Buddha Blog English Podcast Episode 16

Hello and welcome to Buddha Blog, the Buddhist podcast. Your show for Buddhist topics, mindfulness and meditation. I am ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaolin Rainer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and I am very happy that you are here. Buddhism in everyday life - Mindfulness in every day actions 

This podcast is largely funded by its listeners. I would be happy to welcome you as a supporter as well. Thank you to everyone who supports Buddha Blog in their own way.

Did you enjoy the podcast? Thank you for listening to Buddha Blog. Did you notice that there are no ads running here, that you are not inundated with consumer messages? Would you like to thank the author of this blog for his work with a donation? Support me, contribute to the extensive costs of this publication. Your support can help to continue the important work we are doing for Buddhism (my team and I). Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Android⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ stores. Via PayPal ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(click here)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by bank transfer:  Account holder: Rainer Deyhle, Postbank, IBAN: DE57700100800545011805, BIC: PBNKDEFF

Buddha Blog English Podcast Episode 15

Hello and welcome to Buddha Blog, the Buddhist podcast. Your show for Buddhist topics, mindfulness and meditation. I am ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaolin Rainer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and I am very happy that you are here. Buddhism in everyday life - Mindfulness in every day actions 

This podcast is largely funded by its listeners. I would be happy to welcome you as a supporter as well. Thank you to everyone who supports Buddha Blog in their own way.

Did you enjoy the podcast? Thank you for listening to Buddha Blog. Did you notice that there are no ads running here, that you are not inundated with consumer messages? Would you like to thank the author of this blog for his work with a donation? Support me, contribute to the extensive costs of this publication. Your support can help to continue the important work we are doing for Buddhism (my team and I). Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Android⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ stores. Via PayPal ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(click here)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by bank transfer:  Account holder: Rainer Deyhle, Postbank, IBAN: DE57700100800545011805, BIC: PBNKDEFF

Buddha Blog English Podcast Episode 6

Hello and welcome to Buddha Blog, the Buddhist podcast. Your show for Buddhist topics, mindfulness and meditation. I am ⁠⁠⁠Shaolin Rainer⁠⁠⁠, and I am very happy that you are here. Buddhism in everyday life - Mindfulness in every day actions 

This podcast is largely funded by its listeners. I would be happy to welcome you as a supporter as well. Thank you to everyone who supports Buddha Blog in their own way.

Did you enjoy the podcast? Thank you for listening to Buddha Blog. Did you notice that there are no ads running here, that you are not inundated with consumer messages? Would you like to thank the author of this blog for his work with a donation? Support me, contribute to the extensive costs of this publication. Your support can help to continue the important work we are doing for Buddhism (my team and I). Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the ⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Android⁠⁠⁠ stores. Via PayPal ⁠⁠⁠(click here)⁠⁠⁠ or by bank transfer:  Account holder: Rainer Deyhle, Postbank, IBAN: DE57700100800545011805, BIC: PBNKDEFF

Your best teacher is your last mistake

If we make one mistake and do not correct it, we are already making the second.

Mistakes are part of life, we all make mistakes.

The question is, how do we deal with it, what do we do when we realize the mistake?

Often we notice the mistake the moment we make it.

But what can we do, should we "fix it" even at the risk of "losing face"? Or look aside in shame and "forget about it"?

Buddha said: There are only two mistakes one can make on the path to truth - Not going all the way, or not starting it!

So, according to the historical great man, we should walk the path of reality, clearing the oversight. My mother always says, "Son, what is true you may say".

So a Buddhist should have the human greatness to admit his shortcomings, to stand by his actions, and to try to correct them if possible. Because according to Buddha, soft can be stronger than hard.

Shame is a natural feeling, such as when we have done something wrong, we feel ashamed. But isn't it clearly better for us if we overcome this brief moment of insecurity, muster the inner virtue and "fix" the mistake right now?

Yes, it is!

Because an oversight can quickly turn into a bigger lie, the untruth then gives rise to suffering, for us and for those around us, the popular saying goes: "a mosquito gives rise to an elephant".

Example: I do not tell my wife that a colleague "adores" me in the office. When she happens to see the co-worker with me on the street, she thinks I am having an affair with her. Because I did not clear up the mistake at the beginning, a real problem arises, we all know such situations, often it goes well, but sometimes "the shot backfires".

Learning from mistakes and mishaps brings us further, we also grow from the mistakes we make. But only if we stand by these "weak points", if we see them as part of our life, if we start to see our mistakes as positive as our strengths, because where there are no mountains, there are no valleys.

So, the next mistake you make, you should celebrate it, really celebrate it, enjoy it, because it is a part of your self, your being, your personality. Just like the solution to the problem, you should also "celebrate" it and "experience" it in its entirety.

In a great book I read: "For he who is free from error, let him cast the first stone".

When the first missionaries came to Africa, they had the Bible and we had the land. They asked us to pray. And we closed our eyes. When we opened them again, the situation was reversed: we had the Bible and they had the land.

- Desmond Mpilo Tutu - South African clergyman - born 1931

Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de

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Winter Solstice

Twice a year the sun turns, from the highest to the lowest position of the sun.

Starting today, the days are getting longer again, life will soon awaken tentatively.

Already our ancestors revered the sun, myths were about the special days, special festivals were celebrated.

In the Germanic Julfest the Christmas festival could have its origin, also the celebrations around the sun god Sol are celebrated at the winter solstice.

You are a sun in my night. My night is a sun in yours

- Jean Genet - French novelist - 1910 to 1986

Since the sun remains stationary, anything that appears to be the movement of the sun is more likely due to the movement of the earth

- Nicolaus Copernicus - Prussian astronomer - 1473 to 1543

Some would also strike at the sun if it offended them

- Herman Melville - US writer, poet and essayist - 1818 to 1891

My Publikations:

1.) App "Buddha-Blog-English", see on Apple and Android stores

2.) The Webseite "Shaolin-Rainer", also as an App, on Apple and Android (with fully icluded translation from German to 163 languages (by Google))

3.) The App "SleepwithSounds" as a sleep aid or meditation timer, in Apple and Android stores

4.) Buddha Blog English Podcast (weekly)

5.) Buddhism in daily life Podcast (daily)

6.) Facebook (@BuddhaBlogApp) (mostly German)

7.) Telegram Channel: https://t.me/buddhablog (mostly German)

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Shi Miao Hai - Let Go and Enjoy

I learned today that life can be like a roller coaster.

It always goes up and down, to the right and to the left, just like in life; sometimes we have many friends, sometimes we have little to laugh about, sometimes we have a lot of money, sometimes little, sometimes we are very lucky, sometimes not.

Often we deprive ourselves of the joy of life by holding on to conditions even though they are constantly changing.

So the art of life (if you want to enjoy the roller coaster ride) is to simply let go and put your hands up, we stay in our center and enjoy the ride, simply because we want to enjoy the moment.

Neither past nor future, but simply letting go and enjoying is the order of the day.

If we tense up and hold on the roller coaster, we would hold on to the worries and feelings, and not just let these things flow on. In order to find back to our inner center, we need to find ways to get things flowing again, so that we are not living in the past or the future, but also so that life can really flow.

In these stormy times, with many imponderables, more and more people are looking for a foothold in life. Here the teaching of the historical Buddha can become an anchor and a harbor. The core of the teaching is the journey to "awakening".

This journey begins, like every journey, with a small step.

