We Are Our Own Karma

Karma means action. Actions have consequences and results. What we have done in the past brings us to what we have in the present and the present will dictate what will happen in the future.

”Fish Karma logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many of us may have regrets of what we have done in the past or what we should have done, but didn’t do. We can speculate what could have been or could have happened, but it wouldn’t have lead us to where we are today.

I have things that I have done in the past that I wish I had done differently, but if I had done things differently I may not have ended up meeting my husband, having the job I have now, and my pug and cats that I love. All that wouldn’t have been possible if I had done things differently 15 years ago. When I think about it, and I had the chance to do things differently, part of me wishes I could, but the rational part of me realizes that everything would be different now if I changed the past.

If we are unhappy with our present situation, the past actions have brought us to where we are today. We can’t change the past, only the present. Sometimes we may feel “stuck” in our present situation, but there is always possibility of change. Sometimes we don’t like the options we have, but we may need to just make a change to create different results. If something is not working for us, then it’s time to change and do something else.

Karma isn’t just a result of past lives; it’s all about the results of our actions – cause and effect. We have always been in charge of our future.

We can make a change today.

namastê ॐ (Photo credit: ianpozzobon)

Namaste.

Becoming Attached To Samsara is Not Our Purpose

 

As beautiful as this cherry blossom is, it is impermanent and so are we.

 

Have you become “comfortably numb”? Are you happy with just how the way things are? Maybe you would like things to be different or better? No matter what, things will change. That is impermanence. But, no matter how good things are now, that is not the purpose of life. I will admit that I am attached to the good things in my life and if I do not change that mentality, I will remain attached and suffer when they change.The good things in life take our minds off the bad things in life. Friends, family, a good job, a nice car, a nice house, good food, pets, music, movies, these all make life enjoyable – no argument there. Without them, life would be pretty boring if we didn’t have things to look forward to in order to take our minds off the things that create suffering. But, no matter how distracting these things are, suffering remains. Friends move away, your nice car breaks down, food is eaten and gone, movies end and then you are back where you were at the beginning. So you look for the next distraction and there always is another.

Coming to this realisation doesn’t mean that you must neglect the finer things in life, but realise that they are not true sources of happiness – just part of the suffering of change. If you become too attached to these things, you will never want to leave samsara. That in itself is a scary thought to admit, because up to this point that is all we have ever known. But, as good as things may be in this life, there is no guarantee that they will remain that good in this life or the next. Now that we have the opportunity to practise, isn’t now a good time to start?

 

“A little statue of Buddha.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We may or may not attain full enlightenment in this life, although all of us are able to, because as laypersons, daily life takes up a majority of our energy and time just to survive and provide for our families. But, in a bodhisattva kind of way that is important to; to be a contributing member of society and to take care of other people. We may not want to leave this world in this life or the next, but we can try to prepare ourselves for the next by leaving kindness in this life. Love makes the world go round. Kindness is remembered just as much as unkindness, but can make a much more lasting impression.

 

In everything, we have a choice. Whether we like the choices or not, whether we agree with the choices or not, or whether we want to choose or not. We can chose to stay in samsara in ignorance, we can chose to leave samsara and devote to attaining enlightenment, or we can chose to remain in samsara – mindfully on a bodhisattva path and use every opportunity in samsara to make life more enjoyable, peaceful, kind, loving and free of suffering for everyone. In any case, we should remain happy despite everything.

 We mustn’t become too attached to what we already have or what we want. The purpose of life is to be happy, but the goal is enlightenment and nirvana. Never lose sight of the moon.

 

Ignorance Is Not An Excuse, Compassion Is The Answer

 

“I have so much to accomplish today that I must meditate for two hours instead of one.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas K. Gandhi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So beautifully spoken.

We rush and rush trying to accomplish so much in less than 24 hours a day. In the end, there is so much left undone and so much done or said that should have rather not been done or said. I realise I need to meditate more on the precepts and originations of suffering that cause my own woes and the ailments of others.

I say things and do things that are counteractive to what I intend to do. I say things that I think are for my best intentions, but they have ramifications that affect other people. Why do we do things that are harmful, when all we want is the best for ourselves and others?

When we realise we have made a mistake, we need to acknowledge it; to ourselves, to the other person or persons involved in our mistake and to the Buddha. When we forgive ourselves for the mistake, we make the vow to not make that mistake again. Our karma is out there from our past action, if we are remorseful, perhaps it won’t hurt us as much in the future and we will be able to accept it as our consequence to our action. What’s done is done, and all we have is now; so we can try to make things better in this present moment than dwell on what has already happened.

I have a lot of work to do to learn to expand love and compassion to all sentient beings. It’s not easy work all the time. Many of us have habits that we have had for years and decades, and changing these habits, thought patterns, does not happen overnight.

