“When talking about the foundations of Buddhism, one cannot dwell on later complications and ramifications.It is important to know that the idea of purifying the teachings is always alive in the Buddhist consciousness.Soon after the death of the Master, famous councils began in Rajagriha, then in Vaishali and in Patna, returning the teaching to its original simplicity.
The main existing schools of Buddhism are Mahayana (Tibet, Mongolia, Russia - Kalmyks, Buryats, China, Japan, Northern India) and Hinayana (Indo-China, Burma, Siam, Ceylon and India). But in all schools the qualities of the Teacher himself are equally remembered.
Qualities of Buddha: Shakya Muni - wise from the Shakya family; Shakya Sinha - Shakya Leo; Bhagavat - Blessed One; Sattha - Teacher; Tathagata - Passed the Great Path; Gina - Winner; Lord of the Good Law.
This arrival of the king in the guise of a mighty beggar is unusually beautiful. “Go, you beggars, bring salvation and goodness to the nations.” In this parting word of the Buddha, in one definition “poor” there is a whole program.
By understanding the teachings of Buddha, you understand where the Buddhist statement comes from: “Buddha is a man.” His teaching of life is beyond any prejudice. There is no temple for him, but there is a meeting place and a house of knowledge, the Tibetan dukang and tsuglakang.
Buddha denied the existence of a personal God.
Buddha denied the existence of an eternal and unchanging soul.
Buddha gave teachings for living every day.
Buddha personally fought against the fanaticism of caste and the advantage of classes.
The Buddha affirmed experiential, reliable knowledge and the value of work.
Buddha commanded to study the life of the world in its full reality.
Buddha laid the foundation of the community, foreseeing the triumph of the Community of Peace.
Hundreds of millions of Buddha devotees are spread throughout the world and everyone claims:
“I resort to the Buddha, I resort to the Teaching, I resort to the Community.”
Basics of Buddhism. E.I. Roerich
Buddha Shakyamuni
Buddha Shakyamuni lived and worked for the benefit of humanity in India in the 6th century BC.
Born in India, in the city of Kapilavastu, into a family of kshatriyas - into the caste of warriors and rulers.
His father was King Shudhodana from the Kshatriya Shakya family, which is why Buddha is called Shakyamuni, that is, the Sage from the Shakya family. Buddha's mother is Mahamaya, the king's wife.
Seven days after the birth of the prince, the mother died.
Siddhartha was raised by his aunt named Mahaprajapati, who became the wife of King Shudhodana. She loved the boy very much.
Astrologers predicted that Siddhartha would leave the palace and become a Buddha, seeing the old man, sick, dead And hermit.
The king decided to protect his son from such dangerous encounters and built marvelous palaces for him, surrounded by a high wall, and at the right time married him to a beautiful princess, who gave birth to his son Rahula.
If the prince had lived an ordinary life and faced not only its joys, but also its sorrows, perhaps nothing would have happened. But attempts to escape fate usually lead to the opposite result, and the prince rushed towards the fate that had chosen him.
He asked the charioteer to show him the world beyond the palace fence.
On the first trip Siddhartha saw an ancient old man walking towards him and heard from the charioteer that this fate would not escape anyone. All the joy of youth left Siddhartha.
Second departure brought him a meeting with a stretcher on which lay a man suffering terribly from an incurable disease. The charioteer said that no one would escape this fate. The joy of health and strength left the young man.
On the third walk A sad funeral procession was moving towards the royal chariot, carrying a seemingly withered body. The charioteer explained that this is death, it befalls every living thing.
For the fourth time They met a hermit, and the charioteer said that this man followed the true Teaching.
Siddhartha returned thoughtfully to his palace. The dancers and musicians who entertained him were tired and fell asleep, scattered in their sleep. The prince looked at them, and it seemed to him that he was in a cemetery and there were only corpses in front of him. And Siddhartha Gautama realized that it was time to radically change his life, since worldly joys had lost all meaning for him after the shocks he had experienced.
He went to look at his sleeping wife and son, and then left his hometown of Kapilavastu. He was 29 years old at that time.
As soon as the prince left the city gates, he appeared before him. demon Mara. He promised from now on follow him like a shadow, tempting him with temptations and terrifying him in order to force the prince to leave his chosen path.
For everyone who has left the sphere of everyday life and delved into the wilds of his unconscious, such a demon certainly emerges from the depths of his own essence and never leaves him. .
But Prince Siddhartha immediately rebelled against Mara and rejected his evil spell. Having reached the river bank, he dismounted from his horse, whose name was Khantaka, and immediately exchanged clothes with a beggar hermit. Then he continued his journey in complete solitude, because this is the only way find the truth of the path .
For six years the prince wandered around India, moving from one group of hermits to another, learned all their teachings and experienced all the practices they suggested. But not a single teaching and not a single Teacher could bring him the desired peace of mind.
One day, having emerged empty-handed from yet another strict asceticism, he sat down under a bodhi tree and concentrated in deep meditation.
Immediately, he was able to remember all of his previous rebirths.
From the very depths of his being a clear awareness came to him four noble truths :
Firstly that a series of deaths and births is inextricably linked with suffering,
Secondly that this suffering has a reason,
Thirdly that this suffering can be stopped,
fourthly that there is a path leading to the end of suffering.
All knowledge of the past, present and future was revealed to him and entered into the very core of his being, and a feeling of deep and indestructible peace was imprinted on his heart.
From that moment on, the former prince Siddhartha seemed to awaken from a heavy, oppressive sleep and became a Buddha, Awakened, Enlightened, Omniscient.
Buddha came out of deep meditation and touched the ground with his hand, calling it to witness that he had achieved Enlightenment.
Gesture "touching the ground" depicted in numerous sculptures and paintings of Shakyamuni Buddha, or Gautama Buddha, as he is commonly called.
Buddha received enlightenment. To achieve it, he had to go through the entire path of a person, imbued with his suffering and compassion for him.
Buddha initially had no support, since he rejected all the teachings and experiences of all Teachers, according to well-trodden ways which He refused follow .
Now he had to go alone, he did not have an equal companion. All that was left was to rely only on himself.
Now he was faced with the task of leading people along the path of Liberation that had opened up to him, taking upon himself the feat of Teaching.
Buddha understood that people would not believe him when he tried to convey his experience to them, that they would not understand him and would distort his words...
But His great mission was predetermined - this mission to save humanity!
So, Buddha, whom everyone knew as a simple prince Siddhartha, began to preach the Buddhist teachings, the Buddhist dharma, whenever possible adapting to perception people around him .
For, as the beautiful Buddhist text Dhammapada says, if anything must be done, do it with firmness, since a relaxed wanderer only raises more dust.
Teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni. Key Points of the Teaching .
