As a lot of you know, I\u2019ve been searching for answers lately \u2014 answers to questions that can\u2019t be answered. Over the years, during our travels, I\u2019ve collected a number of books about Buddha and his teachings. Obviously I\u2019m not a Buddhist, but I\u2019ve found that a lot of his teachings make sense \u2014 I don\u2019t consider them religious\u2026. just very often, good advice.\u00a0
In my quest to accept things the way they now, and to accept myself they way I am, I ran across a Buddhist teaching that I remembered from a long time ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The principle of that particular teaching is that all of life is in a constant state of change. Everything has a beginning and everything has an end. Every tree begins with a seed and will eventually transform back into earth. In the modern world, that means that every car, piece of clothing \u2014 everything \u2014 is created and all will wear out and crumble. It\u2019s only a matter of when. Our bodies are born and they will die. The teaching uses a glass as an example \u2014 it\u2019s created and will eventually break. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like a lot of Buddha\u2019s writings, this teaching gives me a certain amount of peace. When you expect something to break, you\u2019re not surprised or disappointed when it does. This is easy to say, but hard to do \u2014 but it\u2019s important\u2026. instead of becoming immobilized when something is destroyed, you should feel grateful for the time you have had. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buddha suggests that the easiest place to start is with the simple things \u2014 a glass, for example. Take your favorite glass and look at it for a moment, and appreciate its beauty and all it does for you. Now, imagine that same glass as already broken, shattered all over the floor. He suggests that you try to maintain the perspective that, in time, everything disintegrates and returns to its initial form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don\u2019t think that Buddha is suggesting that anyone wants their favorite glass, or anything else, to be broken. I think he\u2019s trying to say that we should try to make peace with the way things are.
I\u2019m guessing that the purpose of this teaching is that you should develop the philosophy that allows you to maintain your perspective \u2014 when the glass breaks, rather than saying, \u201cOh no,\u201d you should think, \u201cAh, there it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course I\u2019m not dealing with a broken glass, but I get the message. I haven\u2019t accepted the way things are now, or the way I am now, but it\u2019s good advice and I consider it another step on my journey.
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As a lot of you know, I\u2019ve been searching for answers lately \u2014 answers to questions that can\u2019t be answered. Over the years, during our travels, I\u2019ve collected a number of books about Buddha and his teachings. Obviously I\u2019m not … Continue reading