Buddhism in daily life - Mindfulness in every day tasks Archiv
364 Episoden
7 Minuten
In the last podcast you could listen to the first episode of self-love, today it continues.
To love oneself, "one" must continue to understand oneself well, to make an effort to get to the true core, to look behind the self-chosen role. The great teacher spoke of the realities behind the perceived reality, because we humans are rarely ready to part with our illusions.
Why do other people's stinginess, promiscuity, or drug use bother me? Why do other "bad" qualities not bother me, while some habits "freak me out"?
Why do I "love" cats, or why do I "hate" dogs? How do my filters come about? Why do I sometimes get along with the attitudes of fellow human beings, but sometimes not at all? What do I like about myself, what do I dislike? Who am I? Where do I come from? Where will I go? Questions over questions.
The next thing I recommend is a self-mantra to get through difficult situations, to be able to "hold on" to something. Readers of my texts know that according to Buddha (in this life) we probably don't carry any guilt, because our karma might have already been acquired in previous lives, life comes anyway as it is supposed to come. So there is also no reason not to love yourself. So say the following sentence to yourself in exceptional situations: "I am good just the way I am."
If you fall into doubt then first take a deep breath, I recommend breathing meditation to come to some peace, because only in peace lies strength.
Further, everything negative is also positive in some way (my father used to say, "There is nothing negative that doesn't have something positive about it), so what qualities do you have? Write yourself a list of the important traits, and evaluate them. What is useful, what can go? What do I find positive, what not? What consequences do my advantages and disadvantages have on my surroundings, how do they affect the people closest to me?
What you find unpleasant about yourself, that other people might take as a good quality, what changes if you change your perspective?
No matter what, the Buddha's philosophy can guide even those followers who are not striving for "enlightenment," who are "just" practicing a kind of feel-good Buddhism. In such a case, one of the first steps could be to learn to love oneself, why not, by the way?
Wouldn't it be a "good" prospect if you could at least accept yourself?
The way is the goal!
What is impermanent is not worthy of love, is not worthy of joy, is not worthy of inclination
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
To love oneself, "one" must continue to understand oneself well, to make an effort to get to the true core, to look behind the self-chosen role. The great teacher spoke of the realities behind the perceived reality, because we humans are rarely ready to part with our illusions.
Why do other people's stinginess, promiscuity, or drug use bother me? Why do other "bad" qualities not bother me, while some habits "freak me out"?
Why do I "love" cats, or why do I "hate" dogs? How do my filters come about? Why do I sometimes get along with the attitudes of fellow human beings, but sometimes not at all? What do I like about myself, what do I dislike? Who am I? Where do I come from? Where will I go? Questions over questions.
The next thing I recommend is a self-mantra to get through difficult situations, to be able to "hold on" to something. Readers of my texts know that according to Buddha (in this life) we probably don't carry any guilt, because our karma might have already been acquired in previous lives, life comes anyway as it is supposed to come. So there is also no reason not to love yourself. So say the following sentence to yourself in exceptional situations: "I am good just the way I am."
If you fall into doubt then first take a deep breath, I recommend breathing meditation to come to some peace, because only in peace lies strength.
Further, everything negative is also positive in some way (my father used to say, "There is nothing negative that doesn't have something positive about it), so what qualities do you have? Write yourself a list of the important traits, and evaluate them. What is useful, what can go? What do I find positive, what not? What consequences do my advantages and disadvantages have on my surroundings, how do they affect the people closest to me?
What you find unpleasant about yourself, that other people might take as a good quality, what changes if you change your perspective?
No matter what, the Buddha's philosophy can guide even those followers who are not striving for "enlightenment," who are "just" practicing a kind of feel-good Buddhism. In such a case, one of the first steps could be to learn to love oneself, why not, by the way?
Wouldn't it be a "good" prospect if you could at least accept yourself?
The way is the goal!
What is impermanent is not worthy of love, is not worthy of joy, is not worthy of inclination
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
Once when Buddha was with his followers in the park, a disciple asked, "Lord, how can we control anger?"
Buddha answered with a story. He said, "Whoever hears this tale will have his anger under control, will no longer lose control."
You wanderers hear, "Long ago, a quarrelsome woman lived in a village. Even over trifles she became terribly angry; in her anger she cursed under her breath, used all sorts of insults. Then when the anger went back she was very sorry for everything, she couldn't explain the outbursts."
"Her family was very sad about her behavior, the whole atmosphere in the house was like poisoned, something had to change."
"One day a monk came to her house, asked for alms. The woman gave plenty, then lamented her sorrow to the man, told of her mood swings, told that she would quickly become very angry, but would always regret afterwards that she could not control herself."
The monk replied, "Woman, I have here a small bottle of medicine, just the thing for you. This is a medicine for anger, you are lucky that I have this very bottle with me. When you get angry again, you must take three drops of the medicine on your tongue, and then keep it in your mouth for five minutes. You must not open your mouth or the medicine will not work." The monk left the incredulous looking woman.
As the woman spoke a smile slid across his face, he replied to her, "It wasn't the medicine that worked, it was that you kept your cool that made the difference. It wasn't a drug at all, there was only water in the vial. You were able to calm your anger not because of the medicine, but because you stayed calm."
The Teacher of all Teachers went on to explain that anger can only be controlled by staying calm, because angry people sometimes speak bad words that poison the environment. The only cure for anger is silence."
And the journey is the destination!
He who crudely maltreats innocence
and oppresses defenseless prey
will contract a condition
of tenfold suffering:
Severe pains, bad infirmity, madness, poor disease plagues, and mutilation of the body, heavily burdening suing.
Calamity emanating from the ruler,
destruction of wife and children,
money and property and treasures will
will be lost to him, will be diminished to him.
Or severe fires
will bring house and farm to shame.
And the fool will after death
in the hell worlds after death
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
Buddha answered with a story. He said, "Whoever hears this tale will have his anger under control, will no longer lose control."
You wanderers hear, "Long ago, a quarrelsome woman lived in a village. Even over trifles she became terribly angry; in her anger she cursed under her breath, used all sorts of insults. Then when the anger went back she was very sorry for everything, she couldn't explain the outbursts."
"Her family was very sad about her behavior, the whole atmosphere in the house was like poisoned, something had to change."
"One day a monk came to her house, asked for alms. The woman gave plenty, then lamented her sorrow to the man, told of her mood swings, told that she would quickly become very angry, but would always regret afterwards that she could not control herself."
The monk replied, "Woman, I have here a small bottle of medicine, just the thing for you. This is a medicine for anger, you are lucky that I have this very bottle with me. When you get angry again, you must take three drops of the medicine on your tongue, and then keep it in your mouth for five minutes. You must not open your mouth or the medicine will not work." The monk left the incredulous looking woman.
As the woman spoke a smile slid across his face, he replied to her, "It wasn't the medicine that worked, it was that you kept your cool that made the difference. It wasn't a drug at all, there was only water in the vial. You were able to calm your anger not because of the medicine, but because you stayed calm."
The Teacher of all Teachers went on to explain that anger can only be controlled by staying calm, because angry people sometimes speak bad words that poison the environment. The only cure for anger is silence."