Buddha installed 4 noble truths, the knowledge of which everyone should devote himself to:
1. Life is full of suffering.
2. Suffering has a reason.
3. Suffering can be stopped.
4. The path leading to liberation from suffering.
First truth- "Life is full of suffering" says that suffering is nothing more than birth, desire, hatred, envy, condemnation, sadness, despair, grief, illness and death.
Many Indian thinkers, like the Buddha, believed that only short-sighted people consider worldly joys to be pleasure. These pleasures are so short-lived that the subsequent series of adversities and illnesses, fears and losses negates all the joy from the pleasure experienced.
Second truth- “Suffering has a reason”, explains that the origin of suffering and evil on Earth is nothing more than a cause-and-effect relationship. Buddha explained the Law of Karma. Every thought, decision and action of a person leads him to a certain consequence.
There is harmony and balance in the Universe. If a person violates harmony by sending negativity into the surrounding space, he will certainly receive a return a hundredfold. This happens in order to teach a person to live in peace and love.
If a person does not understand why he is doing this and does not want to understand, then the situation gets worse from time to time and one day leads the person to such a state that he finally asks a question to which he will definitely receive an answer.
So, ignorance of the truth generates a desire for a new birth and the passage of unlearned lessons.
If a person knew the transitory (not eternal) nature of earthly existence, which is full of limitations and suffering, then the wheel of Samsara (the circle of reincarnations) would be stopped, since there would be no reasons that would give rise to a new one. karma.
Third truth- “Suffering can be stopped,” follows from the second.
By fulfilling certain conditions, a person can be freed from suffering in this life.
Leads to true wisdom:
- complete control over emotions,
- liberation from attachments to material things,
- constant thinking
- the desire to know the truth.
Achieving nirvana does not mean complete inactivity. Having achieved wisdom, a person should not remain in thoughts. For 45 years after his enlightenment, the Buddha traveled, preached and founded Brotherhoods.
In his teachings, Buddha said that there are two types of human actions.
First committed under the influence of blindness, hatred and attachment. They generate the seeds of karma, and therefore new births to fulfill karmic tasks.
Second actions are not burdened by any influence, they are devoid of attachment and, accordingly, do not give birth to knots of karma.
A person who has removed a particle of ignorance and conquered passion acquires goodwill, purity, courage, indestructible calm, and self-control. This encourages him and gives him strength to continue to walk the difficult road towards the goal of achieving enlightenment.
The fourth truth - « The path leading to liberation from suffering." The Buddha points out in detail this path to liberation from suffering. He himself followed this path.
« THE EIGHT FOUND PATH", it is named so because the path consists of eight steps.
The Eightfold Path is accessible to everyone. And everyone who follows it achieves the eight virtues.
1. Right Views. Ignorance and misconceptions about oneself and about the world are the cause of suffering, therefore, for spiritual development one must have correct views, which imply understanding and knowledge of the four truths.
2. Right Determination. Knowledge of the truths is useless without the determination to grow spiritually and transform the surrounding reality in accordance with the truths. Therefore, a person striving to develop spiritually must renounce attachment to anything, renounce hostility and bad intentions.
3. Correct speech. Right determination should control and guide our speech. This is abstaining from profanity, slander, lies and insults.
4. Correct behavior. Right determination must also manifest itself in right action and right conduct, the Buddha taught. This is renunciation of wrong actions - theft, destruction of living beings, satisfaction of lust.
5. Right lifestyle. You should earn your living in an honest way, rejecting foul language and bad deeds.
6. Correct effort. A person, guided by correct behavior, speech, determination, tries to change, but old habits lead him astray. At this stage it is important to control your thoughts, speech, behavior . That is, to lead conscious lifestyle, stopping in time not our bad thoughts, not allowing the habits of the past to return us to the wheel of depravity. Fill the void with good ideas and knowledge.
No one is immune from the risk of slipping, so it’s too early to celebrate a moral victory.
7. Right thoughts. At this stage, you should remain vigilant and constantly remember and practice the previous material learned. You need to think about everything as it is. That is, a shovel is a shovel, I am me. Exaggerated, but intelligible. Wrong thoughts have taken deep roots. Behavior based on false stereotypes has become unconscious. It is necessary to uproot all the rubbish, throw it away and forget. You shouldn’t look back, otherwise you might become petrified, stuck in the past.
8. Correct Concentration. Walking and striving for wisdom focuses his calm mind on exploring and comprehending truths. This is the first stage of contemplation and knowledge.
The first stage of contemplation and knowledge, a person enjoys the peace of detachment from everything earthly and the joy of pure thinking.
Second stage of concentration arises when faith in the truth dispels doubts, and the need for research and reasoning disappears. A person feels inner peace and joy.
Third stage of concentration this is when a person makes an attempt to move to a conscious state of indifference. Here a person renounces the joy of concentration and experiences complete equanimity.
The fourth stage of spiritual concentration - the seeking wanderer tries to free himself even from the consciousness of equanimity.
A state of indifference, complete equanimity and self-control sets in - ENLIGHTENMENT sets in.
All suffering ceases. Perfect wisdom and righteousness come.
Summing up the “eightfold path”, the Buddha summarizes that it consists of three harmonious stages - KNOWLEDGE, BEHAVIORS And CONCENTRATIONS.
Spiritual development And cognition impossible without voluntary control of prejudices, one’s emotions and passions.
After this, one more and final step becomes possible - this is concentration on the contemplation of truth, the result of which is the highest wisdom, perfect realization, revelation of the secret of existence.
Buddha called Fetters,so called
10 Great Obstacles To spiritual development person:
1. Illusion of personality
2. Doubt
3. Superstition
4. Bodily passions
5. Hatred
6. Attachment to the Earth
7. Desire for pleasure and tranquility
8. Pride
9. Complacency
10. Ignorance
Buddha taught his followers don't get attached to anything, even to his Teaching! Every moment has its meaning! The following parable demonstrates this.
One day the Blessed One said to his followers:
Imagine a person setting off on a long journey. He was stopped by a wide flood of water. The nearest side of this stream was full of dangers and threatened him with death, but the far side was strong and free from dangers.
There was neither a canoe to cross the stream, nor a bridge spanning the opposite bank. This man said to himself: “Truly, this stream is swift and wide, and there is no means to cross to the other side, but if I gather enough reeds, branches and leaves and build a raft from them, then I can, working hard with my hands and feet, it’s safe to cross on a raft to the opposite shore.”
So he did. The man built a raft, launched it into the water and, working with his feet and hands, safely reached the opposite shore.
Having crossed and achieved what he wanted, he said to himself:
“Truly, this raft was of great benefit to me, for with its help, working with my hands and feet, I safely crossed to this shore. Let me take this raft with me, putting it on my shoulders, and continue my journey! »
Having done this, will the man act rightly with his raft? ? What do you think, my students? What will be the correct attitude of a person towards his raft?
Verily, this man must say to himself:“This raft was of great benefit to me, for, supported by it and working with my feet and hands, I safely reached the far shore.
But, I’ll leave him on the shore and continue on my way!”
