Daily Buddhism

Hello all,

As I mentioned a while back in the podcast, my real-life job has grown to insane proportions in the past couple of weeks. I had planned to keep the site going on an every-other day basis, but obviously, I haven’t been doing that. I do apologize for the interruption. That being said, the site is not closed and I haven’t “quit.” I love what I’m doing here, and have no plans to ever stop.

I’ll be returning full-time on the 6th, and I still hope to make some posts between now and the 6th. In the meantime, send in your questions or topic suggestions to give me something to work with. If you are subscribed to the newsletter, podcast, or RSS feed, don’t change anything, and we’ll just continue from where we left off then.

I’ve got some big plans for the site, and one of them involves automating things to where I can send out scheduled posts. This will let me send out a daily post even on the days when I’m not actually “here.” That will eliminate this problem returning in the future.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:35 — 15.3MB)

Podcast Episode 59: Paradoxes and Being in the Present

Announcements:

The all-new Monthly Buddhism PDF Magazine for the month of June will go on sale tomorrow, and future issues will be available regularly on the first Sunday of each month.  The June issue has Just under 50 pages of great material suitable for reading onscreen or printing. The cost is $5 and can by purchased at http://www.monthlybuddhism.com.

And now let’s get on with this week’s show!

[Read the past five blog posts or emails for contents of the show]

This Week’s Links:

Paradoxes
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1357

What Do I Need to Do?
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1358

Joshu’s Zen
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1355

Bring in the Present
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1353

Free Newsletter: http://www.dailybuddhism.com/sign

Voice Mail Number: 937-660-4949
Email: Dailybuddhism@gmail.com
Donate: http://www.dailybuddhism.com/donate
Monthly Buddhism Subscription Info: http://www.monthlybuddhism.com
Follow Daily Buddhism on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DailyBuddhism

Question:

I was listening to one of the many comments that you were reading on your podcast regarding attachment to enlightenment, and I had a delightful series of thoughts that I felt compelled to share with the Daily Buddhism sangha. I was listening to your commentary on the issue and realized that it may not be a question of determining the meaning of desire and attachment, as is so often discussed. At the present moment I consider this dilemma of attachment to enlightenment to be a paradox. The less attached you become to enlightenment (and all other things, of course), the closer you get to it. I have in my mind a picture of a person who has attained enlightenment, who, when asked about it, simply laughs and talks about the mosquito on his arm, and how much of a good mother she is.

It always delights me when I find paradox in this world because it inevitably breeds more paradox. For example, once I had the thought to share this insight on enlightenment, my desire to share it with you actually pushed me farther away from enlightenment, because I had been spending so much energy “grasping” this thought until I could write it down to share it. Even the desire to share this thought in this current moment is, in itself, a paradox that brings me farther from the message I am trying to convey because it is simply a thought that, if I were being truly mindful, I would notice and move on. I’m sure by now I have you and your listeners’ heads spinning with this idea, and usually when I find myself crawling deeper into this particular rabbit hole (which is so tempting to do), I like to smile and say to myself, “ah, Paradox.” And move on with the rest of my day.

Of course, what I actually did was proofread the message to make sure it’s clear enough. Yet another paradox!

And now I’ve seen the Buddha on the road, so I must kill him.

Your comments are always appreciated, and thank you for the wisdom that you’ve shared with me through the podcast and your emails.

Answer:

Yes, those mosquito stings hurt.

Oh, you want more?

It’s not unusual for me to get a message that I shouldn’t have explained the topic about such-and-such, as some things are beyond words.  Some topics cannot be explained in words, and I do realize this, but I have the “teacher mentality” coupled with the responsibility of “informing” my readers, so I feel a need to put some of the complex ideas of Buddhism into words. Sometimes it works out very well, sometimes it doesn’t, but in many cases, I just cannot leave the topic unmentioned or the question unanswered.  I probably should leave some topics alone, but if I don’t bring them up, they might not be considered at all.

