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Is Life a Blessing?

MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
edited April 2011 in Buddhism Basics
I constantly hear phrases such as "Life is a blessing" or "Cherish everyday you're alive." Though, it seems like Buddhists don't particularly feel this way. They are trying to not become reborn again. So, is life a blessing (a thing to be thankful for)?

Comments

  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    Well, I read the words of the dalai lama once and he said to be reborn in a human body is a great accomplishment as it is perfect for practicing the dharma. So, maybe not so much a blessing, but it is far better than a lot of the other possibilities out there
  • aMattaMatt Veteran
    I can only speak for myself. I'm not interested in rebirth or not rebirth.

    I am not sure if I am thankful for life, because I am a part of it... so who or what is there to be thankful about or toward? I do cherish moments, and look to become more alert and aware in each. This cultivates a natural gratitude for all of the component forces present, even when they're afflictive. Pain is a marvelous teacher, as potent as clarity. Just have some gratitude for the components and keep walking.
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    Life is a blessing so long as it is! If your life is full of suffering, life is only a blessing if there is relief, IMHO. Luckily, there is a path and way to the end of suffering... ;)
  • footiamfootiam Veteran
    I thought if it is very lucky to be born as a human and not an animal or deva, then it ought to be a blessing. Don't you feel blessed?
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    that is what the dalai lama seems to think
  • SpacelessSpaceless
    Human has a more developed and intelectual mind that is resilient, forebearance, benevolence and compassionate, than other beings within samsara. This is extremely good qualities to achieve Buddha in this lifespan. Therefore, it is so blessed! :D
  • NOTaGangstaNOTaGangsta
    It sure is, I felt so terrible for not being grateful for all had before learning Buddhism! It's so much better than rebirth in other parts of the world, not to mention in the 3 evil realms.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    Ironically enough I just watched a talk from ajahn brahm on death and the human body. You make your own realms according to him, you are the creator. He kept talking about if you have had deep meditation you probably have felt your 5 senses disappear and such. The human body can be a burden but it is very adequate for cultivating the dharma
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    ...is life a blessing (a thing to be thankful for)?
    'O look, look in the mirror,
    O look in your distress:
    Life remains a blessing
    Although you cannot bless.

    'O stand, stand at the window
    As the tears scald and start;
    You shall love your crooked neighbour
    With your crooked heart.'
  • zidanguszidangus Veteran
    edited April 2011
    I constantly hear phrases such as "Life is a blessing" or "Cherish everyday you're alive." Though, it seems like Buddhists don't particularly feel this way. They are trying to not become reborn again. So, is life a blessing (a thing to be thankful for)?
    Yes it is a blessing in my opinion, for one being a human is a blessing as it gives the opportunity to understand the Buddhas teachings and to realise them directly, and hopefully at some point to escape samsara. It's also a blessing to be a human as a human can think from many different points of view, which can result in great good to be done through acts of compassion and loving kindness, and also unfortunately great bad.

    Also a shepherd-like Bodhisattva does not want to achieve Buddahood until all sentient beings achieve Buddhahood so they are actually trying to be reborn until this is achieved.

    With Metta


  • pegembarapegembara Veteran
    Life is a blessing if we celebrate birth and death. Unfortunately most people only laugh with joy at births but cry at funerals. They don't accept that with birth as a condition death comes to be.

  • NOTaGangstaNOTaGangsta
    If your dead, you can't practice.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    Go rebirth, wooop woooop!! image
  • IronRabbitIronRabbit Veteran
    Blessing and a curse. Horrible and wonderful. Not two, not one. As pegembara says, blessing when celebrated. Very difficult for mind based organism to accept death as one of most, if not THE most important moment in life. Celebrate the end of life? Some might say that is the ultimate goal of any practice - ending well - after living well. Hope for rebirth or end of rebirth? More fear of ending. You're already dead if you can imagine it. Unfortunately most imagine it with fear and loathing. Practice.
  • nibbutinibbuti
    edited April 2011
    So, is life a blessing (a thing to be thankful for)?
    There are many blessings and sufferings, but it is all just process.
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    edited April 2011
    Life in human form is a blessing, because we have the opportunity to achieve Enlightenment and thereby a) live out the rest of our days in the equanimity of Enlightenment and b) choose no more life (rebirth) when we shed this mortal coil. Nobody said Buddhism doesn't have its paradoxes. Good for you for spotting one of them, MG. :D But this paradox exists only for those who believe in rebirth.
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    edited April 2011
    life is not a blessing because we have the Necessity to achieve enlightenment