Do you want to take this step? Just the first one? And then see how you feel about it, what your feelings are, what mood moves you, how your contemplation is reflected, whether the path "nestles at your feet"?

Let go and enjoy!

ALL CREATURES EXCEPT HUMANS KNOW THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO ENJOY IT.

- SAMUEL BUTLER - BRITISH WRITER - 1835 TO 1902

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"Draw me a sheep ..."

Who knows this sentence? Correct, it comes from "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, published at the time of the Second World War. I highly recommend the book, it is critical of the evaluation of outward appearances instead of human values, a clear criticism of the decay of the morals of that time (similar problems as nowadays as well).

Here is told about a small boy who comes from an asteroid. Since only he inhabits the celestial body (with a rose he loves so much) he travels to the planets in the vicinity, where he meets other (also lonely) people who live in their selfishness and carry their problems with them, important values have been lost for a very long time.

When he then comes to earth, the boy first meets a snake that wants to bite him, then a fox that explains the world to him. Thereby sentences of true greatness fall, like this: "you are responsible all your life for what you have made familiar to yourself".

Yes, as a Buddhist you also have to think about whether you make someone or something familiar to yourself, from the decision to call this or that 'my own' arises clear responsibility (regardless of personal karma).

Whether we get a dog or a cat, continue to meet with a 'date', open a business or take a job, beget a child, no matter what we make ourselves familiar is now in our area of responsibility, belongs to us. Unfortunately, very few people see it this way, in fact, many people take one partner after another (life partner, business partner, partner in every possible sense) without having thought about it beforehand, without having or wanting to take on a shred of responsibility, and thus create suffering in their counterpart. They consume people or things, without decency and values, simply without thinking further, without using even a thought to the possible consequences.

If I enter into any relationship, that is, go into my word, then I have thought about it carefully, not just out of boredom also 'still taken', I then have the decency to say NO even if I know that this situation is not for me, would only serve my distraction, has no substance and no value in my life.

It takes a certain size to say NO, an inner firmness. But if I don't want something (or someone) in my life, can't or don't want to take responsibility, then I have to say NO, because a wrong YES will often end in disaster (small or big shows time).

The sentence of Saint-Exupéry has influenced me very much, unconsciously I have acted according to it for a long time, only much later I became aware of the implications of his words: "responsible all my life for what I have made familiar to myself"!

However, my behavior is not a one-way street. As a studied lawyer I see "making familiar" as a kind of mutual contract. If now my "contracting party" breaks the trust agreement I can also terminate the contract, then I am released from my word. But otherwise the contract stands.

How much I would wish that more people read the "little prince", understand it and act accordingly.

Like in Buddhism! Right seeing, right recognizing, right speaking and right acting!

After a while the little prince recognizes the world fixated on externals, and returns to his rose on his planet.

Life is a journey. Do not take too much baggage with you

- Billy Idol - British rock musician - born 1955

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Buddhism is like riding a bicycle

To reach enlightenment you just have to keep riding!

Albert Einstein, whom I admire very much, said: "Life is like riding a bicycle - to keep your balance you have to keep moving"! An almost Buddhist saying, which is why his sentence inspired me to write today's article.

Whoever follows the teachings of Buddha can only have one goal: "Enlightenment"!

The legacy of the great man was his awakening, his message to us is that enlightenment is in everyone and can be achieved by all.

What do I mean by "Buddhism is like riding a bicycle?" Well, a Buddhist cannot follow the teachings of the historical model in 'part-time', either you are a Buddhist, or you are not.

Thus, the philosophy of Buddha penetrates into all areas of our lives, such as the way we treat other people, what and how we eat, how we earn our living, how we look at things, even our political attitude, but also general views on life, as in the great religions (charity, decency, honor), are influenced.

In this context, it is not so easy to "stop the bike", to pause the ride. A big problem for outsiders are the confusing "rules" of the different Buddhist communities, depending on the various Buddhist branches, the guidelines differ partly very much, quite different traditions developed in the different Asian countries.

I follow the Buddhist lineage of Shaolin Temple, which was founded by Bodhidharma around 500 AD. This philosophy of introspection, derived from Mahayana Buddhism, is called "Chan Buddhism" in China, while in the West its teachings became known as "Zen Buddhism".

Characteristic of Chan (Zen) is meditation (mindfulness or concentration exercises) as a spiritual practice that expands consciousness. The goal is the experience of enlightenment (as exemplified by the historical Buddha). It is important for all Buddhists to always continue the journey (with the imaginary bicycle), not to stop the aspirations, not to interrupt the journey to enlightenment.

Joachim Ringelnatz wrote the following in 1933: In Hamburg lived two ants who wanted to travel to Australia. Near Altona on the Chaussee, there their legs hurt, and there they wisely then renounced the last part of the journey.

The journey to "enlightenment", there can also sometimes 'hurt our legs', there can be setbacks, self-doubt, perhaps lack of understanding in the environment, why am I doing this, is this really the right thing for me, can I also achieve awakening?

Yes, we can, the historical Buddha has left us his message, his legacy, everyone can awaken, enlightenment is already within us, we have to bring it out from under the many broken pieces of our lives, sweep the dust from our souls, find our true being again under all the rubble of our history.

No one said the journey would be easy, that our legs wouldn't hurt along the way. But the journey is worth it. Promise! Just keep going!

Listen to the article as a podcast click

To travel with a guide is a blessing, to travel without one is the opposite

- Mark Twain - American writer - 1835 to 1910

It is not the destination, it is the journey

- Ralph Waldo Emerson - American philosopher and writer - 1803 to 1882

Only through regular exercise could one move forward

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - German poet - 1749 to 1832

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The truth about wolves

There are two wolves living in us; one wolf is bad, he stands for bad qualities like arrogance, jealousy, greed, envy and jealousy. The other wolf is good, representing peace, goodness, hope and love.

These two wolves are in each of us, fighting daily against each other, consciously or unconsciously.

The wolf that we feed, that we pay attention to with our thoughts, that we spend our energies on, will win.

You can see a thing this way or that way, express yourself about it this way or that way, put your focus this way or that way.

Example:

Option A - I am so exhausted from all the work, never having any money, having to raise my children, and now also taking care of my sick mother

Option B - I am so happy that I have enough work, money is tight but I manage, my children are a complete joy, my mother lives with us now, that's nice.

We are often not aware of how we evaluate things, but an attentive listener can already recognize our thoughts and feelings from the energy of the words.

What can we do, how can we improve ourselves here?

First we should ask ourselves if we want to improve at all, which wolf we will feed in the future, how our energy should be from now on.

Then we can consciously pay attention to our thoughts, such as replacing an "I must" with an "I will", integrate the mindfulness taught by Buddha into our lives, become attentive to the energies. Right cognition, right thinking, right acting and right speaking can be practiced, this strengthens one's self, one's character, one's personality.

As a next step we should get used to distinguish the two wolves, to train ourselves to feed only the 'good' wolf, for example by starting to look forward to everyday things. I look forward to cooking dinner (for me and my family), I look forward to doing laundry, I look forward to cleaning day, I LOOK FORWARD TO ..............

Such an approach makes us humble and grateful, thankful for every moment, for every day, for every encounter.

Whether success or failure, I am glad for every experience, it makes me grateful and happy to be able to "experience", to "be", to be human.

Search in your memory palace for the two wolves, give them a name, personalize the two. Talk to the wolves inside you, become aware of them.

See how you can get rid of the bad wolf!

