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How Do You Practice Buddhism?
In your daily life, how do you practice Buddhism?
In other words, how do you apply the Buddha's teachings to your daily life?
In other words, how do you apply the Buddha's teachings to your daily life?
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There is not one single instant of the day that one can dismiss the practice.
As this is a Buddhist forum, I presume you are asking the members, who are Buddhist.I wouldn't presume to answer for other people of other religious persuasions, now, would I?
Every waking moment is an opportunity to put the Eightfold Path into practice. The Eightfold Path pretty much encompasses everything the Buddha intends we absorb.....
If I fail, it's not because the moment is inappropriate; it is because I am not being Mindful.
Remember Sano's lute. Sano was having problems making progress and he asked the buddha for help. The buddha asked him about his lute. He asked if it made a good sound when the strings were either too loose or too tight.
So it is a little bit of faith in your balance of mind to navigate between extremes. Many steps starting now. Lightly. With joy.
I can recommend some books or some online talks if you like
But everyday life, my practice changes everyday as I am sure it does with most people. Sometimes it is stronger than others. I seem to be good at letting things go mentally pretty easily, material things, arguments things like that. I keep in mind that everything changes, for me this is very fundamental to be aware of in everyday life. If I come across a person who needs some help, I often will offer my help, be it carrying something, opening a door, giving a homeless person some money etc. I observe how things playout in everyday life, how this causes this to happen, how this persons actions effect my emotions, how this object influences me. I do not chant and rarely meditate. I do not know why I do not chant, I just have never tried. I do not meditate very often because I am lazy and do not have right effort or intention, that needs to change. One could ramble on for ages about their daily practice in detail, but I am afraid I may already have, so I shall stop
I take great comfort from Medicine Buddha practice, and find the mantra as chanted by Khenpo Pema Chopel Rinpoche lovely. I've tentatively brought it even to non-Buddhists, and without exception (so far), they were drawn to it, which I find so interesting. Maybe most just find it an inherently beautiful tune.
For everyday "detox" I find Pema Chödrön's books and talks extremely good for the soul (and funny, and practical).
For grief, illness, the times that seem hardest and darkest and saddest, Sogyal Rinpoche's "Tibetan Book of Living & Dying" has brought immense comfort. It was my intro to Tonglen, for which I am eternally grateful. I would add to that Lama Zopa Rinpoche's unfailingly cheerful and proactive instructions on helping humans and animals. His love for the wee beasties so resonates with me.
So I guess my practice is largely tantric, which seems right, since I feel very much at the mercy of events and passions and kleshas - rather than fighting them, I feel all the above teachers' instructions to "work with life as it is" to be very applicable. Of course I dream of a peaceful island where nothing affects me, but in reality (ha) I feel I'm pretty immersed in my human experience and not likely to escape soon.
The advice to "imagine yourself as [compassionate/patient/etc], and then stay in that character" appeals to me on a psychological level - it's the same advice given to Olympians, marathoners, etc - really see yourself achieving the goal. I can see it is effective, because my natural tendency is make myself miserable by imagining the worst, grumbling inwardly about things that haven't even happened yet, etc. So, doing the opposite seems like a great and practical antidote.
It's funny - it almost seems as if fears and desires easily condition us to be "negative" tantric adepts. If we're trying to "apply tantra," we aren't doing anything new at all, but just directing our naturally-creative brain in a positive direction. I don't think it's any accident at all that "sutra" means "thread," and "tantra" means "loom." I love the sutras, and consider tantra a way to work their advice through life.
But I'm struck, again and again, by the profoundly simple, solitary instruction of my Geshe, and suspect that simply striving to "be kind" contains the whole path. Now if only I could comply...
None of that is really 'religious' either.
It may help if you start with a teacher or a group or pick something in buddhism that speaks to you - try then to play with the idea in your mind and also see how you feel about it - work to marry the two (cutting out unnecessary things along the way) - then try to apply it to your daily life - for example, compassion is a good theme... see how far compassion goes for you - see how it works for you in practice and see where you can increase / decrease / let go / pick up etc... then take your experiences and let them go in meditation and see what is left... rinse and repeat...
Its a never ending journey - federica's answer is both vague and comprehensive... such is the contradiction of life... and here we hang on our little rock in the middle of everything!
I also try to practice being mindful in my daily activities, and to me this brings realizations about myself, such as recognizing actions that may be hurtful to others or to myself, as well as noting actions that are helpful, instead of blindly running through life unaware of my effect on others.
Trying to be mindful has changed me in several ways, some unexpected and perhaps unwelcomed yet unavoidable... for example, all my life I have been a steak and rib loving junkie, but now I have a hard time enjoying a steak when I think about the whole slaughter process involved... is all that worth it, and am I being selfish and inconsiderate in my food selection? Just one of several questions I'm dealing with as a result of being mindful.
The four noble truths have been likened to a complete map and a foundation and central teaching of the Buddha.
Buddhism tends to boil down to common sense - in a good way.
"When the task is done beforehand, then it is easy."
Zen master Yuan-tong