This is precisely the correct attitude of a person towards his raft.
In exactly the same way, oh students, I offer you my Teaching exactly as a means to liberation and achievement, but not as permanent possession. Understand this analogy of the Teaching with a raft.
The Dhamma (teaching) must be abandoned by you when you cross over to the shore of Nirvana.
From the above parable, it is clear how little importance the Buddha attached to everything in this world of illusion, or Maya. It was everything, even the teachings of the Buddha himself, that were viewed as having a conditional, transitory, and relative value.
This parable also emphasizes that everything is achieved only by your own labor: human hands and feet.
The teaching will be effective only when personal efforts and personal labor are put into it.
Buddha on God. In the Buddha's Teaching there is no concept of God as such. Buddha denied the existence of a personal God.
The issue of caste differences was decided unambiguously: Buddha declared all people equal and made no distinctions between castes;
Buddha called a woman a full human being , for development is impossible if one of the principles is oppressed.
He spoke about the existence of Great Laws . They determined the laws of life every day.
The Law of Fearlessness
Courage, in the teachings of Gotama, was the basis of all achievements.
“There is no true compassion without courage; without courage one cannot achieve self-discipline: patience is courage; without courage it is impossible to penetrate into the depths of true knowledge and gain the wisdom of the Arhat.”
Gotama demanded from his students the complete destruction of fear. Fearlessness of thought and fearlessness of action are commanded.
The very nickname of Gotama Buddha - Singh - "Lion" and his personal calls to go through all obstacles, like rhinoceroses and elephants, show what depth of fearlessness was commanded to him. And therefore, the teaching of Gotama Buddha can, first of all, be called the Teaching of fearlessness.
“Warriors, warriors, so we call ourselves, O disciples, for we fight.
We fight for noble valor, for high aspirations, for highest wisdom That’s why we call ourselves warriors.”
Law of Relinquishment of Property
Buddha effectively opposed property.
The relinquishment of property was carried out harshly. Moreover the renunciation of property had to be revealed not only externally, but also accepted with consciousness.
“Once the disciples asked the Blessed One: “ How understand execution commandments from kaza from property? One student abandoned all things, but the Teacher continued to reproach him for property. The other remained surrounded by things, but did not deserve reproach. Ownership is not measured by things, but by thoughts. . ...You can have things and not be the owner. So said the Blessed One and asked not to think about property, because from speech is the washing of thought. For only through well-washed channels can the main aspiration break through.” (Community, 85)
The Buddha constantly advised having as few things as possible so as not to devote too much time to them.
The law of the value of labor.
The Buddha affirmed experiential, reliable knowledge and the value of work. Only through work can one forge the will and armor for battle; only through work can one strengthen one’s character and acquire the best qualities.
The law of the dignity of the human person beyond class and external differences
Buddha personally fought against the fanaticism of caste and the advantage of classes. It was Buddha who pointed out the absurdity and injustice of caste differences among people.
Law of Real Knowledge
Buddha announced ignorance- the cause of all human troubles, and knowledge the only salvation. And he made this knowledge available to everyone.
He affirmed knowledge as the only possibility of liberation from the shackles of the earth, and ignorance as the most serious crime, and commanded everyone to follow the path of knowledge.
Along with condemning ignorance, the Buddha equally severely condemned frivolity: “The fool, the ignorant are their own greatest enemies, for they commit evil deeds that bear bitter fruits.”
“A fool may be the companion of a wise man throughout his life, and yet he will remain ignorant of the Truth, just as a spoon does not know the taste of stew.”
“Long is the night for the watchman, long is the journey for the weary. The wheel of lives and deaths turns long for fools who do not know the Truth.”
He especially often instructed family people to teach their children all the sciences and arts and thereby contribute to the growth and expansion of their consciousness. He also constantly pointed out the urgent need for travel. He saw this as a true educational goal, because travel, taking a person away from ordinary conditions, develops in him mobility, resourcefulness and adaptability - qualities necessary for preparing the process of expanding consciousness.
The teachings of the Blessed One insisted on authenticity , but there were no dogmas in it , which would be offered on faith, since the Teacher, affirming knowledge in everything, did not see the benefit of blind faith for the development of consciousness. “Therefore, I taught you,” said the Buddha, “not to believe just because you have heard, but only when it is tested and accepted by your consciousness.”
In a conversation with a young Brahmin, the Blessed One pointed out how a worthy disciple comes to master the truth:
“When, after mature discussion, the student admitted that this person completely free from delusion, he believes this person.
By approaching him with trust, he becomes his disciple.
Having become his student, he opens his ear.
Opening his ear, he hears the teaching.
Having heard the teaching, he holds it in his mind. He discusses the meaning of the truths he has retained. He ponders them. This is where his determination comes from.
What he decided, he did. He evaluates the value of what has been done.
Having assessed, he makes every effort. With his efforts, he gets closer to the truth. Penetrating deep into her, he sees.
But all this is only recognition of the truth, but not mastery of it . To fully master it, you need to apply and tirelessly repeat this psychological process».
From this conversation it is clear how free the student was to discuss the teaching taught to him, and that only through independent efforts can knowledge and mastery of the truth be achieved.
« Honor your faith and don't blaspheme the faith of others», - one of the axioms of Buddhism. So the Buddha's Teaching is an example non-negation of previous Teachings.
The Buddha found his way to the hearts of people not through miracles, but through practical teachings to improve everyday life and a personal example of great cooperation.
His tolerance and desire for close cooperation with people was so great that he never spoke against their rituals or beliefs.
The Buddha's teaching, as the teaching of truth, covered all the great teachings that came before him, and therefore, emphasizing their truth, it drove out denial.
By driving out denial, the teaching did not enslave anyone. Awareness of the great principle of community opened all paths.
***
Gautama Buddha laid the foundation of the community. Hewas one of the first community members. Buddha organized Communities - Sanghas.
The Buddha's communities were not monasteries, and joining them were not initiations, for, according to the Teacher, only awareness of the teachings made the entering Buddhist a new person and community member.
The community accepted everyone without distinction of race, caste or gender.
Two rules were necessary for entering the community:
1. complete renunciation of personal property
2. moral purity.
The remaining rules concerned strict self-discipline and community responsibilities.
The community maintained complete equality of all members. One community member differed from another only in the period of his entry.
When choosing the eldest, age was not taken into consideration. Seniority was not measured by gray hair. Of the one whose entire dignity lay only in old age, it was said that he was “vainly old.”
But " the one in whom justice speaks, who knows how to control himself, who is wise, is the elder».
Buddha did not force us to live in a cramped dormitory. From the very beginning, among the students there were those who preferred life in solitude.
About those who are too secluded, He said: “Lonely life in the forest is useful for those who follow it, but it contributes little to the good of people.”
Buddha didn't want to make too many rules he sought to avoid pedantry and monotony of the statutes. He avoided making many prohibitions mandatory. All rules sought to protect and preserve the complete independence of the student.
