Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
Buddhism on Competition
Jakbob
Explorer
Hello everyone, thank you for taking the time to enter and read this thread. My question for the forum begins with this. Competition. In the U.S it seems to be a principle so woven into society that it just seems very overwhelming now that I see it more and more. I am not very fund of competition at all... and though I do respect those who enjoy it, it leaves an awful feeling in my stomach when I think about it, especifically in businesses. (living in a capitalistic country, there's plenty) My question I guess is kind of broad. I am a h.s student junior year and therefor college is right around the corner. I don't have any plan laid out yet as to "what I want to be", but at the same time I know what I don't want. And I truthfully don't have any desire to pursue a competitive type career(isn't that about 99%?) . In fact, I am seriously considering becoming a monk. Thouh I don't frequently think about this stuff because it just creates too much chaos trying to figure out the future xD. But when I do, I see I am a calm individual, who has no desire for wealth or possessions, but rather knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to help others. I am rather uncomfortable right now because I feel pressure from my parents to satisfy what they want me to do, be "successful" with a high paying career, but I just don't know. A proper environment that would allow me to advance my spiritual wisdom appears to be wonderful to me.
I'm sorry if I am not clear on this. MY goal was to trying to explain a little bit of my character, the issue, and why I feel the way I do but if you need further clarification let me know... I only know, that I know nothing.. x]
I just realized that two of my issues are
1. I have a clinging( I think) to want nothing. Quite litterally, I am grealty content living humbly and would love that.
2. I have a wrong view that all business is bad which isn't necessarily true =/. I could work in a "normal" career as lay buddhist living a humble life with my focus being my practice and my career only being a simple means of surviving.
I'm sorry if I am not clear on this. MY goal was to trying to explain a little bit of my character, the issue, and why I feel the way I do but if you need further clarification let me know... I only know, that I know nothing.. x]
I just realized that two of my issues are
1. I have a clinging( I think) to want nothing. Quite litterally, I am grealty content living humbly and would love that.
2. I have a wrong view that all business is bad which isn't necessarily true =/. I could work in a "normal" career as lay buddhist living a humble life with my focus being my practice and my career only being a simple means of surviving.
0
Comments
Then do so.
What's stopping you?
Reduce, live mindfully and take what comes your way gratefully and just as joyfully, release it when needs be......
'All business' is not a controllable thing by you, and how businesses make their profits and existence cannot be influenced or affected by you, in any huge way.
(remember though, that a drop of water can pierce a stone, bit by bit, over time.....)
However, again, try to live mindfully, and try to give your custom and allegiance to those whose causes are deserving.
As for you yourself - think carefully about the 5th signpost of the Eightfold path - Right Livelihood.
Only you can be responsible for your business, and only you can choose, day by day, how to run your life skilfully.
Thank you for the kind answers thus far. Can I ask another more serious question? How is it that whenever a question, even like this one strikes me, or a problem, I might be in some distress because something is bothering me and come here for some guidance, within some amount of time the answer comes to me whether I have asked others or not. Like the answer was there to begin with.
Because it was
Why I love Buddhism.
Competition is a broad term that has many aspects. It can be a very sharp sword to cut through delusions about the nature of world. When you engage with the world, you can win or lose, and this meeting with the world challenges your views and attachments about these categories of action. The dharma has not interest in winning or losing. Inquire into your reactions to business - find out whether they are something more than just a clinging to wanting nothing. I suspect that when you are content living humbly and love you will also have learned to live with business. If you are concerned that business is bad, don’t forget corruption arises everywhere there is greed, hatred and ignorance and that does not exempt monasteries or even ourselves.
I urge you to think about how this is a critical time in human history, and the planet needs people dedicated to preventing the suffering that is going to occur if we don’t do something about global overpopulation and the destructive exploitation of nature. Thus, if you are working in a "normal" career as lay Buddhist and living a humble life with the focus being your practice and your career only being a simple means of your survival, isn’t that like meditating while watching a child drown? Use your time on this planet and really engage with its suffering, this will allow you to advance your spiritual wisdom far more than sitting like a stone Buddha in a monastery.
PS ... within some amount of time the answer comes to me whether I have asked others or not. Like the answer was there to begin with.
Then, you have not asked a real question.