Buddhist Belief – Are We All the Same?


“It is important to recognize the power of our emotions–and to take responsibility for them by creating a light and positive atmosphere around ourselves. This attitude of joy that we create helps alleviate states of hopelessness, loneliness, and despair. Our relationships with others thus naturally improve, and little by little the whole of society becomes more positive and balanced.”

~~~ Tarthang Tulku

As I’ve studied many of the teachers of Buddhist Belief, I’ve come to both learn, and believe, that all human beings are of the same nature. I know, there will be those who will argue this point, but let me attempt to explain my point of view.

Buddhist Belief, meditation, nirvana, mindfulness, karma

When I truly give this concept some serious thought, I conclude that at the mental and emotional levels we are the same. Every one of us has the potential to be a good person — happy and nice to others. However, isn’t it also true that every one of us has the potential to be a real nasty type — wanting to be hurtful and harmful to others? Don’t all of us have the potential to be either good or bad? Shoot, sometimes we can be both — but it would be quite unusual to be neither.

One of our goals in life should be to try to encourage our potential to be good folks and reduce the potential to be on a negative path.

If we choose to be someone who prefers being nasty and negative, the way we’ll experience life will eventually turn out to be miserable. Oh, we might get some temporary sense of satisfaction from our acts, but in the long run our life of nastiness will bring the eventual unpleasant experience. What we put out to the universe will find its way back to us. It’s where bad karma comes from.

On the other hand, when we live our lives being positive and showing kindness to others, we’ll develop an inner strength. With this new strength we’ll find we have more self-confidence, we’ll have less fear, and a peacefulness will make itself known within us. With this inner strength we’ll find how much easier it is to be more caring to others without restrictions or barriers. It is so important to realize we all have this potential for either good or bad or both.

We need to promote our deeper human value — the value of compassion. We need to develop a deeper sense of caring and commitment to others. The basic human value of compassion is essential if we want to be a happy person. This is vital — regardless of whether you are a believer or nonbeliever of a religious faith.

If you look at the various world religions you’ll see how they all have the same ultimate message — the message of love — the message of compassion — the message of forgiveness. They all have basically the same goal — only the methods to achieve the goal may be different. We all have the goal of a happier life — we all have the goal to be a more compassionate person — and to go a step further — we all have the goal of a compassionate humanity. This is the ultimate. This is what is truly important.

Metta ….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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Ron’s Recommended Reading List

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

Eckhart Tolle’s amazing best seller, A New Earth

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor’s wonderful book, My Stroke of Insight: Nirvana is just a breath away!

And this one by Sharon Salzberg and is entitled: A Heart as Wide as the World: Living with Mindfulness, Wisdom and Compassion“.

This is a new one for you by Pema Chodron entitled: When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times

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Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….


“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

~~~ Buddha

Shanti everyone, … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)


“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

~~~ Buddha

Have a peaceful day!! —

Ron Rink

http://www.theleaderinside.com
http://www.wecould2.com
http://www.buddhistbelief.com

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