And the journey is the destination!
He who crudely maltreats innocence
and oppresses defenseless prey
will contract a condition
of tenfold suffering:
Severe pains, bad infirmity, madness, poor disease plagues, and mutilation of the body, heavily burdening suing.
Calamity emanating from the ruler,
destruction of wife and children,
money and property and treasures will
will be lost to him, will be diminished to him.
Or severe fires
will bring house and farm to shame.
And the fool will after death
in the hell worlds after death
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
Self-doubt is widespread, even self-hatred is becoming more and more prevalent in all classes, people don't have it easy, these are "hard" times.
Of course, you have to look at yourself critically, but peace with your own self is also Buddhist, Buddha taught that we should not harm any living being, including ourselves. You don't have to love yourself, but at least accept yourself as you are, at least find yourself okay.
All people make mistakes, but to make your life difficult because of that, that doesn't have to be. And of course it is part of our life to question ourselves again and again, also to respond to criticism from third parties.
But where is the border between "self-reflection" and "self-hatred", what is still healthy, what goes too far? You can at least learn to accept yourself, various exercises are on the market. I present you the most important approaches to make peace with your "I" with instructions. Are you ready to try something new?
First of all, if you can't love yourself, you probably hear the little voice that constantly criticizes you, tells you that you do everything wrong, are not worth anything, just do stupid things, and have no idea at all.
This voice is a central theme in Buddhism, because this mood is followed by judgment (I am stupid) and will (I want this or that), which is why this voice embodies the ego and should be silenced, which of course does not always work. So you have to come to terms (at least for now) with the voice, accept the little man in your ear, find a passable way of dealing with the matter.
Write down what's going on in your mind palace, what thoughts come up, and most importantly, when. What happened, why is this thought coming up right now, what are the connections? Start to get into a dialogue with this voice, accept the voice as your own ego, feel the criticism not as punishment, but as a chance to grow.
Start to see your ego (in a first step) as a "little friend" that makes you aware of some things, consciously enter into a conversation with the ego, not into a confrontation.
You must not avoid this kind of self-talk, accepting the situation is the "real" first point to more self-love. However, don't let your own ego wrap you around its little finger.
Read more about this topic in the next few days in "Self-love part 2".
The way is the goal!
Hate is not defeated by hate, but by love
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
Of course, you have to look at yourself critically, but peace with your own self is also Buddhist, Buddha taught that we should not harm any living being, including ourselves. You don't have to love yourself, but at least accept yourself as you are, at least find yourself okay.
All people make mistakes, but to make your life difficult because of that, that doesn't have to be. And of course it is part of our life to question ourselves again and again, also to respond to criticism from third parties.
But where is the border between "self-reflection" and "self-hatred", what is still healthy, what goes too far? You can at least learn to accept yourself, various exercises are on the market. I present you the most important approaches to make peace with your "I" with instructions. Are you ready to try something new?
First of all, if you can't love yourself, you probably hear the little voice that constantly criticizes you, tells you that you do everything wrong, are not worth anything, just do stupid things, and have no idea at all.
This voice is a central theme in Buddhism, because this mood is followed by judgment (I am stupid) and will (I want this or that), which is why this voice embodies the ego and should be silenced, which of course does not always work. So you have to come to terms (at least for now) with the voice, accept the little man in your ear, find a passable way of dealing with the matter.
Write down what's going on in your mind palace, what thoughts come up, and most importantly, when. What happened, why is this thought coming up right now, what are the connections? Start to get into a dialogue with this voice, accept the voice as your own ego, feel the criticism not as punishment, but as a chance to grow.
Start to see your ego (in a first step) as a "little friend" that makes you aware of some things, consciously enter into a conversation with the ego, not into a confrontation.
You must not avoid this kind of self-talk, accepting the situation is the "real" first point to more self-love. However, don't let your own ego wrap you around its little finger.
Read more about this topic in the next few days in "Self-love part 2".
The way is the goal!
Hate is not defeated by hate, but by love
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
Samsara is a Sanskrit word that means "constant wandering". It points to the cycle of rebirths, to the perpetual succession of birth, old age, illness and death, the constant becoming and passing away, the cycle that first establishes suffering.
We suffer because we can't hold anything, because all clinging is useless, nothing belongs to us, we can't keep anything, because everything is transient.
We can get out of the eternal cycle (samsara) if we "let go", if we end the attachments, give up wanting and desiring, thus attaining knowledge, thus entering nirvana (the worldless world).
The eternal cycle of rebirths with birth and death; we are born, grow up, grow older, the body begins to wither, then death comes.
In Europe, culturally, the opinion has prevailed that it is then over, that we die, not reborn. This is different in Indian philosophies, such as Buddhism, Jainism and partly Hinduism. Here, death is not the end of everything, but after death the new life begins again, the "life after death". According to the Buddhist conception the "I" leaves the physical body when dying, takes all experiences, the personality with its tendencies, also the "self" with it.
Especially also the "KARMA" follows the "I" into an intermediate world (a plane close to the earth), the world of "emptiness" (astral world). But this world is not really empty, but it is completely different.
In this intermediate world everything consists of pure energy and is full of unbelievable power, cascades of forces find their illustration in loops and spirals, this intermediate world is full of colors, the energies of many different "I's" meet, create in consequence new life, they interact, they harmonize.
The cycle of life (Samsara) goes on, up and down, back and forth, the wheel keeps turning, today everything is "good", tomorrow everything is "bad", "beautiful" and "ugly" people and things accompany our path, but we Buddhists strive for "enlightenment", the highest realization, serenely "letting go" of everything to experience perfect bliss.
Where is your true center, where does your real personality sit? Who are you really?
You find your true Buddha-nature in your ego, not outside. But deep inside you know that death is followed by life again, so we don't have to be so afraid, we don't have to be so sad, because we "know" about the connection of things.
The sequence of the times is irrefutable, the universe expands, it will also contract again.
The way is the goal!
Oh, how we live so happily, without illness among sick people.
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
We suffer because we can't hold anything, because all clinging is useless, nothing belongs to us, we can't keep anything, because everything is transient.
We can get out of the eternal cycle (samsara) if we "let go", if we end the attachments, give up wanting and desiring, thus attaining knowledge, thus entering nirvana (the worldless world).
The eternal cycle of rebirths with birth and death; we are born, grow up, grow older, the body begins to wither, then death comes.
In Europe, culturally, the opinion has prevailed that it is then over, that we die, not reborn. This is different in Indian philosophies, such as Buddhism, Jainism and partly Hinduism. Here, death is not the end of everything, but after death the new life begins again, the "life after death". According to the Buddhist conception the "I" leaves the physical body when dying, takes all experiences, the personality with its tendencies, also the "self" with it.
Especially also the "KARMA" follows the "I" into an intermediate world (a plane close to the earth), the world of "emptiness" (astral world). But this world is not really empty, but it is completely different.
In this intermediate world everything consists of pure energy and is full of unbelievable power, cascades of forces find their illustration in loops and spirals, this intermediate world is full of colors, the energies of many different "I's" meet, create in consequence new life, they interact, they harmonize.
