Buddhists at Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, I’m sure a lot of you budding Buddhists are wondering what to do with your holiday, given your faith. Obviously, at the heart of Buddhist teachings we know not to seek happiness within material gifts and objects which, let’s face it, Christmas has become all about.

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s still about love, kindness and family (and Jesus obviously, depending on your outlook), and where love and kindness exist, Buddhists thrive like bees in a honey factory. Just because our faith isn’t designed to celebrate Christmas in the same way as others that doesn’t mean we have to spend all twenty-four hours of December 25^th hiding in the shadows of our Bodhi trees. This is on opportunity for us to make a difference for people. Whilst Christmas may not be as strong a force in our lives as others, we can still make it count.

For those of you who are a little unsure on how to address Christmas, here’s some pointers.

1.       Buddhists can still give gifts

There’s nothing stopping you, as a Buddhist, from giving or even receiving gifts. Sure, you might not go for something as lavish or expensive as others, but the real beauty in a Christmas gift is making it something meaningful or sentimental. Don’t just grab some flowers from the gas station or pass on some chocolates you won at bingo. Use this as an opportunity to be creative, and show someone how much they mean to you without having to resort to binge buying on Amazon.

2.       Not everyone has a Merry Christmas

Whilst Christmas is obviously a time to be happy, merry etc. remember that some people aren’t having such a great time. Some people are homeless, in hospital or grieving for those they may have lost. Some people aren’t so well off that they can give their loved ones what they want. So if you really want to make it a Merry Christmas, help somebody in need. I promise you that it will make your Christmas merry as well.

               

This also, is not just limited to people. Make sure to be hot on the case of animal mistreatment over the holidays. This is the time of year that people forget that animals need as much care as we do. They aren’t, and never will be, just a ‘Christmas gift’.

3.       You might confuse people

Please be aware that for most people, Buddhism isn’t the norm, especially in Western countries. Try not to lose your mind with people asking you why you aren’t celebrating Christmas the same way they are. Be patient, and try to be informative about what you believe and why you believe it.

Other than that folks, have a very Merry Christmas! Spread as much cheer as you can! (That goes for the rest of the year as well though)

~Avazen

What's a Buddhist's typical day? [by anekspekted]

anekspekted asked:

I was never near a buddhist culture, so I would like to know what a typical day of buddhists are. And also, given that buddhists respect all living beings, I presume buddhists are vegan. Is that so? Thank you for answering, it means a lot to me.

It would be too general a statement to say that all Buddhists are vegan. I myself eat meat, although I try to limit it, purely because it was something I was brought up on and it’s not an easy thing to shake.
But it’s completely up to the individual person how rigidly they follow their Buddhist practises. You’ll find that some monks wear masks over their mouths to prevent them eating flies or small bugs accidentally. Is this a practise that most Buddhists follow? No chance. But does that mean those who don’t are evil for allowing these small bugs to die in such I way? I don’t think so, not personally.

As for the typical day of a Buddhist, again it is down to the individual. I’d say the majority try to incorporate a good portion of (generally) the morning or the evening to meditation and then whatever else they involve in their practise. Whether it be yoga, or something similar. Most Buddhists, especially western ones, will just apply Buddhist teachings to their normal, everyday lives.

As for monks, that’s a whole different kettle of fish.
Here’s a couple of links which show the average day for a Tibetan and Thai monk, which I found very interesting:

http://tibetansponsorship.org/sera-jey-monastry/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-monk/

http://www.thaiworldview.com/bouddha/bouddha3.htm

  I hope this has been of some help to you :)

~Avazen

How do you practice Buddhism? [Asked by Anonymous]

Anonymous asked:

How do you practice Buddhism? Are there certain diets? Prayer times? Medatation? Etc. Just a basic understanding. New follower. Thanks ~H

Hey there!

The strange thing about Buddhism is there’s no ‘right way’ to practise it. It’s all dependant on what results you want from it.

