Buddhist Belief Blog

One of the things we learn in our studies of Buddhist Belief, is how our meditation practice teaches us to have trust in the fact that all the wisdom and compassion we need is already within us. With a regular meditation practice in your life you will know yourself better – all the good stuff and the rough parts. You’ll know more about your passions, your wisdom, and the areas where you are lacking in wisdom.

Isn’t it possible the reason why we’re having so many difficulties on the planet could be because we don’t trust ourselves or love ourselves enough?

One thing I’ve promoted in this blog, almost since it began, is to include a daily practice of meditation in our lives. I stress the word, “daily”, because, frankly, a hit or miss meditation practice just won’t do what we need. Meditation is the best way I know to train our minds – to teach us how to think – to teach us how to be fully present.

When we meditate we learn to place our focus on something other than the random thoughts which flow through our minds. It might be a mantra, an object, or our breath. Yes, we will be aware of other things going on while we meditate as well as the thoughts that float into our minds, but those thoughts don’t need to draw us off. We can continue with our meditation and bring our focus back, again and again and again.

Each time you come back to what you are focusing on, you are training your mind to stay in the present.

When I meditate, I usually focus on my breath, but I do vary that from time-to-time to focus on a mantra or an object, like a candle or one of the objects on my meditation table.

Being with this object of focus is only part of the process. You are a human being, so you will have thoughts run through your mind as you meditate. It can’t be avoided.

Many Buddhist teachers tell us to give the thought the label, “Thinking”. When your mind begins to wander away from your focus, just say to yourself, “Thinking”. It doesn’t matter what the thought is about – it might be something passionate – or maybe it’s something dark and unpleasant – it might be something you need to remember to do at work – it could be a pleasant thought – whatever it is, without being judgmental or harsh, simply label it “Thinking”. Do that honestly and gently and then return to your breath or whatever you’re using for your focus.

Another thing I’d like to mention is how you deal with your focusing. Let’s assume you use your breath for this. Your awareness will be only about one-forth on the breath. That’s just the way it is. You don’t want to be caught in clinging to it or grasping for it.

Be open – let your breath mix with the space around you.

It was Eckhart Tolle who taught me about resting and finding peace in the space between our thoughts. Well, we also have a space between our breathing in and our breathing out. He taught — as you take in a breath, and before you breathe out again, there’s a space of opening or waiting in there. He said it’s like pushing the doorbell and waiting for someone to answer. Then you push the doorbell again and wait for someone to answer. In those little spaces between our breathing in and out, your mind wanders off and you realize you’re thinking again—at this point use the labeling technique.

It’s important to be gentle with this labeling technique. Use the labeling as an opportunity to develop softness and compassion for yourself. Anything that comes up is okay in the arena of meditation. The point is, you can see it honestly and make friends with it.

One of the things we tend to do is to hide from ourselves. It is healing to know all the ways that you’re sneaky, all the ways that you hide out, all the ways that you shut down, deny, close off, criticize people, all your weird little ways. Approach these ways with kindness. Understand, when you learn to know yourself, you’re getting to know everyone on the planet. We all do the same things.

So, when you find you’re talking to yourself while you meditate, and as you label those thoughts, “Thinking”, label them with kindness, gentleness, and compassion.

Remember, compassion for others will come when we learn to be compassionate with ourselves.

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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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