I don't pretend to be all that knowledgeable about Buddhism but, stripped of its theology (which was added later), it appears to rest upon accepting a few basic truths:
1. That life is a gift and is finite.
2. That you will be separated from those whom you love during your life.
3. That you may get sick.
4. That eventually you will grow old and infirm.
5. That one day, and it may be sooner rather than later, you will die.
How many people do you know who fully accept these five facts? I know it's taken me a long, long time to come to terms with them and to integrate their reality into my thinking. I wasted far too much time trying to deny or change them!
Given these facts of life it is therefore important to recognize:
6. That happiness is found, not in materialism or worldly success, but within oneself.
7. That all life is precious and should be respected and preserved.
8. That is is necessary to withdraw from life periodically (meditation) to maintain sanity and perspective in this stress-filled, crazy world.
9. That sensible diet and exercise help to achieve well-being.
10. That all you have is the here and now which therefore should be enjoyed to the full (the promise of life after death is a cruel fantasy used by unscrupulous people to enslave others).
There. You have a religion-free recipe for a relatively contented life regardless of what is thrown at you.
May peace be your constant companion!
10 comments:
Nicely done and really that simple!
I'm amazed at those who fight the concept or deny it! ; (
People typically seem to make that which is simple into something that is complex, Coffee.
Daniel,
You have written about Buddhism, Suffering, Materialism, Contentment and Happiness in your post. Human mind has always been restless - but it has become more restless after Industrial Revolution. In this context I want to post a part from my article which examines the impact of Speed, Overstimulation, Consumerism and Industrialization on our minds and environment. Please read.
The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-Issues.
The fast-paced, consumerist lifestyle of Industrial Society is causing exponential rise in psychological problems besides destroying the environment. All issues are interlinked. Our Minds cannot be peaceful when attention-spans are down to nanoseconds, microseconds and milliseconds. Our Minds cannot be peaceful if we destroy Nature.
Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment.
Subject : In a fast society slow emotions become extinct.
Subject : A thinking mind cannot feel.
Subject : Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys the planet.
Subject : Environment can never be saved as long as cities exist.
Emotion is what we experience during gaps in our thinking.
If there are no gaps there is no emotion.
Today people are thinking all the time and are mistaking thought (words/ language) for emotion.
When society switches-over from physical work (agriculture) to mental work (scientific/ industrial/ financial/ fast visuals/ fast words ) the speed of thinking keeps on accelerating and the gaps between thinking go on decreasing.
There comes a time when there are almost no gaps.
People become incapable of experiencing/ tolerating gaps.
Emotion ends.
Man becomes machine.
A society that speeds up mentally experiences every mental slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.
A ( travelling )society that speeds up physically experiences every physical slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.
A society that entertains itself daily experiences every non-entertaining moment as Depression / Anxiety.
Fast visuals/ words make slow emotions extinct.
Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys emotional circuits.
A fast (large) society cannot feel pain / remorse / empathy.
A fast (large) society will always be cruel to Animals/ Trees/ Air/ Water/ Land and to Itself.
To read the complete article please follow any of these links :
PlanetSave
FreeInfoSociety
ePhilosopher
sushil_yadav
at one time i was amazed that buddhism hadn't taken off like the big 3 and hinduism. then i thought about it- and figured out why. folks don't want to do the inner work necessary- and it's easier to adhere to a lazy, slave religion where all you have to do is pray your way out of things and you are told what to believe and who to like.
Sushil, thanks for dropping by. I'll read the links you provided. Cheers.
Betmo, yours is an interesting observation. Of course, if people took what I had to say seriously then that would signal the end of religion, elitism and capitalism! We couldn't have that, could we?
Peace.
Hmmm....My wonderful witch mum taught me the first five as a child. Sounds like you are no longer Athiest Dan!
Zoe XXX
Yeah, I am still an atheist, Zoe!
Tobacco companies, eventually, were able to be sued for selling a product that was a serious danger to human well-being. Similarly, religions of all colours should be able to be sued for gross deceit, exploitation and massive fraud.
Take care. xxxxxxxx
Yeah good point! I agree. I will refrase my observation by saying...You seem to have a very deep spiritual side! I love posts like these!
XXX
amen to your post~
Miss F, thanks for calling by. Cheers.
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