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How has practicing buddhism changed your life?
I am writing an article and would love to speak to people about why they joined, how it has improved their life and outlook and what they have taken from it the most.
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I was promised no thing.
Now that dammed meditation has even absconded with that.
I have found that I can centre myself a lot better in situations that are stressful. It's also helped me try to be gracious in certain situations when all I want to do is have a massive tantrum. It was invaluable during my marriage breakdown, and my when I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I'm hoping that I can cultivate equanimity so that when I die, I will not be regretting any actions right up to the last minute.
In metta,
Raven
When still working, before difficult conferences I would spend a short time "being mindful" and preparing myself in that way for the discussion.
I am now completely intolerant of time wasting people who do not practice. Why not practice meditation? Change your life and outlook and get the most from this situation? No?
. . . I think I will write an article on Gonzo journalism . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzo_journalism
:nyah:
I never joined, never took anything, became very wikid and accidentally became enlightened . . . one of the hazards . . . :screwy:
And now back to the records . . . :wave:
I know it was a silly initiation, but I ended up becoming a radically different person from the one I was seven years ago. I used to wade through self-pity, jealousy, and so very much anger every day. I spent most of my time making the people around me miserable, hurting friends and strangers without bias.
Not anymore.
I thought I might right some flowery, pretentious nonsense about being calmer, more tolerant, the lower blood pressure, improved outlook and all that stuff, and then thought better of it.
I practice Buddhism ............. because.
I've joked about my past before, calling myself "spiritually promiscuous" in the past, exploring different religious traditions and philosophies-- and I think there is much that they all have in common, though they express it in different "languages." But Buddhism feels the most natural to me and I connect with it with surprising ease.
I began as a freelancer, meditating at home and reading books or internet articles (which is probably how it begins for most westerners). My practice bumped up big time once I began practicing with a sangha earlier this year. I don't think I could ever go back to practicing solo now. I really see now why it's three jewels, not one or two.
In a day-to-day sense, what Buddhist practice has done for me is given me a lot more peace and light-heartedness in my life. I get angry and upset less often, and I enjoy my life much more without getting hung up on the notion of how I need to do x, y, or z in order to be happy.
I think I've felt a strong need for control in the past-- a strong sense of "Things OUGHT to be like this"-- and when life invariably did not meet up to that conscious or subconscious sense of "ought," I would get angry. But in letting go of that sense of "ought," I haven't gone to the other extreme of being controlled by events. Actually, I'd say that in my desire for control, I was actually putting myself in the position of being controlled by events around me. I've learned more how to let go of that sense of "ought" but without letting go of a sense of responsibility-- in fact, I feel a greater sense of responsibility precisely because that "ought" no longer gets in the way of what is really in front of me.
And with that sense of responsibility without that interference, I feel a greater sense of compassion. So it isn't just a matter of me me me being happy, but about sharing it with others-- even if it means just a smile or listening to others, being present for them. I'm no longer practicing for just what *I* can get out of it myself, but practicing for others in ways that may benefit them in who knows what way.
Well, yes but it wasn't accidental. I remember a whole lot of noise and commotion about his awakening last winter.
I'm not convinced. I still have a pair of my boxer shorts marinating which I have promised to eat when lobster becomes a Buddha.
Seriously though I have a lot of faith and devotion that started during my mental breakdown when I turned to Buddhism.
Wow!
I've felt all along that Lobster should be gathering students ...... either that, or take more thorazine.
I sure am, but not that he's enlightened, unless by enlightened you mean having shed 20 pounds of ugly fat or something like that? Don't hold your breath. I think Idi Amin Dada will rise from the dead within a blooming Lotus in Indiana and achieve Buddhahood before you have to keep that promise.
So I said to myself, "why not just be mindful and absorbed in my body without meditating?"
So here I am and I have a good feeling because my body settled. I said to myself that I don't have to have a juicy stimulating activity because I can just as easily rest.
Damn! Such a waste of garlic and oregano.
But from the outside perspective probably not that much is noticeable and I just went from a self centered piece of shit to a bit less self centered, bit less smelly piece of shit.
A little while later I read "The Art of Happiness" and it was one of those light bulb moments! It summed up pretty much perfectly how I saw life so I started on this journey......
I've been able to strip away a lot of the meaningless junk in my life over the last couple of years and can now focus on seeing things as they really are and what really matters.
Have a great day!
I'll have what he's having.
Find what you love (joining) Increase in love (practice) 'Don't have a cow, man' (continue . . .)
. . . and now back to the meditations . . . :wave:
I'll have what he's having.
Find what you love (joining) Increase in love (practice) 'Don't have a cow, man' (continue . . .)
. . . and now back to the meditations . . . :wave:
Thanks @lobster. I wonder how much of an influence the birth of his son had on Gotama leaving home to find the truth?
But then again, Gautama wasn't enlightened when he left his son.
That's something I've been mulling over myself.
In metta,
Raven
Maybe.
Personally I would say he was a conceited, aristocratic, spoiled, immature brat [yep there really is hope for everyone]
The behaviour of the Buddha clearly shows the influence of Goatama (Clark Kent) in his Superman role. He created a posse of spiritual warriors and developed a spiritual kingdom to fight ignorance. His son and wife ended up joining the Sangha . . . and they all lived happily ever after . . . and now back to the First Noble Truth . . .
The question hung in the air like something that made no sense: How could I know if I would have been better off since I had no experience to judge by?
I likewise wonder if things might have turned out differently -- better, worse, richer, poorer, smarter, dumber, more spiritually attuned or less, kinder or meaner ... if I had not taken up Zen practice. If I had not involved myself with Buddhism, would I be a garbage collector or a stock broker or a bank robber or a Playboy bunny or a saint ...?
Since I have no experience to judge by, the question hangs in the air, waiting for the waitress to bring another pitcher of beer so that, with luck, I will get a little drunk and imagine I could answer the question of how Buddhism affected my life. Of course it did, but I cannot -- literally can not -- say how ... except when I'm a little bit drunk.
Let me know . . . or not . . . if you can tolerate that . . . . I feel there is tremendous value in that approach. :clap:
We might also say that meditation amounts to less. Less worrying about others condition/suffering/insight. Less ignorance/opinions/additions. Less of less even.
Back to the cookie grasping or letting go?
Will we meditate for the first time today and be the same person a year later? Not me.
I just stripped away my beliefs to the core and Buddhism is what was left.
rama
ding
dong
ding dong . . .
I signed in blood . . . oh wait that was another contract . . . soul sold - I got a good deal - no soul.
The things we do . . . tsk tsk . . .
> Understand how selfish and self centred I was
> Gives more meaning to life and doing the right thing
> Filled in a lot of gaps where I had ideas before that had no origin
> Influenced me to move 6,000 miles away from my entire life to a 'new' one
Apart from that, there is the meditation and the gifts it brings. Blood pressure is now perfect, and I used to suffer from severe acid reflux. The scarring is still there but the ongoing suffering and deterioration of the esophagus due to acid build up is gone.
And of course, one becomes more conscientious as a human being.
That pretty much covers it for me.
Increase in metta. Sounds like a plan . . . :clap: