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.
Why do you do Buddhist practice?
DairyLama
Veteran Veteran
in Meditation
For me a big reason is because life becomes more interesting, and experience richer. I'm not too concerned with ideas of enlightenment these days, or even freedom from suffering.
How about you?
2
Comments
Because I know that everything I have examined and scrutinised in it - so far - has proven to be accurate. The 4NT are verifiable to every degree.
There's not much else you can say that about....
The same reason that I watch a movie, listen to music, read books or buy a new phone. Things that make life interesting and "richer". Basically discontentment with what is or plain old dukkha.
I see more in life. I see more in my interactions with people, in how I take care of myself and my family, in how I experience simple things like shopping or walking.
Because it's interesting.
The basic tenets of Buddhism seem to explain what's going on in this life. The Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path registered with me in a way that nothing else has.
I follow because it feels like the most logical thing to do. If I did not follow the five precepts for example, it feels for certain some kind of disaster is bound my way.
I don't know
How each moment presents the potential for suffering and it's cessation, is my journey's compass.
Why do a Buddhist practice?
Well, when comparing the manifestations of my own ignorance, with my experiences of it's transcendence, I do it because the alternative for me is idiocy.
One teacher I liked compared her experience of practicing to climbing a ladder where her view of the consequences of falling off it got scarier with every new step taken.
To make me more calm when things don't go my way and many other things that help.
I would say when I sit I have the thought of seeing what is there in my meditation and being open to reading more or learning more.
It beats sitting around doing nothing
It's like that old Mose Allison song, "I don't worry 'bout a thing...(cause I know nothing's going to be alright).
http://www.songlyrics.com/mose-allison/i-don-t-worry-about-a-thing-lyrics/
Because it makes me a better person.
_ /\ _
^^^
I'll go with that from @dhammachick
Better for others, myself and the sphere of my interaction.
Must admit I am still working up to person-hood. Just need more practice ...
That is Buddhist practice for some folks.
The practice keeps me alive.
Because it's just the proper way to live.
You're doing a good job, just quietly
-because it's part of the dream.
Wake up!!!
It speaks to me like nothing else I have come across in my life.
It has filled a hole in my heart that needed filling.
Let me take this opportunity to say thanks to all the good folk on NB too.for all.your inspirational words and advice over the last few years.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, I was walking back towards my flat in New York with a young woman who had likewise just completed a weekend Zen retreat and was headed in the same direction. We were chatting along when all of a sudden she broke into tears. "What's the matter?" I asked. "I don't know who to thank," she replied. "OK, so thank me," I said. "Thank you," she said. "You're welcome," I said." And that was the end of her tears which I very much sympathized with.
I'm not sure why exactly. I was walking along minding my own business when I caught a little nugget of wisdom out of the corner of my eye.
Examining it felt strange and familiar at the same time and I haven't looked back.
It made sense to my atheistic mindset but caused me to grow out of it somewhat.
It just gets more and more interesting as the years go by.
Plus I think it's made me a better person and has shown me that compassion is the logical choice, not just some ideal.
It's quite a process.
You're a good mate @Bunks (and you share my dislike for Collingwood
)
_ /\ _
It's a get out of jail free card which does not involve a creator..... well apart from karma...
I guess the real reason is because I don't believe in what the Buddha said.....I practice to see for my self
It's helped me to be more relaxed and to accept things as they are. I seldom get angry these days and even when I do Buddhist practice helps me get over it. It's one of the best things that's ever come into my life.
I was looking for some sort of discipline - a codification of reasonable behaviors that I could follow, day-to-day, which would make me a better person. The four truths, eightfold path, three jewels, five precepts, and other teachings provide that.
I also found a couple of layers of reality, a peeling back of the onion if you will, that help me to understand the underlying causes of behaviors (both mine and others') and maintain some calm as I move through life.
I'm not far down the path, but it feels absolutely right when I get it right!
RatBoy, If you are interested in codification of reasonable behaviors I wonder if you would enjoy the lojong slogans and teachings.
I feel the same ... also, I'm discovering more and more, that doing my Buddhist practice (insofar as I understand it) makes it possible to forgive myself and others for sh*t in life!
Like waves, all the activities of this life have rolled endlessly on, one after the other, yet they have left us feeling empty-handed. Myriads of thoughts have run through our mind, each one giving birth to many more, but what they have done is to increase our confusion and dissatisfaction.
~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Thanks for the heads-up; I will investigate these!
Why do I do Buddhist practice? I think my reasons vary and change from time to time; At the moment, it is, so far as possible, to see myself and the world as they are and not as I would imagine or wish them to be.
In Buddhism, failure is an option. Not only do I constantly fall off the ladder, sometimes I even dismantle the climbing instinct. None of us want to hurt or be hurt ... unless ignorance has its benefits ('bliss' for example).
Practice is a consolidation of skilfulness as @how mentions.
We don't have to practice, make effort or be mindful. Does that work for anyone? How well, for how long?
Personally practice works increasingly succcessfully. I measure that succcess in a very individually applicable way ...
Buddhism tells us to be realistic and impermance promice end to pain as well.
Verified many times and it brings piece. Enlightment is when you understand little things.
I think it has been how to learn to stop doing. Even Buddhism.
Just experience life without purpose or reason and participate fully.
@Shoshin said: > the real reason is because I don't believe in what the Buddha said.....I practice to see for my self
>
@Shoshin , same here.
I was very impressed when I first found out that not only we don't have the Creator God but we can become the Buddha ourselves. That's is Cool! I intend to try it.
I like this answer.
Keep up the good work
Dharma works. Each of us implementing and centring ourselves in the Middle Way know dharma works. We develop appreciation according to our commitment and practice efforts.
No theory required. Just experience for ourselves ...
I don't do Buddhist practice. (I'm not saying this as in "I've transcended everything - even Buddhism".)
But I do meditate (maybe that's the same thing after all) because, well, it seems to be well enough backed-up by science, it fascinates me and it's a good alternative to being over-reactive to everything.