You see it happening in all religions
The so called 'pious' individuals, casting their religious lofty noses at others in the same religious group - the ones who may not necessarily attend the prayer ceremony, put their hands together to get closer connected to the 'chosen one', repeat verbatim the 'commandments' for that particular religion.
Yet... we find many of these un-pious individuals have more sense of awareness, more common sense, more of a scientific & investigative mind than those indocrinated and enshrined in prayers, in orthodoxy, in regimentation.
Think about this choice; what would you rather have;
Deep knowledge of all the sayings, mantras and rituals that'll make you an 'enlightened soul' in the eyes of others... or... knowledge and awareness of how to use your mind... at all times... for you, your family's, your workplace, your neighbourhood's practical benefit?
It's interesting.
Most desire the 'mental power' of Siddartha Gautama, yet, don't want to do the work, don't want to exercise the devoted practice time, don't want to think about the disciplined work needed to become the master of their own minds.
They'd rather have instant 'Buddha osmosis'.
And, they want it by simply touching a statue of the Budhha, verbalising a few chants and mantras and... WHAMMO... instant ENLIGHTENMENT!
Delusion and confusion starts in the mind.
It can also... END in the mind.
Don't simply pray for a better life. LIVE a better life based on your actions and awareness in each moment-by-moment experience... because.. that's the only way to slap the insanity of the mind, right out of your body.
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Monday, 29 July 2013
"LISTEN...Wipe Up The Milk and Go Get Another Pint!"
You may have heard the story.
A little boy goes out to get some milk and spills it before he can get it home.
He comes back home, crying, crying crying... all because of the spilt milk.
The next day he again goes to get some milk and again, he spills it and again, comes home crying like a little baby.
The next day, the mother asks for her other son to go get the milk.
This he does.
And, like his brother, he too spills the milk.
However, unlike his brother, this boy has a Buddha mind.
Because, not only does he come home with some milk and with a huge happy smile, he also gives his mother a few extra pennies.
How so? What happened?
Because, this boy, on dropping the milk, asked the shopkeeper if there were any chores he could do to make up the money in order to buy the milk again.
A person possessing a Buddha mind still has problems and issues coming up in life like everyone else.
The only difference is, someone with a Buddha mind works out a solution to the problem and also, learns from it. So it never ever shows up as a problem ever again.
A Buddha mind owner hasn't the time or energy to cry over spilt milk; they're too busy finding answers and solutions... and... lapping up the new milk that they've created from their own effort and endeavor.
Want to have a Buddha mind?
First: crack open the cultural BS hypnosis that you've let wander in that has seemingly taken permanent residence inside of you, one that says you've got to mourn and blame and weep and fuss when unwanted things come your way, or, when wanted things DON'T go your way.
And then, once you've cracked that cultural hypnosis BS that the majority cling to and live by, teach yourself to... GO GET THE MILK... in ALL areas of your life!
Enlightenment is a self-created experience one practically travels through.
A little boy goes out to get some milk and spills it before he can get it home.
He comes back home, crying, crying crying... all because of the spilt milk.
The next day he again goes to get some milk and again, he spills it and again, comes home crying like a little baby.
The next day, the mother asks for her other son to go get the milk.
This he does.
And, like his brother, he too spills the milk.
However, unlike his brother, this boy has a Buddha mind.
Because, not only does he come home with some milk and with a huge happy smile, he also gives his mother a few extra pennies.
How so? What happened?
Because, this boy, on dropping the milk, asked the shopkeeper if there were any chores he could do to make up the money in order to buy the milk again.
A person possessing a Buddha mind still has problems and issues coming up in life like everyone else.
The only difference is, someone with a Buddha mind works out a solution to the problem and also, learns from it. So it never ever shows up as a problem ever again.
A Buddha mind owner hasn't the time or energy to cry over spilt milk; they're too busy finding answers and solutions... and... lapping up the new milk that they've created from their own effort and endeavor.
Want to have a Buddha mind?