The community member was obliged to observe simplicity and decency, but since there is no advantage in what to eat or what to wear, the Buddha gave the disciples a certain freedom.
Prompted by Devadatta, cousin Gautama Buddha, several community members asked the Buddha to establish stricter discipline for his disciples and prohibit the consumption of meat and fish in their diet. The Buddha refused this request, saying that everyone is free to apply these measures to themselves, but they cannot be made an obligation for everyone.
The same tolerance in clothing, for it is unacceptable that freedom degenerates into a privilege for some. Thus, there is a known case when the Blessed One, convinced of the wisdom of the venerable Sona and seeing his bloody feet, said to him:
Sona, you were raised to be refined, I order you to wear boots with soles.
Sona asked that this decision be extended to all members of the community, and the Blessed One hastened to fulfill this desire.
All the rules of the community established by the Blessed One were always suggested a vital necessity . For example, one touching episode served as the basis for a new rule for the community.
“One bikshu fell ill with an intestinal disorder and, exhausted, fell and lay on the ground in his mud. It happened that the Blessed One, accompanied by the highly revered Ananda, went around the cells of the community members. Entering the cell of the sick biksha and seeing him in such a helpless state, he approached him and asked:
- What’s wrong with you, bikshu, are you sick?
- Yes, Vladyka.
- But isn't there anyone who can help you?
- No, Vladyka.
- Why don’t the other bikshus look after you?
- Because, Lord, now they have no benefit from me.
At this the Blessed One turned to Ananda: “Go, Ananda, and bring water, we will wash this biksha.” “Yes, Lord,” Ananda answered and brought water. Then the Blessed One began to pour water, and the revered Ananda washed the sick man. After which the Blessed One took the sick man by the head and Anand by the legs, so they lifted him and laid him on the bed.
In connection with this incident, the Blessed One called the community members and asked them: “Bikshu, is there a sick community member in some cell?”
Yes, Lord.
- What is this bikshu sick with?
- He is sick with an intestinal disorder, Vladyka.
- Isn't there anyone to look after him?
- No, Vladyka.
- But why didn’t any of the bikshu help him? Biksha, you have neither fathers nor mothers who could look after you. If you, bikshu, do not look after each other, then who will help you? Anyone who wants to serve me must serve the sick.”
“Whoever has a mentor, the mentor must look after him until he recovers, and the same is true if he has a teacher or fellow student in the same vihara, or a student living with him. If he does not have any of those named, then the entire community must look after him. And whoever fails to do this will be guilty of an offense against the community.”
The Teacher’s dislike for establishing numerous, fixed rules, especially prohibitions, and the desire to preserve the vitality of the community are clearly expressed in his subsequent instruction to the disciple Ananda:
“I instruct the community to modify the rules, small and even the slightest.”
But many weak souls are calmer if their duties are strictly defined, hence the increase in rules and prohibitions in later Buddhism.
It is much easier to obey the rules, even if they are shy, than to demonstrate the personal conscious energy that the Teacher demanded from his students.
The Buddha's community sought not to depersonalize its members, but to unite them in a friendly manner with a single aspiration for the common good.
The community did not want to smooth out individual characteristics; on the contrary, the Buddha valued every initiative, every individual manifestation, for in the Teaching, which asserted that everyone is his own creator and liberator and that completely personal efforts are necessary to achieve this lofty goal, the individual principle had all the data for development.
“Avoid quarrels by asserting yourself, without excluding others,” was accepted as a rule in the community.
And so little did Buddhism fear individual manifestations that often the inspired words of one of the members of the community were accepted and became canonical on a par with the statements of the Blessed One himself.
Severe discipline, constant vigilance over thoughts, words and actions made the community a school, as much educational as educational.
In the Buddha's communities, refusal was allowed, but personally conscious; But denial equated to ignorance.
Among the Buddha's community it was possible to renounce petty considerations, but negation was tantamount to leaving the community. It was customary to never remember someone who had left - the community had to live in the future. In addition, those who dropped out often returned; then the return was not accompanied by any questions, except one: “Don’t you deny?”
At the beginning of the teaching, discipline was mainly concerned with cleansing the heart and mind from prejudices and bad qualities. As the teaching was successful, it was transferred to the expansion of consciousness.
It is difficult for one person to rise if he has not gone through the harsh path of purification.
“If the matter is polluted, then no matter how much the dyer immerses it in blue, yellow, red or purple dye, its color will be ugly and impure - why? Due to contamination of matter. if the heart is unclean, the same sad result must be expected.”
Buddha never told his interlocutor that he was wrong . With his deep knowledge and reasoning, he covered the knowledge of his interlocutor, telling him about many things. And thus evoked admiration and gratitude. (example, with nadir and zenith):
“Once the Blessed One, on the way to a bamboo grove, near Rajadgriha, where he was then staying with his disciples, met a householder named Shrigala, who, in wet clothes, with loose hair and with folded hands, bowed to all four directions of the world, and also to towards the zenith and towards the nadir.
The Blessed One, knowing that he was performing a rite, according to traditional religious superstition, should ward off misfortunes from his home, asked Shrigala:
“Why are you performing this strange ritual?”
Srigala replied, “Do you think it strange that I protect my house from the influence of evil spirits?
I know that You, O Gotama Shakyamuni, whom people call Tathagata, the Blessed Buddha, consider that invocations are useless and do not have any saving power.
But listen to me and know that by performing this rite, I honor, respect and fulfill the behest of my father.”
Then the Tathagata said:
“You do well, O Shrigala, in honoring, respecting and fulfilling the commandment of your father; and it is your duty to protect your home, your wife, your children and your children's children from the harmful influences of evil spirits.
I see nothing wrong with performing the ritual bequeathed by your father. But I see that you do not understand the ritual.
Let the Tathagata, who now speaks to you as a spiritual father, and who loves you no less than your parents loved you, let him explain to you the meaning of these six directions.
To protect your home, these rituals are not enough. You must protect it with kind deeds towards the people around you.
Turn to your parents to the east, to your Masters to the south, to your wife and children to the west, and to your friends to the north, and accurately establish the zenith of your pious devotions and the nadir of your relations towards your servants.
This is the kind of piety your father wants from you. Let the performance of the ritual remind you of your responsibilities.”
And Shrigala looked at the Blessed One with great respect, as at his father, and said:
“Truly, Gotama, You are the Buddha, the Blessed One and the Holy Teacher.
I never understood what I was doing, but now I know. You revealed to me a truth that was hidden, like one who brings a lamp into the darkness.
I resort to You, the Blessed Teacher, who has achieved illumination, I resort to the Truth that gives enlightenment, I resort to the refuge of the brothers.”
Buddha pointed out the imperfection of asceticism .
Being an enemy of any ritual, Buddha denied the cleansing power of dousing. “A person will not be morally pure because he has been purifying himself in water for a long time. A pure man, a Brahmin, is one in whom truth and virtue reside.”