The cycle of life (Samsara) goes on, up and down, back and forth, the wheel keeps turning, today everything is "good", tomorrow everything is "bad", "beautiful" and "ugly" people and things accompany our path, but we Buddhists strive for "enlightenment", the highest realization, serenely "letting go" of everything to experience perfect bliss.
Where is your true center, where does your real personality sit? Who are you really?
You find your true Buddha-nature in your ego, not outside. But deep inside you know that death is followed by life again, so we don't have to be so afraid, we don't have to be so sad, because we "know" about the connection of things.
The sequence of the times is irrefutable, the universe expands, it will also contract again.
The way is the goal!
Oh, how we live so happily, without illness among sick people.
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
This is how I have heard!
One day, the exalted Buddha spoke to the beggars (this is how monks are referred to in Theravada Buddhism): "You beggars."
They replied, "Venerable sir."
"unwholesome states of mind, such as greed, hatred, and delusion, arise from sense pleasures, for these are delusive and false. For disciples, these unwholesome states of mind are an obstacle to overcome in order to let themselves fall inwardly as well," the Teacher of All Teachers elaborated.
"He who practices also attains confidence for his mind, so that with an enlarged heart he touches the unshakable, whereupon wisdom comes to him. All material form results from the four elements, so that the practitioner, after his extinction, continues to explore the unshakable, experiences the awareness of it.
All forms in the here and now and also in future incarnations are transient, not worth holding on to. In the practitioner a spiritual climate of confidence arises more and more, so that he now reaches the unshakable, or else he experiences the full wisdom. After his passing, his consciousness can lead him to the unshakable.
But where the perception of all states ends without retaining any parts, there the seeker comes to the most peaceful, to the complete nothingness, which is more sublime than any perception, empty of a self, freed from wanting, without desires. I belong to no one, and no one belongs to me, I perceive nothing, but I also do not perceive nothing, the dual state progresses.
Some students will reach nirvana, but others will not, overcome what has arisen, even if nirvana is not for you (yet). Maybe it is not yours, it will not be yours (yet), nevertheless do not attach to Nirvana, an attachment prevents the attainment, the ultimate consequence always remains "enlightenment".
Unwholesome states of mind, sensual pleasures, confidence, the material forms in the here and now, but also in a new incarnation, the perception of the great nothingness in the midst of nothingness, neither perceiving anything, nor perceiving nothing, this is the pathless path to the gateless gate, to "non-death" through "non-attachment".
Noble Lords, I tell you that this is how you can cross the stream, this is how you will find salvation.
Infinity awaits those who let go, perceive nothing, and yet perceive, who see no forms and no emptiness, who see those who cling to nothing, who have left their selves behind in one-dimensionality, thus attain perfect perception.
Sense pleasures and sense perceptions are inhibitors, because nothing will remain, everything will pass away, the way is the goal!
Violence over the will gives also violence over the body.
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
One day, the exalted Buddha spoke to the beggars (this is how monks are referred to in Theravada Buddhism): "You beggars."
They replied, "Venerable sir."
"unwholesome states of mind, such as greed, hatred, and delusion, arise from sense pleasures, for these are delusive and false. For disciples, these unwholesome states of mind are an obstacle to overcome in order to let themselves fall inwardly as well," the Teacher of All Teachers elaborated.
"He who practices also attains confidence for his mind, so that with an enlarged heart he touches the unshakable, whereupon wisdom comes to him. All material form results from the four elements, so that the practitioner, after his extinction, continues to explore the unshakable, experiences the awareness of it.
All forms in the here and now and also in future incarnations are transient, not worth holding on to. In the practitioner a spiritual climate of confidence arises more and more, so that he now reaches the unshakable, or else he experiences the full wisdom. After his passing, his consciousness can lead him to the unshakable.
But where the perception of all states ends without retaining any parts, there the seeker comes to the most peaceful, to the complete nothingness, which is more sublime than any perception, empty of a self, freed from wanting, without desires. I belong to no one, and no one belongs to me, I perceive nothing, but I also do not perceive nothing, the dual state progresses.
Some students will reach nirvana, but others will not, overcome what has arisen, even if nirvana is not for you (yet). Maybe it is not yours, it will not be yours (yet), nevertheless do not attach to Nirvana, an attachment prevents the attainment, the ultimate consequence always remains "enlightenment".
Unwholesome states of mind, sensual pleasures, confidence, the material forms in the here and now, but also in a new incarnation, the perception of the great nothingness in the midst of nothingness, neither perceiving anything, nor perceiving nothing, this is the pathless path to the gateless gate, to "non-death" through "non-attachment".
Noble Lords, I tell you that this is how you can cross the stream, this is how you will find salvation.
Infinity awaits those who let go, perceive nothing, and yet perceive, who see no forms and no emptiness, who see those who cling to nothing, who have left their selves behind in one-dimensionality, thus attain perfect perception.
Sense pleasures and sense perceptions are inhibitors, because nothing will remain, everything will pass away, the way is the goal!
Violence over the will gives also violence over the body.
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
It is very difficult for man to get "enough", always something more, more money, more health, more of life, more love, more sex, more of all kinds of things.
When is it ever "enough", why do we always want "more", where does the road lead to? And who "needs" all the things he/she acquires?
The trend to minimalism comes up again and again, especially in the consumer society, because deep inside people realize that the buying frenzy also brings nothing, indeed can bring nothing.
For my part, I will now in the spring again dig through all my possessions to sort out everything useless, to make my life lighter and leaner, to find myself again. Because all the possessions, they're not me, they're largely useless items that are mainly collecting dust.
Usually this results in other activities that are not even foreseeable now, that arise from the tidying process.
But this is for the spring, I am speaking generally, when will it ever be enough, who will do without, who will give up wanting, stop wishing? More and more we humans also accumulate as a collective, we consume more and more, without measure and goal everything is exploited, nature, animals, man is insatiable.
Do we want to think about it, or go on and on? Do we want to see the animals as living beings, or do we always call them farm animals? Do we want to finally deal with the environment sensibly, or not?
When is "enough", when is "enough" for you?
What do we need, where should the journey go? For us as humans, but also for humanity?
Do you want to think about it for once, think about where your journey should go? When you as a person have "enough"? When you want to focus on content and values?
Deep inside we know that all possessions are just filthy trinkets, that everything can't really be important, that there is something else, indeed there must be. From the fact that you are reading Buddhist texts on this page, you can see that other things count for you as well, things that are not of a material nature.
The philosophy of the teacher of all teachers says that we suffer because we cannot keep anything, we will lose everything, because impermanence is the all-determining element in the life of every human being. The most important question is, how we ourselves stand to it, which lessons we draw from this certainty; what follows from this certainty?
The way is the goal!
When you live in one place for too long, you accumulate too many things. You take on too many duties and businesses, associate with too many families, and when you move away, you feel pain of separation.
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
When is it ever "enough", why do we always want "more", where does the road lead to? And who "needs" all the things he/she acquires?
The trend to minimalism comes up again and again, especially in the consumer society, because deep inside people realize that the buying frenzy also brings nothing, indeed can bring nothing.
