Breaking Through The Chains That Bind Us

08 Oct 2014 Leave a comment

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

Chains

When you realise that karma, the simple law of cause and effect, dictates the course or our lives, it really makes the events that toss us this way and that, so much easier to accept.

Our actions in previous lives are all engraved upon, this lifetime. The causes for our present suffering, our joy, happiness or misery, all lie with our own past actions. But Nichiren Buddhism enables us to fundamentally transform our destiny.

When we truly base ourselves on the Buddhist view of eternal life, we realise the first thing that must change is how we live in the present. In Nichiren Buddhism, change arises from the very depths of our being, brought about by our daily Practice.

When we practice with vigour, strong pure vitality wells forth in abundance. The chains of our destiny are broken, and our original identity, the fresh and robust world of Buddhahood, shines forth. Far from being set in stone, our destiny truly is in our own hands, through our everyday thoughts, words and deeds.

On Self Improvement

02 Oct 2014 2 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

The Struggle For Self ImprovementThere is no self-improvement without effort.

Without taking action, happiness will never come, no matter how long you wait.

A life without peaks and valleys is a fairy tale. Reality is strict, because it is a win or lose struggle.

This is the way it is for human beings. Therefore, you should not allow yourselves to be battered about by reality but rather willingly rise to its challenges and use them as opportunities to train and strengthen yourselves.

~ Daisaku Ikeda

On Criticising Others

01 Oct 2014 Leave a comment

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

Criticising OthersIt is very easy to be critical of others, particularly when they are out of earshot. It is, however, valuable to also look for their strengths, as you gain nothing by only criticising others imperfections.

In fact, it is helpful to take a step back, for just a moment each day, and try to consider the feelings and positive qualities of those of whom you are critical.

On The Purpose Of Prayer

22 Aug 2014 1 Comment

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

The Chosen PathPrayer, in Nichiren Buddhism, is unlike that in most other faiths, in that they are not directed to a higher power for help or consideration for the subject of the prayer.

When Nichiren Buddhists pray, they are making themselves more mindful of the effects they wish to see in their lives, and raising their life-state in order to enable them to create the causes to achieve those effects.

It is important to remember that our prayers reflect our life state. In that respect, prayer is a solemn means to raise our life-state or condition. To receive exactly the results for which we are praying, it is crucial to make a determined, single minded effort toward that goal.

This is the true path of manifesting faith in our daily life. Those of us who proceed along this narrow path, day after day, month after month, year after year, will develop, without fail. Just as a sapling grows into a mighty tree, to become a person of outstanding strength and character, one with wisdom, courage and compassion, relies on us remaining true to our chosen path.

Onward, Ever Onward

19 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Onwards And UpwardsWe all find ourselves confronted by challenges, or in situations, which take us outside our comfort zone. It may be as important as a life changing decision, or something as trivial as whether to risk your street cred by riding with a new cycling group.

My own thinking in such circumstances, is to feel the pain and do it anyway. Not that I have always made the right decision, far from it, but for me, doing nothing is not an option.

If you summon your courage to challenge something, you will never be left with regret. How sad it would be to spend your life wishing, “If only I’d had a little more courage.”

Whatever the outcome may be, the important thing is to step forward on the path that you believe is right.

Fortunate Karma

15 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Fortunate KarmaA shallow person will only ever have shallow relationships.

True love is not one person clinging to another, it can only be fostered between two strong people, secure in their individuality.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince, wrote in his work Wind, Sand and Stars, “Love is not two people gazing at each other, but two people looking ahead together in the same direction”

When we are fortunate enough to find someone we can love for whom they are, and who loves us for whom we are, then we are truly fortunate. Meeting that person, amongst the throng of humanity, is surely one of the most fortunate karmic effects we can experience.

For Every Winner …

06 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

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

For Every Winner ...Today it was Oxford in the University Boat Race, yesterday it was the 25-1 Pineau de Re in the Aintree Grand National.

Winners in their own fields, but what about the losers? For every winner in an event, there must be at least one loser, right? Wrong !!!

Daisaku Ikeda had this to say:

“Strength is Happiness. Strength is itself victory. In weakness and cowardice there is no happiness. When you wage a struggle, you might win or you might lose. But regardless of the short-term outcome, the very fact of your continuing to struggle is proof of your victory as a human being.”

So going home with the shiny prize isn’t the only way you can win, again President Ikeda has pearls of Wisdom …

“It is not how you compare to others that is important, but rather how you compare to who you were yesterday. If you’ve advanced even one step, then you’ve achieved something great.”

So whether you’ve had good day or not, you can look at things in several ways, and still come out of it as a winner.

Names Will Never Hurt You

23 Mar 2014 Leave a comment

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

Names will never hurt youNone of us like to be the subject of gossip, rumour or criticism, but there are times in life when it may be unavoidable. If you deviate from the well trodden path, the route that the many take, or have taken, you will open yourself up to closer, and often hostile, attention.

But when you totally devote yourself to achieving a goal, you will not be bothered by shallow criticism. Nothing important can be accomplished if you allow yourself to be swayed by some trifling matter, always looking over your shoulder and wondering what others are saying or thinking.

The key to achievement is to move forward along your chosen path with firm determination. Let others scoff if they will, but your goal must be your prime focus if you are to emerge from the journey as a victor. So set off with determination in your heart, be strong, and remember that sticks and stones may break your bones, but names will never hurt you.

Life Is Trying, So Keep Trying

20 Mar 2014 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

Life Is TryingThere is no self-improvement without effort.

Without taking action, happiness will never come, no matter how long you wait. A life without peaks and valleys is a fairy tale. Reality is strict, because it is a win or lose struggle.

This is the way it is for human beings. Therefore, you should not allow yourselves to be battered about by reality but rather willingly rise to its challenges and use them as opportunities to train and strengthen yourselves.

~ Daisaku Ikeda

Inner Strength

04 Feb 2014 Leave a comment

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

Inner StrengthWe are very similar, in many ways, to steel reinforced concrete, in that much of our strength comes from within. The pillars of motorway bridges are immensely strong because, apart from the toughness of the concrete itself, they have a rigid steel structure embedded within them.

In the same way, we have an inner strength, an emotional structure that allows us to handle the rigours of daily life. The strength of that structure is different in each one of us, indeed it can change depending on the strain that life is exerting at any given point in time. But the important thing is that we can increase it through some very simple practices.

Generally speaking, we are stronger, mentally, when we see problems as challenges, and stronger still when we feel we can overcome those challenges and come out the other side unscathed. So how do we improve our resilience to the bumps and knocks that life delivers?

Well in my own case, I find that chanting raises my life-state and allows me to tackle challenges more positively. By chanting about a particular issue, I find that I see the details more clearly and hence have more ideas regarding the possible solutions to solve it.

Of course, other people have their own way to deal with challenges. Some meditate, some pray to their God for guidance or divine intervention, some in fact are so grounded that they seem to have a built in ability to cope.

However you go about it, the most important thing to remember is that confidence and determination are key factors in winning the battle. Sitting and cogitating the fluff in your navel, getting depressed, or feeling that the challenge is just far too great to tackle, will undoubtedly result in failure, so don’t do it.

One really good tip, whatever you are facing, is to try to break down the task at hand into bite sized pieces. As Geoff says to Ed, in The Buddha, Geoff and Me, ‘How do you eat an elephant?’ … ‘One bite at a time’. So take it bit by bit, deal with each day as it arrives, and remember to stay strong and above all positive. If you believe you will win, then you are already half way there.

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