Buddhist Belief Blog

Everyone wants to be happy and no one wants to suffer, but very few people understand the real causes of happiness and suffering. If we integrate Buddhist Belief into our daily life, we will be able to solve all our inner problems and attain a truly peaceful mind. Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible. If we first establish peace within our minds by training in spiritual paths, outer peace will come naturally; but if we do not, world peace will never be achieved, no matter how many people campaign for it.

Today, let’s take a look at the second of the three jewels, the Dharma.

The Dharma

As human beings we have a tendency to look for happiness outside ourselves. We think if we only had the right job — or the right house — or the right friends– or the right TV set — we would truly be happy. We spend enormous amounts of energy trying to make our outer world conform to our wishes. How many “things” do we accumulate into our lives to try to make us happier than we are. And, not just “things”, but people as well.

What we don’t quite seem to comprehend is that happiness is a state of mind, so the real source of happiness must lie within the mind, not in external conditions. If our mind is pure and peaceful we will be happy, regardless of our external circumstances, but if it is impure and filled with non-peaceful thoughts, we can never be truly happy, no matter how hard we try to change our external conditions. We could change our home or our partner many times, but until we change our restless, discontented mind we will never find true happiness.

“Dharma” means “protection”. By practicing Buddha’s teachings we protect ourselves from suffering and problems. All the problems we experience during daily life originate out of a sort of ignorance, and the method for eliminating ignorance is to practice Dharma.

When we sit down with the intention to let go — to soothe the agitation filling our hearts and minds every day — when we seek to discover what is true — we are taking refuge in the dharma.

When we go through our daily life with a sincere commitment not to harm others and to protect the well-being of all living things, we are practicing the dharma.

When we are giving freely of our time, attention and love, we embody the dharma.

When we are truthful with others and with ourselves — when we treat all beings with respect and compassion, we are living the dharma.

The quality of our lives doesn’t depend on some sort of external development or of “getting more than the other guy”. No, the quality of our lives depends upon our inner development of peace and happiness. Let’s face it, many Buddhists have lived their lives in poor and undeveloped countries, yet they were able to find pure, lasting happiness by practicing what Buddha had taught.

In the next article, we’ll look into the sangha.

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