I guess that’s the same thing you describe; I often explain terminology and ideas here, simply because that’s my job. Yet by doing these things, I run the risk of getting bogged down in labels and terminology. A good example of this was the “Am I Buddhist Enough” post a few months back. I tried to explain what a Buddhist is and does, but there were several reader comments that correctly pointed out that “Buddhist” is just a label and doesn’t matter anyway.  Yet, there does seem to be a need to define and understand what it means to be one. It’s another contradiction or paradox.

I suspect that paradox is much more common in our lives than we tend to believe. You know things should be done one way, yet you do them in just the opposite way. Why is this? Comment with your own examples!

Question:

Hello, I am a student, and I grew up in a Extremely Catholic home and have found that I do not agree with the Catholic way of life but more of the Buddhist ideology of Karma. I was wondering if you can give me any guidance as to be more of a Buddhist and a better one. What do I need to do?? Thank you for your time

Answer:

Some people look at Buddhism as a religion. Others see it as a philosophy. Most, however, will agree that it is first and foremost a practice; it’s something that you do. It’s a way of life.

I’ll recommend three things that I think are essential to calling yourself a Buddhist. I will point out that “Buddhist” and “Catholic” are just labels and concepts, and should not be taken too seriously. There are people who live their lives following the five precepts who have never heard the words “precept” or even “Buddhism.” Here are my three things:

1. Follow the Five Precepts - I think this is the big one. I have a link below to read more on the details, but essentially, they tell us don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t have inappropriate sex, and don’t get intoxicated.  These are the general rules that the vast majority of Buddhists try very hard to follow. There is always some debate on the interpretation of some of the meanings (is caffeine an intoxicant? What is “inappropriate” sex?), but the overall rules are generally accepted.

2. Learn more and continue studying - I believe that more than any other belief system, Buddhism appeals to “thinkers.”  Buddhists concentrate on ideas and situations and try to use logical thought to come to conclusions.  Unlike Christianity, which has only one “must read” book, there is no single set of documents that claim perfect truth. It’s a good idea to read from a wide variety of authors and thinkers, both inside and outside the world of Buddhism and apply these ideas to what you already know. There is a definite sense of “continuing education” within Buddhism. It’s easy to learn the basics, but there is so much more to learn once you get comfortable with the foundations.

3. Meditate - In our busy society, this one doesn’t get enough emphasis. The Buddha wasn’t born enlightened, he got there through meditation, and so can you. Set aside a certain amount of time a few days a week and just sit quietly, trying your best to empty your mind. Once you get into the habit, learn more about meditation and try various techniques to see what works best for you. Then it’s practice, practice, practice!

These are my choices. #2 and #3 above aren’t strictly necessary, but I believe them to be very important. You’ll notice I didn’t mention any rituals; some might consider them necessary, but I don’t.  Others will probably add their own ideas at the bottom of this article, so read on!

Read about the precepts here:
The Five Precepts: http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1153
My audio show on “The Foundations of Buddhism” http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1156
And a search for “Precepts” brings up many other posts: http://www.dailybuddhism.com/?s=precepts

Special Guided Meditation Audio Show: http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1048

Joshu’s Zen

Joshu began the study of Zen when he was sixty years old and continued until he was eighty, when he realized Zen.

He taught from the age of eighty until he was one hundred and twenty.

A student once asked him: “If I haven’t anything in my mind, what shall I do?”

Joshu replied: “Throw it out.”

“But if I haven’t anything, how can I throw it out?” continued the questioner.

“Well,” said Joshu, “then carry it out.”

Question:

I have recently been trying to understand the concept of being present. I think I am finding slightly difficult to grasp and certainly don’t feel that it is always beneficial. However, on occasions I begin to think that it a very profound and helpful idea! Is there a danger of us losing sight of the future or not remembering and learning from the past if we stay ‘present’? Certainly the feeling or being present is great… but is it actually beneficial in terms of day to day activities…? It just seems that being in a strong state of presence can be harmful to one’s goals or purpose…. Wasn’t it Sou Yen Shaku - the first Zen teacher to come to America who said - ‘do not regret the past, look to the future’…this seems to contradict the idea of being ‘present’… Anything you have to say is much appreciated - as usual!

