Another thing, What is important?

TheFound

Just like the title says...

My life is fleeting I can feel it, like sand falling through my fingers..
So far I've led a selfish existence.. I don't hurt anyone, but I don't do shit for anyone.. EVER..

except for little things, helping people here or there with menial chores etc..

anyway I drink a lot and relax way too much..despite my obvious potential...i'm anti-social..

I don't like leaving my house... I don't like people period.. most of them suck. Which is true don't knock it! Most of you probably suck...I suck..

Anyway I'm thinking my life is a brief flame , what should I do with it? I was thinking about what I would say at my Dads funeral when he dies, (he didnt die yet thank god or karma..he's old and still working like a monster)

but this old man takes time and embarassment to help people ...I can't take embarassment... EGO ..right? it's terrible.. I can't bring myself to a soup kitchen because im such a shy guy.. and get this...
one day I want to be a great buddhist teacher.. wtf how can i achieve this being so shy..?! or anti social...


Anyway: what is important in life?...is it helping people? is it achieving nirvana first?
I'm such a selfish ass that's what I think.. I should just achieve nirvana on my own and then save everyone else, when i have no fear...

BUT maybe a good point is... "you'd achieve nirvana easier with help"

Dakini

Helping people (developing compassion) is one of the practices that prepares the way for achieving nirvana. So you do both at once; develop compassion and work towards achieving nirvana.

you get over selfishness by meditating; imagining yourself in others' shoes, those less fortunate than you. you check out how it feels (in your meditation) to be a homeless person, a battered spouse, an elderly person in a nursing home, a bullied child, etc. Think how fortunate you are; count your blessings. share your blessings with others.

You're right; life is short. you could die next month, and what would you have accomplished? no time to waste getting onto the path.

seeker242

"one day I want to be a great buddhist teacher.. wtf how can i achieve this"

"anyway I drink a lot"

The first thing to do is to stop breaking the precepts and start practicing.

Roger

What's important? Two things - according to a Tibetan Lama I met: Achieving more happiness and having less and less negative thinking. Do it slowly and gradually via Buddhist practice. There: now your work/goal is cut out for you! Go for it!!! :clap:

Cloud

@TheFound, The important thing is to be clear about what you want, both out of life and out of "Buddhism". People will say certain things are important; traditions will say certain things are important, but it's not about any of that... it's about your own goals. Of course you can choose to let other people or traditions guide you, but there will come a point where your own true desires will conflict with the views of others.

"Know thyself" as they say, and be completely honest with yourself... about yourself.

Namaste

[DeletedUser]

Know your power of love is important :grumble:

bodhipunk

You seem to be more asocial than anti-social. You at least haven't mentioned anything about lashing out against anyone or society at large, and you keep stating that you are shy. However, your shyness is obviously rooted in a false sense of self. You might be shy because you feel overwhelmed or even somewhat inadequate in social surroundings by contrasting your "self" with "others". Maybe this should be something to focus and contemplate on in your practice. If your shyness is caused by a false notion of "self", perhaps it could be overcome by contemplating and realizing the implications of the principle of "anatta" or "not-self". This could also become a motivator for helping people. When there is no longer a distinction between self and other, perhaps you won't even bother thinking about being embarrassed.