Only those who do not know the nature of suffering are terrified by the very thought of experiencing suffering. However if one through diligent practice understands what suffering is and where it originates and grows, then that one will know the way to end it, and will certainly attain a natural state of harmony.
What is required is a close scrutiny that will reveal that the causes of suffering. The Four Noble truths spell out the groundwork of misery. It is up to us to do the individual legwork to find the cause of our suffering. It is usually related to the cravings and desires of the ego, The way to end or minimize suffering is therefore to not cave in to the desires of the unwholesome. This can only be prevented by a vigilant path of meditation and practice.
Lao Tzu said that to attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day. Think of if you were building a stone wall. Would it be wise to collect every small pebble, every large boulder you could find? It would be far wiser to only collect those stones that are the right size and shape for your wall.
Thus, only collect what is useful. We gather stones of information every day. Discard what is not needed. Keep only those stones that bring harmony, balance, and unity with the Way.
When we have an inner peace, we can find it much easier to achieve outer peace. Meditation is one way that we can do so. Imagine a bucket that you filling with inner peace. Drop by drop, it slowly fills to the top. When it spills over we do not have a mess, but an outflowing of tranquility that permeates itself into our daily lives and not just when we are sitting on our cushion.
We learn to control our actions and thoughts instead of them controlling us. Instead of a chattering mind, we have one that is steady and calm. It is a way to deal with the disturbances of everyday life. We cleanse our minds of the impurities that seek to develop. It lets us see the true nature of how things really are, not through the eyes of delusion.
My friends, there is no greater gift you can give to yourself than a steady meditation practice. Keep a regular schedule of meditation and you will see the benefits. Not as a lightening bolt striking, but as a gentle river carrying away the soil of a river bank. Slowly but surely. It will not be denied.
Many people have a keen interest in arguing about the reality and existence of other worlds and realms, and whether or not they are mere imaginations of the mind. Any such arguments are based on a premise that our own existence is real. When we believe ourselves to be real, we conclude that the world, as seen, is also real.
Therefore if we judge ourselves to be unreal, it follows along accordingly that all worlds and realms must be unreal as well. Yet, why debate such matters? What we have is what we have. The traveler who must cross a raging river now does not worry about crossing the mountains much later. The Tao is grounded in reality, not fantasy. Our minds must be in tune with the Tao to be grounded as well. It is only when well grounded, that we can achieve oneness with the universe, real or imagined.
Would you struggle to carry a piano on your back when you could have use of a device that would allow you to push it easily across the floor to your destination? Similarly, since by it’s very nature the Tao alone sustains all things in the universe, it is wise for people to leave the problems, the cares, and the anxiety of their lives to the Tao and thus be able to feel free.
The Tao cannot be changed, modified, or otherwise manipulated for one’s own personal gain. Anyone who attempts to do so will fail. Anything that is not of the Tao will not endure. The Tao absorbs all, creating and destroying. If someone chooses to carry their piano and suffers injury, they have no one to blame but themselves.
Buddhist prayer malas/beads are used for counting sacred mantras (prayers). The main idea of using mala beads is to drive away the evil and fill you and all beings with peace and harmony. The most common use of Buddhist prayer mala beads is for the recitation of a mantra; like “Om Mani Padme Hum”. I use that as well as the “Hare Krishna Chant” just for a change of pace. Use these prayer beads with the intention to bring greater happiness, joy, loving-kindness and serenity into the world. One interpretation of this prayer is ‘om mani padme hum.’ During recitation, this phrase is repeated over and over again according to how many beads are on a person’s strand of mala beads. Traditionally, there are 108 beads on a strand of mala beads. The origin of is the sacred number related astrologically to the 12 astrological houses, multiplied by the 9 planets in our solar system. Monks usually have mala beads with 108 beads, where as a lay person may have a strand numbering in 30 or 40 beads.
Typically, monks’ mala beads are made of wood from the Bodhi tree. In Tibet, mala strands often contain parts of semi-precious stones. In this culture, the most valued strands are made of bones of holy men or lamas.