“All your rules,” Buddha said to the fanatics, “are low and ridiculous.
Some of you walk naked, covering yourself only with your hands;
another will not drink from a jug or eat from a dish, will not sit at a table between two interlocutors, between two knives or two dishes;
another will not sit at a common table and will not accept alms in a house where there is a pregnant woman, where he notices many flies or meets a dog...
Others eat only vegetables, rice broth, cow or deer droppings, tree roots, branches, leaves, forest fruits or grains.
Another wears a dress, throwing it only over his shoulders, or covers himself with moss, tree bark, plants or deerskin; loosens his hair or wears a horsehair headband over it.
Some wear clothes of sadness; constantly holds his hands up; does not sit on benches or mats or constantly sits in an animal position...
Others lie on thorny plants or cow dung.
I will not list other similar means with which you torment and exhaust yourself...
What do you, volunteer workers, expect for your hard work?
You expect alms and veneration from the laity, and when you achieve this goal, you become deeply addicted to the comforts of temporary life, do not want to part with them, and do not even know the means to do so.
As soon as you see visitors from a distance, you immediately sit down and pretend to be caught in deep thought, but after parting with them, you again do what you want, take a walk or rest in freedom.
When rough food is brought to you, you give it away without even tasting it, and keep any tasty food for yourself.
Indulging in vices and passions, you, however, put on the guise of modesty.
No, this is not true asceticism!
Labor is only useful when under it Not hidden selfish intentions».
Asceticism has no value for liberation from the bonds of earth.
It is much more difficult to find a patient person than one who feeds on air and roots, and dresses in bark and leaves.
“When a man is weakened by hunger and thirst, when he is too tired to control his feelings and ideas, can he achieve a goal that is visible only to the clear mind of an expanded consciousness.”
Or another example:
“In order for the veena strings to produce a harmonic sound, they should not be too tight or loose. Likewise, every effort, if excessive, ends in a fruitless waste of effort; if not enough, it turns into passivity.
Practice proportionality, maintain an exact measure of tension and establish a balance in your abilities.
A disciplined man is free, being free he is joyful, he is calm and happy.”
And also about those to whom the teachings of the Buddha wereNotto your liking:
Much evidence speaks of the hostility he encountered among ascetics and Brahmins who hated him.
The first for condemning their fanaticism, the second for refusing to recognize their right to social advantages and to knowledge of the truth by right of birth.
He was the first to say: “If it were possible to achieve perfection and liberation from the bonds that bind a person to the earth, only by renouncing meat food and human conditions, then the elephant and the cow would have achieved it long ago.”
Second - “By deeds a person becomes a pariah, by deeds he becomes a Brahmin.
The fire kindled by a Brahmin and the fire kindled by a Sudra have the same flame, brightness and light.
What has your separation led to?
For bread you go to the general bazaar and value the coins from the Shudra's purse.
Your separation is simply called robbery.
And your sacred things are simply instruments of deception.
Is not the property of a rich Brahmin a reproach to the Divine Law?
You consider the south to be light and the north to be darkness. There will be a time when I come from midnight, and your light will dim. Even birds fly north to bring their chicks to the world. Even gray geese know the value of property on earth.
But the Brahmin is trying to fill his belt with gold and collect treasures under the threshold of the house.
Brahmin, you lead a miserable life and your end will be miserable. You will be the first to be destroyed. If I go north, that’s where I’ll return.”
The word “Buddha” is not a name, but a state of mind that has reached the highest point of development, literally translated - knower, or one who has mastered perfect knowledge - wisdom.
Buddha never claimed the omniscience that his disciples and followers endowed.
The powers that the Buddha possesses are not miraculous, for a miracle is a violation of the laws of nature. The supreme power of the Buddha is entirely consistent with the eternal order of things.
“The Buddha, according to one text, is only the eldest of men, no more different from them than the first hatched chicken from the other chickens of the same hen.”
The humanity of the Buddha is especially emphasized.
Ancient writings always emphasize the vitality of his teachings. Gotama did not turn away from life, but penetrated into all the everyday life of ordinary workers. I tried to win them over to learning and was not afraid of visits from courtesans and rajahs.
I tried not to needlessly offend traditional customs; Moreover, he was looking for an opportunity to give them his teaching, finding support in a particularly revered tradition, without compromising the basic principles.
Buddha's favorite trick was comparison and this simple and vital approach gave his teaching brightness and persuasiveness.
Undoubtedly, his knowledge exceeded the Teaching he gave, but caution, prompted by great wisdom, kept him from issuing concepts that could be not learned consciousness of the listeners and, for this reason, become destructive.
The following story illustrates this:
“One day the Blessed One stopped in a bamboo grove in Kosambi. Taking a handful of leaves, the Blessed One asked the disciples:
What do you think, my disciples, which is greater: this handful of leaves in my hand or the leaves remaining on the trees of this grove?
The leaves in the Hand of the Blessed One are few in number; The number of leaves in the entire grove is incomparable, the students answered.
Truly so, and what I knew and did not tell you is much greater than what I conveyed to you. And why, O disciples, did I not tell you this? Because there would be no benefit to you from it, for it would not contribute to a higher life. It also leads to disappointment in this earthly world, to the destruction of all sensitivity, to the cessation of desire, to peace, to higher knowledge, to awakening, to Nirvana. That's why I didn't convey this to you.
But what did I tell you? That which is suffering, the source of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and indicated the path leading to the cessation of suffering.”
Buddha spoke about meaning of the Future, and him priority over the present.
“One day a woman stopped between the images of the Blessed Buddha and Maitreya, not knowing whom to offer veneration to. And the image of the Blessed Buddha said: “According to My covenant, honor the future. Standing in defense of the past, fix your eyes on the sunrise.” Remember how We work for the future, and direct your whole being into the future! Let us bring the Teaching alien to the light in the rays of knowledge, for the light of the world is covered with darkness.” (Community, 95)
Buddha indicated the coming of a new Teacher in the future .
History has never shown us such an effective example of self-denial. According to legend, the Blessed One appointed Maitreya Bodhisattva as his successor.
“And the Blessed One said to Ananda:
I am not the first Buddha to come to Earth, nor will I be the last.
In due time, another Buddha will arise in the world, the Hidden One, of supreme illumination, endowed with wisdom, happy, containing the entire Universe, the incomparable Leader of nations, the Lord of Devas and mortals.
He will reveal to you the same eternal truths that I taught you.
He will establish his Law, glorious in its beginnings, glorious in its apotheosis and glorious in its goal in spirit and word.
He will announce righteous life, perfect and pure, which I preach now.
His disciples will number in the thousands, while mine will number only in the hundreds.
And Ananda asked: “How will we recognize Him?”
The Blessed One said: “His name will be Maitreya.”
The coming Buddha, Maitreya, as his name indicates, is the Buddha of Compassion and Love.