If we were to look at a pretty average lay Buddhist, a western Buddhist with an interest in the faith, there would probably be about 45 minutes of meditation a day maximum. Many will exceed this, but most will undercut it and meditate perhaps 5-15 minutes in the morning and at night and nothing more. That’s mainly because Buddhism is trying to integrate itself in a life already take up with jobs, children, pets etc.
If we were to look at a Tibetan Monk’s daily schedule however, the meditation and prayer times are well in the hours.

Here’s a link to a Thai monk’s average day:
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/wat_m5.htm

As for a Buddhist diet, this ranges anywhere from steaks, to hardcore veganism. There are plenty of Buddhists in the world who eat meat, and it doesn’t mean they’re bad Buddhists. It’s all down to your moral compass and what you feel comfortable doing. Most monks will be vegetarian or vegan, but that doesn’t mean you m suddenly have to overhaul your life and ditch all the milk and eggs in your fridge. However, if that is what you want to do to achieve your goals, then be my guest! You’ll probably feel better for it!
I’m sorry if this has been a bit vague, if you have anymore questions for me don’t hesitate to ask :)
 
This link also might help you!

http://m.wikihow.com/Become-a-Buddhist

Metta,

~Avazen

Buddhism and Capital Punishment

This one may seem like a bit of a no brainier, but is still a question posed to members of the Buddhist community. What is the Buddhist view on capital punishment?

Capital punishment is another way of describing the death penalty; the act of killing a human being based on the crime(s) that they have committed. It is a punishment that has been carried out by almost every society throughout history as a punishment for criminals and was more often than not accompanied by torture. As it stands today, 36 countries still carry out the death penalty, whilst 103 have completely abolished it. An additional 50 have not used it for at least ten years.

From a Buddhist point of view, we need look no further than the first of the five precepts to get an idea of what the Buddhist view on this is:

"Abstain from injuring or killing all living creatures."

Buddhist doctrines hold non-violence and compassion in absolute paramount, but as with all religion, there are those who can misinterpret their own doctrines, and resort to extremist means.

The Buddha never spoke about capital punishment directly, but it can be assumed from the lessons he taught, that he had zero support of it.

"An action, even if it brings benefit to oneself, cannot be considered a good action if it causes physical and mental pain to another being." - The Buddha

As far as punishment itself goes, Buddhism teaches that the inhumane treatment of an offender does nothing to solve their misdeeds, nor does it truly benefit the punisher or humanity in any way. A punishment given should only be given to the extent required to make amends.

Of course, it is not only the offender we need take into consideration. The person administering the punishment will be doing more damage to themselves than they are aware. If you consistently carry out evil, damaging actions, you will find yourself harming yourself in such a way that you will become bitter, twisted and hateful in nature. The Buddha said:

"Holding onto anger is like holding onto a hot coal with the intention of throwing it at someone. You are the one who gets burned." - The Buddha

And this statement is true for any negative feeling you may be holding towards another person. The longer you hold on to those feelings, and the more you fuel fires of hatred and anger, the more damage you will be doing to yourself.

Despite the Buddha's teachings, however, largely Buddhist countries like Thailand still continue to use the death penalty. Many countries still do this out of popular public opinion, reaction to political unrest, or possibly worst of all, tradition. Apparently a long history of blood and violence is justification to keep doing the same.

Conclusion

All in all, despite the differences in opinion over various cultures, we can comfortably say from a Buddhist point of view that Capital punishment is against the five precepts, and against Buddhist culture. All life is sacred, and all human beings have the capacity for redemption.

The Eightfold Path

This post focuses on the 'ins and outs' of the noble eightfold path, also called 'The middle path'. Last weeks post on the four noble truths touched on it briefly, but hopefully this one will give you a better insight into what the eightfold path is, what its made up of and how it can help you.

Despite its name, the eightfold path isn't meant to be followed, like a step-by-step guide. All of the right elements should be adhered to and worked on simultaneously, as none of them are any more important than another. They all bind together and form a powerful way for Buddhists to better themselves.

Of course, as with all of the Buddha's teachings, do not follow it blindly. Such an attitude will leave you dissatisfied, and with a result you maybe weren't seeking. Learn what works your own way, and forge your own path. I can guarantee you'll be happier that way.

The word 'right' is used at the beginning of each element, and in these instances means an ethical, balanced and middle way. The path can be broken down into three parts. Wisdom, Morality and Concentration.

