The Buddhist basics.

[Geishawhelk]

The Buddha was a very ordinary man.

 

Well, actually, no he wasn't.

 

He was rich.

Filthy rich.

Undeniably, enormously, unimaginably rich.

 

(Ok, I'm going to cut a long story short here.... Think 'Dallas' and then some....)

 

He was born into a Royal Family in the northenmost part of India, which is now Nepal.

His father, Suddhodana, was a monarch, and extremely powerful. He had so much land that you'd take a month to cross it...

When his son was born, (named Siddharta Gautama) soothsayers predicted he would be either a mighty fine warrior and great king - or a wandering mendicant, relying on the goodness of others.

Cripes!

 

Well, The king was having none of that!

From his earliest age, our Sid knew only the best - the very best - of ebverything. Good food, companions, an education, clothes, horses (think Ferraris - dozens of them. No, maybe more....) combat skills, diplomacy skills, wine, women and song - you name it, he had it in spades.

But as he grew older, he got wise to the fact that there was a limit to his kingdom. A concrete edge to just how far he could go. And he became curious, and wanted to learn more.

So like all teenagers, he pestered his parents until they gave in, and let him out of the palace walls, to see what lay beyond. But he had to be accompanied, and they figured, once he'd seen it all, then he'd know just how great it was to be a Prince, right?

Wrong.

 

On four consecutive visits to the outside world, with his charioteer, Channa, he saw: An old person, a sick person, a corpse - and finaly, a wandering monk.

 

On all of the first three occasions, he'd ask Channa -what the heck was going on? Who WERE these people? Normal human beings? And did this - age, sickness and death - happen to everyone?? Gedouttahere!! You're kidding!!

 

Nope, his companion confirmed. This is the way of Life. We're born, we age, we get old, we sicken, we die. Period. No exceptions. No matter how much money or power you have, you still end up this way.

 

Depressing, isn't it?

Well, yes, I can understand how it might be, at first glance. You can imagine how Sid felt! Everything he'd ever known, would evaporate before his eyes. all his fine clothes, jewellery, horses, mental and physical skills - Zip. Finito.

 

Holy Schmoley. Bummer, huh??

 

Mind you, there was still the fourth trip he was also thinking about. That guy in the weird robes, what was he up to?

Well, Channa explained, this guy was on a spiritual personal quest to find the meaning of life, and to find serenity amidst all of this 'Suffering'.

 

Keeping it brief, Sid decided to do likewise.

So he had fulfilled the prophesy then. He had become a widely-known, deeply respected and much-loved Prince, but he also decided to follow a life of sobriety and poverty.

 

Where would this lead....?

 

Tune in for the second instalment tomorrow - !!

[Quinch]

Welcome fellow Buddhist

 

Metta and Bright Blessings to you.

[blind_otter]

"When someone is searching," said Siddhartha, "then it might easily

happen that the only thing his eyes still see is that what he searches

for, that he is unable to find anything, to let anything enter his mind,

because he always thinks of nothing but the object of his search,

because he has a goal, because he is obsessed by the goal. Searching

means: having a goal. But finding means: being free, being open, having

no goal. You, oh venerable one, are perhaps indeed a searcher, because,

striving for your goal, there are many things you don't see, which are

directly in front of your eyes."

_Herman Hesse, "Siddhartha"

 

Cool thread. I'm not Buddhist, per se, but I love the philosophy. Some might argue that Buddhism isn't a religion as it were, because it lacks a diety and creation story. Some call it...a philosophy about life. A framework, I guess.

 

I don't know.

[Geishawhelk]

Quinch: Thank you so much for the welcome. Nice to see you too...is your avatar really you, or are you just projecting a sexy image....? (BTW, I LOVE your signature...for some peverse reason....!!)

 

Blind-otter, Without wishing to get off-topic, 'cos' strictly speaking I'm in the middle of a great story here....

 

There's a link here to a thread responding to this very question...Religion or philosophy....? Read Post #2, which might help. I have always found it to be quite a good clarification. For my part, I refer to Buddhism as my 'calling', but that's just me....

