Looking Back, To Move Forward

30 Dec 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , ,

Looking Backwards, To Move ForwardThere are situations and challenges in life, when the almost overwhelming tendency is to look inwards, to examine repeatedly, the reasons and causes that have brought us to this point in time.

We may have certain regrets about things we did, or indeed didn’t do, but the fact of the matter is that the past is set in stone.

Of course, making sense of situations, and the events that brought them about, can be very useful if we are to avoid making repeated mistakes or errors of judgement. But a continuous process of navel gazing is never going to get us back out into the big wide world. Imagine what you would miss, if you were to sit and stare at your hands, neatly folded in your lap, every time you went on a train, a plane, or a car journey.

So whilst we must take care to learn from the lessons in life. We must also look forward to using those lessons as we move forward towards a brighter and happier future, buoyed by the knowledge that we are better prepared to meet whatever we might encounter around the next exciting corner.

Just Think

26 Dec 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

LotusNo matter the situation, make sure that the last thing you say is not something, you or the person you say it to, will regret for the rest of your lives.

We’ve all been there, a disagreement or a heated moment, where we’ve said something we later regretted. Imagine if that were the last conversation we ever had with that person, it could leave a shadow hanging over you forever.

In terms of karma, it’s never going to be in the plus column either, is it?

So whatever you may be feeling, however the situation will be left, you can always find something positive, kind or caring with which to end the conversation. What’s the worst that can happen? It may be the last chance you ever have to say it, so have the Wisdom, Courage and Compassion to make it constructive.

Namaste

Decisions, Decisions

27 Oct 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Fork In The RoadLife is a journey full of possibilities, for which we have to make decisions, and for which in turn, we are all accountable.

Wouldn’t it be marvellous if there was a What-If machine, which you could use to play out each possible choice, see which one worked out best, and then make your decision based on that outcome?

Sadly there isn’t, nor will there ever be. So it is left up to us to make the best decision at the time, and then live with the consequences.

Of course, many of the decisions we make are of little consequence, tea or coffee, red or white wine, vote or abstain etc. none or these will, in all probability, change your life. But there are some decisions that, whichever way you decide, change the course of your life irrevocably. Not only that, but whatever you decide, you will never, ever know how things would have turned out had you made the opposite choice.

When I find myself faced with such a conundrum I chant, and chant and chant, until the possible outcomes are clear in my head, as well as all the reasons for why I might make each of the choices available, that I have identified all the pros and cons, I make the choice, and it is made with wisdom, courage and compassion. Once it’s made, there should be no going back. There is nothing worse than flip-flopping between decisions. It does no good, and can do a lot of harm, so stick to your guns.

Thinking Straight

17 Aug 2013 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Right-ThinkingOne of the many aims of Nichiren Buddhism is to smooth out the emotional highs and lows in life. through right thinking. However, one of the most difficult things to do, personally speaking, is to remain in a constant life-state when confronted by the highs and lows of life.

A Buddhist quotation says that “The Wise Man is neither elated by success nor deflated by failure”. That is not to say that you cannot be happy when you succeed, or sad when you fail, it’s about the intensity of those feelings and trying to stay nearer the mid-point.

I find it tough at times, but the more I practice. the better I’m getting at achieving an equilibrium.

Right Thinking

14 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Right ThinkingOne of the most difficult things to do, personally speaking, is to remain in a constant life-state when confronted by the highs and lows of life.

One of the aims of Nichiren Practice is to smooth out the emotional highs and lows in life. through right thinking.

A Buddhist quotation says that “The Wise Man is neither elated by success nor deflated by failure”.

That is not to say that you cannot be happy when you succeed, or sad when you fail, it’s about the intensity of those feelings and trying to stay nearer the mid-point.

I find it tough at times, but I’m getting better.

Looking Out For Happiness

04 Oct 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Just Around The CornerThere are situations and challenges in life, when the almost overwhelming tendency is to look inwards, to examine repeatedly, the reasons and causes that have brought us to this point in time.

We may have certain regrets about things we did, or indeed didn’t do, but the fact of the matter is that the past is set in stone.

Of course, making sense of situations, and the events that brought them about, can be very useful if we are to avoid making repeated mistakes or errors of judgement. But a continuous process of navel gazing is never going to get us back out into the big wide world. Imagine what you would miss, if you were to sit and stare at your hands, neatly folded in your lap, every time you went on a train, a plane, or a car journey.

So whilst we must take care to learn from the lessons in life. We must also look forward to using those lessons as we move forward towards a brighter and happier future, buoyed by the knowledge that we are better prepared to meet whatever we might encounter around the next exciting corner.

It’s All About You

01 Oct 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , ,

all-about-youIt’s all too easy, when we find ourselves in a difficult situation, to think that it is the other person who must change. This is a perfect example of a lack of right-thinking, because it is we who must change.

Our Practice, our enlightenment, even the path, all reside within us and it is there that we must look for the change.

Nichiren put it very succinctly …

You must never think that any of the eighty thousand sacred teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha’s lifetime or any of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions and three existences are outside yourself.

Your practice of the Buddhist teachings will not relieve you of the sufferings of birth and death in the least unless you perceive the true nature of your life. If you seek enlightenment outside yourself, then your performing even ten thousand practices and ten thousand good deeds will be in vain.

It is like the case of a poor man who spends night and day counting his neighbour’s wealth but gains not even half a coin.

~ Nichiren Daishonin

Remaining Constant

02 Jan 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: ,

Right-ThinkingOne of the most difficult things to do, personally speaking, is to remain in a constant life-state when confronted by the highs and lows of life.

A simple example of this is shown by the events and associated feelings I experienced whilst watching my team this afternoon.

  • After 20 minutes we (my team) were awarded a penalty, and scored … heaven !!!
  • Just after half time, the opposition scored an equaliser … anger, animality !!!
  • Five minutes later they scored a second goal … hell !!!
  • Five minutes before the final whistle we scored an equaliser … tranquillity !!!
  • One minute before the final whistle we score a third … heaven !!!
  • One minute into injury time they score an equaliser … hell !!!

The final whistle went, the score was 3-3 and we shared the points, so not the result we wanted, but not a total disaster.

But that is not the point. Ok, the example is one of the less important trials in life, but the underlying principle remains. One of the aims of Nichiren Practice is to smooth out the emotional highs and lows in life. through right thinking.

One Buddhism quotation is that “The Wise Man is neither elated by success nor deflated by failure”. That is not to say that you cannot be happy when you succeed, or sad when you fail, it’s about the intensity of those feelings and trying to stay nearer the mid-point.

I find it tough at times, but I’m getting better.

If you would like to read about some of the Principles of Happiness you can do so here.

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