and no intoxication (see Sila , moral conduct in Buddhism).
Deep Concentration is achieved through meditation (see Shikantaza as well as Samadhi ). It is the training of the mind. It eliminates the scattering characteristic of ordinary mind and allows it to look directly at itself.
Wisdom is the training in clear perception. A verse from the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, Hui-neng states:
If your mind is in balance,
What need is there to work at morality?
If your behavior is correct,
What use is meditation to you?
If you understand mercy,
Then you still naturally care for your parents.
If you understand faithful conduct,
Then all society will be in order.
Respect of others and ourselves is the key to balancing the mind. If you know how to respect ourselves, we would not be as anxious, therefore our mind would be balanced and practicing morality would be a natural process. We need to free ourselves from thinking that practicing morally is a stiff confinement. Morality is actually the key to our liberation. Deep concentration is from practicing meditation, however, meditation cannot be practiced well without morality. Once we have a balanced mind, and understand morality, our lives would be in accord with the deepest level of meditation. From deep concentration, we get wisdom. By meditation and wisdom, one cultivates one's mind, clearing the clouds of ignorance that is blocking the road to enlightenment. Therefore, it is very important for us to practice the "three pillars" all the time in order to prevent ourselves from being "poisoned" by "Greed, Anger, and Ignorance".
Thought for the day...are you or have you recently felt greed, anger, ignorance/avoidance about something? Let it go.....it's poisoning your well being!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. Barack Obama
I'm have hope and dreams for the US and the world.....Barack has a lot of work ahead of him though and I truly believe it's probably only going to get worse before it gets better. What an inspiring man though!
Too often we try to find change or ourselves in others. Everything we need and are looking for is within ourselves. Only then can others compliment our lives, enrich and fulfill us!
Someone once told me...I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody... I'm a people pleaser and I struggle with failing because I'm always trying to please and do for others. This year will be the year of ME, and not caring so much about hurting or pleasing others. That said I have the biggest heart and I know that part of me will always have the struggle to care. I will find that balance and hopefully enjoy life and others MORE because of it!
I'm have hope and dreams for the US and the world.....Barack has a lot of work ahead of him though and I truly believe it's probably only going to get worse before it gets better. What an inspiring man though!
Too often we try to find change or ourselves in others. Everything we need and are looking for is within ourselves. Only then can others compliment our lives, enrich and fulfill us!
Someone once told me...I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody... I'm a people pleaser and I struggle with failing because I'm always trying to please and do for others. This year will be the year of ME, and not caring so much about hurting or pleasing others. That said I have the biggest heart and I know that part of me will always have the struggle to care. I will find that balance and hopefully enjoy life and others MORE because of it!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
People Come into Your Life...
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.
You never know who these people may be - a roommate, a neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a complete stranger - but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.
Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones.
If someone loves you, give love back to them in whatever way you can, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.
If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and listen to what they have to say.
Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.
You can make anything you wish of your life. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.
And if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.
Learn a lesson in life each day that you live!
Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday.Think About it? Was it worth it?
You never know who these people may be - a roommate, a neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a complete stranger - but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.
Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones.
If someone loves you, give love back to them in whatever way you can, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.
If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and listen to what they have to say.
Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.
You can make anything you wish of your life. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.
And if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.
Learn a lesson in life each day that you live!
Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday.Think About it? Was it worth it?
Friday, January 16, 2009
Looking forward to the weekend...
The weekend is here and I have big plans to go visit friends in Moose Jaw. I am very excited!
Here is my thought for today...
“Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin' to do,
it's up to you, yeah you…”
"Instant Karma" by John Lennon
I am really not a religious person nor a superstitious person but I do believe in karma.
You can’t hurt other people intentionally and expect to be showered with rewards and good lucks. That’s not how karma works. Don’t expect to get away with murder. You can’t. You can run but someone or something will eventually catch up with you. Don’t expect yourself to be happy and your life smooth-sailing when you’ve just cheated somebody and cruelly stepped on his/her face.
Pull somebody down and somebody will not only pull you down but throw you off a ravine. Scheme to make someone fail and others will scheme for you to not only fail but lose your sanity. Steal something and other people will steal not only your property but your soul. Treacherously break somebody’s heart into two and somebody will break your heart into a million pieces.
What you sow, you reap.
What goes around, comes around.
Every action has a consequence.
Don’t think your bad deeds and past sins won’t haunt you and torment you.
It will.
Right, John?
Here is my thought for today...
“Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin' to do,
it's up to you, yeah you…”
"Instant Karma" by John Lennon
I am really not a religious person nor a superstitious person but I do believe in karma.
You can’t hurt other people intentionally and expect to be showered with rewards and good lucks. That’s not how karma works. Don’t expect to get away with murder. You can’t. You can run but someone or something will eventually catch up with you. Don’t expect yourself to be happy and your life smooth-sailing when you’ve just cheated somebody and cruelly stepped on his/her face.
Pull somebody down and somebody will not only pull you down but throw you off a ravine. Scheme to make someone fail and others will scheme for you to not only fail but lose your sanity. Steal something and other people will steal not only your property but your soul. Treacherously break somebody’s heart into two and somebody will break your heart into a million pieces.
What you sow, you reap.
What goes around, comes around.
Every action has a consequence.
Don’t think your bad deeds and past sins won’t haunt you and torment you.
It will.