 

Incidentally, the site is one on which I am a Moderator, and I go by the name of 'Federica'.... There's plenty of good information there to peruse...

 

Enjoy, one and all.... *Namaste* _/I\_

[Geishawhelk]

....Siddharta was extremely shaken by his experiences in the big wide world, but he was also intensely intrigued by the monk…. So after much anguish and thought, Siddharta decided to steal away in the middle of the night, to pursue the same ideal as the monk – liberation from the suffering of Old Age, Sickness and Death.

 

Now, hang ten a moment.

By this time, he had a beautiful young wife and baby son – as well as all the rest of the fine trappings which go with a royal status, so let’s just try to put it into perspective, here.

 

Stop and think – start making a list of all the things you have in your possession: No, I DO mean everything, right down to the smallest writing pen, right up to the house, apartment, garden…your entire family, all your friends and acquaintances – everything. Your job, career, everything that goes with it, mobile ‘phone, e-mail address…. Clothes, shoes, jewellery, deodorant, perfume, underwear, you name it. Every single thing.

 

Now imagine that tonight, you are going to up and walk away from everything. You’re not taking a thing with you except the clothes you’re standing up in, and you’re going to leave on foot, and go….who knows where….?

 

This is astonishingly frightening, but actually, entirely liberating, too…. But can you imagine what your parents, friends, colleagues and spouse & children would say?

 

(Just as an aside, we are constantly being urged to buy this food, take up this bank account, have this car, get these clothes, pursue this education or career as a move towards financial or socio-economic security…to meet a mate, settle down, raise a family…. All things which would bring us a recognisable status in our community. But to state that you’re going to abandon all this for a life of voluntary deprivation and abstention will, by and large, chiefly bring derision, criticism and maybe even the condemnation of being irresponsible and selfish. Gandhi did this though, and so did Mother Teresa…. Nobody criticises them much though, do they….? But for “us” to do that?….well…it’s unheard of! Other people do that, not you!!)

 

And that’s precisely why Sid was moved to act the way he did. He left the court in the dead of night, with his charioteer, and on his favourite horse. He reached the confines of the realm, and chopped his hair off with his sword. Then he changed into more modest attire, and giving everything he owned back to his friend (who did try to convince him he was a raving loony) he set off on what was to be a six-year-long quest towards what we now refer to as “The Eightfold Path”.

 

During these years he met up and travelled with many different sages, and people on a similar quest. He even starved himself to near-death, as a means of gaining insight into the abandonment of everything material, but he realised, in his abject weakness and starvation, that this led nowhere except to hunger and unnecessary self-inflicted suffering. So he took what we now know is “The Middle way” or as Goldilocks came to find, the ‘Just Right’ way! Not too much, or in excess, not too little or going without for no good reason….

 

One night, he decided to take a seat under a variety of rubber plant tree, or ficus, now known as the Bodhi tree, and he vowed to not get up until he’d cracked the code. He stayed in meditation for a long time, and was even tempted by Mara, who sent him all the temptations of the world, including his voluptuous and stunning daughters to seduce and tempt him back into the realms of Illusion and Suffering.

Mara is a malicious ‘Deity’ but we can better visualise this image if we understand that this is a personification of all the tempting obstacles we have before us, all the time, preventing us from shedding the shackles of Greed, Hatred and Desire…..

 

However, Sid recognised these temptations for what they were…illusory, empty of ultimate lasting satisfaction, and distractions from what really mattered….so he touched the ground, to call the Earth as witness to his resolve, and as the morning star twinkled in the dawn, he became enlightened.

Whoosh! All illusion dropped away from his mind, and he just saw everything for what it was. And everything was – and is - the way it is, because it is the way it is.

 

He formulated what we call “The Four Noble Truths” – Noble, because there is nothing that can actually contradict them. Even with much discussion (and believe me, I have been through it, and I do love to yap…) ultimately, you can’t blow a hole in the Logic of them.