People who annoy us the most are the most valuable. The old break-up saying, “it’s not you, it’s me” is true in this aspect! Most people don’t intentionally annoy other people. They are just going about their business, doing what they are doing. The crying baby on the bus, the noisy neighbour with the loud stereo, the coworker talking on the phone all day with personal phone calls, the driver that cut you off on the road, all these people usually don’t intend to annoy you, but they do – why? Because it bothers us, we take it personally; but if it doesn’t bother anyone else, then it must be us with the problem. Doesn’t mean we must not say something if it is too much, but with understanding we can see from their point of view and say something with compassion. Maybe the baby is hungry, the noisy neighbour is sad and playing music, the coworker is having issues at home, the driver is late for an appointment, and these are all possibilities. With mindfulness we can train ourselves to catch our thoughts when they stray from the noble path, and bring our thoughts back to compassion and understanding.

Meditation is where it all can begin (Photo credit: holisticgeek)

I have a lot to meditate on to develop more compassion and understanding, to understand what makes me do what I do and why. At the root of it all is ignorance in understanding how things really are. So, I must meditate on the root of suffering, ignorance and impermanence. When you think of these things, then it puts everything else into perspective.

It’s not easy, but well worth it in the end.

Namaste.

Simplicity and Peace is Buddha Nature

 My philosophy is that life is simple. Life is beautiful. Life by itself in its own nature is simple.

When we think too much, do too much, go against our better judgment or ignore the precepts for example, then things become complicated more than they need to be.

Gautama Buddha (Photo credit: Mahesh Telkar)

 

 When I look at my pug sleeping after he’s been fed and walked, he’s happy. He wants nothing more than to be in my company. I see the Buddha nature in him. Why can’t we have that contentment? We already do, but from a young age we have learned to neglect it.

Sweet dreams!

I have had friends come to me with their relationship problems. Maybe it’s easier for an outsider to look in and see the problem than when you are in the middle of it. But, it has always seemed to me that we complicate things more than they need to be from our lack of judgment or as Buddha would say “ignorance.” Ignorance is the root of all suffering, and from it our problems arise. Sometimes when the person is in a relationship and he knows he is unhappy, but is afraid to do anything about it because of the other person. Sometimes there’s a solution and sometimes not, but no matter what your karma outcome is, you always have a choice. Sometimes good, sometimes bad; but karma means “action” and that means you can do something with your life.

”Fish Karma logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Life can seem complicated but at the root of life, it’s actually quite simple. If you keep that mentality through a situation, that you have choices and to keep it simple, you can create clarity. Sometimes you need an objective person to shed light on your situation, to offer insight. Find your Buddha nature and from there you will find your answers.

And It’s Been A While…

It’s been quite some time since I have written here, yet not much has changed. I have still been enduring pain in both joints and muscles that vary from day to day. I’ve been to a doctor at least four times, twice at the hospital, and no one can say what it is. I’ve been referred to a rheumatologist who will likely do more tests. In the meantime acetaminophen is my daily defense, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t work. 

 

It’s easy to say it’s due to karma and maybe it is. It’ hard to think in those terms when you’re going through hard times, but it makes things easier to understand. Everything undergoes change and nothing is permanent. It’s sometimes relieving to think along those terms, that there will be better days, but when there are good days, we don’t want those to end. That’s because everyone wants happiness and not to suffer.

And although I hurt every day, some days more than other days, I can’t let it stop me. There have been days that I’ve been very depressed, but I kept going. We mustn’t always think what has been done, only what is left to be done.

Many of us face adversity, but we must keep going. Anyone’s karma can change – let’s hope for the better.

Feel Good The Karmic Way

  

Buddha (Photo credit: M.Angel Herrero)

Sometimes it’s best to give something without expecting anything in return when you’re feeling badly about something… a smile, money, time… it doesn’t matter what it is. It creates good karma and can make you feel better than you did before.

Like today, I’ve been feeling a little depressed about work, mostly because I have tasks that I’m not 100% confident in doing, but I do them anyway. When I feel like this, I have pocket change ready and give to friendly beggars on the street. I don’t expect or ask for anything in return, but just giving makes me feel better.

Do a good deed for a friend, family member or stranger when you’re feeling depressed and it may just make you feel better about yourself.

The Five Precepts – Buddhism

Buddha Shakyamuni (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sound pretty simple, basic and easy, right? These precepts are good morals for everyone to follow.

1. I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life.

This precept can be interpreted as not taking life and/or eating meat. I am vegetarian, and try hard to refrain from taking food that comes from animals. Unknowingly, it has happened that I have eaten something with meat broth in it. It made me upset, but there was nothing that could be done about the past, only about the present time and made note NEVER to eat that again. (It was rice that had been cooked in chicken broth.) As much as I try to keep t the first precept, my karma is not perfect. Today, in my home, a spider came right in front of me from the ceiling and scared the crap out of me. I have arachnophobia, not as bad as when I was younger, but still enough. I’m too scared to even kill them; that’s how scared I get. I get my husband to “take care” of them. I don’t care what he does as long as they’re gone. (He usually ends up killing them.) I know it’s wrong, and not good karma, but I think about my home and want to keep my home insect-free. When we go camping though, that’s the bugs’ home and I try very hard to not interfere with them. Isn’t that funny or what? I know I still need to work on my compassion in that aspect. However, there’s little I can do when the pug eats bugs – it’s too late then!