For my part, I will now in the spring again dig through all my possessions to sort out everything useless, to make my life lighter and leaner, to find myself again. Because all the possessions, they're not me, they're largely useless items that are mainly collecting dust.
Usually this results in other activities that are not even foreseeable now, that arise from the tidying process.
But this is for the spring, I am speaking generally, when will it ever be enough, who will do without, who will give up wanting, stop wishing? More and more we humans also accumulate as a collective, we consume more and more, without measure and goal everything is exploited, nature, animals, man is insatiable.
Do we want to think about it, or go on and on? Do we want to see the animals as living beings, or do we always call them farm animals? Do we want to finally deal with the environment sensibly, or not?
When is "enough", when is "enough" for you?
What do we need, where should the journey go? For us as humans, but also for humanity?
Do you want to think about it for once, think about where your journey should go? When you as a person have "enough"? When you want to focus on content and values?
Deep inside we know that all possessions are just filthy trinkets, that everything can't really be important, that there is something else, indeed there must be. From the fact that you are reading Buddhist texts on this page, you can see that other things count for you as well, things that are not of a material nature.
The philosophy of the teacher of all teachers says that we suffer because we cannot keep anything, we will lose everything, because impermanence is the all-determining element in the life of every human being. The most important question is, how we ourselves stand to it, which lessons we draw from this certainty; what follows from this certainty?
The way is the goal!
When you live in one place for too long, you accumulate too many things. You take on too many duties and businesses, associate with too many families, and when you move away, you feel pain of separation.
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
The teaching of the Exalted One speaks of impermanence, which is the cause of our sufferings, because from the fact that we cannot keep anything, our attachments follow. The knowledge of the future is hard, any moment can be the last, it is very difficult not to sink into gloom.
The Perfect One has left us his philosophy as a compensation, which attunes us to the "enlightenment", so in the rest lies the power, we can escape the karma to the extent that we get out of the wheel in which we strive for the "enlightenment" (and hopefully reach, each person is different). Embracing impermanence in full awareness, enjoying every second of life as precious, living and dwelling in the here and now, this is how the teacher of all teachers lived life for us. Not wasting time with trivial distractions, simply following the pathless path, striving towards the doorless gate, entering the worldless world, then staying in Nirvana, understanding the intermediate world as reality.
How do you prepare for your death, can you use every moment? Everything existing is never "our", a permanent "I" does not exist, cannot exist. But if we change the definition of "I", we come to quite amazing results, which would disturb all those who have not studied the teachings of Buddha.
Everything is impermanent, comes and goes, rises and falls, like a stream or river. Everything is full of risks, life is made up of thousands of uncertainties, even at the moment of birth our death is already born, nothing is "certain", everything passes, those who go through time without expectations have almost reached their destination.
The Exalted One said that the body is made up of the four elements, but to free the mind from desire, to become free from wishing and wanting, that is difficult to achieve, because here the ego stands in the way quite violently. The perfect one could free himself from it, surrender to his true nature (Buddha-nature), isolate himself from suffering, escape from all burdens, simply by making the decision to no longer want to be bound by attachments.
But we humans have not learned anything, we do not want to learn anything; my money, my house, my children. Nothing is mine, everything is impermanent, we should simply make peace with our impermanence, just as the Exalted One has shown us in His perfection.
Whoever reads here is interested in Buddhism. It would all be worth a try, don't you think?
The way is the goal!
Perfect in true knowledge and sublime in conduct
- Buddha ( Siddhartha Gautama) - founder of the philosophy named after him Buddhism - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
The Perfect One has left us his philosophy as a compensation, which attunes us to the "enlightenment", so in the rest lies the power, we can escape the karma to the extent that we get out of the wheel in which we strive for the "enlightenment" (and hopefully reach, each person is different). Embracing impermanence in full awareness, enjoying every second of life as precious, living and dwelling in the here and now, this is how the teacher of all teachers lived life for us. Not wasting time with trivial distractions, simply following the pathless path, striving towards the doorless gate, entering the worldless world, then staying in Nirvana, understanding the intermediate world as reality.
How do you prepare for your death, can you use every moment? Everything existing is never "our", a permanent "I" does not exist, cannot exist. But if we change the definition of "I", we come to quite amazing results, which would disturb all those who have not studied the teachings of Buddha.
Everything is impermanent, comes and goes, rises and falls, like a stream or river. Everything is full of risks, life is made up of thousands of uncertainties, even at the moment of birth our death is already born, nothing is "certain", everything passes, those who go through time without expectations have almost reached their destination.
The Exalted One said that the body is made up of the four elements, but to free the mind from desire, to become free from wishing and wanting, that is difficult to achieve, because here the ego stands in the way quite violently. The perfect one could free himself from it, surrender to his true nature (Buddha-nature), isolate himself from suffering, escape from all burdens, simply by making the decision to no longer want to be bound by attachments.
But we humans have not learned anything, we do not want to learn anything; my money, my house, my children. Nothing is mine, everything is impermanent, we should simply make peace with our impermanence, just as the Exalted One has shown us in His perfection.
Whoever reads here is interested in Buddhism. It would all be worth a try, don't you think?
The way is the goal!
Perfect in true knowledge and sublime in conduct
- Buddha ( Siddhartha Gautama) - founder of the philosophy named after him Buddhism - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
6 Minuten
Even love can kill, if things get out of hand, then anything can happen.
I was given an aquarium as a gift at the Shaolin Temple Europe near Kaiserslautern, a small one, with plants and a snail as the only inhabitant. The good spirit of the temple breeds ornamental fish in the basement of the facility, I was taken and given a gift
I was specifically told that the aquarium was not suitable for fish, I should settle shrimp in it, but I would not listen, after some time went to a store and bought six small neon fish, which shine beautifully. The seller said that this would fit, and I wanted to hear the story so, because I wanted the little fish, pets that I could „love".
After a while I realized that the fish tank was "too small" even for the little fish, I got a guilty conscience, decided to go back to the temple, to find a solution there. Once back in the temple, the good spirit told me that I was a murderer because I had almost killed them out of "love for the fish", that my affection had turned into a danger for the fish. Urgently I would need a larger aquarium, so that the fish get the necessary place. No sooner said than done, I received (again as a gift) a larger tank (with accessories) and went back home. There I relocated the fishies, none was lost, I was proud of myself in the end.
And I learned something from the story, namely that even love (or affection) can kill, "good" is not always "good", and "bad" must not always be "bad". If even love can kill, then hate can be positive in some cases, nothing is as it seems at first glance. The historical Buddha was right, we should not judge, not divide into "good" or "bad", but accept things and people as it comes, so it should be.
In the meantime I bought another coral dwarf frog, the fish feel good, they jump through the outlet nozzle of the water pump, they play with the water jet like in a Jacuzzi. And I watch them (and the frog) mindfully and in peace, the fish tank has a meditative effect on me.
I can highly recommend such an aquarium, it is a pleasure to admire nature (in the glass). And I have also learned something, namely to question my feelings better.
As always, the journey is the destination!
Do not kill and do not let kill!