He found the original sages with whom he had travelled for a while, and although they had originally chosen to ignore him, because he had not deprived himself as they had, and actually looked relatively bonny and hale and hearty – shame on him!) they were converted pretty darned smartish by just the way he looked and behaved as he approached them, he gave the first sermon in Deer Park. On the Four Noble Truths, and The Eightfold Path.

[Quinch]

Hi Geishawhelk, I thought I recognised you from somewhere. I haven't posted on the other site for a while (really ought to) but I do still look in from time to time. I've learned a lot there

 

Have a good day :bunny:

Quinch (aka Windwalker)

 

PS. My avatar is Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) from Life On Mars. I just think he's cool.

[Geishawhelk]

aaaaaaah..... It's all clear to me now ....!

 

Yeh, ya bad Buddhist! Whereyabin!? Yer tea's gettin' cold!

 

Nice to 'see' you again!

[boshemia]

Some of this sounds very familiar to me, only like a few other things in this world I've stumbled upon... I didn't know it really had a name.

 

Last Summer I was under so much pressure that I couldn't handle anything else... my kids were with ther father so I dissapeared into nothingness, lol. I didn't tell anyone where I was going, I just bought a camper for $200, fixed it up and parked it somewhere quiet where I could think.

 

Yes, everyone thought I was nuts, people told me to stop running, that I couldn't hide from my problem, and in many ways they were right, but... it was a wonderful experience. I was actually able to just be alone and think. I didn't leave everything behind, but I left *most* of it.

 

I'll admit, I still snuck in a TV and a DVD player because even though I never watch them, the silence drives me crazy. I did bring my laptop, though I only use it for one thing, and that is my writing. I brought my dog, it was hard enough to live without my kids... but NOT my dog, I refused to even try.

 

I found it so refreshing in fact, that I am looking forward to doing it again this summer. I've been seriously considering just getting rid of all of my unnessecary junk, all most of it does it make it harder for me to clean house and I'm not the best at that as it is.

 

I think many of the things you have said crept into my consciousness long ago, when I was studying religions, and I just didn't realize it.

 

I am deeply intrigued by your conversation, please do keep sharing.

 

I only have one problem, I do still believe in God... and though I have been shedding many of my Christian trappings... this one still sticks with me strongly. Any other religion is a path away from God, and leads to... yeah...

 

Please do keep discussing it...

[Geishawhelk]

Thank you so much for joining in.

 

A bit of counsel I found worked for me:

If you buy something new, replace, don't add. In other words, bring something new in, throw something old, out.

 

Gradually, I too am offloading so much extraneous junk. there's a lot to be said for minimalism. If you can load all you need into a camper, and it sustains you for the summer....then think of all the things back home you have done without, for all that time, and not missed.....and start getting rid of it! Car Boot or garage sales are wonderfully cleansing and liberating!!

 

"Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

 

I only have one problem, I do still believe in God... and though I have been shedding many of my Christian trappings... this one still sticks with me strongly. Any other religion is a path away from God, and leads to... yeah...

 

Please stay comfortable with this. Don't view it as a 'problem', don't worry about it.

I switched from 40-plus years of Roman Catholicism, with a major involvement in the faith throughout, and of course, there were questions, guilt, anxieties...But It was more of a development, an 'evolutionary' stroll, rather than a REvolutionary transformation....But that's just me....

 

Leave it aside. things will resolve themselves as they will.

 

Incidentally, there is a guy called Jim Pym who is an active member of the Society of friends (The Quakers) and an ordained Zen Monk at one and the same time.

 

So don't go feeling or believing that at one point you will have to sit, divide and make a choice. Relax. Things will come as they come.

With much Metta,

 

G.

[boshemia]

LOL, that's exaclty what I thought. I was able to survive a whole summer in a camper with about 1/100th of the stuff i left behind. I'm a junk collector, I never throw anything away because "I might need it" and sometimes just because someone gave it to me and I feel like it's rude to get rid of it.