2. I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking what is not given.

This one I think is simple and easy. I follow this one very well. Interpreted as “not to steal”, this in all belief systems is a “golden” rule.  Ever had something stolen from you? It’s a terrible thing to go through, big or small, but it’s also karma. By not stealing, it creates good karma.

3. I undertake the training rule to abstain from sexual misconduct.

This precept is also a rule and law in many societies against rape and adultery. This precept is rooted in respect: respect for others and yourself.

4. I undertake the training rule to abstain from false speech.

This one I think all laypersons have difficulty with. This precept speaks against idle chatter, divisive speech, gossip and lies. I try not to lie (even white lies are considered bad), but sometimes lying is a way of life for some – whether it’s to not get in trouble or to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. In that case, I believe it is intention and motivation that determines the karma from lying. Gossip and chatter are considered bad because they take away time for enlightenment.  This precept I still have to work on too.

5. I undertake the training rule to abstain from fermented drink that causes heedlessness.

This precept is to speak against drunkenness that can lead to breaking all the precepts. This one is no problem for me. I used to drink, occasionally and before that almost regularly many years ago for a short time, but the past few years it is rare to almost never that I drink. Why? No desire. Even when I feel like having an alcoholic drink, I take a sip and don’t want it anymore. I have no need to “escape” – escape from what? Nothing.

The precepts are guidelines for all practitioners and although they are common sense to many and sound simple, on a daily basis some may be harder to obey than others sometimes. Intention and motivation dictate the consequences that arise from karmas. Keep your intentions and motivations wholesome in all that you do and remember to keep the precepts in mind.

Are you happy?

 

It’s been a pretty busy week at work with only four out of six of us in my department this week. Every day we have question periods, where we can get help on our tasks. Everyone in my department has tasks assigned to them, we all help each other with our knowledge and experience in each area, and each of us come across something every day that we haven’t seen before and from it we learn and grow. Everyone else had something time consuming to do and had several questions to ask and get help with. When someone came to ask me if I needed assistance with anything, I simply replied, “Compared to everyone else, my problems seem small.”

After I said that, I realised it was a pearl of wisdom. No matter how big our problems may be, they may be very small in comparison to other people’s problems. Thinking along these terms can lessen our suffering and make us realise that although we may feel we are singled out to endure this suffering, we are not alone and that everyone suffers to some degree.

When you put things into perspective that things can be worse than they are, do you realise the pleasurable aspects in your life? Do you take the moment to enjoy the finer things that bring joy despite adversity? You may not think of these things while under stress, but if you can take a break from work or studies and think of something happy or funny it can change your mood, attitude and outlook. Meditation does this too. If you train your mind to be still or shift your thinking, you can lessen your suffering – or as in layman’s terms handle suffering better to be more bearable and eventually to be free from it altogether, i.e. nirvana (nibbana).

Ask yourself often if you are happy. If not, do you not want to change that? What can you do with your options? If you need to do some searching for your happiness, meditate. You may feel your unhappy circumstances may be due to your karma, but remember that karma means “action” – something can be done about it! You are in charge of your fate and always have been.

As the song goes, this would make a pretty good Buddhist “modern” mantra:

Don’t worry, be happy.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Image via Wikipedia

“I believe the purpose of our life is to seek happiness.” – His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV

Even when the day has not been as I had hoped it to be, there is solace in the tiniest of things that did not go wrong that day. A question to ask would be “am I happy despite my hardship?” At the end of the day, when everyone has gone home and everything is closed, do you still worry even when there’s nothing that can be done?  As one of the many Buddhist philosophies state “if there is a solution then there is no need to worry; if there is no solution then there is no need to worry.”

Happiness is believed to be a state of mind that can withstand turmoil and difficulties. I have been through some tough times, like most of us have experienced from time to time, and tried to find escape from each one by fleeing and moving on to something thought to alleviate the situation. Because it is our nature to seek pleasure, avoid suffering and stay indifferent to the neutral. But through reading and study and after trial and errors, I have learned to stay put, appreciate my surroundings and stop looking for the “greener side of the fence.” The seeds of happiness are inside us. We have Buddha nature. Many of us seek external forces to appease our misery. But, if we’re not happy with ourselves, how can we be happy with others?

When I’m feeling in a good or bad mood, I try to do a good deed. This action (karma) will increase my good fortune more or at least help improve my misfortune. What harm can that do to do good for another? The idea of karma helps to put into explanation the irrational reasoning behind why unfortunate things happen to good people. For example, a few months ago, things had turned very fortunate for myself and I wondered how long this karma would last. This month has been a decent month, but things have been in decline. Whether this karma is from this lifetime or from four hundred lifetimes ago, I know that I am clearing that slate and dealing with it now. It takes away the thought of “why me” and put into proactive state of mind to do something about it as oppose to feeling pity for myself. Now, although sometimes, a good cry can release stress from the body, it doesn’t solve the situation but can help clear thoughts and get down to work.

In all the things we must do everyday to maintain our livelihood, remember to be happy, do what makes you happy within the precepts, and be compassionate to others and yourself.