Fresh Ideas Friday: Buddhism

Fresh ideas Friday: The Basics of Buddhism

Buddhist philosophy first impacted my thought process when I read “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman four years ago. That novel was my first exposure to the concepts of meditation, mindfulness, acceptance of the world as it really is, acceptance of suffering, and losing my attachment to material things, all of which have developed into important aspects of my mission and purpose.

I am not buddhist. However, I find inspiration and comfort in its practices and teachings. This Fresh Idea Friday is an attempt to understand a little better the basic precepts and practices of Buddhism and gain a little more wisdom from the truth contained within them.

“I teach one thing and one only: suffering and the end of suffering.”

With the story of Siddhartha Gautama starts the story of Buddhism: A young prince, the son of a warrior-king, tires of the pleasures and indulgences of courtly life. Renouncing his privileged class to become an ascetic, he vows to attain understanding of the world around him. From his efforts, he came to the Four Noble Truths:

1) The truth of suffering. Life is suffering.

2) Suffering is caused by craving. Desire and the pursuit of desire cause suffering.

3) Suffering can be overcome. Happiness and contentment are attainable by releasing craving and attachment to past or future. By our happiness and freedom we can freely and happily help others. This is Nirvana.

4) The Noble Eightfold Path is the path which leads to the end of suffering.

“To cease from evil, to do good, and to purify the mind yourself, this is the teaching of all the Buddhas.”

Karma (sanskrit for “action,” or “work,”) refers to the fruits or weight of actions both good and evil. Karma drives samsara, the cycle of birth and rebirth that is ultimately unsatisfactory and painful, and liberation from which is salvation, Nirvana, the end goal of the path of Buddhism.

What is the Noble Eightfold Path?

1) Right View: Actions have consequences, death is not the end, and through insight, we gain salvation from the cycle.

2) Right Resolve: Right intention, right aspiration, right thought.

3) Right speech: Abstaining from lying, divisive speech, abusive speech, and idle chatter.

4) Right action: Abstaining from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct.

5) Right livelihood: For monks, living from begging but not accepting everything and not possessing more than strictly necessary. For the layperson, to avoid causing suffering to living beings by cheating them, harming them or killing them in any way.

6) Right effort: To develop, increase, cultivate and perfect wholesome mental states free from delusion.

7) Right mindfulness: Observing all physical phenomena as impermanent, suffering and without self.

8) Right concentration: A series of cultivated states of mind leading to a state of perfect equanimity and awareness.

Essential to Buddhism is the practice of nonviolence, compassion for all beings, detachment of happiness from pleasure and worldly things, and the use of mindfulness to cultivate increasing bliss.

Relevance

My disagreements with Buddhism are mainly on theological technicalities. In terms of practical morality, Buddhist concepts have enabled me to live a better way. Adapting Buddhist concepts to my own religious beliefs (replacing "Samsara" with "the World" and changing the consequences of "karma" to simply indicate the weight of consequences for actions) have helped me connect to much healthier ways of seeing myself and the world. Observing my thoughts and feelings without judgment, shame or any attaching my well-being to whether they stay or go has brought me greater self-control and sense of well-being independently of circumstances. Cultivating a commitment to loving-kindness and compassion in my thoughts and feelings towards all beings has brought centeredness and balance to my relationships with others, and with myself. And acknowledging the reality of my delusions, and committing myself to insight in order to see the world for what it is, has enabled me to enjoy a much clearer view of life.

That wraps up Fresh Ideas Friday. Some helpful links:

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm
https://www.pbs.org/edens/thailand/buddhism.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path#Right_view