I will not miss fighting, fighting will miss me

- Muhammad Ali - former US boxer - 1942 to 2016

I fight, I fight to win

- Margaret Thatcher - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - 1925 to 2013

When we fight evil, we fight the most terrible thing of all: Indifference

- Robin Williams - US actor and comedian - 1951 - 2014

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The Robber Aṅgulimāla - the Story of the 99 Cut Off Fingers

Aṅgulimāla was a murderer at the time of the historical Buddha.

He was a student at the college, he came from a distinguished family.

Legends tell of his extraordinary good looks. His teacher's wife was also more fond of him than other students, but he refused further contact. Thus, the race woman is said to have been incensed by the rejection. She told her husband, the teacher, that Aṅgulimāla wanted to rape her, but she was just able to prevent it. Her husband became jealous, and began to give the student false advice.

So he should strive for "enlightenment", and for this purpose cut off a finger of 100 people, then he would enter "nirvana".

The young man was probably very handsome, but somewhat simple-minded, he set out to fulfill the task set by the teacher. When he found that no one wanted to "donate" a finger for the personal "enlightenment" of the Aṅgulimāla, he proceeded to kill people, cut off their coveted finger, and then "thread" it on a necklace. This is how he got his name, Aṅgulimāla, which translates roughly as "finger necklace."

The powerful serial killer had already threaded 99 fingers onto the necklace when he met the historical Buddha. The latter was to contribute the hundredth finger to the collection, so that he could finally experience "enlightenment". Buddha was not particularly strong, characterized by meditation and asceticism, a simple victim. Thought the killer!

Although the robber ran after Buddha with speed and strength, he could not reach the slowly holy man. Exhausted and full of frustration, Aṅgulimāla called out to Buddha to stop.

Buddha turned around with no apparent emotion, and told Aṅgulimāla that he had been standing for a long time after all, and it was time for Aṅgulimāla to stop as well, to stop killing, to stop hurting other people because of his ego.

Something about the Buddha's person and his words must have touched Aṅgulimāla deeply, he threw away his weapons and followed the Buddha to a monastery where he became a monk, the "enlightenment" struck him like lightning.

The king wanted to arrest Aṅgulimāla and found him together with Buddha in a temple. He paid his respects to Buddha and asked his opinion. The Buddha answered the king: what you could not achieve with weapons, you could easily achieve with the right words!

Impressed, the king moved on with his army, leaving Aṅgulimāla to the Buddha's benevolence.

THE LESSON OF THE STORY?

Even extreme circumstances can be overcome, people can change, one can grow from the right example. Yesterday is not today, what will be tomorrow we do not know. In the moment lies the power, who we meet, which circumstances influence us, also our karma holds lots of surprises.

Have you met the Buddha yet?

HISTORY TEACHES PEOPLE THAT HISTORY TEACHES PEOPLE NOTHING

- MAHATMA GANDHI - INDIAN LAWYER - 1869 TO 1948

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The power of the moment

The eye looks, the moment passes instantly!

By a moment we understand a short moment, a small time interval.

A moment passes very quickly, it is irretrievable. It has power, every moment is different, none is comparable, if it passes unused, it remains lost forever.

The strength of each moment we can also sometimes feel, we feel the energy of the moment, positive and also negative. We think we can now "pull out trees", the "world belongs to us". Or we feel weak, depressed, moody or depressed. The power of the moment has many faces.

One moment follows the next, the power of the moment changes, depending on external circumstances, on the people we spend time with, on our thoughts, on our moods.

But wasted time remains wasted time, the clock cannot be turned back.

SO HOW DO WE DEAL WITH OUR TIME OF LIFE?

It's simple: enjoy the moment, its irrepressible power, for better or for worse!

Every moment is precious, every encounter is special, every feeling has its place in this moment.

Search for the power of the moment, because there is always a magic in each time. Make the effort and research, how does this thought, this feeling, this inclination come about; why am I going this way? Consciously absorb the magic of the moment, resting in yourself, waiting for things to arise from the moment.

Absorb the power of the moment, within you, inside you.

Enlightenment is also just a brief moment!

THE MOMENT TAKES WHAT YEARS GIVE

- JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE - GERMAN POET - 1749 TO 1832

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When you meet the Buddha, what do you ask him?

People pray to God, to the prophets, and to Buddha. They ask for this, they wish for that, they ask for that!

In the course of time the wishes change.

Just quickly bought at Amazon the so longed-for new toy (which one had to have absolutely), and already one wishes for something else.

I wish for a beautiful wife, a nice man, a great job, health, happiness, success, whatever.

As soon as I have achieved something, I want or desire something new. Constantly we want something, always more, and always we become more dissatisfied when we don't get it again.

And even when I do get it, I want something else, we are never satisfied, and the dissatisfaction is "pre-programmed", so to speak.

What if I would get the chance to meet Buddha personally, to ask him something? What do I really want to know, what question is close to my heart? Or what wish?

If we ask a question again and again, deal with it intensively, illuminate it, weigh the pros and cons, perhaps ask the question itself a little differently, we then realize that the question already contains the answer.

It is the same with our desires. If we have a really big wish, imagine this wish again and again in our mind, question the wish itself again and again, then we will also find a way to get this wish fulfilled.

BUT WHAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION, WHAT IS AN IMPORTANT WISH?

What is important in our lives at all, do we know? Or do we just let ourselves be driven by momentary needs and whims? Are we capable of really important insights at all?

Let's play through this thought for a moment! You imagine a question that you would ask Buddha. Just for yourself, you don't have to tell anyone about it.

WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE? WHAT?

I know what I personally would ask Buddha. Every day I rethink the question, formulate it a little differently, imagine how I would deal with his answer, whether it would perhaps astonish or frighten me.

And anyway, a clear question ALWAYS already contains the answer.

And a clearly thought-out wish shows the way to fulfillment.

THE DESIRE TO APPEAR WISE AND CAPABLE OFTEN PREVENTS US FROM BECOMING SO.

- FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD - POLITICALLY ACTIVE FRENCH NOBLEMAN - 1613 TO 1680

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The devil and the angel on our shoulder....

........ we are, we are angels and devils in human form

Do the figures on your shoulders often talk to you?

And anyway, who are these figures that talk to us?

Well, the answer is very simple: we are ourselves, the characters do not exist, our ego designs the characters; it is our ego that "whispers" nonsense into our ears (by means of the characters), because the thoughts that the ego designs, it hides quite excellently.

There are two kinds of thoughts. First, we think when it is necessary. Like, "I have to make breakfast for my children now, then do the dishes, drive them to school, and then maybe I'll get to work on time." Then, however, the ego blithely chattering away further thoughts all day long UNMINDFULLY, sometimes useful things, but mostly complete nonsense.

In order to come to rest and perhaps begin the journey to "enlightenment" we must "discipline" the ego, "get a grip on it"; the ego is our servant, we are the master of our ego, not the other way around.

If you find this so for yourself, it is important to first of all "look" attentively at your own thoughts; to separate, between the "important" thoughts and the chatter of our ego. Follow your train of thought, don't let the ego get away with every "thought", ask yourself, where does this thought come from now, what does it bring me, does it perhaps come from my ego?

Are you able to distinguish and separate thoughts? What is chatter from the figures on our shoulder, what is important, useful and purposeful thinking? Don't let the ego get away with the chatter!

Do you want to live a life without "angels and devils"?

When you realize that thoughts can be considered separately, the figures on your shoulders will disappear!