Throughout the Buddhist region, on roadside rocks, images of Maitreya indicate the path.
From ancient times to the present day, this image has been created by Buddhists, who know the approach of a new century.
Venerable lamas, accompanied by students, artists and sculptors, today travel through Buddhist lands, creating new images of the symbol of the aspirations of a bright future.
The Great Buddha, bequeathing Maitreya, gave the path of all existence.
The phenomenon of new evolution calls to these wise and clear Testaments.
The requirement for purification of the Teaching is not accidental; the deadlines are approaching. The image of Maitreya is ready to rise.
All the Buddhas of the past combined the wisdom of experience and transmitted it to the Blessed Conqueror.
Teaching Quotes :
“Irrigators divert water wherever they want; archers straighten an arrow; carpenters bend wood to their liking; the wise bend themselves!”
“Hatred has never been destroyed by hatred, only kindness has stopped it, such is the eternal law.”
“From the moment the solution to evil arises, a person is already guilty - whether it is revealed or not.”
“Of the three types of action,” said the Buddha, “the most destructive Not word, Not a bodily act, but a thought.”
“The main element in everything is thought. Above all - thought. Everything is done by thought.
If a person speaks or acts with an evil thought, suffering follows him, just as a wheel follows the hoof of an animal that pulls a cart.”
“It is difficult for one person to rise if he has not gone through the harsh path of purification.”
“If the matter is polluted, then no matter how much the dyer immerses it in blue, yellow, red or purple dye, its color will be ugly and impure - why? Due to contamination of matter. If the heart is unclean, the same sad result must be expected.”
“If a person speaks or acts with a good thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.”
“Giving up everything personal gives rise to a feeling of true freedom,
joy is born from freedom,
from joy - satisfaction,
from satisfaction - a feeling of peace and happiness.”
BUDDHA
Natalia Dmitrievna Spirina
From a radio broadcast (cycle “Lights of the World”)
“Truth is the only source of courage,” said the Buddha. Studying basics All religions are an approach to the Truth. The truth can only be one, just as the foundations are the same for the entire universe. And “there is no religion higher than Truth,” as it is said on the title page of The Secret Doctrine.
Forms are temporary, laws are eternal. Forms belong to the changing world, laws belong to the unchanging Being.
Agni Yoga - Living Ethics, the synthesis of all religions and yogas - gives us That an understanding that helps to approach all beliefs without denying them, but finding the commonality that unites them.
The Teaching of Living Ethics continues to develop all the basic provisions given in Buddhism, in accordance with our era. If Buddha laid foundation for the community, then in the Living Ethics the community is indicated as an inevitability for all humanity. All the provisions of Buddhism regarding self-improvement are given in the new Revelation in a widely developed scientific basis, according to the level of development achieved to date.
Thanks to what is said in the books of Living Ethics, the teachings of the Buddha, cleared of the layers of past centuries, acquire new strength and significance for the present moment. “Every moment has its necessity, and this is called justice of action,” says the Buddha. And back to studying basics Buddhism does not mean a return to the past, but, in the light of Living Ethics, it is a new step in future, on the threshold of which we are already standing close.
We recommend everyone interested in Buddhism to read this simple and understandable book. "Fundamentals of Buddhism" written by Elena Ivanovna Roerich, under the pseudonym Natalya Rokotova.
The Four Noble Truths lie in the heart spiritual message preached by Buddha. They say that:
1. suffering exists;
2. it comes from causes and conditions;
3. there is a possibility of stopping suffering.
4. there is a path that will lead to Liberation.
It is important to realize that all living beings in the world suffer, that every being does not want suffering and wants to find happiness.
Buddha taught the law of cause and effect (karma). This law means that all actions of body, speech and mind have a certain result that is experienced by a person. Virtue produces pleasant results, that is, a person experiences happiness. Negative actions produce unpleasant results. The consequences of actions may not appear immediately in this life, but may be experienced in subsequent lives.
Buddhism represents a simple and wise understanding of the essence human existence. The Buddha also taught that all beings have Buddha nature and all can achieve Buddhahood. Having achieved holiness himself, he taught from his own experience how one can achieve Enlightenment. Anyone who correctly applies the Teaching will gradually achieve Buddhahood.
There is a lot of suffering in the world. It is described by a widespread image - the “Wheel of Samsara”. It looks like this: in the center there is a wheel, which symbolizes samsara; this wheel is firmly held by a terrible monster - the Master of Death. The wheel is divided into six segments, which in turn symbolize the six worlds of the desire sphere.
There are six realms of living beings. Three of them relate to good births, three to lower ones. In the center of the wheel there is a hub in which a snake, a rooster and a pig are drawn. The snake symbolizes anger, the rooster symbolizes passion, and the pig symbolizes ignorance. These symbols indicate that sentient beings in the six worlds are constantly suffering, and the root of this suffering is passion, anger and ignorance.
Next you can see the hub of the wheel, on the black side of which a man is depicted flying headfirst into the lower worlds - into hell, the world of hungry ghosts or animals. On the other side of the hub, painted white, there is a picture of a man walking upward. Its entire path is illuminated by bright sunlight. This symbolically depicts the intermediate state of a living being heading to the higher worlds: gods, demigods or people.
The segments of the circle depict the six worlds of the sphere of desire, where Living being can come from the bardo. If it has committed a serious offense or was very angry, it will definitely go to hell, where it will endure severe torment from heat, cold and other unbearable suffering. The birth of hungry ghosts into the world most often occurs when a person commits a moderate offense, or due to his great greed and self-interest. Hungry spirits - pretas - are usually depicted with very large bellies and thin necks. They mainly suffer due to the fact that they cannot get themselves drink and food, and if they find it, they will not be able to get enough, because their throat is very narrow and their esophagus is also thin to let food in, in addition, food turns into fire and begins to burn their entire insides, bringing unbearable suffering.
The three upper worlds are otherwise called the three good births. Being born as a human being is the result of the accumulation of many good deeds. The fact that we were born as humans means that we have great merit in the past. Human birth gives us the opportunity to learn about methods by which we can free ourselves from suffering and benefit ourselves and others.
In the world of gods, living beings experience much greater bliss than in the world of people - many people wish to be born there. The peculiarity of the world of the gods is that there is less suffering from old age and disease, and the gods do not experience difficulties with food. However, this does not mean that there is no suffering at all. The gods are very passionate, and this prevents them from doing good deeds. This is also prevented by the constant feeling of bliss that they experience - it does not allow them to be distracted by other matters. In addition, the gods are mortal, and when they show signs of imminent death, they experience severe suffering. A week or two before death, the color of the gods’ bodies changes, it begins to emit an unpleasant odor, and the garlands of flowers adorning their necks begin to wither. Since the minds of the gods are constantly occupied with bliss and bliss and they do not perform good deeds, all the good merits that they accumulated in past lives dry up. Due to their inherent clairvoyance, the gods understand that they will be reborn in the lower worlds, they feel what suffering awaits them in the future. At this time, all their friends and relatives who used to love them very much leave them.