So with further delay, like all good things, let's start at number one!

Right View (Sammā ditthi)

Right understanding, also called 'right understanding', refers to our perception of the world around us. This is a crucial step on the path as it reminds us to try and view the world as it really is, not as we'd like it to be. It's important to find that fine line between pessimism and optimism (a middle line, some might say!) and focus on reality; more specifically, the reality of suffering.

Right view is the first point on the path because the right view of the world is needed before you can truly act on it, and start making the changes that you require to make.

Right Intention (Sammā san̄kappa)

Next up is having the right intention. San̄kappa translates purpose and motivation. It follows on naturally from having the right view. You need to have the right attitude to go with that view. It's the step where we truly become dedicated to the eightfold path and start acting based on what we truly, as human beings, desire.  Right view gives us the equipment and the know how to adopt the middle way, right intention is the motivation to really get out there and do it! With the right understanding and right view, we remove desire. Which makes the path to the cessation of suffering so much easier.

Right Speech (Sammā vācā)

Now, this one probably explains itself pretty well already. Almost as though as general rule in today's society, we forget the power of the spoken word. Something which one might view as a harmless joke or a bit of fun, can cause such devastating damage in someone's life and to their self esteem that it's painful to even think about the effects it's had on people in the past, in some cases causing them to self-harm or even take their own life.

The element of 'right speech' encourages the use of speech in a positive manner. Not through harsh criticism or jabs at the way people look, but by lifting people's spirits and bringing compassion through communication. You'd be amazed at how much you can brighten someone's day just by complimenting them or saying something positive about them. If we all watched our speech a little closer, there'd be many more smiles on many more faces throughout the world.

Right Action (Sammā Kammanta)

Right action, also called right conduct, purely involves how you act to others, yourself and the world around you. As I mentioned above, your words can heavily impact someone's life, and that goes just as much (in some cases more) for actions. You, as a human being, can so easily cause damaging and suffering, and it's up to you to control your actions and let others and yourself benefit from the results.

Right action can be broken down into three sections.
The first of which, is to abstain from the taking of sentient life. This includes human beings and animals, even down to the tiniest of insects. However that's a broader topic that I'll delve into another week.
The second is to abstain from stealing, which also takes the forms of cheating and gaining any wealth through dishonest means.
The third is to abstain from sexual misconduct. This is also a broader topic that I'd like to discuss at a later date, so I'll leave it untouched for now.

Right Livelihood (Sammā ājīva)

The Buddha taught that anyone who earns their livelihood through unwholesome means that cause harm or suffering will eventually lead to that person's own inner deterioration. This includes, but in not necessarily limited to:

-Butchering
-Arms dealing
-Slave trade
-Prostitution
-Drug dealing (including alcohol)

Right Livelihood can also relate back to the second section of right action: stealing. If one earns their living through dishonest means and trickery then it would compromise both right livelihood and right action. This is an example of how all of the eight elements are interconnected.

Right Effort (Sammā Vāyāma)

This element of the eightfold path, on a basic level, is all about avoiding negative thoughts and emotions such as anger and jealousy. You should try your best to cultivate an enthusiastic approach towards life, in a balanced and wholesome way. Of course, realistically, this isn't always possible. People can make us angry and jealous without us meaning to be. But the point is to try. Try to become a force for good in the world by adopting the right motivation and effort to achieve what you want to achieve.

Right Mindfulness (Sammā sati)

Right mindfulness is probably the most difficult of the eight elements to grasp. Right mindfulness is what I'd consider a 'Zen' concept. It's about being focused in on the moment, on the here and now. Truly listen to the noises going on around you, focus on all the sights, smells, tastes and sensations, and hone in on those sensations. Be focused and aware.

Mindfulness and mediation is often viewed as trying to close off the world around you, and shut yourself inside your own mind. When in fact, it's the opposite. You're becoming more aware. You're slotting yourself into the world around you and becoming a part of the environment.