The journey to "enlightenment" begins within us, not outside. No God will help us, no master will start the journey for us, we have to start the journey ourselves.

The decision to set out on this path is the first step.

Even a great journey begins with a small step.

WHOEVER LOOKS FOR AN ANGEL AND ONLY LOOKS AT THE WINGS COULD BRING HOME A GOOSE

- GEORG CHRISTOPH LICHTENBERG - FIRST GERMAN PROFESSOR OF EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS - 1742 TO 1799

EACH ONE OF US IS HIS OWN DEVIL, AND WE MAKE THIS WORLD A HELL FOR OURSELVES

- OSCAR WILDE - IRISH WRITER - 1854 TO 1900

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Buddha Blog English Podcast Episode 5

Hello and welcome to Buddha Blog, the Buddhist podcast. Your show for Buddhist topics, mindfulness and meditation. I am ⁠⁠⁠Shaolin Rainer⁠⁠⁠, and I am very happy that you are here. Buddhism in everyday life - Mindfulness in every day actions 

This podcast is largely funded by its listeners. I would be happy to welcome you as a supporter as well. Thank you to everyone who supports Buddha Blog in their own way.

Did you enjoy the podcast? Thank you for listening to Buddha Blog. Did you notice that there are no ads running here, that you are not inundated with consumer messages? Would you like to thank the author of this blog for his work with a donation? Support me, contribute to the extensive costs of this publication. Your support can help to continue the important work we are doing for Buddhism (my team and I). Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the ⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Android⁠⁠⁠ stores. Via PayPal ⁠⁠⁠(click here)⁠⁠⁠ or by bank transfer:  Account holder: Rainer Deyhle, Postbank, IBAN: DE57700100800545011805, BIC: PBNKDEFF

Questions about questions

Because we don't know what we are doing ......

I would like to share with you a circumstance that has been bothering me. Whenever I set my alarm clock, I wake up 5 (five) minutes before the alarm. I know from some friends and acquaintances that they feel the same way. If you don't feel the same way, you probably can't really relate to my thoughts.

This raises some questions for me: Do I have an internal clock? I am asleep, how can I wake myself up? Is there perhaps a subconscious that wakes me up? And if so, why does it know the time? And why do I need a clock during the day, if I seem to know the time?

QUESTIONS OVER QUESTIONS.

If you ask "enlightened people", the answer is clear and unanimous: You are not your body, your body is only your vehicle, your means of transportation.

Who or what am I then?

That, according to the answer, everyone must find for himself. If there would be a general answer for this question Buddha would have left us this surely, there is also no instruction manual for the "enlightenment".

So why do I always wake up exactly 5 minutes before the alarm clock?

Maybe you still know the movie with James Dean from 1955, ...... "for they know not what they do" .....? The movie is about a man who wanders through his life without any support and is searching for himself.

People have been searching for ages, who am I, what will the future bring, questions upon questions.

The journey to "enlightenment" can provide answers to these questions, "enlightenment" itself resolves everything.

Who or what awakens me, who am I? How do I get ahead here?

Have you ever asked yourself who you really are? I don't mean the role we all play every day that is second nature to us, but who we really are!

QUESTIONS ABOUT QUESTIONS.

THE GOOD QUESTIONER IS ALREADY HALF ANSWERED

- FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE - GERMAN PHILOSOPHER - 1844 TO 1900

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The Prince and the Beggar Child

Buddhist reflections on life

Do you know Mark Twain? In 1881, the English author wrote a historical novel about two boys who looked incredibly alike, and were also born on the same day. One was a beggar child (Tom), the other the son of the King of England (Edward).

Tom's childhood was terrible, his father was poor, brutal and a criminal. He learned to read and write despite all the difficulties, dreaming of a life as a prince, inspired by some books.

Edward, on the other hand, grew up sheltered and without worries, living in his father's palace. The world was open to him, the kingdom was at his feet.

By chance, the two disparate children meet at the palace. On a whim, they exchange clothes. Now Prince Edward is mistaken for the beggar and even thrown out of the palace; the beggar boy Tom is prepared for the coronation after the king's death, while the prince learns the harsh reality of the streets of London.

Both of them keep affirming the confusion, but nobody believes them, they are considered crazy. Prince Edward even has to go to prison, where he feels the full force of the injustice of the time.

On the day of the planned coronation of the beggar child, the confusion is resolved, the real prince becomes king, Tom receives the favor of the new king. The experience as a beggar child made Edward a good king.

SO, WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE? PRINCE OR PAUPER?

Or do you want to realize WHO you really are?

If you were in this situation, what would be your choice, what would you do?

People have no idea who they really are!

Fate can put us in a completely new situation from one moment to the next, events can turn our lives completely upside down in a few moments.

The important thing is to take life as it comes.

Asking "why me?", "why is this happening to me?" is completely useless.

Have you ever imagined to exchange life with someone? How nice it would be if you were "a famous actor", or a "lottery winner".

Rich people dream of a life without responsibility, poor people dream of a life as a "prince".

"What if" brings us nothing, we have to live our life, the thinking of our ego leads to nothing, we have to "silence" the ego.

Have you ever thought about "enlightenment"?

ONLY PERSONALITIES MOVE THE WORLD, NEVER PRINCIPLES

- OSCAR WILDE - IRISH WRITER - 1854 TO 1900

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About timing in our lives

Buddhism and timing

About timing in our lives

Imagine you are driving down a road in a car, a car in the opposite lane leaves the lane, rolls over and crashes head-on into your car. Do you see the overturning car coming towards you, can you imagine this situation?

Or you drive along the same road 2 minutes earlier, when then the other car overturns, you are already decisive meters away, nobody crashes into your car.

Buddhists say "karma", other people "luck or bad luck", maybe the word "fate" comes up.

Surely it is worth to think about it once, about the timing, about our "karma".

Here it is of no use to ask: "why me, why did he crash into my car?" "why didn't I turn at the corner before like I usually do?"

You are not unlucky (or lucky), but you arrived at this place according to your "karma", nothing could change your "karma", it came as it had to come.

The view on trifles like "timing" should make us more relaxed, let us recognize the nature of things, and be an impulse to reflect about important things.

2 minutes or 2 meters, small things can determine life and death, joy or unhappiness.

Nothing we can do, nothing remains, everything crumbles to dust, we, the car, even the road, everything will crumble.

If we think about it, it is much easier to determine the values in life correctly.

So what is really important? And what is important to you? What do you want to achieve?

Personally, I think that the only important thing is "enlightenment"!

Creating the conditions for the very big journey.

Are you interested?

BOREDOM, FELT AT THE RIGHT TIME, IS A SIGN OF INTELLIGENCE

- CLIFTON FADIMAN - US WRITER - 1904 TO 1999

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The own ego is an illusion

Buddhism and the own perception

The own ego is an illusion, we all play a role in it.

According to Shakespeare, the world is only a stage.

Over time we have merged with the role we play, it has become "flesh and blood" to us. We think we are the person from the role, but have we ever been that person?

The task of a Chan (Zen) master is to peel off layer after layer of personality from other people, like an onion.

How do we perceive ourselves, how do we perceive the world around us? Who is responsible for the way we perceive ourselves and our surroundings? Do we perceive, that is, do we honestly see how we and our environment are?

I claim: NO

We perceive the world and ourselves from our role, so nothing is true, there is no truth in our perception, only how we want to see it, so we see it!

Our ego babbles before itself, so or so the perception has to be; our desires, hopes, expectations, needs and fears strike fully. We constantly develop our role, it grows together with our ego.