- Buddha ( Siddhartha Gautama) - founder of the philosophy named after him Buddhism- 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
I was given an aquarium as a gift at the Shaolin Temple Europe near Kaiserslautern, a small one, with plants and a snail as the only inhabitant. The good spirit of the temple breeds ornamental fish in the basement of the facility, I was taken and given a gift
I was specifically told that the aquarium was not suitable for fish, I should settle shrimp in it, but I would not listen, after some time went to a store and bought six small neon fish, which shine beautifully. The seller said that this would fit, and I wanted to hear the story so, because I wanted the little fish, pets that I could „love".
After a while I realized that the fish tank was "too small" even for the little fish, I got a guilty conscience, decided to go back to the temple, to find a solution there. Once back in the temple, the good spirit told me that I was a murderer because I had almost killed them out of "love for the fish", that my affection had turned into a danger for the fish. Urgently I would need a larger aquarium, so that the fish get the necessary place. No sooner said than done, I received (again as a gift) a larger tank (with accessories) and went back home. There I relocated the fishies, none was lost, I was proud of myself in the end.
And I learned something from the story, namely that even love (or affection) can kill, "good" is not always "good", and "bad" must not always be "bad". If even love can kill, then hate can be positive in some cases, nothing is as it seems at first glance. The historical Buddha was right, we should not judge, not divide into "good" or "bad", but accept things and people as it comes, so it should be.
In the meantime I bought another coral dwarf frog, the fish feel good, they jump through the outlet nozzle of the water pump, they play with the water jet like in a Jacuzzi. And I watch them (and the frog) mindfully and in peace, the fish tank has a meditative effect on me.
I can highly recommend such an aquarium, it is a pleasure to admire nature (in the glass). And I have also learned something, namely to question my feelings better.
As always, the journey is the destination!
Do not kill and do not let kill!
- Buddha ( Siddhartha Gautama) - founder of the philosophy named after him Buddhism- 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
When I remember my youth, there used to be significantly more insects. More bees, more mosquitoes, more beetles, there was more of everything. A mindful approach to all living things requires that we also consider insects to be fully-fledged living beings, and that we protect them (if at all possible).
Insects are by far the most diverse animals, there are an incredible number of species. Some are beautiful and useful, others aggressive and annoying, in any case, the little animals are incredibly important for the entire ecosystem. They eat carrion and organic matter, they plow the soil, they are the food for the birds, they are almost at the top of the food chain. If insects are not doing well, then all animals are not doing well; insect mortality is progressing, the effects for us humans are felt everywhere, the little crawlers are extremely important for us humans. Almost all plant species need insects for pollination (e.g. apple trees), no insects, no fruits, the ecosystems will collapse. Yet still the majority of the population knows little to nothing about insect mortality.
In the last thirty years, the so-called biomass of flying insects has decreased by about eighty percent. These are alarming numbers, we are producing the next catastrophe for ourselves, and no one cares.
In our loveless concrete castles of the cities there is hardly any space left for insects, the monocultures on the fields are destroying the natural livelihood of the animals, we humans are approaching the issue without understanding. What we have to do is to offer the animals an environment, consciously create shelter and nesting places, do not remove the foliage properly, build a stone sculpture for them, just as we hang a birdhouse for birds, so also think of the insects.
It is also important that we feed ourselves regionally and with food produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, preferably from the local farmer, from a part of that community, not from a faceless factory. This is how most organic farmers ensure that there is enough space for insects as well. Also important is to eat seasonally, what is Mother Nature offering in my region right now, without importing from Israel, Morocco or the other side of the world.
And what do you do if a fly sits on your apple pie in your apartment? Do you want to kill it, or do you take the time to bring "the beast" outside? How do you behave towards living creatures described as worthy of protection by the teacher of all teachers?
Do you live (mainly) vegetarian, do you protect the animals? If you buy meat then hopefully such, which is produced without mass animal husbandry?
Without insects we humans have soon nothing more to eat.
The way is the goal!
Looking at life in depth, it is possible to see clearly everything that is. Enslaved by nothing, it is possible to let go of all desires. The result is a life full of joy and peace. That is to live truly alone
- Buddha - honorary name of the Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
Insects are by far the most diverse animals, there are an incredible number of species. Some are beautiful and useful, others aggressive and annoying, in any case, the little animals are incredibly important for the entire ecosystem. They eat carrion and organic matter, they plow the soil, they are the food for the birds, they are almost at the top of the food chain. If insects are not doing well, then all animals are not doing well; insect mortality is progressing, the effects for us humans are felt everywhere, the little crawlers are extremely important for us humans. Almost all plant species need insects for pollination (e.g. apple trees), no insects, no fruits, the ecosystems will collapse. Yet still the majority of the population knows little to nothing about insect mortality.
In the last thirty years, the so-called biomass of flying insects has decreased by about eighty percent. These are alarming numbers, we are producing the next catastrophe for ourselves, and no one cares.
In our loveless concrete castles of the cities there is hardly any space left for insects, the monocultures on the fields are destroying the natural livelihood of the animals, we humans are approaching the issue without understanding. What we have to do is to offer the animals an environment, consciously create shelter and nesting places, do not remove the foliage properly, build a stone sculpture for them, just as we hang a birdhouse for birds, so also think of the insects.
It is also important that we feed ourselves regionally and with food produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, preferably from the local farmer, from a part of that community, not from a faceless factory. This is how most organic farmers ensure that there is enough space for insects as well. Also important is to eat seasonally, what is Mother Nature offering in my region right now, without importing from Israel, Morocco or the other side of the world.
And what do you do if a fly sits on your apple pie in your apartment? Do you want to kill it, or do you take the time to bring "the beast" outside? How do you behave towards living creatures described as worthy of protection by the teacher of all teachers?
Do you live (mainly) vegetarian, do you protect the animals? If you buy meat then hopefully such, which is produced without mass animal husbandry?
Without insects we humans have soon nothing more to eat.
The way is the goal!
Looking at life in depth, it is possible to see clearly everything that is. Enslaved by nothing, it is possible to let go of all desires. The result is a life full of joy and peace. That is to live truly alone
- Buddha - honorary name of the Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
Many practitioners think very highly of transcendental meditation, and it is reported that this form of meditation is very effective. This form of meditation is very good for me, within a short time I reach a calm state of consciousness. You can practice sitting, standing or lying down.
The transcendental meditation is a method "invented" by the Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, which is also trademarked. In my eyes a very lonely trademark right, but the "garden of the Lord" is just unfathomable. Although the name "transcendental meditation" is legally protected, this meditation was used in all countries long before the guru. In Chan it is a widespread practice, but all Buddhists have probably done mantra meditation at some time. Only the name is protected, the form of meditation is not; anyone can perform or teach a mantra meditation.
In this form of meditation, a constant mantra is chosen and repeated constantly (spoken aloud or softly, or just quoted in the mind) until the practitioner reaches a meditative state. A mantra can be either a single word (Om), or a whole sentence. After a few repetitions, or with given practice, one comes closer and closer to the subconscious, and the search for the true self can begin. Thoughts, perceptions and the environment should be meditatively switched off.