 

When we moved into out new home I only unpacked what we needed when we needed it as an experiment. Half of the garage is stacked with boxes I have yet to find a reason to unpack. We are planning on moving again this summer, and I'm thinking about just donating those boxes sight unseen, then doing the same thing in the other house.

[boshemia]

Please stay comfortable with this. Don't view it as a 'problem', don't worry about it.

I switched from 40-plus years of Roman Catholicism, with a major involvement in the faith throughout, and of course, there were questions, guilt, anxieties...But It was more of a development, an 'evolutionary' stroll, rather than a REvolutionary transformation....But that's just me....

 

Actually that's exactly what makes me uncomfortable. I have finally started questioning everything I've been taught... and I find very little about Christianity that even makes sense to me anymore.

 

I feel like the only reason I still identify myself as Christian anymore is because I am supposed to. More and more it just doesn't feel right. I'm not sure what is right just yet, just that I am still seeking that place where I feel like what I am doing is not only right for me, but right for the world as well if that makes sense.

 

I just don't have that judgemental bone in me I guess...

[Geishawhelk]

I don't know whether you have thought about this aspect of things, because it took me a while to click into this....

While I do not accept much of what the Bible states, an awful lot of the message - particularly from Jesus himself - is sound, positive and loving. I gradually came to realise over time that it wasn't necessarily the so-called christian message that was angering me, or alienating me per se....it was the control being exerted but those in eclesiastical authority, who were in many ways bending the message to suit and to fit their desires... Religion is and always has been an excellent means of controlling the masses (if you'll pardon the pun!). "Those in Charge" have always projected themselves as benevolent and well-meaning, protective of our lives and souls - and sometimes, I am sure their motives have been well-intentioned and with our sincere and honest best interests at heart. But in my view, any form or control outside the parameters of what that religion is founded on, is at best, misguided, and at worst, positively malevolent.

 

Over time, I have rejected a deistic religion, because I simply cannot bring myself to believe that there are Good - and Evil - forces who exert control upon my will and are purportedly responsible for everything I encounter and react to.

Jesus' message - omitting the reference to God the Father - is largely what I live by anyway. (or try to.... you know what I mean....) And there are some schools of thought who theorise that during his silent years (aged 12 to 30, when nothing is heard of him) he travelled and absorbed the different faiths, religions and creeds of other cultures. Which might be why we get a lot of "You have heard it said....but I say unto you....." from him....

 

I would not condemn nor criticise anyone for whatever faith or belief they hold. and if it is strong, deep, true and resolute for them, I am delighted for them. it's just not MY truth, and I occasionally object to those who speak of God/Christ/The Holy Spirit as if (a) it's a given that we all believe in them, and (b) that what they say is definite and irrefutable, and we're hell-bound if we don't concur.

 

I have several Moslem friends. I have some Hindu. I have one particularly good Jewish friend, and many who are Christian. And we all get along famously, and we're all fine with one another. And they are all aware that they have beliefs and I don't. Buddhists don't ascribe to 'belief' as a legitimate energy or process. Buddhists will either "come to know for themselves" or leave aside as a "don't know" or "Maybe it will come to me in time." There's no hassle, no force, no obligation - save for the one we place upon ourselves.

 

Hope this helps.

[blind_otter]

I went from being a practicing Catholic to a practicing Buddhist to an agnostic and now I'm some undetermined faith that has no organized religion attached to it. But from what I've been reading on this thread my beliefs are more Buddhist than anything else. I just refer to the Universe as "God". To me, everything is a part of God, a part of the Universe. Everything is interconnected.

 

The thing is, my mother's family is all Buddhist - from Vietnam. And from how my grandmother acts, Buddhists can be just as dogmatic as Christians.

[Geishawhelk]

Blind otter, you are absolutely right, particularly if the Buddhists are from countries where Buddhism is a prevalent or dominant Religion.

There are current situations in the Far East, with regard to conflicts between Chriatians and Buddhists which quite simply make me very sad. The Vatican has recently issued good wishes to Buddhist organisations and bodies, wishing them a Good vesak, and hoping to open dialogue to ensure closer amicable links and understanding between the two faiths. It seems a bit "horse and stable-door-ish" because there are foundations in the US and Europe, who have actively been doing this for years....