First: crack open the cultural BS hypnosis that you've let wander in that has seemingly taken permanent residence inside of you, one that says you've got to mourn and blame and weep and fuss when unwanted things come your way, or, when wanted things DON'T go your way.
And then, once you've cracked that cultural hypnosis BS that the majority cling to and live by, teach yourself to... GO GET THE MILK... in ALL areas of your life!
Enlightenment is a self-created experience one practically travels through.
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
No Mind, No Worries
The Buddha preached the Noble Eight fold path.
Eight pillars of thinking and behaving that would help you become the better person you want to be.
The 7th of the Eight Noble Paths is Right Mindfulness.
Namely...
What is IN your mind, what you let into it, and how, and in what way, does it help you.
You can get a more professorial, academic, loftier explanation if you scour the Internet, consult the thousands of books, periodicals, and information that's freely available... though that may take you away from the practicality of it all, the essence of living a good life, in the here and now.
And so here's something that you can perfect from having a no mind scenario when the stakes are high.
And interestingly, it comes not from the Buddha, but from Chuang Tzu, who in fact, DOES have a Buddha mind, a powerful one at that;
"When you are betting for stones in an archery contest, you shoot with skill.
When you are betting for fancy belt buckles, you worry about your aim.
And when you are betting for real gold, you're a nervous wreck.
Your skill is the same in all three cases - but one prize means more to you than another, so you let outside concerns weigh on your mind.
He who looks too hard at the outside gets clumsy on the inside."
Right mindfulness here, means... having no mind and no tension about the stakes you're playing for.
...where you think inside, you're playing for stones and pebbles, no matter what the stakes, you'll experience a peaceful relaxation in getting to the glorious outcome you want.
But look, don't just believe what you read - test it, experiment with it, work it. Be the judge and jury based on your own detective work and in your own efforts and application.
Eight pillars of thinking and behaving that would help you become the better person you want to be.
The 7th of the Eight Noble Paths is Right Mindfulness.
Namely...
What is IN your mind, what you let into it, and how, and in what way, does it help you.
You can get a more professorial, academic, loftier explanation if you scour the Internet, consult the thousands of books, periodicals, and information that's freely available... though that may take you away from the practicality of it all, the essence of living a good life, in the here and now.
And so here's something that you can perfect from having a no mind scenario when the stakes are high.
And interestingly, it comes not from the Buddha, but from Chuang Tzu, who in fact, DOES have a Buddha mind, a powerful one at that;
"When you are betting for stones in an archery contest, you shoot with skill.
When you are betting for fancy belt buckles, you worry about your aim.
And when you are betting for real gold, you're a nervous wreck.
Your skill is the same in all three cases - but one prize means more to you than another, so you let outside concerns weigh on your mind.
He who looks too hard at the outside gets clumsy on the inside."
Right mindfulness here, means... having no mind and no tension about the stakes you're playing for.
...where you think inside, you're playing for stones and pebbles, no matter what the stakes, you'll experience a peaceful relaxation in getting to the glorious outcome you want.
But look, don't just believe what you read - test it, experiment with it, work it. Be the judge and jury based on your own detective work and in your own efforts and application.
Friday, 31 May 2013
Don't Forget Now; Meditation IS Movement!
When I come across many so called 'Buddha Enquirers', (as well as those who say that practice Buddhism or who proudly wear the label) what they seem to LOVE about the idea of the Buddhist Way is that it's one of peace and tranquility and quietness.
It's taken as a way where seemingly, there's no interaction, no movement, no need to really do anything much to attain the peace and harmony and tranquility within, something that so many search for and wish to attain.
And yes, that's made all the more pleasing to the eye because the dreamy images we see of The Buddha. The pictures and statues of him sitting under a tree with legs folded, of lying horizontal with not a care or worry on the face, of hands in lap and eyes closed.
Now if that was all one had to DO to become 'enlightened', we'd see millions of people around the world with ZERO worries, problems or concerns.
They'd just be sitting under a tree or closing their eyes in a dreamy state, and that would be it.
Of course, that's not the case.
Far from it.