One can also use wrist malas. The wrist Mala was created out of necessity make it easy to use for prostrations, and for convenience when traveling. A wrist Mala can be safely held in the hand while doing a period of prostration’s. You can imagine how a long necklace or Mala would flop around during prostrating, so wrist Malas are a natural solution to this dilemma.
HOW TO USE BUDDHIST MALA BEADS
You use the mala by moving it through your fingers beginning at the first bead after the Guru bead. Each time you recite one compete mantra you then cross to the next bead. Once you have gone one round across the Mala and reach the Guru bead you reverse directions. Many people believe that you do not cross over the Guru bead as a sign of respect or good attitude of mind towards a spiritual teacher.
Keep your mala off of the ground, as it true with all sacred objects, including books and other ritual instruments of spiritual practice. If the Mala falls on the ground, you are supposed to touch the crown of your head while reciting, Om Ah Hum, three times. It really is not necessary, just gently scold yourself for mindlessness. Do not let your mala get wet when bathing or swimming. This may weaken the cording which many Malas are strung with. It is also a good idea not to sleep with it as it may get broken during your slumber. I did this once myself. I find it useful to wear and use to keep my mind always in touch with my practice.
It is quite good to have enthusiasm in your practice, but my friends, you must have discipline as well. Enthusiasm will only take you so far. After a time, the enthusiasm wears off. The novelty is gone. The exciting has become the mundane.
Once a famous football coach said that enthusiasm is great, but when the game starts, you had better have some players who can play well. The same is true about our practice. When the fun of something new wears off, you had better have the discipline to stay with it, through thick and thin.
How does one build discipline? Perhaps by asking yourself if sitting in front of that television or sitting on that barstool is going to end samsara? Are the material things ending your suffering? Is the illusionary world you dwell in bringing you peace? If you answer no, then that should be enough to build and maintain discipline.
How much ego do we need? I would say about the same as the amount of bleach needed to purify water. Just a few drops will do. Any more will spoil the water and make it undrinkable. Too much ego makes life unlivable, at least in any kind of peaceful manner. I believe it takes a certain amount of ego to make us want to put forth the effort to practice.
Many believe that the ego should be eradicated entirely, but this is mistaken in my view. The idea of practice is not to crush or eliminate all ego, but to cut it down to size and manage it appropriately. With no ego at all, why would we bother to do anything? If one can learn to manage their ego, then ego can actually be quite helpful in the development of good qualities.
While trying to walk the path of wisdom, we may often find ourselves being constantly pulled back into a state of samsara by those who fail to understand or those who understand but seek to undermine you.
There are those my friends, who will envy your peace of mind. They shall be jealous of your poise and restraint. They are traveling in a circle going down a drain and they seek to pull you down with them. They pose as friends perhaps, but they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. You must not let this happen. Separate yourself from this evilness. If it is not possible to separate, then immerse yourself deeper into the teachings as a means of insulation.
1. Worry
2. Indecisiveness
3. Books, films, or tv programs that disturb the mind
4. Jobs or careers that trouble the mind
5. Nervousness
6. Fatigue
7. Laziness
8. Lack of commitment to following the Way
9. Day dreaming
10. Excessive workload
1. If you worry, will anything change?
2. In order to be one with the universe, each must find their true path and follow it. You must decide if you want to travel the path to peace or not.
3. You do not eat trash, why feed it to your mind?
4. Find work that provides and does not cause great stress or demands.
5. If you have no control over things, why be nervous? If you have control over things, why be nervous?
6. Mental or physical fatigue must be overcome by achieving a proper balance of activity and rest. The mind and body must both be at peace to have harmony.
7. The man who waits for roast duck to fly into his mouth will go hungry.
8. If you are not committed to finding peace within yourself, it means you are committed to not finding peace. This will only bring more suffering.
9. Stay in the present by being mindful and experiencing the moment in front of you.
10. A blade of grass does not exert itself yet it still grows when nourished properly. Let the Way be your nourishment.
