If one knowingly creates suffering because of a lack of sensitivity and compassion, chances are a declaration of one’s enlightenment is premature. - James Baraz
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A 92 year old woman, in good health but one who had lived a life filled with many challenges, was asked by a reporter what advice she could offer for dealing with life’s problems. The woman responded saying she found three techniques which propelled her through issues.
1. Slow down. Every time she feels the pressure of stress, she would slow down significantly. “There’s no need to rush about and make a mess of things. Just slow it down,” she says. 2. Breathe. She demonstrated how she pursed her lips, took a long deep inhale and only after her lungs were quite full, did she slowly release the breath. 3. Avoid toxic people. “ Simple as that. Steer clear,” she advises. The learning of the petty man enters his ear and comes out of his mouth, the words have affected only the four inches between ear and mouth. Instead, the aim for a wise man should be that learning enters his ear, clings to his mind, spreads through his four limbs, and manifests itself in his actions. - Hsün-tzu
Just as all of us make great effort to maintain our everyday lives, we should make similarly great effort in our preparations for death. Everyone can benefit from preparing for death as a spiritual practice. - Anyen Rinpoche
Problems are inevitable but despair, discouragement, disillusionment are optional. The next time you encounter adversity, difficulty or sorrow repeat the mantra ‘I am not troubled by trouble’.
Then shift your perspective from a negative to positive. Start sensing that your problem may be an opportunity to develop persistence, cultivate patience, embrace change, strengthen willpower, experience growth. Begin learning to accept problems as normal and totally unavoidable. Rather than react negatively when an unwelcome issue takes you by surprise, respond with curiosity and creativity. That opens up the mental and emotional pathway for you to handle, skillfully and gracefully, any issues which emerge. Buddha is the Sanskrit word for “awakened one.” It was initially applied as an honor upon Siddhartha Gautama, the Indian prince who renounced power and privilege to seek enlightenment. The term is more general and refers to any being highly awakened.
“Anyone who is peaceful, loving and understanding can be called a buddha,” notes Thich Nhat Hanh. ‘There were many buddhas in the past, there are buddhas in the present moment, and there will be many buddhas in the future. Buddha is not the name of a particular person; buddha is just a common name to designate anyone who has a high degree of peace and who has a high degree of understanding and compassion. All of us are capable of being called by this name,” he explains. The presence of a buddha often depends on cultural, social and religions conditions. Zen master Shunryu Suzuki said: “The Buddha was great because the people were great. When the people are not ready there will be no Buddha.” Every day of your life, every morning of your life, you could ask yourself, ‘As I go into this day, what is the most important thing? What is the best use of this day?’ - Pema Chodron
A person with healthy self esteem will be proud of his or her achievements. This is a God like quality says Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. In the first chapter of Genesis, there are six occasions reported that God was proud of what He had created. One example is from Genesis 1:31: “God saw all that He had made, and found it very good.” (the other references are Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18 and 21). This repetition is likely present to emphasize God’s pleasure in his work.
“In contrast, there are many people who seem to feel guilty about or who are reluctant to take pleasure in, their accomplishments; instead they minimize them so as to make them seem insignificant.” A healthier and more positive approach is to be “like God” and “take pleasure in our accomplishment and good works,” Rabbi Telushkin says. Truly happy are those who can help others become happy. - Daisaku Ikeda
You must not allow yourselves to grow old before your time. Please live with a youthful spirit. That is what Buddhism teaches us to do and it is how life ought to be lived. If you make a commitment o work for the sake of others, you will be rejuvenated. If you devote your life to helping others, you’ll stay young. - Daisaku Ikeda
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Victor M. Parachin ...is aVedic educator, yoga instructor, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of a dozen books. Buy his books at amazon or your local bookstore. Archives
July 2021
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