Right Concentration (Sammā samādhi)

Right concentration is all about using meditation to reach the highest level of enlightenment possible. Both this, and Right Mindfulness are about unifying the mind and developing one single, disciplined concentration. Once the mind is free of clutter, it is then easier for us to achieve what we desire. Right concentration is focusing the mind on a single point, an object or idea, and forms the initial stages of the meditation process.

Conclusion

And that's the essence of the eightfold path. As long as you study these eight points as a single behaviour, and not as separate steps in a path, you'll reap the benefits of it immediately. When the mind is so focused on being more compassionate, aware and awakened, it will have no choice but to become so.

The Four Noble Truths

The four noble truths are a set of statements that contain the very foundations of Buddhist belief. The Buddha came to understand these four principles as he was meditating beneath the bodhi tree. The truths go as so:

1) There is no existence without suffering (dukkha)

The Sanskrit word 'dukkha' is roughly translated to 'suffering' or 'dissatisfaction'. The Buddha taught that there is no such thing as life without dukkha, because it is an unavoidable part of our lives. Hunger, thirst, pain and grief are all obvious examples. They are aspects of life that are deeply rooted in our existence and cannot be avoided.
However the Buddha looked upon suffering much deeper than that. As well as hunger, grief, thirst and pain, we often find that life does not live up to our expectations. This is another cause of suffering, and is perhaps more closely related to what is meant by 'dissatisfaction'.

As human beings we are subject to desires and cravings, but even if we manage to satiate these desires, however fleeting they may be, the satisfaction is only ever temporary. We find ourselves unfulfilled. Yes, this seems like a rather pessimistic view, that we will never truly be satisfied in our existence, but in reality it is neither pessimistic or optimistic. It's just the nature of life.

2) There is an origin to suffering (samudāya)

The Buddha taught that beyond the problems of hunger and pain etc. we have a much more human suffering that is caused by our innate desire of what we do not have. We crave that which does not belong to us and we become uninterested and dissatisfied with what we do have. This unhealthy attitude towards life is what the second truth aims to teach: the origin of suffering.

The origins of suffering are represented as the three poisons:

The three poisons are shown as a rooster, a snake and a pig.

The rooster represents greed and desire,

The snake represents hate and destructive urges,

The pig represents delusion and ignorance.

These three poisons are visual embodiments of what causes suffering in our lives.

3) There is a way to end suffering (nirodha)

The Buddha not only identified the cause of our suffering, but also that there is a way for us to extinguish it. This is the third noble truth, that there is a way to end suffering.

The Buddha believed that there was an end to suffering, and this was called Nirvana. The word Nirvana means 'extinguishing'. To attain Nirvana is to reach enlightenment, and to free oneself of the three poisons: greed, ignorance and hatred. The Buddha suggested that one who had attained nirvana was free from the cycle of death and rebirth, although he asked his followers not to focus too much on the aftermath and more on the task at hand, as not only would it distract their efforts but also, he did not know! There is no way for us to know what truly happens after death, and most Buddhist teachers are not afraid to admit that.

4) The path to the cessation of suffering (magga)

The fourth and final noble truth is that the way to release yourself from suffering is to follow the eightfold path, which essentially serves as the Buddhist equivalent of the Christian Ten Commandments. The eightfold path is also referred to as the middle way, as it is neither overindulgence nor neglect of yourself. It is a largely neutral way to live your life.

The eightfold path consists of the following stages (although a more in depth article will be posted on it next week):

Right understanding - (Sammā ditthi): accepting Buddhist teachings, but not without testing them yourself first.
Right Intention - (Sammā san̄kappa): committing yourself to cultivating the right attitudes in your day-to-day life.
Right speech - (Sammā vācā): speaking truthfully, and avoiding slander, gossip and abusive speech.
Right action - (Sammā Kammanta): behaving peacefully and refraining from stealing or any kind of overindulgence.
Right livelihood - (Sammā ājīva): not making a living from the harm of other living things. E.g. The production of weapons, intoxicants or killing animals.
Right effort - (Sammā Vāyāma): cultivating positive States of mind and freeing oneself from unwholesome and evil states.
Right mindfulness - (Sammā sati): developing awareness of the body, feelings and states of mind.
Right concentration - (Sammā samādhi): developing the necessary focus for this state of awareness.