We are disappointed when desires, hopes, expectations and needs are not satisfied, our fears seem to come true.

Yes, this disappointment, what are we not always disappointed.

And who is responsible for all the disappointments in our lives?

WE SELF.

Our ego has developed desires, hopes, expectations and needs that seemingly cannot come true, we are inevitably disappointed because we do not accept life as it is, but constantly want events to happen as our ego parrots, according to the role.

So we have produced all disappointments in our life ourselves, all problems are home-made, self-produced.

It doesn't help to complain about problems, disappointments and failures to the gods.

Everything is produced by wrong perception, by the ego, which, according to our role, determines the thinking, the feeling, even the acting.

Cause and effect applies here. Which came first, the hen or the egg?

Our ego babbles, our role arises, wishes, hopes, expectations and needs are based on this.

AND THE WAY OUT?

RIGHT: ENLIGHTENMENT

NOTHING IS IN THE MIND THAT IS NOT FIRST IN THE PERCEPTION

- ARABIC PROVERB -

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The way is the goal!

The mountain outside my door

Once upon a time there was a man who lived secluded, right on the path between a beautiful mountain and the nearest town.

When the man went outside the door, he saw the mountain, looked at it long and closely, delighted in the grace, radiance and nobility of the silent giant far in the distance. The slopes shone in bright green, the middle layers appeared stony and brownish, the summit majestic and snow-covered.

He saw the path that stretched from his house to the foot of the mountain through the untouched nature. He saw isolated people walking there. The weather changed, sometimes it rained, sometimes the sun shone. Some days the peak may be hidden in fog, other days the snow shone brightly from the sun.

Can you see the mountain and the way to get there inside you? Close your eyes and let yourself be captivated by its elegance.

Every day the man thought to himself : "one day I will climb the mountain, I just have to do this and that".

Travelers passed by his house and stopped at his place, telling about the mountain, either on their way to the mountain, or coming back from it.

Some of them told him that they wanted to climb the mountain now, why they were going on the dangerous way, what they thought to expect. They told the man about the anticipations of the climb, they told him about their homeland, about their loved ones at home.

The others came back from the mountain, told about the arduous climb, the dangers on the way, about the indescribable joy of being on the summit, about the unbelievably beautiful view into the valley, how far the view can stretch, which travel companions they met, what the plans for the future are, what the mountain and the climb mean to them.

The man listened patiently to all the stories, entertained the travelers, some stayed longer, others lingered only briefly, some simply passed by his house.

Every evening the man planned tomorrow, yes tomorrow, he would also set out, climb the mountain, enjoy the view, linger at the summit.

When he woke up, he just wanted to do something quickly. After all, the mountain will still be there tomorrow.

THE WAY IS THE GOAL!

- CONFUCIUS - CHINESE PHILOSOPHER - 551 TO 479 B.C. CHR.

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Reflections on the Ego

What's the point?

I recently had a conversation with a very nice man, we have known each other for some time but have never really spoken. I'll call him Charly here.

Charly has depression, therefore hardly comes out of the house, buries himself, has good and bad days.

Medicine, he said, can't really help him.

Charly has lost his job because of his illness, has few human contacts.

While we were talking, I thought about what I could do for him, how I could support him. I like Charly very much, he has a very pleasant manner, is a really good guy. His charisma is warm, his voice soft and pleasant.

He talked about his mother's depression, how he didn't understand her before, whether the illness was perhaps hereditary, or whether possibly sick parents raise sick children.

I was very touched by his inner resistance, his lack of self-worth, his brokenness. I was also touched by the way Charly opened up to me, trusted me.

I asked him if he was a believer, if he had "support. He said he was a Christian. I asked if he was also interested in Buddhism. Yes, he replied, meditation makes him feel good, but he often does not have the "drive" to do the exercises.

I asked if he had ever dealt with "awakening". Yes, he had, but he was afraid of it, the subject was too difficult for him.

Buddha would have said that "enlightenment" is in each of us, one must only "find" it in our depths. Yes, but he would have doubts whether he would be worth it.

I said that only his ego whispers such thoughts to him, comparable to a small monkey sitting on his shoulder, influencing him, that the ego must be his servant, and not his master, that he could silence the ego, he should at least try.

Charly told, yes, I would be right, he has even already given a name to the little creature on his shoulder.

My advice was, whenever the being on his shoulders makes itself known, he should focus on the subject of "enlightenment", he can always silence the being with the subject.

I also told him about my blog and hope he will read this post.

Shutting down the ego is the first step to create the right environment and conditions for "enlightenment".

EVEN A GREAT JOURNEY BEGINS WITH A SMALL STEP

EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO BE CARY GRANT. EVEN I WOULD LIKE TO BE CARY GRANT

- CARY GRANT - BRITISH-AMERICAN ACTOR - 1904 TO 1986

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Do I want enlightenment, do I want to awaken?

Buddhism and our desires

WE SELDOM THINK OF WHAT WE HAVE, BUT ALWAYS OF WHAT WE LACK. [ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER]

According to the historical Buddha, thinking is what hurts us, harms us.

As with Arthur Schopenhauer's quote, we think especially of the people and things we lack, what we have we take for granted.

We wish for so many things, a loving partner, money and success, health and happiness, big things and small things, all day long (and at night in dreams) our ego delivers a firework of thoughts, wishes, hopes, fears and dreams.

All wishes are based on such thoughts as "how nice it would be ....", "if if if", "would have had", very few thoughts are useful, the ego is constantly chattering away.

And exactly these thoughts harm us, cause us pain, because we worry, our wishes become a disadvantage for us via our ego.

My texts are mostly about "enlightenment", how to come to "awakening", how the journey could look like.

A very important step on the way to "awakening" is to get a grip on the ego, to get a grip on the monkey chattering away in our head. Because of the ego, various desires appear in our thoughts, the possible non-fulfillment of our needs makes us worry, we worry as usual, too often.

The ego should be our servant, not we the servant of the ego. We must achieve control over the ego, otherwise "enlightenment" is not tangible.

When new desires appear in our mind, we should question them, where does the thought come from right now, why does it appear at all?

Now you are rightly wondering how this is supposed to work, how to get a grip on the thoughts, how to find the necessary peace, how to prevail against your own ego?

By dealing with the subject of "enlightenment", seeing it as worth striving for, thinking about it is the first step.

But not on the level of the ego, but with the rational part of the thoughts, which are to be clearly separated from the thoughts of the ego.

Do I want "enlightenment," do I want to awaken?

If the answer is "yes," you are well on your way.

Instead of thinking about wants and needs, instead of letting the ego lead you, give focused thought to what preparations you can make for the journey to awakening.

Every journey begins with a small step. The journey to "enlightenment" too!

ONE TRAVELS NOT ONLY TO ARRIVE, BUT TO TRAVEL.

- JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE - GERMAN POET - 1749 TO 1832

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The question is how we deal with the "waiting"!

We are constantly waiting for this and that. For the doctor's appointment, for the end of work, for our partner, for the children to come home, for a vacation, for the pain to subside, for us to get well, we are always waiting for something.

And waiting is one of the most difficult things of all.

Remember that moment when the mother said:

"BE PATIENT, SLOW DOWN"!

Especially when it comes to important issues, waiting can "drive us out of our minds", make us "crazy"; by the way, waiting and hope are also siblings, are closely related.

How do we deal with waiting? How do we wait?

What about waiting according to the Buddha's teaching?