Answer:

This seems to be confusing to many people. You often hear the phrase “Be Here, Now,” and that’s usually a reminder to keep your mind on the present moment and focus on the now, as opposed to worrying about the past or future.  We often move through our days more or less on “auto-pilot,” doing routine things without paying much attention. Do you remember putting on your socks this morning? Do you remember the first sip of coffee/tea/whatever you had today? How about the physical sensations of putting your key in the ignition and starting your car? Some of us do these things day in, day out, and give absolutely 0% conscious thought to those things.

Where is our mind when we do these routine “no-brainer” activities? Usually wandering around in the future, working out what we’ll be having for breakfast tomorrow or about that conversation with the boss later this afternoon. Or perhaps reliving the past, thinking about what you should have said to that jerk in the subway yesterday.  Or maybe you’re just off in a complete fantasy, thinking about last night’s episode of LOST.  The problem is that you aren’t paying any attention to the now.

It’s perfectly OK to make plans and have hopes and expectations for the future. The future is going to become the present eventually, and we all like to be prepared for that when it happens. The trick is not to get attached to those hopes and plans, and not to move through the present while on “auto-pilot.” You have no control over the past at all, and only a little control over the future. On the other hand, your present is entirely yours.

Right now you’re probably sitting in a chair reading your computer screen or a printout with these words on it. Some of you are listening to my voice on an MP3 player while you are doing something else. Are you paying any attention to the background noise in the room you are sitting in? Can you hear birds or cars or music or children playing? Are there any smells in the room? Is your chair perfectly comfortable or does a part of it painfully poke you somewhere? Were you aware or midful of these things before I mentioned them?  Being in the present means really experiencing the present, as much of it as we can at any time.

When we are meditating, it’s common to get yourself to the point where you feel your attachment to everything around you (”one with everything”). That’s great if you can do it in a silent, meditative posture, but can you do it right now without stopping what you are doing?  This idea of being in the present is one reason Zen monks (and probably others) work so hard. It’s just as valuable for them to be outside working in a garden or washing dishes as it is to sit in zazen. Experiencing life in the present is a big step toward realizing your oneness with everything around you.

It’s easy to do when you give it active thought, but it’s so easy to get lost in day-to-day life that it becomes a real challenge to stick with it.  Try not to fly through life on autopilot.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:29 — 16.2MB)

Podcast Episode 58: Hatred, Closets, and Loneliness

Welcome back, this is Daily Buddhism audio show number Fifty-Eight. My name is Brian Schell, and I am the your host for the show. You can find the text as well as all links mentioned in this program and all past episodes on the website at www.dailybuddhism.com.

Announcements:

My work schedule has gotten very full and is still picking up, so between that and the nice weather, my writing time is getting more and more scarce.  So for the next six weeks or so, the daily email newsletters will be changing to every-other-day delivery. Don’t panic; the show is not going away, although with fewer newsletter emails each week, I’m going to switch to doing the podcast every other week until my schedule reverts back to normal. I expect my schedule to change completely again toward the end of June, so things should go back to normal then.  So for the next six weeks, expect the show and email schedule to get a little irregular. Stick with me, things will straighten out once I get adjusted to my new schedule.  Most importantly, keep those letters and questions coming in; also guest posts will be even more welcome than ever, so if you’re interested in writing something, drop me an email.

Our sponsor this week is once again, Mighty Leaf Tea. They’ve got lots of different teas for your enjoyment, hot and cold.  They have the basic teas, but also tea accessories; pot, cups, and much more. Check them out for your Buddhist tea ceremony or just because you love their flavor. Get special deals and free samples by visiting www.dailybuddhism.com/tea

And now let’s get on with this week’s show!

[Read the past five blog posts or emails for contents of the show]

This Week’s Links:

Dealing With Hatred
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1343

Koan; Sleeping in the Daytime
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1345

Is Buddhism A Lonely Path?
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1347

Closet Buddhism
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1349

Sponsor: eHealth Insurance
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/ehealth

Arcane Tales Old Time Radio Podcast
http://ArcaneTales.com

Free Newsletter: http://www.dailybuddhism.com/sign

Voice Mail Number: 937-660-4949
Email: Dailybuddhism@gmail.com
Donate: http://www.dailybuddhism.com/donate
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Follow Daily Buddhism on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DailyBuddhism