 

However, I digress....

 

back to The Buddha....

 

Siddharta Gautama became known as "The Buddha" upon his enlightenment, but 'Buddha' just means 'Awake' or 'Fully Aware'.... Another way you might find him called is Shakyamuni Buddha, or 'the Wise awakened one from the Shakya Tribe', as was his origin.....

 

The subject of his first sermon, at deer Park, was......

[Geishawhelk]

The Four Noble truths:

So called, because as yet, there has been nothing said or written since that can undermine or contradict them with any definitive counter-discussion....

 

1: Life is Difficult. (You will sometimes see this also termed as, suffering, unsatisfactory, unpredictable, irritating or - quite simply - ****! This gives many the impression that Buddhism is a devotion founded on pessimism and depressive discourse, but nothing could be further from the...Truth - !)

 

2: It is difficult (or the rest of it) because of our attachment and grasping, or clinging, to the vicious circle of good/bad, happy/sad, yes/no, up/down, in/out nature of our existence (Samsara).

 

3: There is a simple and effective means of escaping this vicious circle.

 

4: That means of escape is The Eightfold Path.

 

in order to be able to understand, accept and live by the Eightfold Path, one has to, first and foremost, do the same with the Four Noble truths.

it cannot simply be a question of reading them and agreeing with them. You (and I'm using "you" in the generic sense, not the personal sense, here) really have to take them in, explore them, understand them profoundly, and ooze them form every pore, from the centre of your Being.

 

1: There are two kinds of difficulty, or suffering:

One is physical, in the sense that our bodies in many ways, and at many times, are subject to faults and frailties... sometimes temporary, sometimes prolonged, acute or chronic... and that ultimately, they will 'give up the ghost' (!) altogether....

The other is psychological suffering; loneliness, frustration, fear, embarassment, despair during illness, disappointment and of course, often, anger.

These are irrefutable facts that cannot be denied. Rather than being pessimistic or negative, it is realistic, because pessimism or negativity focusses on the expectation of things always being bad, or going wrong.

Buddhism however, points out that suffering can be avoided, and that we can be truly, genuinely centrally happy.

 

With me so far....?

 

2:The second Truth is that 'Suffering' is caused by Attachment, Craving or Clinging, and aversion.

We will suffer if we expect other people to conform to our expectations, if we want others to like us, if we do not get something we want, if we feel out of control of a situation, etc.etc. etc.... In other words, not getting what you want guarantees unhappiness, but getting what you want does not, in turn, guarantee happiness. Because whatever we want - and get - is by very nature of its existence, temporary and transitory... so we know, even when we have it, that this too, shall pass.

Craving, grasping and Aversion (to the temporary transitory nature of everything) leads to suffering, because unable to shed ourselves of this vicious cycle, we are reborn into Samsara. Every moment, of every day.

 

3: The Third Noble truth, is that this perpetual cycle of Suffering and Difficulty, can be broken. True happiness and contentment are possible - we give up useless craving and learn to live each day (each hour, each minute, each second) at a time (neither dwelling in the past, nor in the imagined future). Only then, can we become Happy and Free.... By Seeing Things Exactly As They Are.

 

4: The Fourth Noble Truth is, that the way out of this perpetual cycle of Suffering and Difficulty - is The Eightfold Path.

[dropdeadlegs]

Actually that's exactly what makes me uncomfortable. I have finally started questioning everything I've been taught... and I find very little about Christianity that even makes sense to me anymore.

 

I feel like the only reason I still identify myself as Christian anymore is because I am supposed to. More and more it just doesn't feel right. I'm not sure what is right just yet, just that I am still seeking that place where I feel like what I am doing is not only right for me, but right for the world as well if that makes sense.

That's exactly how I feel. I have so many questions about things that I used to simply trust and believe as the "gospel truth." Much of that "truth" just doesn't make sense to me upon reflection.