According to Buddha, one is happy when one has no desires. However, this requires a certain amount of equanimity and insight, since we all have needs. If we do not desire anything and are not needy, then we consequently wait for nothing, take everything as it comes, with serenity and resting in ourselves.

How do you get to a state where you have no desires?

By finding "enlightenment", by awakening.

Easier said than done. Do you engage in "enlightenment" at all?

"Enlightenment" comes to those who earnestly seek it, you can't really seek it, it comes to us, not we "find" it.

Awakened people have no more desires, they are "wishfully happy". Perhaps they are happy because they are desireless.

Everything is connected, the journey to "enlightenment" is a very individual one, there is no "instruction manual" for it.

No one can teach "enlightenment", not even Buddha.

But we can make ourselves ready for "enlightenment", create the conditions for its realization.

Do you want that?

MANY PEOPLE MISS THE SMALL HAPPINESS WHILE THEY WAIT IN VAIN FOR THE BIG ONE

- PEARL S. BUCK - US WRITER - 1892 TO 1973

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You can't get into the same river twice.

Buddhism and the river

What is life like, what constitutes our existence?

The best way to compare life is with a river.

THE GREEK PHILOSOPHER HERACLITUS IS CREDITED WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE:

"YOU CANNOT GET INTO THE SAME RIVER TWICE."

It is our body that gets into the river, yesterday and today, but it is not the same water, it is an entirely different water.

The water of yesterday is already many kilometers away, perhaps someone is bathing in the water that refreshed me yesterday.

The ideas of the historical Buddha and those of Heraclitus show amazing similarities. The Greek philosopher's thoughts revolve around the unity of things and around the whole and the not-whole, around things that come together and things that diverge. In the Buddhist philosophy the statement is found in the Diamond Sutra: "Form is emptiness and emptiness is form".

One can think about that!

The river of life starts tentatively, in the womb of the mother, widens at birth, flows together with other rivers (other people), the water swells, ebbs away, the water evaporates, falls back to earth.

Just as you can't get into the same river twice, you can't do anything else twice, time is over, it's not like it was, it's new, the situation doesn't come back like that.

Even the things I know well, for example my "way home", it is always a little different, it is never exactly the same, the raindrops are not identical, nothing is ever like it was before.

Follow the river of life, enjoy the cool water, the refreshment, the people and incidents that pass by on the shore.

Every day is today, even if you do the same things you did yesterday. Even if you read the words of the Buddha today, and tomorrow again, sitting in the same chair, other thoughts will arise, other paths will open up.

Every moment is continuity. The now is always different, we know NOTHING, everything changes, the river flows.

HUMAN NATURE IS LIKE A WHIRLPOOL OF WATER. IF YOU OPEN A WAY TO THE EAST, THE WATER FLOWS EASTWARD; IF YOU OPEN A WAY TO THE WEST, THE WATER FLOWS WESTWARD.

- MENGZI - MOST IMPORTANT SUCCESSOR OF CONFUCIUS - 370 TO 290 B.C. CHR.

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Our fathers

The different fathers

Some time ago I was sitting in a coffee house in Stuttgart at the Schlossplatz in the midday sun.

An elderly lady asked if the second chair was still free, I said yes, she sat down, we got into conversation.

She said she was a Christian, I said I was a Buddhist.

"Oh, those are the egoists, always looking out for themselves" she said, I was puzzled.

"Where did they get that idea" I asked.

"Yes, Buddhism is about "enlightenment", so its Buddhists egoists".

I got grumpy, an argument developed in which (as in most arguments) there was no winner, everyone had their opinion, we parted politely but did not become friends.

The essence of a religion is not to argue, but they should create harmony.

Was the lady trying to tell me that her religion was better than mine? What were her motives?

And why didn't she know that Buddha was not a god at all? And why did she attack me in the first place for my statement of being a Buddhist?

And anyway, I consider Buddha to be my ancestor, my father. Just as she probably sees Jesus Christ as her father.

So, why don't the children of the different "fathers" respect each other more, why is there no peace between religions? Is my father better than yours?

While we are on the subject of fathers, what if my biological father was a beggar on the street? Still, he is my father, so to speak negatively about him would not be helpful either, and certainly hurtful.

If Jesus Christ, Allah and Buddha were sitting at the same table, right now, what could they talk about? Would they argue? Make fun of each other's children?

MY FATHER USED TO SAY: DON'T SPEAK LOUDER, ARGUE WISER

- DESMOND MPILO TUTU - SOUTH AFRICAN CLERGYMAN - B. 1931

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Buddha Blog English Podcast Episode 4

Hello and welcome to Buddha Blog, the Buddhist podcast. Your show for Buddhist topics, mindfulness and meditation. I am ⁠⁠Shaolin Rainer⁠⁠, and I am very happy that you are here. Buddhism in everyday life - Mindfulness in every day actions 

This podcast is largely funded by its listeners. I would be happy to welcome you as a supporter as well. Thank you to everyone who supports Buddha Blog in their own way.

Did you enjoy the podcast? Thank you for listening to Buddha Blog. Did you notice that there are no ads running here, that you are not inundated with consumer messages? Would you like to thank the author of this blog for his work with a donation? Support me, contribute to the extensive costs of this publication. Your support can help to continue the important work we are doing for Buddhism (my team and I). Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the ⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Android⁠⁠ stores. Via PayPal ⁠⁠(click here)⁠⁠ or by bank transfer:  Account holder: Rainer Deyhle, Postbank, IBAN: DE57700100800545011805, BIC: PBNKDEFF

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People and mental problems

Buddhism and Mental Problems

In today's complicated world, many, if not very many, people have mental problems.

People are insecure, frightened, usually have enough to do but little time to take care of themselves, have developed neuroses, depression and mental problems.

Since the connection to the church is decreasing more and more, the spiritual component also comes less and less into play. Most people live like this, trying to take care of everything "by themselves".

Even psychiatrists or other trained helpers are hardly consulted, after all "the others have a quirk, but I don't".

The Bible states:

"WHY DO YOU SEE THE MOTE IN YOUR BROTHER'S EYE, BUT DO NOT NOTICE THE BEAM IN YOUR OWN EYE? " (MATTHEW 7:3)

Apparently, the problem is not really new, however, in our fast-paced times, a new accelerating factor is added (e.g., Internet).

If you tell people that something is wrong, that their behavior is sick, they usually get angry, turn away or even go on (verbal) attack.

Mental problems, in my opinion, are caused by too much (and wrong) thinking, already the historical Buddha said that this is why we are all sick, that thinking does us more harm than good.

If we look at the inmates of a mental institution, most of them have their disease because of thinking.

Our ego starts, we think about this and that, thoughts ramble on and on, the line between a strong ego and a mental problem are blurred.

Consciously track your thoughts, instruct your ego to refrain from superfluous thoughts (would have, would have, if, if, if), think only useful, positive thoughts, use the opportunities to think "nothing" once in a while.

We all have mental problems, the first step to recovery is to admit this to ourselves, to recognize it.

We are all sick, and we all have the opportunity to get well.

Don't you want to give it a try?

DURING THE DAY IT IS VERY EASY TO SEE THINGS SOBERLY AND UNSENTIMENTALLY. AT NIGHT, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY

- ERNEST HEMINGWAY - US WRITER - 1899 TO 1961

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You can't stop the wave

Buddhism and the perfect wave

Have you ever seen surfing on TV or on the beach?