Which mantra one chooses depends solely on one's own state of mind; what appeals to me, what has a meaning for me? It doesn't matter if it's in Chinese or Sanskrit, maybe in your mother tongue, maybe just the primal sound Om, it doesn't matter, the main thing is that it works for you. Which words or phrases have meaning for you, what could be behind them, why just these sounds, words or phrases? You will find out, I am sure, because all the knowledge of this world is already slumbering in you, you just have to uncover the accesses.
For my part, I have chosen for my mantra the song that I heard constantly and everywhere in Shaolin Temple China almost 40 years ago, the Amithofo. Sometimes I could not really distinguish, was it an earworm, or a mantra that accompanied me.
A mantra meditation (or: transcendental meditation) has the great advantage that you can really practice anywhere (on the bus, train or on the sofa), within a short time and without effort you can experience an absolute silence, reach a pure consciousness and switch off your thoughts.
No matter if you have only one minute on the platform, or if you take real time for your mantra meditation (Transcendental Meditation), the way is the goal!
Suppose I practice the meditation of holding my breath
- Buddha - honorary name of the Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
The transcendental meditation is a method "invented" by the Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, which is also trademarked. In my eyes a very lonely trademark right, but the "garden of the Lord" is just unfathomable. Although the name "transcendental meditation" is legally protected, this meditation was used in all countries long before the guru. In Chan it is a widespread practice, but all Buddhists have probably done mantra meditation at some time. Only the name is protected, the form of meditation is not; anyone can perform or teach a mantra meditation.
In this form of meditation, a constant mantra is chosen and repeated constantly (spoken aloud or softly, or just quoted in the mind) until the practitioner reaches a meditative state. A mantra can be either a single word (Om), or a whole sentence. After a few repetitions, or with given practice, one comes closer and closer to the subconscious, and the search for the true self can begin. Thoughts, perceptions and the environment should be meditatively switched off.
Which mantra one chooses depends solely on one's own state of mind; what appeals to me, what has a meaning for me? It doesn't matter if it's in Chinese or Sanskrit, maybe in your mother tongue, maybe just the primal sound Om, it doesn't matter, the main thing is that it works for you. Which words or phrases have meaning for you, what could be behind them, why just these sounds, words or phrases? You will find out, I am sure, because all the knowledge of this world is already slumbering in you, you just have to uncover the accesses.
For my part, I have chosen for my mantra the song that I heard constantly and everywhere in Shaolin Temple China almost 40 years ago, the Amithofo. Sometimes I could not really distinguish, was it an earworm, or a mantra that accompanied me.
A mantra meditation (or: transcendental meditation) has the great advantage that you can really practice anywhere (on the bus, train or on the sofa), within a short time and without effort you can experience an absolute silence, reach a pure consciousness and switch off your thoughts.
No matter if you have only one minute on the platform, or if you take real time for your mantra meditation (Transcendental Meditation), the way is the goal!
Suppose I practice the meditation of holding my breath
- Buddha - honorary name of the Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
If we look at a group of children, the first thing we notice is that there is a cackling and clucking going on, there is laughter, joking, the joy is literally tangible. The children are constantly laughing, smiling their way through the day, if the mood darkens then only briefly, after a few minutes the good mood is back. Children are the epitome of good humor, it's just fun to watch them.
A group of adults (of any age) behaves differently, especially the men try to look serious and important. Several women are a bit different, more playful, not so influenced by the seriousness of life, they still laugh heartily, among the gentlemen of creation laughter seems to be considered a weakness.
Who now observes a group of men sometimes gets stupid sayings: What are you looking at? Do you want trouble? The carefree attitude has disappeared, the entire behavior has become completely different, the face looks grim and serious, especially men are caught in the male behavior pattern, can no longer get out.
Just the behavior of the gentlemen of creation comes partly still from the Neanderthal man, from a time in which "one" had to impress the other group members, asserted himself with force and power, but it is not like that nowadays. Maybe it will be like that again, but we can do our part against it, by not forgetting the good mood from the childhood days, by bringing back the carefree times. Because: No matter whether we look grim or cheerful, the circumstances will not change, we change our state of mind, but the world continues to turn unperturbed. Whether we laugh or cry, nothing changes, so why not just strive for the path of Buddha, which is a path of the middle, not "sky-high-cheering", not "to-death-distressed", no, calmly resting in oneself, with the smile of the knower in the corners of the mouth, that's how you can also go through life.
Whenever you see children, put yourself back in your youth and smile, no matter how hard and "unfair" life has been to you again today. Always with a smile on your lips, you can also put yourself in such a state, please the environment with it. Because good mood and laughter are contagious, life does not change by it at all, but you yourself, you will simply have it easier.
The way of the middle, that contains a light smile, with man and woman, with young and old, because why should you not enjoy the way, where you have to go it anyway, because things happen, whether it suits us, or not.
This was my experience of happiness and pain
- Buddha - honorary name of the Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
A group of adults (of any age) behaves differently, especially the men try to look serious and important. Several women are a bit different, more playful, not so influenced by the seriousness of life, they still laugh heartily, among the gentlemen of creation laughter seems to be considered a weakness.
Who now observes a group of men sometimes gets stupid sayings: What are you looking at? Do you want trouble? The carefree attitude has disappeared, the entire behavior has become completely different, the face looks grim and serious, especially men are caught in the male behavior pattern, can no longer get out.
Just the behavior of the gentlemen of creation comes partly still from the Neanderthal man, from a time in which "one" had to impress the other group members, asserted himself with force and power, but it is not like that nowadays. Maybe it will be like that again, but we can do our part against it, by not forgetting the good mood from the childhood days, by bringing back the carefree times. Because: No matter whether we look grim or cheerful, the circumstances will not change, we change our state of mind, but the world continues to turn unperturbed. Whether we laugh or cry, nothing changes, so why not just strive for the path of Buddha, which is a path of the middle, not "sky-high-cheering", not "to-death-distressed", no, calmly resting in oneself, with the smile of the knower in the corners of the mouth, that's how you can also go through life.
Whenever you see children, put yourself back in your youth and smile, no matter how hard and "unfair" life has been to you again today. Always with a smile on your lips, you can also put yourself in such a state, please the environment with it. Because good mood and laughter are contagious, life does not change by it at all, but you yourself, you will simply have it easier.
The way of the middle, that contains a light smile, with man and woman, with young and old, because why should you not enjoy the way, where you have to go it anyway, because things happen, whether it suits us, or not.
This was my experience of happiness and pain
- Buddha - honorary name of the Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
Appearance changes with every meal, your body knows exactly what you have eaten.
Every action has its effect on the appearance, we are the creators of our appearance, only we determine how we appear, how we are perceived, no one else.
We know very well that we will not gain weight if we eat only salad, we know that sport is healthy, the harmful effects of alcohol, nicotine and drugs are already clear to every young person.
Nevertheless, Europeans are getting fatter and fatter, more and more immobile, all kinds of diseases of affluence now affect the majority of the population. One of the most frequent search queries in the search engines is "lose weight without sports", everyone knows about the connections, but few people are interested in their health, the doctor will take care of it.
According to Buddha, we should take good care of our body, which serves us in this life (this incarnation), which we should take care of mindfully.