 

...it wasn't necessarily the so-called christian message that was angering me, or alienating me per se....it was the control being exerted but those in eclesiastical authority, who were in many ways bending the message to suit and to fit their desires... Religion is and always has been an excellent means of controlling the masses (if you'll pardon the pun!). "Those in Charge" have always projected themselves as benevolent and well-meaning, protective of our lives and souls - and sometimes, I am sure their motives have been well-intentioned and with our sincere and honest best interests at heart. But in my view, any form or control outside the parameters of what that religion is founded on, is at best, misguided, and at worst, positively malevolent.

Yes, it's the leaders who have twisted the message to fit their needs that have alienated me. Their followers, who don't even try to have any understanding of their own, who believe the message to be whatever their pastor/priest/etc. says it is, actually scare me. I'm constantly told that this is the end of the world, that it has all been foretold in the Bible. Every event can directly be linked to passages spelling out doomsday. Yet, they don't see that this belief that we are living in the end of time has been going on since the death of Jesus Christ.

 

I would not condemn nor criticise anyone for whatever faith or belief they hold. and if it is strong, deep, true and resolute for them, I am delighted for them. it's just not MY truth, and I occasionally object to those who speak of God/Christ/The Holy Spirit as if (a) it's a given that we all believe in them, and (b) that what they say is definite and irrefutable, and we're hell-bound if we don't concur.

 

I, too, am delighted for those who have strong faith in whatever they choose to believe, but why, oh why, can't they leave my beliefs (and the welfare of my soul) to ME? I don't run around from door to door trying to tear down their beliefs, yet countless Christian based faiths tell me that I am hell-bound for not swallowing eagerly their particular tenets.

 

I don't even know what beliefs I have anymore, I just know that I must figure it out for myself and really don't need people 1) criticizing the paths I choose on this journey and, 2) insisting that I am on the highway to hell.

 

I will check out the link you posted, too. Thank you.

[a4a]

I don't even know what beliefs I have anymore, I just know that I must figure it out for myself and really don't need people 1) criticizing the paths I choose on this journey and, 2) insisting that I am on the highway to hell.

 

.

 

nah nah nah nah ........... you're going to hell..... nah nah nah nah.

 

I am better than you........

 

---- do you mean that attitude?

 

Holier than thou.

 

I love those people - Such little rays of sunshine.

[Quinch]

I feel like the only reason I still identify myself as Christian anymore is because I am supposed to. More and more it just doesn't feel right. I'm not sure what is right just yet, just that I am still seeking that place where I feel like what I am doing is not only right for me, but right for the world as well if that makes sense.

 

I find one of the neat things about Buddhism is that it isn't exclusive. You can follow the Buddhist path and still worship God, Mohammed or whatever you want.

[Geishawhelk]

Yes, I agree, and there are some who have succeeded in this.

 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama encourages many who explore and study Buddhism to maintain a strong link with the Religion of their Birth, and adhere to the tenets therein, leading a life as a person of that faith as well as possible... I can see his point of view, because he's trying to illustrate that we can all live under one sun and worship differently, but still practise on the common ground of Compassion, Love, Wisdom and kindness...

 

But in my opinion, (and I emphasise the "my"!) If you're not registered as a Republican, a Democrat, a Labour, Conservative or Liberal Supporter at birth - why is it seen as necessary for a young child to be enrolled or enlisted into a specific religion so young? Surely, as in Politics, a person should be permitted to decide their religious persuasion when they are old enough to weigh up the facts, through their own maturity?

It can become a big deal, and quite traumatic, for a person to find themselves faced with making religious choices, at a possibly vulnerable point in their lives.... So why saddle them with the torment to begin with....?

 

Anyway....

 

For my part, I discovered along my way that at one point or another, I had to put something down....

 

Each must tackle the variations, differences, similarities and likenesses as they see best.

[Geishawhelk]

In order to remind myself of the Eight Directions, or signposts on the Eightfold Path, I have devised an acronym:

 

Right Visabeam.

