Buddhist Belief Blog

This blog post may be a case of “too much information”, because I’m going to be writing about how Buddhism has played such a role in my own life. Hopefully, I’ll still be able to make a point or two which will be meaningful to you. I hope you’ll understand.

I’m also using the same quote, above, which I used last week. It’s still the best quote I could find for these thoughts I’d like to share with you today.

One of the things I absolutely treasure in my life, is silence. It seems as though the more I study and learn about Buddhist Belief, the more I seem to prefer more moments of silence in my life. So much of our lives are bathed in sound. In fact, it’s nearly impossible in our day-to-day lives to avoid sound of some sort. However, in meditation, there are often other non-silent things which enter our sitting time. Certainly, most of my meditation time begins with placing my mind on my breathing.

I’m fortunate to be able to find silence when it’s time to sit. I’m usually here by myself during the day, and I have a place I use for my meditation each day which is isolated from the rest of the house to a certain degree. When there’s a chance there might be noises or other distractions when I meditate, I use a Holosync CD to help my mind to be empty – to block everything out. (Here’s a link to check out the CD if you’re interested: The Holosync Solution) . Some days, it may be just the breathing and bringing awareness to my thoughts, and other times there will be moments when I’m doing nothing – just sitting there. It’s hard to describe, but I feel it’s an opening of my field of attention. I’m awake– I’m alert – but I’m basically doing nothing. Just waiting without wanting – just waiting to see what the universe will bring me today – if anything.

It’s not about trying to make something happen. It’s not about looking for anything in particular. It’s not about wanting something to happen. It’s just being aware of whatever comes up. It might be a thought – it might be a sound in my head – it might be a sensation in my body – or – it just might be some beautiful silence.

Now, I know there are some folks who may be reading this today who are uncomfortable with silence. It’s almost as though there’s something to fear in silence – or they don’t sense the true value of it. Perhaps they feel lonely if it’s too quiet. Let’s face it, what we’re used to is sound, or speaking our thoughts – even when we’re speaking to ourselves there’s a sound in our minds. Or, there might be a radio playing – or a television on – or there’s traffic on the road outside – or someone may be talking to us. We’re used to using our ears to gather information.

We often don’t realize there can be a tremendous amount of wisdom which can come through in silence. When you get a real taste of true silence, you begin to realize it’s not a vacuum or dead space. Once you begin to feel comfortable with silence, you’ll find it’s a highly charged place to be. There’s a whole world of wonder you couldn’t see or feel with all the noise we’re accustomed to having around us. Silence is amazing – it’s filled with energy and life. It’s makes possible the vastness of the world out there. We’re not confined to the limited space our thinking allows.

I’ve had several people ask me what got me started with Buddhism and meditation. It’s an interesting question and I have to think carefully how to answer because it has no bearing on what Buddhism means to me today. Before I ever thought about Buddhism or meditation, I was just a young hippie living in Vermont. I had some brief experience with psychedelics in those days and, even though my experiences were good – feelings of real peace, joy, and love — I knew I didn’t want to continue to use drugs to have these feelings. I was reading about Buddhism, and began to meditate with some Buddhists I met in my town. I found I was able to “get into” some of the same sort of “highs” I had with the drugs. However, the more I studied the Buddhist texts and learned from the leaders of this group in Vermont, I realized getting “high” on meditation wasn’t what it was all about. I was at a place in my life where I was searching for peace — and freedom from the endless struggle of trying to find my way in life. Any of you who may be reading my memoir/novel know I didn’t have a great foundation on which to build a meaningful life. (Here’s a link to the online book: Lost and Found)

What I have discovered is meditation is not at all self-centered. In fact, it’s one-hundred-eighty degrees the opposite. What it really does is teach you how to have a better understanding of yourself so that you can be more compassionate and loving to others. It’s a method of training our minds so we can learn how better to live with each other.

For me, this all comes about by learning to be in the silence and emptying my mind, It’s about learning how to be open to the universe and accepting whatever is brought to you in the silence.

Sshhh! Try it – you might like it.

Metta ….May I be well and happy. My I live in safety. May I be healthy and strong. May I live with ease. May all beings be well and happy. May all beings live in safety. May all beings be healthy and strong. May all beings live with ease.

Namaste — Be in Peace.

Ron Rink

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Just click the links that are sort of Grey in color to take you to where you can learn more about each book and how you can purchase a copy for your own library.

Stephanie Kaza — Hooked!: Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the Urge to Consume

Stephanie Kaza, an amazing writer and Buddhist teacher I knew from my 36 years living in Vermont, gathers key Buddhist thinkers to reflect upon aspects of consumerism, greed and economics. Certainly, many other authors have examined consumerism from the lens of their religious traditions, but this book’s Buddhist perspective is unusual, and its pairing of consumerist critiques with core Buddhist concepts is generally fruitful. Check this one out! Hooked!

Stephanie Kaza — Mindfully Green: A Personal and Spiritual Guide to Whole Earth Thinking

Another one from my Vermont friend — Stephanie Kaza, a biologist and professor of Environmental Studies at University of Vermont, combines Zen Buddhist practices and teachings with her 40 years as an environmentalist for this guide to enlightened environmentalism, proposing a belief in the interdependence of people and nature as the genuine way to “go green”: “When we come to see ourselves as part of the green web of life… we are naturally drawn to respond with compassion.” A good read for Buddhists or anyone from any religion. Mindfully Green

Anam Thubten — No Self – No Problem

No Self – No Problem
shows how to realize the ultimate meaning of life in each moment by dissolving all notions of ego-identity. It asks that spiritual seekers wake up to their true nature, which is already enlightened. Based on Buddhist wisdom traditions, this easy-to-read book discusses in simple, but profound and inspiring language, how we can live a life full of love, satisfaction, and happiness. No Self – No Problem

Sharon Salzberg — The Kindness Handbook

“It takes boldness, even audacity, to step out of our habitual patterns and experiment with a quality like kindness–to work with it and see just how it might shift and open up our lives. This book is an invitation to do just that. — From The Kindness Handbook