What happened to the fact that so many people do not take care of their appearance at all, that they accept health impairments just in order not to have to accept any limitations? Just to be able to eat and drink as much as possible?
I've met people who didn't give up smoking and boozing even with an open, bad leg, who wanted to keep their lifestyle, no matter what the cost. And I've seen the price these people have paid, awful.
There is a show on TV that shows the lives of people who weigh over 300 kg, their struggle with daily life, their depression, their grief, but also their binge eating, their relatives who bring in huge amounts of food, making the lifestyle possible in the first place (co-dependents), at least bearing a share of the blame for the situation. Even if those affected can no longer walk, can no longer hold their bodily fluids, they cannot control themselves, must eat, eat, eat.
What is going wrong in our community, what problems do people have that they harm themselves violently and with announcement, with calories, alcohol, drugs, with their strange habits. We all carry our baggage, everyone has experienced many things, but the development is getting faster and faster, more and more serious, the spiral turns relentlessly.
A big part is the fact that people prefer to "hush up" the problems, after all, it would not be fair, not nice, not correct to speak the truth. I see it quite differently, to pretend here out of shame as if everything would be good, that is cowardly.
The people are not really helped in this way.
The way is the goal!
Violence over the will also gives violence over the body
- Buddha - honorary name of the Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
Every action has its effect on the appearance, we are the creators of our appearance, only we determine how we appear, how we are perceived, no one else.
We know very well that we will not gain weight if we eat only salad, we know that sport is healthy, the harmful effects of alcohol, nicotine and drugs are already clear to every young person.
Nevertheless, Europeans are getting fatter and fatter, more and more immobile, all kinds of diseases of affluence now affect the majority of the population. One of the most frequent search queries in the search engines is "lose weight without sports", everyone knows about the connections, but few people are interested in their health, the doctor will take care of it.
According to Buddha, we should take good care of our body, which serves us in this life (this incarnation), which we should take care of mindfully.
What happened to the fact that so many people do not take care of their appearance at all, that they accept health impairments just in order not to have to accept any limitations? Just to be able to eat and drink as much as possible?
I've met people who didn't give up smoking and boozing even with an open, bad leg, who wanted to keep their lifestyle, no matter what the cost. And I've seen the price these people have paid, awful.
There is a show on TV that shows the lives of people who weigh over 300 kg, their struggle with daily life, their depression, their grief, but also their binge eating, their relatives who bring in huge amounts of food, making the lifestyle possible in the first place (co-dependents), at least bearing a share of the blame for the situation. Even if those affected can no longer walk, can no longer hold their bodily fluids, they cannot control themselves, must eat, eat, eat.
What is going wrong in our community, what problems do people have that they harm themselves violently and with announcement, with calories, alcohol, drugs, with their strange habits. We all carry our baggage, everyone has experienced many things, but the development is getting faster and faster, more and more serious, the spiral turns relentlessly.
A big part is the fact that people prefer to "hush up" the problems, after all, it would not be fair, not nice, not correct to speak the truth. I see it quite differently, to pretend here out of shame as if everything would be good, that is cowardly.
The people are not really helped in this way.
The way is the goal!
Violence over the will also gives violence over the body
- Buddha - honorary name of the Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
Like most meditations, insight meditation is practiced sitting on a cushion, legs crossed, upper body relaxed and erect. If you don't want (or like) to hold the "cross-legged" position, you can also sit on a chair without leaning, resting your legs on the floor. Close your eyes, keep your head minimally lowered forward.
Use my app for this meditation to time it (Android or Apple).
Insight meditation is a traditional Buddhist practice that focuses on "mindfulness of breath."
This calms the mind, controlling access to the 6 windows of the person. Thereby the (mental) attention wanders more and more to the physical sensations and the connected mental occurrences, which arise in the now and in the here, to which just should not be attached.
More and more the "consciousness" follows the breath, the attention goes mindfully into rest, the belly rises and falls, the air flowing in and out becomes more and more relaxed, the nostrils and the upper lip feel the breeze, the surroundings recede more and more, it becomes quiet, the body no longer feels, the mind palace goes into a rest mode.
What emotions come up now, what happens when you try to "perceive" them? Concentration takes place in complete mindfulness, all thoughts become less and less, become "background noise", similar to the babble of voices at the train station, which we notice when we enter, but which "falls silent" after a few moments.
Now it is time to focus on the movement of the abdomen during breathing, to dive deeper into insight meditation, the 5 senses (6 windows of the human being) should draw less and less attention.
If now unwillingness to continue arises I recommend the lecture of sHanLi on the subject. Note in your mind what brings you out of calm, just continue the meditation. The important thing here is to take the disturbing things out of character. For example, we refer to the ringing of the phone as a noise, the pain in our back only as a pain, thinking of a person only as a memory.
When you have gained control over your 6 windows, then (at the end of the meditation) turn your attention in full mindfulness to the thoughts, let them come to the surface again. Why is this particular thought bothering me? What sensations arise, why do they disappear again by themselves? Do the thoughts pull me along? And why can't I dwell on a thought?
Slowly the "seeing" develops in front of your inner eye, you understand more, you now allow it to "understand".
Slowly you open your eyes, stretch. The meditation comes to an end.
The way is the goal! Are you developing insight?
A practitioner enters a deepening with the stilling of the initial and sustained turning to the object of meditation
- Buddha - honorific name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
Use my app for this meditation to time it (Android or Apple).
Insight meditation is a traditional Buddhist practice that focuses on "mindfulness of breath."
This calms the mind, controlling access to the 6 windows of the person. Thereby the (mental) attention wanders more and more to the physical sensations and the connected mental occurrences, which arise in the now and in the here, to which just should not be attached.
More and more the "consciousness" follows the breath, the attention goes mindfully into rest, the belly rises and falls, the air flowing in and out becomes more and more relaxed, the nostrils and the upper lip feel the breeze, the surroundings recede more and more, it becomes quiet, the body no longer feels, the mind palace goes into a rest mode.
What emotions come up now, what happens when you try to "perceive" them? Concentration takes place in complete mindfulness, all thoughts become less and less, become "background noise", similar to the babble of voices at the train station, which we notice when we enter, but which "falls silent" after a few moments.
Now it is time to focus on the movement of the abdomen during breathing, to dive deeper into insight meditation, the 5 senses (6 windows of the human being) should draw less and less attention.
If now unwillingness to continue arises I recommend the lecture of sHanLi on the subject. Note in your mind what brings you out of calm, just continue the meditation. The important thing here is to take the disturbing things out of character. For example, we refer to the ringing of the phone as a noise, the pain in our back only as a pain, thinking of a person only as a memory.
When you have gained control over your 6 windows, then (at the end of the meditation) turn your attention in full mindfulness to the thoughts, let them come to the surface again. Why is this particular thought bothering me? What sensations arise, why do they disappear again by themselves? Do the thoughts pull me along? And why can't I dwell on a thought?
Slowly the "seeing" develops in front of your inner eye, you understand more, you now allow it to "understand".
Slowly you open your eyes, stretch. The meditation comes to an end.
The way is the goal! Are you developing insight?