 

I should really have written,

'Right V.I.S.A.B.E.A.M.'

 

This is what it stands for:

 

Right -

 

View

 

Intention

 

Speech

 

Action

 

Business (more often referred to as 'Livelihood)

 

Effort

 

Awareness (Mindfulness)

 

Meditation (or Concentration)

 

...Or as one lady put it - 'Right Everything' - !

 

 

 

 

View and Intention' are Right Wisdom Training.

 

Speech, Action and Business/Livelihood are Ethics Training, and

 

Effort, Awareness and Meditation/Concentration, are Meditation Training.

 

The Eight factors of the Noble Eightfold Path are not steps to be followed in sequence, one after another. They can be more aptly described as components rather than as steps, comparable to the intertwining strands of a single cable that requires the contributions of all the strands for maximum strength.

 

 

I'll try to give you a short précis....

 

The further analogy of the Eight spokes of the wheel has also long been popular, and I personally view it as:

 

The Hub being the Buddha himself, who radiates all this knowledge, and connects with us through this Path… the spokes, are the Eight Right Signposts… the Dharma condensed into digestible and noteworthy lessons, one following the other in perpetual cyclical flow. The outer hoop, the brace, is the Sangha – the close, local and global community upon which we rely for companionship, support, comfort and unity…. The Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha are the Three Jewels – The Triple Gem in which we, as Buddhists, take refuge when first vowing to follow the Buddhist path… recitation of these three “converts” us to Buddhism.

 

 

With a certain degree of progress all eight factors can be present simultaneously, each supporting the others. However, until that point is reached, some sequence in the unfolding of the path is inevitable.

 

The first point is called Right View -- the right way to view the world. Wrong view occurs when we impose our expectations onto things; expectations about how we hope things will be, or about how we are afraid things might be. Right View occurs when we see things simply, as they are. It is an open and accommodating attitude. We abandon hope and fear and take joy in a simple straight-forward approach to life.

 

We have to practise a detached discernment, and attempt to view things in an unprejudiced, neutral and dispassionate way…. We have to attempt to prevent emotion from distorting our View, and of coming, therefore, to a misguided conclusion….

 

It is rather like reading a map and plotting a route from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’…deciding on the chosen route, memorising the road to take and studying the map is all very well… But unless we actually put one foot in front of the other, and experience this ‘way’, we will never be able to accurately recount the journey made, or describe what the route and point ‘B’ actually look like… so we have to connect completely, and empathise as far as we can, with what it is we are Viewing….

 

“‘Develop a Mind that clings to nothing’. Be mindful of not only what you see, but of HOW you see things; your point of view should be as flexible as a reed in a spring breeze: well anchored, but subject to the energies that may move it this way and that - ever ready to accept the changes Life inevitably brings, without being so rigid as to reject them without so much as a glance.”

 

It is wrong View when the finger is pointing at the Moon, to concentrate on the Finger…. We have to keep our eye on the ball….

[lonelybird]

so all these have to be achieved by self?

 

Buddhist don't believe there is a living God?

 

How can people achieve the "simple right view" of life? by meditation? I found often people do think they have right view at the time no matter the view is right or not. (I found this about myself, sometimes I think I was doing right thing, but Spirit told me "it was not", and in the end it turned out it wasn't right)

 

HOW can people achieve "a Mind that clings to nothing"? pretty difficult, isn't it?

[lonelybird]

But in my opinion, (and I emphasise the "my"!) If you're not registered as a Republican, a Democrat, a Labour, Conservative or Liberal Supporter at birth - why is it seen as necessary for a young child to be enrolled or enlisted into a specific religion so young? Surely, as in Politics, a person should be permitted to decide their religious persuasion when they are old enough to weigh up the facts, through their own maturity?

It can become a big deal, and quite traumatic, for a person to find themselves faced with making religious choices, at a possibly vulnerable point in their lives.... So why saddle them with the torment to begin with....?

 

Anyway....

 

For my part, I discovered along my way that at one point or another, I had to put something down....