And that's because meditating without practical application to live ones life each day in a productive and happy way, is a powerful recipe for delusion, confusion and a messed up mind. And I can't tell you how many Buddhists have messed up minds. How many non-Buddhists have messed up minds.
Get this fact: The Buddha - Siddhartha Gautama - was a human being who learnt how to master his mind. He did it by taking on teachers to help him reach deeper levels of awareness within his own mind.
And then, when he mastered the process... what he did was to use that mind technology to show others how to live with happiness and harmony. And not only to monks and those who wanted to dedicate their lives to living and teaching the mind technology, but to everyday folk, homeowners, business people.
APPLICATION
So when you have a disturbance going on externally around you, whether at home, your workplace, with friends, family or colleagues; note that the response or reaction to it is happening internally, first. And, without awareness or equanimity you'll be like a human explosive, reacting without carefully thinking... reacting without checking your own personal awareness system of what's actually going on inside your own mind.
Deeply understanding the actual breathing and mind awareness technique the Buddha used to fix his own manic monkey mind, is something that will help fix YOUR mad manic monkey mind. I personally learnt the technique beginning some 25 or so years ago because it troubled me that growing up in a Buddhist household, where dogma and recitation was the order of the day, mediation techniques were not even on the menu!
So, am I always tranquil and peaceful when an unwanted situation arises or when something I want to have happen, doesn't happen? No. Not always. At times my mind is like a burning furnace though I've learnt how to damp out the flames before my whole life catches fire.
And yes, because of living and incorporating the mind technology practice into my everyday life and into my everyday actions and activities, I'm happier more often than not.
I'd be a soul lost to the world if all I did was to learn the process and live like a hermit, a recluse, a one-man band within my own home.
There's practical power in meditating with your everyday movements. It wasn't created only for those times sitting under the tree or living in silent contemplation.
It's taken as a way where seemingly, there's no interaction, no movement, no need to really do anything much to attain the peace and harmony and tranquility within, something that so many search for and wish to attain.
And yes, that's made all the more pleasing to the eye because the dreamy images we see of The Buddha. The pictures and statues of him sitting under a tree with legs folded, of lying horizontal with not a care or worry on the face, of hands in lap and eyes closed.
Now if that was all one had to DO to become 'enlightened', we'd see millions of people around the world with ZERO worries, problems or concerns.
They'd just be sitting under a tree or closing their eyes in a dreamy state, and that would be it.
Of course, that's not the case.
Far from it.
And that's because meditating without practical application to live ones life each day in a productive and happy way, is a powerful recipe for delusion, confusion and a messed up mind. And I can't tell you how many Buddhists have messed up minds. How many non-Buddhists have messed up minds.
Get this fact: The Buddha - Siddhartha Gautama - was a human being who learnt how to master his mind. He did it by taking on teachers to help him reach deeper levels of awareness within his own mind.
And then, when he mastered the process... what he did was to use that mind technology to show others how to live with happiness and harmony. And not only to monks and those who wanted to dedicate their lives to living and teaching the mind technology, but to everyday folk, homeowners, business people.
APPLICATION
So when you have a disturbance going on externally around you, whether at home, your workplace, with friends, family or colleagues; note that the response or reaction to it is happening internally, first. And, without awareness or equanimity you'll be like a human explosive, reacting without carefully thinking... reacting without checking your own personal awareness system of what's actually going on inside your own mind.
Deeply understanding the actual breathing and mind awareness technique the Buddha used to fix his own manic monkey mind, is something that will help fix YOUR mad manic monkey mind. I personally learnt the technique beginning some 25 or so years ago because it troubled me that growing up in a Buddhist household, where dogma and recitation was the order of the day, mediation techniques were not even on the menu!
So, am I always tranquil and peaceful when an unwanted situation arises or when something I want to have happen, doesn't happen? No. Not always. At times my mind is like a burning furnace though I've learnt how to damp out the flames before my whole life catches fire.
And yes, because of living and incorporating the mind technology practice into my everyday life and into my everyday actions and activities, I'm happier more often than not.
I'd be a soul lost to the world if all I did was to learn the process and live like a hermit, a recluse, a one-man band within my own home.