    without enlightenment, life sux

    with enlightenment, life is just life or 'suchness'

    enlightenment is a blessing (rather than life)

    without enlightenment, life sux

    :)
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    IMO even an unenlightened existence in a human body is worth it, it is not a constant stream of suffering and there are many many moments I can recall where I am grateful to be alive yet not enlightened.
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    Thanks for the reminder, Tom, to appreciate those "it feels great to be alive!" days. I think as long as we have a sense of purpose, such as serving others, alleviating suffering, life is good, we can roll with the punches. :)
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    I think the only answer can ever be an opinion, or relative to something (i.e. life as a human is a blessing because it's the perfect balance to know suffering and seek its cessation). Kinda like asking the question "Does life suck?", which of course most people would disagree with.

    Life is whatever life is, to each of us. Life may be a blessing to someone who finds enlightenment, but is it a blessing to a starving child? I'm thinking no, at least not if that is the predominant type of experience the child has and they do not find life to be joyful in general.
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    edited April 2011
    Thanks for reminding us of how much we take for granted, Cloud. This is easy to forget.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    It depends which life you are referring to :p But yes, it does come down to opinion, but for the average jo, I am pretty sure that life is not a constant case of suffering, there are those breaks from suffering which may be from mind numbing TV, or mind expanding drugs. The list is endless.
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    edited April 2011
    OK...everyone disagreed with me

    Life is cool. In fact, it is rather interesting if I reflect: "This life is the only life or consciousness experience I have ever known & experienced".

    :)
  • DazzleDazzle
    How can life be a "blessing"? It just is as it is - and experiences vary from one sentient being to another.

    In my view Dhamma is the only thing that makes it worth living.
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    It's a blessing for the opportunity to practice the Dharma, exactly.
  • Being21Being21
    "blessing" and "curse" are relative terms. You can view it in any way, really. I see it as a blessing, though, and I see no reason not to try to follow the general rule of thinking positively
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    OK...everyone disagreed with me
    I didn't exactly disagree with you, I just quoted someone taking the middle way. :)
  • TheswingisyellowTheswingisyellow Trying to be open to existence Samsara Veteran
    I look at the sky, hear my sons playing, feel the wind on my face and know the goodness of such things. But then again all of life and all that I experience is Dhamma, not good nor bad just awareness of these experiences. I cannot help but express my gratitude to all that my life is and most certainly to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha for giving me the tools to understand this life and the view one should accord it.
    With metta,
    Todd
  • KungaKunga
    edited April 2011
    Yes, life is a blessing. The evidence is in the Dancing, Singing, Painting, or Laughing, Walking, and Meditating. Show me suffering and I'll show you an opportunity for even greater Joy.

    We have the opportunity to escape suffering at every moment of every day. We need not wait until our 74th lifetime to do so.

    The Buddha said that Life is Suffering because we take things which are impermanent as being permanent. The first step is to see that nothing is permanent. The next step is to see that because nothing is permanent, life is meaningful.

    Life is the only blessing.
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    edited April 2011
    Death is an inevitable part of life, so someone who considers life a blessing should logically also consider death a blessing. Now this is a contradiction that already quite clearly shows life isn't inherently a blessing or inherently sucks, it's just however you perceive it to be.

    If I look around me at all the crisis, war, hurt to the environment etc. I personally would not be the one to say life is such a blessing. But I'm also not saying it sucks because tbh I quite like my life.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    life is a blessing, it is just what you make of it most of the time. Those people don't have to go to war, or sometimes they do I guess. But the recent uprests and their own choice. Before that they lived under a dictator yes, but in itself, a human life in my opinion, as people have stated, it boils down to opinion, is a blessing. Without my life I would not have been able to practice the dharma, without it I would not have been able to have crazy nights on crazy drugs, or walk though a field on a summers day looking at the wonders of nature and smelling the flowers, without it I would not have found compassion for others, love my mother and have fun playing stupid video games...

    Death is also a blessing, it brings an end to suffering in that specific life, the burdan of the body is left behind until a rebirth arises. Just an opinion remember ;)
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