In addition to the above, there is also a world of demigods (asuras). In terms of their position, they are equal to the gods - they are just as beautiful, rich, but they cannot get themselves the nectar that the gods feed on. Therefore, asuras experience great envy of the gods, which means they experience suffering; they want to get this nectar for themselves, and therefore they constantly fight with the gods. Unlike the asuras, the gods have greater bliss, and since they do not lack anything, they have a calmer disposition.
It is difficult to escape from the suffering of samsara. The monster, which wraps its arms, legs and mouth around the wheel of samsara, symbolizes the fact that a living being, no matter where it is born, cannot escape the suffering of birth, illness, old age and death.
Above the image of the wheel of samsara is the image of Shakyamuni Buddha, who points to the full moon with his hand. The full moon symbolizes liberation, or nirvana. When Buddha points to the full moon with his hand, he wants to say that no matter who we are born into samsara, we will always experience suffering. Therefore, we should seek bliss beyond samsara, that is, in nirvana. If we achieve nirvana, we will be completely free from our suffering.
The Buddha taught methods for developing compassion and wisdom.
Compassion means feeling great love and compassion for all living beings, constantly and tirelessly seeking to help them. Wisdom is the understanding of the truth that there is suffering and the causes of suffering and there is a path leading to Enlightenment and the elimination of suffering. Through this wisdom, all delusions are eliminated and the root of all misfortunes is cut off.
Guys, we put our soul into the site. Thank you for that
that you are discovering this beauty. Thanks for the inspiration and goosebumps.
Join us on Facebook And In contact with
Simply about what will help you change your life for the better and throw away everything unnecessary.
Shakyamuni Buddha (or Siddhartha Gautama) was the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism in Ancient India. His instructions were written down and collected by his followers.
website invites you to listen to these tips, which do not oblige you to anything, but can make your life better.
1. It's okay to start small
“The jug is filled gradually, drop by drop. Like a wise man little by little it is filled with goodness.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Every master was once an amateur.”
We all start small, don't neglect it. If you are consistent and patient, you will succeed. No one gets everything overnight: happy is the one who is willing to start small and work hard until the jug is full.
2. Thoughts are material
“Everything we are is the result of what we think about ourselves. If a person speaks or acts with evil thoughts, he is haunted by pain. If a person speaks or acts with pure intentions, happiness follows him, which, like a shadow, will never leave him.”
Buddha stated: “Everything is in our consciousness. You become what you think about." To live correctly, you must fill your mind with the “right” thoughts. Bad thoughts will destroy you. Your thinking determines your actions, your actions determine your results. If you change your thinking, you will change your life. Buddha said: “All wrong actions depend on thinking. If the mindset changes, will the bad deeds remain?”
3. Goodbye
« Hate will never stop hate in this world. Only love will put an end to it. This is an ancient law."
When you free those imprisoned in the prison of unforgiveness, you free yourself from that prison. You cannot suppress anyone without suppressing yourself too. Learn to forgive, learn to forgive as quickly as possible. Buddha said: " There is no fire in the world more powerful than passion, no shark more ferocious than hatred, and no hurricane more devastating than greed.”
4. Your actions matter
“If there is something worth doing, do it with all your heart.”
To develop, you must take action every day. The proverb says: “God gives every bird a worm, but does not throw it into the nest.” And, if you take on something, put your whole soul into it.
5. Try to understand
« Always respond only with kindness, this is the only way to make this world a better place. Respond kindly or don’t respond at all. If you return evil for evil, then evil becomes more.”.
Stephen Covey said, “First try to understand and then try to be understood.” It's easy to say, but hard to do: you must make every effort to understand the other person's point of view. When you feel angry, forget about it. Listen to others, understand their point of view, and you will find peace. Focus more on being happy than being right.
6. Master your mind
“The curbing of thought, barely restrained, frivolous, stumbling anywhere, is a blessing. A controlled thought leads to happiness.".
He who conquers himself is stronger than any ruler. To conquer yourself, you need to conquer your mind. You must control your thoughts. They should not rage like sea waves. You may think, “I can’t control my thoughts. A thought comes when it pleases.” There is an answer to this: you cannot stop a bird from flying over you, but you can certainly stop it from building a nest on your head.
7. Live in harmony
“Victory brings hatred. The vanquished live in torment. Happy are those who are at peace, having renounced victories and defeats.”
Don't look outside for what can only be in your heart. We can often get caught up in looking outside to distract ourselves from the truth. Harmony is not a new job, not a new car or a new marriage, harmony is within yourself.
Siddhartha Gautama was a great spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism in ancient india. In most Buddhist traditions he is considered the Supreme Buddha. Translated, the word “Buddha” means “awakened” or “enlightened”.
Siddhartha is a major figure in Buddhism, and information about his life, teachings, and monastic principles after his death were systematized and perpetuated by his followers.
Today I want to discuss some important life lessons I learned from the teachings of the Buddha.
1. It's okay to start small
“The jug fills up gradually, drop by drop”
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Every master was once an amateur.”
We all start small, don't neglect the little. If you are consistent and patient, you will succeed! No one can become successful overnight; success comes to those who are willing to start small and work hard until the pitcher is full.
2. Thoughts are material
“Everything we are is the result of what we think about ourselves. If a person speaks or acts with evil thoughts, he is haunted by pain. If a person speaks or acts with pure intentions, happiness follows him, which, like a shadow, will never leave him.”
Buddha said: “Our consciousness is everything. You become what you think about." James Allen said: “Man is a brain.” To live right, you must fill your brain with the “right” thoughts.
Your thinking determines your actions; your actions determine the outcome. Right thinking will give you everything you want; wrong thinking is an evil that will ultimately destroy you.
If you change your thinking, you will change your life. Buddha said: “All wrongdoing arises from the mind. If the mind changes, will the wrongdoing remain?”
3. Forgive
“Holding in anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intention of throwing it at someone else; it is you who will burn"
When you free those imprisoned in the prison of unforgiveness, you free yourself from that prison. You cannot suppress anyone without suppressing yourself too. Learn to forgive. Learn to forgive faster.
4. Your actions matter
“No matter how many commandments you read, no matter how many you say, what will they mean if you do not follow them?”
They say, “Words are worthless,” and that’s true. To develop, you must take action; To develop quickly, you need to act every day. Fame will not fall on your head!
Glory is for everyone, but only those who constantly act can know it. The proverb says: “God gives every bird a worm, but does not throw it into the nest.” Buddha said: “I do not believe in the fate that befalls people when they act, but I believe in the fate that befalls them when they do not act.”
5. Try to understand
“When we argue with the present, we feel angry, we stopped fighting for the truth, we started fighting only for ourselves.”