Right, John?
"Yeah, yeah, yeah!"
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.
—Arnold Schwarzenegger
How true is this quote. Without pain there wouldn't be pleasure. Without struggles you wouldn't be strong. Whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!
I have realized in every facet of my life that you have to keep going. Keep struggling along. Persistence is one of the best traits .......
I truly believe this, at the same time my struggle is worrying too much. Over analysing. And I've learned that I just have to accept and let go. It is what it is!
—Arnold Schwarzenegger
How true is this quote. Without pain there wouldn't be pleasure. Without struggles you wouldn't be strong. Whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!
I have realized in every facet of my life that you have to keep going. Keep struggling along. Persistence is one of the best traits .......
I truly believe this, at the same time my struggle is worrying too much. Over analysing. And I've learned that I just have to accept and let go. It is what it is!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Not an Option...
I saw Will Smith on a talk show a while ago and he said something that I though made perfect sense:
WILL SMITH has found the perfect way to keep a marriage on track - rule out divorce.The movie star has been married to actress wife Jada Pinkett Smith for a decade and insists they'll never split because divorce isn't an option for them.He explains, "Divorce can't be an option - it's really that simple. If you just remove the option... because, if you have the option, one day that person's gonna make you wanna divorce."That's been a huge part of the success for she (Pinkett Smith) and I... We're like, 'Listen, we're gonna be together one way or the other so might as well try and be happy."
Anyone who is married knows that you go through cycles with your spouse. There will be days that you are head over heels in love - but they will more than likely be few and far between. Real life happens....and from my perspective people tend to take their feelings out on the people they love the most .....there will be days when you dislike/hate your spouse, when you don't get along, when nothing seems right. I have only been married for just under 1 and 1/2 years and I'm not going to lie, we have already had our struggles. Something changes when you get married. Maybe there is more security so people stop doing the little things and take each other for granted.
My philosophy.....it's going to take work. Your going to have to work at your relationship EVERY SINGLE DAY. I think I'm pretty lucky and have one of the good ones...he is willing to work on it with me...... most days anyways ;)
**********************************************************************************
New years Resolutions??? It's Jan 7th and I wondering how many people have fallen off their target already. I kinda hate this time of year, as the gym is flooded with people....unfortunately due to a sprained shoulder I haven't been able to hit the gym yet in the new year, but I am resting up and healing - I plan to run a Triathalon in August (my resolution) and I need to make sure that I'm healthy! I am continuing to fight through it a bit and do cardio ....but I can't wait to get back at it full force!
Quote for the day:
“A champion is one who gets up when he can't.” Jack Dempsey
WILL SMITH has found the perfect way to keep a marriage on track - rule out divorce.The movie star has been married to actress wife Jada Pinkett Smith for a decade and insists they'll never split because divorce isn't an option for them.He explains, "Divorce can't be an option - it's really that simple. If you just remove the option... because, if you have the option, one day that person's gonna make you wanna divorce."That's been a huge part of the success for she (Pinkett Smith) and I... We're like, 'Listen, we're gonna be together one way or the other so might as well try and be happy."
Anyone who is married knows that you go through cycles with your spouse. There will be days that you are head over heels in love - but they will more than likely be few and far between. Real life happens....and from my perspective people tend to take their feelings out on the people they love the most .....there will be days when you dislike/hate your spouse, when you don't get along, when nothing seems right. I have only been married for just under 1 and 1/2 years and I'm not going to lie, we have already had our struggles. Something changes when you get married. Maybe there is more security so people stop doing the little things and take each other for granted.
My philosophy.....it's going to take work. Your going to have to work at your relationship EVERY SINGLE DAY. I think I'm pretty lucky and have one of the good ones...he is willing to work on it with me...... most days anyways ;)
**********************************************************************************
New years Resolutions??? It's Jan 7th and I wondering how many people have fallen off their target already. I kinda hate this time of year, as the gym is flooded with people....unfortunately due to a sprained shoulder I haven't been able to hit the gym yet in the new year, but I am resting up and healing - I plan to run a Triathalon in August (my resolution) and I need to make sure that I'm healthy! I am continuing to fight through it a bit and do cardio ....but I can't wait to get back at it full force!
Quote for the day:
“A champion is one who gets up when he can't.” Jack Dempsey
Monday, January 5, 2009
Not a good start to 2009!
Well really my start to 2009 has been good, other than hurting my back and barely being able to move without pain... things have been great. I had a great Christmas at home with my family and then Kevin and I had a full week together at home in Gull Lake.
It's weird how quickly holidays fly by, but for the first time in a looong time, maybe ever - I felt rested and ready to head back to work today. Might have something to do with the fact that I really enjoy my job!!
Anyways here is a quote for some inspiration for 2009 and the change ahead:
Our destiny changes with our thoughts;
we shall become what we wish to become,
do what we wish to do, when our habitual
thoughts correspond with our desires.
—Orison Swett Marsden
It's weird how quickly holidays fly by, but for the first time in a looong time, maybe ever - I felt rested and ready to head back to work today. Might have something to do with the fact that I really enjoy my job!!
Anyways here is a quote for some inspiration for 2009 and the change ahead:
Our destiny changes with our thoughts;
we shall become what we wish to become,
do what we wish to do, when our habitual
thoughts correspond with our desires.
—Orison Swett Marsden
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)