Buddhist Belief Blog

You know, this is a tough time for anyone who is working to live by their Buddhist Beliefs, isn’t it? It seems as though trying to find some truth we can truly rely on is getting more and more difficult. I happen to be one who looks for truth via Internet sources rather than television, radio or newspapers. Yet, even there, I’m seeing so many different arguments being offered – and each of the presenters of these arguments can cite sources galore to back up their point of view.

One example about difficult truth-seeking I’d like to offer for you today has to do with our environment and how what’s happening with it might relate to our Buddhist beliefs. Despite the fact that news sources are all over the map on this, in my humble opinion, I feel our environment is on the brink of catastrophe. Our planet can no longer absorb the way we humans have chosen to live – the planet’s ecosystems won’t hold up to our lifestyles of greed and over-consumption much longer.

Many people who study Buddhist principles will come to the conclusion that our greedy, commercialized lifestyle is the result of some distortion in our human mind. However, our study of Buddhist teachings show us how compassion and gratitude are important principles. This environmental crisis we are facing today is giving us the opportunity to add stewardship and sustainability to our day-to-day lifestyles. One way would be for us humans to find ways to show our gratitude for what nature can provide for us. Through our individual actions we could show our gratitude by cutting back on some of the things we “over-use” to make us seem more comfortable.

I’m not suggesting we should all move into a 9 X 12 cave somewhere and rely on candles for our light source. But, why couldn’t we begin to think about changing some of our belief that more “stuff” will make us happier? Our capitalistic society has rewired our thinking process so we seem to feel we are in competition with our ourselves and our neighbors. We need bigger cars, larger and larger televisions and smaller and smaller telephones. We need better dogs and prettier kids. We’re never quite satisfied with what we already have – we want the next best thing to come along.

I’m not promoting the idea that we have to give up the amenities we have come to love so much; rather, I think we simply need to bring into balance our inner demands with our environmental limits. We need to balance our wants with our needs. So much of our wants require us to purchase products manufactured from nature, which in turn, puts more stress on our environment.

In the society I live in here in America, we are passing down our own addictions to “things and stuff” to our children and grandchildren. We teach our children that if they want something and make the want known to us adults, we will find some way, or some occasion to provide it in abundance. In most cases, the children never learn that earning is a part of acquiring something. Another example being discussed a lot lately is the epidemic of obesity, in both children and adults. Think for moment of what we do to nature in order to get ourselves in this condition. We’re obviously taking more than we need.

When Buddhists talk about suffering we also need to see why so much suffering is taking place. We will remain forever locked in a cycle of suffering as a society while we depend upon shopping malls and outlet centers to provide our happiness.

Buddha taught how “Nature teaches humans to enjoy a simple life and encourages them to embrace happiness, which derives from peace of mind, making merit, helping others, and being at one with nature”. I do see some people who are living this way, but I sure don’t see enough. We’re making an awful mess with our greed and selfishness and we’re leaving the mess for future generations to clean up, if they can even figure out how to do it.

You hear me say over and over in this blog how important a daily meditation practice is for all of us. This is the best way I have found to instill some sense of peace and serenity within myself. When we know how peace and serenity feel, we are better able to bring that state of mind to discussions with others and to our activism for a better environment. As I enter into the phase of life where aging is taking its toll, I find that when I meditate I feel peaceful within, I feel satisfied – I don’t feel I need much of anything. I feel fulfilled. I also realize I could have felt this way as a younger person, so I urge you not to wait until you’re older. Material happiness pales in comparison to the happiness given to us by nature because our “things” are essentially empty.

Our selfish ways have led us to forget one of the basic Buddhist teachings – Life is Impermanent. We can’t take any of our “stuff” with us at the end. So many of us accumulate “stuff” and money to leave to our heirs. Why? We’re only setting them up for more commercialization. What we need to leave behind, our best gift for our heirs, is a vibrant natural world free from pollution and teeming with life.

Our human society is out of balance. But, do we have enough gumption to make some changes? Give this a try – put all your “things” aside for a couple of hours each day – your coffee, your smokes, your pills, your blackberries, your laptops, etc. and go have a seat in the woods or someplace where it’s quiet. Listen to nature and hear what it has to say. I used to love to go into the woods and notice how the sounds of nature would change as I entered. At first it would get very quiet. Then, after I found a nice tree to sit and lean against and get quiet myself and stop moving around, the sounds would gradually come alive. The longer I sat still, the more nature would talk to me. Those were some beautiful moments that no possession I have can offer.

The Western world is waking up to the fact that nature will continue to give us everything we need, but if we continue taking everything we want, it will die. We can’t keep on the path we’re taking. Those of us who study Buddhism know we need to learn to live in the present and to live lives of compassion and gratitude. Applying these principles should help to solve some of our environmental problems.

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.

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