Stephen Covey said: “First try to understand, and only then try to be understood.” It's easy to say, but difficult to do; you must make every effort to understand the “other” person’s point of view. When you feel angry, destroy it. Listen to others, understand their point of view, and you will find peace. Focus more on being happy than being right.
6. Conquer yourself
“It is better to defeat yourself than to win thousands of battles. Then victory is yours. Neither angels nor demons, neither heaven nor hell can take it away from you.”
He who conquers himself is stronger than any ruler. In order to conquer yourself, you need to conquer your mind. You must control your thoughts. They should not rage like sea waves. You may think, “I can’t control my thoughts. A thought comes when it pleases.” To this I answer: you cannot prevent a bird from flying over you, but you can certainly prevent it from building a nest on your head. Banish thoughts that do not correspond to the life principles by which you want to live. Buddha said: “It is not the enemy or ill-wisher, but precisely the consciousness of a person that lures him onto a crooked path.”
7. Live in harmony
“Harmony comes from within. Don't look for her outside."
Don't look outside for what can only be in your heart. Often we may look outside ourselves only to distract ourselves from the true reality. The truth is that harmony can only be found within yourself. Harmony is not a new job, a new car or a new marriage... harmony is new opportunities and they start with you.
8. Be grateful
“Let's stand up and give thanks for the fact that if we didn't study a lot, then at least we studied a little, and if we didn't study a little, then at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, then at least we didn't die. Therefore, we will be grateful"
There is always something worth being grateful for. Don't be so pessimistic that for a moment, even in the middle of a fight, you fail to recognize the thousands of things for which you should be grateful. Not everyone was able to wake up this morning; Yesterday some fell asleep for the last time. There is always something worth being grateful for, understand it and give thanks. A grateful heart will make you great!
9. Be true to what you know
“The greatest offense is not to be faithful to what you know for sure.”
We know a lot, but we don't always do what we know.
If you fail, it won't be because you didn't know what to do; it will happen because you didn't do what you knew. Do as you know. Don't just absorb the information, but focus on thinking about what you want to become until you have a burning desire to prove it.
10. Travel
“It’s better to travel than to arrive at the place”
Life is a journey! I am happy, satisfied and satisfied today. I can go to the best places and taste the best wines, but I travel. Don't put off your happiness indefinitely by pursuing a goal that you think will make you happy. Travel today, enjoy the journey.
Siddhartha Gautama was a great spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism in ancient India. In most Buddhist traditions he is considered the Supreme Buddha. Translated, the word “Buddha” means “awakened” or “enlightened”.
Siddhartha is a major figure in Buddhism, and information about his life, teachings, and monastic principles after his death were systematized and perpetuated by his followers.
Today I want to discuss some important life lessons I learned from the teachings of the Buddha.
1. It's okay to start small
“The jug fills up gradually, drop by drop”
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Every master was once an amateur.”
We all start small, don't neglect the little. If you are consistent and patient, you will succeed! No one can become successful overnight; success comes to those who are willing to start small and work hard until the pitcher is full.
2. Thoughts are material
“Everything we are is the result of what we think about ourselves. If a person speaks or acts with evil thoughts, he is haunted by pain. If a person speaks or acts with pure intentions, happiness follows him, which, like a shadow, will never leave him.”
Buddha said: “Our consciousness is everything. You become what you think about." James Allen said: “Man is a brain.” To live right, you must fill your brain with the “right” thoughts.
Your thinking determines your actions; your actions determine the outcome. Right thinking will give you everything you want; wrong thinking is an evil that will ultimately destroy you.
If you change your thinking, you will change your life. Buddha said: “All wrongdoing arises from the mind. If the mind changes, will the wrongdoing remain?”
3. Forgive
“Holding in anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intention of throwing it at someone else; it is you who will burn"
When you free those imprisoned in the prison of unforgiveness, you free yourself from that prison. You cannot suppress anyone without suppressing yourself too. Learn to forgive. Learn to forgive faster.
4. Your actions matter
“No matter how many commandments you read, no matter how many you say, what will they mean if you do not follow them?”
They say, “Words are worthless,” and that’s true. To develop, you must take action; To develop quickly, you need to act every day. Fame will not fall on your head!
Glory is for everyone, but only those who constantly act can know it. The proverb says: “God gives every bird a worm, but does not throw it into the nest.” Buddha said: “I do not believe in the fate that befalls people when they act, but I believe in the fate that befalls them when they do not act.”
5. Try to understand
“When we argue with the present, we feel angry, we stopped fighting for the truth, we started fighting only for ourselves.”
Stephen Covey said: “First try to understand, and only then try to be understood.” It's easy to say, but difficult to do; you must make every effort to understand the “other” person’s point of view. When you feel angry, destroy it. Listen to others, understand their point of view, and you will find peace. Focus more on being happy than being right.
6. Conquer yourself
“It is better to defeat yourself than to win thousands of battles. Then victory is yours. Neither angels nor demons, neither heaven nor hell can take it away from you.”
He who conquers himself is stronger than any ruler. In order to conquer yourself, you need to conquer your mind. You must control your thoughts. They should not rage like sea waves. You may think, “I can’t control my thoughts. A thought comes when it pleases.” To this I answer: you cannot prevent a bird from flying over you, but you can certainly prevent it from building a nest on your head. Banish thoughts that do not correspond to the life principles by which you want to live. Buddha said: “It is not the enemy or ill-wisher, but precisely the consciousness of a person that lures him onto a crooked path.”
7. Live in harmony
“Harmony comes from within. Don't look for her outside."
Don't look outside for what can only be in your heart. Often we may look outside ourselves only to distract ourselves from the true reality. The truth is that harmony can only be found within yourself. Harmony is not a new job, a new car or a new marriage... harmony is new opportunities and they start with you.
8. Be grateful
“Let's stand up and give thanks for the fact that if we didn't study a lot, then at least we studied a little, and if we didn't study a little, then at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, then at least we didn't die. Therefore, we will be grateful"
There is always something worth being grateful for. Don't be so pessimistic that for a moment, even in the middle of a fight, you fail to recognize the thousands of things for which you should be grateful. Not everyone was able to wake up this morning; Yesterday some fell asleep for the last time. There is always something worth being grateful for, understand it and give thanks. A grateful heart will make you great!
9. Be true to what you know
“The greatest offense is not to be faithful to what you know for sure.”
We know a lot, but we don't always do what we know.
If you fail, it won't be because you didn't know what to do; it will happen because you didn't do what you knew. Do as you know. Don't just absorb the information, but focus on thinking about what you want to become until you have a burning desire to prove it.
10. Travel
“It’s better to travel than to arrive at the place”
Life is a journey! I am happy, satisfied and satisfied today. I can go to the best places and taste the best wines, but I travel. Don't put off your happiness indefinitely by pursuing a goal that you think will make you happy. Travel today, enjoy the journey.
Thank you for reading the article. Be sure to share it!