A practitioner enters a deepening with the stilling of the initial and sustained turning to the object of meditation
- Buddha - honorific name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
6 Minuten
The life of every person is characterized especially by turning points, by the moments that shape the destiny, that determine the further future.
If you think about the matter carefully then some such turning points come to your mind, such as the birth of your children, meeting your partner, big family celebrations, or the many but smaller things that have brought your life in a certain direction.
Every crossroads is such a turning point for us, we can either go to work in the morning, or leave behind the life we have led until now, start over, move away. Surely you know the story of the man who just went out for cigarettes, but never came back.
Nothing has to be the same tomorrow as it is today, every day you can change your life, whether in a big way or in a small way, nothing is "set in stone", everything is constantly changing, so why should you always remain the same person?
What would you like to change? What in the short term, what in the medium term, what in the long term? Where do you see yourself in a few weeks, in a few months, in a few years? What is important to you?
The turning points in my life, I can remember them well, my high school graduation, my law studies in Hamburg, my time in China and the USA, my wedding, the birth of my daughter, the separation from my family, the many small incidents, when I think about them while writing this text, there were some important moments.
I wonder what the future may bring, certainly some turning points again, but now I am older, can I appreciate these moments when they happen?
And you? Will you notice the next turning points, or just live through the day unaware of the implications?
According to Buddha, all moments are the same anyway; according to the great teacher, we should not put too much significance into the sequence of days, but look for "enlightenment" as the essence of philosophy.
Are you ready to review your life once, to remember the special moments, and then to put them in relation to the teaching of the Teacher of all Teachers?
When such a turning point in your life begins again, you will notice it this time, because you are now attentive, mindful, careful and concentrated. Those who live mindfulness know how to appreciate the moments, to live the moment, to stay in the here and in the now, not to digress and ignore the illusions that the mind palace so holds.
The path is the goal!
We turn our mind away from these states and thus direct it to the deathless element
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
If you think about the matter carefully then some such turning points come to your mind, such as the birth of your children, meeting your partner, big family celebrations, or the many but smaller things that have brought your life in a certain direction.
Every crossroads is such a turning point for us, we can either go to work in the morning, or leave behind the life we have led until now, start over, move away. Surely you know the story of the man who just went out for cigarettes, but never came back.
Nothing has to be the same tomorrow as it is today, every day you can change your life, whether in a big way or in a small way, nothing is "set in stone", everything is constantly changing, so why should you always remain the same person?
What would you like to change? What in the short term, what in the medium term, what in the long term? Where do you see yourself in a few weeks, in a few months, in a few years? What is important to you?
The turning points in my life, I can remember them well, my high school graduation, my law studies in Hamburg, my time in China and the USA, my wedding, the birth of my daughter, the separation from my family, the many small incidents, when I think about them while writing this text, there were some important moments.
I wonder what the future may bring, certainly some turning points again, but now I am older, can I appreciate these moments when they happen?
And you? Will you notice the next turning points, or just live through the day unaware of the implications?
According to Buddha, all moments are the same anyway; according to the great teacher, we should not put too much significance into the sequence of days, but look for "enlightenment" as the essence of philosophy.
Are you ready to review your life once, to remember the special moments, and then to put them in relation to the teaching of the Teacher of all Teachers?
When such a turning point in your life begins again, you will notice it this time, because you are now attentive, mindful, careful and concentrated. Those who live mindfulness know how to appreciate the moments, to live the moment, to stay in the here and in the now, not to digress and ignore the illusions that the mind palace so holds.
The path is the goal!
We turn our mind away from these states and thus direct it to the deathless element
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
7 Minuten
No matter where we go, no matter what place we hide in, what we run away from, our memories are on top of the suitcase, can't just be left behind.
Constantly the mind palace plays the same memories over and over again, mixed with self-doubt, if only I had, why did I, could I turn back time. But you can't.
All the incidents, the little stories, the souvenirs of emotions become a burden for many people, the memory is gilded, the depression grows. A clumsy psychological warfare that the mind palace pulls off, the memories run in a continuous loop, become more and more a burden, no one can escape them who has not thought about the connections. Do you want to think about it?
What memories matter to you? Can you recall any details? How have these stories shaped you?
What do you think about forward looking memories, can you "remember" the future? In other words, see the future? And anyway, according to Buddha, even time and space are an illusion, nothing is "real", everything is just felt. I am sure that this world is not "real", but we only think things and occurrences are real, simply because we want them to be. In the not too distant future flying drones will fly over us, can you see them already? Not yet existent, but imaginable. Providence as a plaything of human existence, life as a video game. Do you see your future now before your inner eyes?
It's one thing with memories, we can rarely depict things as they really were, the temporal shift makes many things different. After a breakup, a terrible partnership turns into a lost love, an unloved job into a wasted opportunity, a discontinued education into a supposedly golden future.
The fears, worries and hardships we suffered through, we can rarely remember, the good things become outstanding in the memory, in the memory everything becomes so much better. But isn't the present the best time, simply because it doesn't seem surreal, but authentic? The here, the now and the today, that then forms new memories, which then one fine day occupy the mind palace. Who knows what the future may bring?
Tomorrow's memories, we can consciously choose, tailor to our needs, always following the philosophy of Buddha. Every day is unique, every moment makes sense. Do not boast about tomorrow.
The way is the goal!
Past love is only memory. Future love is a dream and a wish. Only in the present, in the here and now, can we truly love.
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
Constantly the mind palace plays the same memories over and over again, mixed with self-doubt, if only I had, why did I, could I turn back time. But you can't.
All the incidents, the little stories, the souvenirs of emotions become a burden for many people, the memory is gilded, the depression grows. A clumsy psychological warfare that the mind palace pulls off, the memories run in a continuous loop, become more and more a burden, no one can escape them who has not thought about the connections. Do you want to think about it?
What memories matter to you? Can you recall any details? How have these stories shaped you?
What do you think about forward looking memories, can you "remember" the future? In other words, see the future? And anyway, according to Buddha, even time and space are an illusion, nothing is "real", everything is just felt. I am sure that this world is not "real", but we only think things and occurrences are real, simply because we want them to be. In the not too distant future flying drones will fly over us, can you see them already? Not yet existent, but imaginable. Providence as a plaything of human existence, life as a video game. Do you see your future now before your inner eyes?
It's one thing with memories, we can rarely depict things as they really were, the temporal shift makes many things different. After a breakup, a terrible partnership turns into a lost love, an unloved job into a wasted opportunity, a discontinued education into a supposedly golden future.
The fears, worries and hardships we suffered through, we can rarely remember, the good things become outstanding in the memory, in the memory everything becomes so much better. But isn't the present the best time, simply because it doesn't seem surreal, but authentic? The here, the now and the today, that then forms new memories, which then one fine day occupy the mind palace. Who knows what the future may bring?
Tomorrow's memories, we can consciously choose, tailor to our needs, always following the philosophy of Buddha. Every day is unique, every moment makes sense. Do not boast about tomorrow.
The way is the goal!
Past love is only memory. Future love is a dream and a wish. Only in the present, in the here and now, can we truly love.
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