It's all about the right moment to "jump on" the wave, to ride it, to surf it.

And it all has to be in harmony with nature, we are a part of nature, but often we forget this.

We didn't make the wave, I didn't make the path, nature made the wave, I have to become a part of the wave, of the water.

If we are too tense, our body becomes hard. We can't be part of the wave then. Flexible like bamboo, hard yet soft, we should be, firm yet gentle, fast yet slow.

All we have to do is open our eyes, the rest comes by itself. Similar to the "enlightenment" that comes to those who desire it.

Like the perfect wave, our normal life is also a part of nature.

We have to go through fear, accept our destiny.

Similar to a boxing match, we are attacked, our body reacts "without thinking", automatically, out of the nature of things.

When the wave comes, see the reality of fear, open your eyes, we cannot "surf" against the wave, we must "go" with it.

Buddha said that you can't stop the waves.

So we can't change things in our daily life. When it rains, or the sun shines, we have to accept the weather, keep our eyes open, look realistically at the things around us, and enjoy the waves.

SOCIETY IS A WAVE. IT ITSELF MOVES FORWARD, BUT NOT THE WATER IT IS MADE OF.

- RALPH WALDO EMERSON - US PHILOSOPHER AND WRITER - 1803 TO 1882

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Yuima Sutra

Buddhism and the Yuima Sutra (Wéimójié - 佛說維摩詰經 - Vimalakīrtinirdeśa).

When people are drowning, the master must jump into the water and help. Nothing can be accomplished from the outside.

A master must not be proud, when people are suffering, he must assist these persons.

According to "Yuima" it makes no difference whether it is a prostitute or a minister; the master must "be with the people", otherwise he only gives empty advice.

"Yuima" was a lay monk in India, he was a disciple of the historical Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama, an ordinary person. His remarks were witty and witty, full of humor and wisdom.

The core message of the "Yuima Sutra" is that anyone can "awaken" and experience "enlightenment" if they sincerely try to do so. According to "Yuima", it does not matter whether one is rich or poor, intelligent or stupid, even whether one believes in Buddha. Even if one does not use the words of Buddha, one could find "salvation".

"Yuima" had no rules in this, he went everywhere; having no rules was his only rule. He even went to pleasure houses to enlighten people there. He walked on the paths of Chan (Zen), using the words of the people he met. In order to respond to their needs, he communicated with them, penetrating their minds.

He did this without caring about his own person, he went "through" the situations and incidents. As with the spirit of the historical Buddha, like parents taking care of their children.

Whether "Yuima" got into dirty water or into clean water, the point is that a master must go where people need him.

Helping not with "words" but by "doing and acting," comparable to Mother Theresa.

His remarks point out that the whole life is only a dream, that it is only about "awakening".

The lotus grows only in dirty water, but never gets dirty, that's why we call the lotus "Buddha's flower", that can be us too, whoever.

This is what Buddha and Yuima said, so why not try it.

THE THOUGHT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEED

- HELMUTH VON MOLTKE - PRUSSIAN FIELD MARSHAL - 1800 TO 1891

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Buddhism and the clear view

University degrees, journeyman's certificates, master's certificates, accreditations, credentials, paper upon paper, web pages upon web pages, texts upon texts.

Blind faith in diplomas, certificates, bills and contracts, videos and podcasts.

But how do you recognize the person who can really help you? For example, a Chan master (Zen).

How can you find out the real masters among the many "experts"? And anyway, what makes a real teacher?

Our view of things is clouded, like dirty glasses, layers upon layers are stored on our perception.

Habits, upbringing, disposition, genes, all kinds of causes have led to the pollution on our "glasses".

A good Chan master clears our vision, he removes layer upon layer from our glasses, he enables us to see again, to recognize reality again.

He cleans our glasses, gently and calmly, without haste, always speaking the truth, leading slowly, but firmly and decisively.

Ink on paper is nothing, "emptiness is form", and "form is emptiness".

When we meet a person who can help us further, we notice that we suddenly see better again, it is simply easier for us to speak the truth openly (because what is true may be said, must be said).

Most people are looking for happiness, improvement, development of their person for the better.

What a great feeling when layer after layer falls off the glasses and we can truly SEE again.

YOU NEVER NOTICE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, YOU ALWAYS SEE ONLY WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE

- MARIE CURIE - POLISH PHYSICIST - 1867 TO 1934

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Closed eyes

Close your eyes

.... what you see then belongs to you!

Many people define themselves by what they own, what they buy, what they present to the outside world.

This is understandable, because the inside is not "showable" and it is difficult to explain or even to represent it.

As Buddhists, it is precisely not the outside that we find ourselves through, but our inner values that count, such as compassion, love and understanding.

When we leave this earth, we can take nothing with us, so nothing belongs to us. The last shirt has no pockets.

We have only borrowed things, they are not ours, everything we call "ours" does not belong to us, will decay, will turn to dust in thousands of years just like us.

When we close our eyes, what do we see?

NOTHING

And that is exactly what belongs to us, nothing.

If we realize this fact, then only one real solution remains, namely to take care of our inner being.

It would be a good idea to try the teachings of Buddha. What made this worldview so strong that it has been passed on by people for over 2500 years? What made this young Indian prince a role model for millions, an idol for thousands of years?

The historical Buddha found "enlightenment", he "awakened".

After giving up his meditative practices after six years, exhausted with not experiencing "enlightenment", that is exactly when he "awakened".

"Enlightenment" is the goal of every Buddhist.

And "enlightenment" is not an exclusive right of the historical Buddha, according to him, "awakening" is inherent in all of us, but is "buried", yet still there, within us.

Let's search for it together, within ourselves.

AN EYE FOR AN EYE - AND THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE BLIND

- MAHATMA GANDHI - INDIAN LAWYER - 1869 TO 1948

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My first book reading

For the celebration of Chinese New Year, I was, together with my brother Taema Jun, in Shaolin Temple Europe, "asked" in advance by the abbot Shi Heng Zong to read from the book "Shaolin Rainer".

I was aware of his desire to read from my book. However, I struggled with myself in advance about whether I should participate in the Chinese New Year at all. The idea of talking about my life, of making personal things public, was very uncomfortable for me.

The abbot called several times and asked when we would come, and whether we (including my brother) would contribute something to the Chinese New Year, he was not put off even by my multiple refusals.

I have been close friends with the abbot of Shaolin Temple Europe Shi Heng Zong for over 20 years, so I did not feel comfortable after my cancellations. I couldn't stop thinking about him and our time together. My temple brother Taema (he is visiting from Korea for 3 months) felt my inner turmoil, so he called the abbot again. Previously, we had agreed that if our room was not yet assigned further, we would go, and the room was still reserved for us.

In short, we drove, and on the way, I was very thoughtful. We arrived late at the temple and checked into our room.

On New Year's Day, we sat in the abbot's office, planning for the celebrations had been completed. Taema was to give a Dharma talk (and promote his Dharma seminar on 2/21-23, see below) and I was to read from my book after all.

The uncomfortable feeling continued to spread through me.

In this context, I must mention that I had very mixed feelings about my book from the beginning. Certainly, I am proud of the fact to have been the first foreigner in Shaolin Temple in China more than 30 years ago, to have received the order from the abbot to open Shaolin, to have also opened the temple (which still exists today), to have founded other temples all over Europe. However, there were also very difficult times in the course of my history with Shaolin, very painful events, which I also do not want to remember.

