Okay, time to get back on track

ThailandTom

Can people please offer advice on getting back on the dharma train with 100% effort. Resources, actions, concepts, metaphors whatever, throw it me peoepl!

Floating_Abu

Sit down, erect the spine, hands in mudra, eyes half closed, breathe, continue

StaticToybox

Just be.

fivebells

For a recovering benzo addict, metta meditation for the withdrawal anxiety, and joy meditation for the urge to relapse.

Mountains

What they said (x3) ^^^^^^

But you already knew that, right Tom??

ThailandTom

kind of already knew, but I like to hear different opinions on how to practice the dharma. thanks guys ^^

ThailandTom

There is though one thing I am having trouble with. See a long term friend of mine are no longer friends due to him disrespecting me when I helped him in many situations. I cannot seem to let go of this grudge, I want him to feel bad, for his relationship to fail, I make sarcastic and often wrong speech remarks at his mum over facebook, she does the same however. He offered to meet up but I said no mainly because his presence just causes negativity in my life. I know I should be compassionate, but I want him to suffer, and his egotistic family.

shanyin

It seems the Buddha stressed moral discipline. Perhaps recite the precepts, and try your best to follow them and of course the other advice. I prefer the Theravadin approach which is to 'I train to uphold the precept". maybe this can help with your speech towards your ex-friend.

ThailandTom

I don't want to even talk to him, I want him out of my life, but if I see things on say for example facebook, I want bad things for him. I know this is quite bad in the eyes of the dharma, negative seeds of karma

person

For now I'd think unfreinding him so you don't have the situations arise that cause the negative thoughts and emotions. Its actually encouraged in Buddhism to remove yourself from negative situations and engage in positive ones. This can give you the space you need to work on your mind for a while.

seeker242

Get a zen master to come and hit you with a big stick! But seriously though, spending time around other Buddhists, monks especially, is very helpful for this.

ThailandTom

No shortage of monks here in thailand, or at least where I live anyway. Thanks guys. I will try to keep this person out of my thoughts in a negative manner and out of my life

DaltheJigsaw

Just start simple.
I am doing the same thing.
Like paying attention to your food or eating your food quietly, showering in the morning mindfully, brushing your teeth, etc.
Start simple and build up.

vinlyn

No shortage of monks here in thailand, or at least where I live anyway. Thanks guys. I will try to keep this person out of my thoughts in a negative manner and out of my life

Where do you get that idea?

"Since a few decades, in fact since the beginning of real economic development in Thailand, Buddhism is facing problems.

First problem is the decreasing number of monks. There are still 200 000 monks in Thailand but the number is declining (same as in Europe where the number of priests is also declining). One of the major problem is to find new monks. Now with the growing of the consumption society, less young people are becoming monks. Before for most people, becoming a monk was a choice of life. Now some people become monks not by religious choice but only to escape their own life. Becoming a monk brings high status and for some people it is the only way to reach higher rank in society."

ThailandTom

Hua Hin, and there are at least 7 monasteries here, and if you are awake around 6am, you can see how many monks there are. There are quite a lot. But that is in my area, and my view on things. Maybe it does not correlate the bigger picture.

Hey leon, thanks for that. I was thinking of writing down simple notes for day to day things, things to do with the 8 fold path and impermanence etc, just so I can be mindful of it ever day and let it grow from there...