 

Each must tackle the variations, differences, similarities and likenesses as they see best.

a young child enlist into a religion? you are spiritually speaking?

You mean when a person decide which religion he/she would choose, he/she must be spiritually mature enough to do so? I think it has something to do with vulnerability, or crisis also.

 

I've seen person who was really messed up, didn't see him spiritually mature, he was drug dealer, alchoholic, abuser, but at the bottom of his life, he called on God for help, since then he dramatically changed, nobody would believe he is "he". some people (not all) changed and "choose" Christianality at the time their life hit the bottom. I think why these people can "see" God because they are quite humble

[Geishawhelk]

Yes, exactly so, that's precisely my point!

A person should be free to choose whatever path they wish to follow, when they are in a position to be able to make that decision, for whatever reason. A person should not have a religion imposed on them without prior knowlege or consent, at such an early age, particularly as an awful lot can happen to that person between youth and mature age!

 

All of the people I personally know, who have come to Buddhism, have come from a different Religion. It would have been so much easier if they could have been permitted to choose their own preferred religion to begin with.

Some people come to God, some walk away. And that's fine, that's the way it is. But in all cases, it should be a matter of personal choice from the start, not a matter of "conversion".

 

Were you born into a Christian family, or did you come to know God at a later stage? If it is the latter, then you will understand what I mean.....

[Geishawhelk]

so all these have to be achieved by self?

Yes.

 

Buddhist don't believe there is a living God?

No.

 

How can people achieve the "simple right view" of life? by meditation? I found often people do think they have right view at the time no matter the view is right or not. (I found this about myself, sometimes I think I was doing right thing, but Spirit told me "it was not", and in the end it turned out it wasn't right)

You cannot take the teachings in isolation. There is a great deal of trasining the mind through learning the sutras, and through meditation. Diligent practise, and adherence to the Eightfold Path will help in enabling you to make as skilful a judgement of your own behaviour as possible.

From my point of view, the "Spirit" telling you whether something is right or wrong to do, is just your own mental assessment. But you believe it's spirit. I don't. simple.

 

HOW can people achieve "a Mind that clings to nothing"? pretty difficult, isn't it?

 

of course it's difficult! But not impossible! it takes dedication and practise. and in the meantime, you follow the eightfold path and adhere to the five precepts. Even after achieving a mind that 'clings to nothing' you still practise to keep it that way!

[Geishawhelk]

RIGHT INTENTION:

 

The second point of the path is called Right Intention. It proceeds from Right View. If we are able to abandon our expectations, our hopes and fears, we no longer need to be manipulative. We don't have to try to con situations into our preconceived notions of how they should be. We work with what is. Our intentions are pure.

When we have first considered the object of our perception, and assured ourselves that we have viewed it from every angle possible, and that we have as accurate a perception of this situation as we can possibly muster, then, our next question in evaluating our response, is to ask ourselves:

“What is my motivation?”

We have to be discerning enough to immediately recognise any agenda or prejudice we might be harbouring… Our minds can be very cunning this way…! We have to first then, understand what is stimulating the thought, or intention we are experiencing… Is it Resentment? Desire? Anger? Pity? Prejudice? Are we able to render our thinking Neutral and impartial? Can we succeed in our discipline, to enable ourselves to evaluate matters with a Clear Mind? Neither here or there, but in the Middle…

“The Thought” (Intention) “manifests as the Word, the Word manifests as the Deed; the Deed develops into Habit; and Habit hardens the character. So watch the Thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from Love born out of concern for all beings… As the shadow follows the body, as we think, so we become.”

From the ‘Dhammapada’ – The sayings of the Buddha.

 

Sometimes, it might not be possible to spend an indeterminate amount of time weighing all these things up – occasionally, we find ourselves reacting with instinct, or as a reflex…. And sometimes, in the result, we are skilful, and at other times, we are less skilful. But the more we can practise and meditate, and be Mindful of this teaching, the more it becomes familiar to us, and the more and more we ‘get it Right’.

Practise makes perfect.