There's practical power in meditating with your everyday movements. It wasn't created only for those times sitting under the tree or living in silent contemplation.
Friday, 24 May 2013
Of course NOT!! You Don't Have to Be a 'Buddhist' to Have a Buddha Mind!
What's a 'Buddha Mind?'
A mind full of love, power, grace and compassion. And, COMMITTED ACTION.
And here's the great news: you don't necessarily need feel that you can't own a Buddha Mind if you've already been indoctrinated into a formal religion. Look, you don't even need to 'be Buddhist' to have that Buddha Mind!
That's because love, power, grace and compassion isn't attached to any religion, dogma or rigid structure or belief.
Look closely at them, these traits are universal. They'll find the person who wants to embrace them - no matter who they are, no matter where they come from, no matter what systematised religion (or not) they may follow.
The Buddha Mind is simply a metaphor for the good that can go on inside you - without the need or necessity to tie yourself up in a bunch of guru or mantra based knots.
To acquire the Buddha Mind, you don't need to touch a statue, you don't need to recite parables, scriptures or mantras. And, you definitely do not need to wear specific clothes, shave your head or have a tattoo that tells the world you're a Buddhist.
The TRUE Buddha Mind is all about a life in action.
Meditation without movement is the recipe for self delusion.
Reciting the words of the Buddha without taking one ounce of practical action is the same as being able to read but never picking up a single book thereafter.
None of that has any practical benefit.
Now, acquiring the Buddha Mind isn't a topic for discussion or to play intellectual games with (and many love doing that instead of using it to better one's life). Your one aim must be to use it to better your life and the life of others. Anything else is ego based intellectualism.
This website is about firing up your Buddha Mind SO YOU CAN BENEFIT, here and now, in the present moment - and NOT in some far off distant future of which you have no control.
You only have control over your present moment, in the here and now.
Because, it's in the HERE AND NOW that you can fire up your Buddha Mind... and... it's only, in the here and now that you can FIRE IT UP to create committed action!
And it all happens through powerful, concentrated, AWARENESS.
And yes, stay with this website because you'll get to that level of awareness that will... FIRE UP YOUR BUDDHA MIND.
A mind full of love, power, grace and compassion. And, COMMITTED ACTION.
And here's the great news: you don't necessarily need feel that you can't own a Buddha Mind if you've already been indoctrinated into a formal religion. Look, you don't even need to 'be Buddhist' to have that Buddha Mind!
That's because love, power, grace and compassion isn't attached to any religion, dogma or rigid structure or belief.
Look closely at them, these traits are universal. They'll find the person who wants to embrace them - no matter who they are, no matter where they come from, no matter what systematised religion (or not) they may follow.
The Buddha Mind is simply a metaphor for the good that can go on inside you - without the need or necessity to tie yourself up in a bunch of guru or mantra based knots.
To acquire the Buddha Mind, you don't need to touch a statue, you don't need to recite parables, scriptures or mantras. And, you definitely do not need to wear specific clothes, shave your head or have a tattoo that tells the world you're a Buddhist.
The TRUE Buddha Mind is all about a life in action.
Meditation without movement is the recipe for self delusion.
Reciting the words of the Buddha without taking one ounce of practical action is the same as being able to read but never picking up a single book thereafter.
None of that has any practical benefit.
Now, acquiring the Buddha Mind isn't a topic for discussion or to play intellectual games with (and many love doing that instead of using it to better one's life). Your one aim must be to use it to better your life and the life of others. Anything else is ego based intellectualism.
This website is about firing up your Buddha Mind SO YOU CAN BENEFIT, here and now, in the present moment - and NOT in some far off distant future of which you have no control.
You only have control over your present moment, in the here and now.
Because, it's in the HERE AND NOW that you can fire up your Buddha Mind... and... it's only, in the here and now that you can FIRE IT UP to create committed action!
And it all happens through powerful, concentrated, AWARENESS.
And yes, stay with this website because you'll get to that level of awareness that will... FIRE UP YOUR BUDDHA MIND.
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