Precisely because I do not want to remember, I did not want to do this book "actually". For many years the author Karl Kronmüller asked me to write this book. I always refused, I didn't want to have "much to do with Shaolin anymore. I had broken off all contact with the temple, with the monks. Only with my master Shi Yan Zi, the founder of Shaolin Temple England, I was always in contact. With Taema, my brother, I had intense conversations, almost daily, in Korea. Even from my friend Shi Heng Zong I had almost withdrawn.

Whenever Karl asked me again whether he could not tackle "the book", I refused, saying that surely the subject was of no interest to anyone and that I did not want to be reminded of those times.

One day I said "yes" when Karl asked again, hoping that the book would never be finished anyway. 6 months later it lay finished on the table in front of me.

I must have been mistaken.

Now my book is in Shaolin Temple Europe in the office of the abbot, he "insisted" on a reading. And I did not want to disappoint him, to contribute to the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

The celebration was wonderful, the abbot created a dreamlike atmosphere, people love the temple, and the ceremony was entertaining yet dignified, just like him, he is a great person.

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The coronavirus and thinking

The coronavirus and thinking

Right now China is facing a big challenge, our thoughts are with the people in the People's Republic.

In videos, you can see countless people standing in front of hospitals, totally frightened and looking for help. In panic and with faces distorted by fear, am I sick, am I going to die?

We will all die, the question is how we deal with it.

Buddhists have a different philosophy of life and death, they also believe in rebirth. However, the situation is always different when you have affected yourself, then it is certainly more difficult to keep calm.

During the last wave of SARS, I was in China and traveled through the country with the abbot of the Shaolin Temple Shi Yong Xin. I asked the abbot if he had any fear or doubt about the disease.

He wisely replied:

"I BELIEVE IN KARMA, I BELIEVE THAT I WILL FALL ILL IF THIS IS MY DESTINY, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN PROTECT ME THEN. IF IT IS MY DESTINY TO STAY HEALTHY, THEN THAT IS HOW IT WILL BE!"

If you believe in the teachings of Buddha, destiny is already fixed, you have to swim with the wave, and you cannot "swim" against the waves of destiny.

But thinking is what torments us, in our thoughts we already imagine how we will be taken away by the disease, how we will suffer, and die terribly. Our ego makes us think these things and imagines the strangest stories, which later never happen as we imagined them.

Therefore, such thinking does not help us, it harms us.

The Corona Virus can even help us. It helps us to see how finite our existence really is, how small and insignificant we are, and that life as we know it today can be over tomorrow.

Remember that this can be a good opportunity to reflect on your existence, and perhaps spend some time with your "enlightenment", pondering the topic of "awakening".

Just as her first great love came into her life, so can "enlightenment" come into her life.

Think back to the time of your first great love, how you kept thinking about your beloved, so it is with enlightenment.

If you are open to enlightenment, "enlightenment" will come into your life.

And here is the great misfortune of the coronavirus can be an impetus to realize the transience of life and to seek "enlightenment" NOW, not tomorrow because we do not know if tomorrow will come.

Illness is the most fearsome tyrant

- Albert Camus - French writer and philosopher - 1913 to 1960

The cure is worse than the disease

- Francis Bacon - English philosopher, statesman, and natural scientist - 1561 to 1626

There is only one disease, as there is only one health

- Ernst Jünger - German writer - 1895 to 1998

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Many Buddhists live by precise rules

Buddhism and rules

Many Buddhists live by precise rules.

Buddhists should not eat meat, should not have sex, should do this, should not do that, should pray this way or that way; rules upon rules.

The study of sutras, the interpretation of words, and the precise meditation are at the heart of many Buddhist traditions.

But where do most of these precepts come from?

These rules were established mainly by monks and Buddhist "scholars" after the Buddha's death, similar to the myriad rules and regulations issued by the Catholic Church long after the death of Jesus Christ.

Can these later-established Buddhist rules and regulations be reconciled with the values of the historical Buddha?

I say no!

Buddha meditated for years to experience enlightenment and failed. Even Wikipedia states that Buddha did not achieve "enlightenment" through meditation and asceticism (rules).

When he had "given up" emaciated and close to death, he took a bath on the bank of the Neranjara River.

Then, settling down on the river bank, he experienced "enlightenment."

Only when the historical Buddha had completely let go, already completely given up, did he awaken.

Today we hear again and again that as a Buddhist one has to meditate in such and such a way, to imitate Buddha, to follow such and such rules.

Buddha himself could not explain how he experienced "enlightenment", Buddha has left no text from which it would be evident how one can experience "enlightenment".

In his "Dharma talks" he instructed his followers not to meditate, but to search for "enlightenment" within themselves.

His way was to limit the ego of his followers, to abolish one bad habit after another in them.

All rules are nothing but opinions and instructions.

However, it is not about following rules, but about achieving "enlightenment", about "awakening".

Most of the rules were created by the people who themselves were "not awakened" and did not really understand Buddha.

What made the historical Buddha so famous, so popular, that he is still a role model for millions of people today?

RULES?

NO!

Buddha is a household name to us because he experienced "enlightenment," not because he meditated for six years.

Although he explicitly said that he did not achieve his "enlightenment" through meditation, countless people meditate in hopes of awakening through it.

Rules upon rules!

THAT TASTE IS GOOD WHICH AGREES WITH THE RULES WHICH HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY REASON

- JOHANN CHRISTOPH GOTTSCHED - GERMAN WRITER - 1700 TO 1766

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Are you a realist?

A true Buddhist can only be a realist!

There are the most different people with the most different views.

One group sees the world as it should be in their imagination, the "dreamers".

Another group sees everything quite black and gloomy, the "melancholics".

Still, other people see the world in a kinky and weird way, the "perverts".

There are also people who see everything through a fog of alcohol and/or drugs, the "stunned".

Still, other people see everything in the world as fun, the "funny ones."

Others only ever want to help, the "Mother Theresa types."

Another group sees the world from the position of a leader, the "leader".

In today's totally disturbing world, very few people see the world as it really is, realistically.

Buddha exhorted us to take the right knowledge as the basis of our actions and to follow it with the right speech, action, and behavior. Simply put, to be a realist, not to want to bend things to fit our particular views, but to accept them as they really are.

HENCE MY QUESTION:

ARE YOU A REALIST?

Can you try for just one day to check all your views, decisions, and actions to see if they correspond to reality?

THE UTOPIAN SEES PARADISE, THE REALIST PARADISE PLUS SNAKE

- FRIEDRICH HEBBEL - GERMAN DRAMATIST - 1813 TO 1863

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Is a Buddhist allowed to have sex?

Can a Buddhist have sex?

Buddha had a son, Rahula.

Before his "awakening," Siddhartha Gautama lived as the son of a noble family in northern India. His father wanted to raise him to be his successor, so he shielded him in the palace and kept him with him.

For this purpose, he is said to have made his son's life "as pleasant as possible", and also to have supplied him with several pretty young women. This was quite common in noble circles at that time, so it seems plausible in the case of Buddha.

Also, according to the legends, the Buddha's father already feared at that time that his son could become a monk (Brahma).

When the historical Buddha was confronted with the reality of life on his excursions outside the palace, he realized the futility of his previous actions.

When he was about 29 years old, Buddha left his family and first became an ascetic, later he practiced meditation in a concentrated way.

At that time (until his "awakening" at the age of 35) sexual contact with the opposite sex was unlikely.

After his "awakening", Buddha taught both men and women for another 45 years.

What is certain is that the Buddha drafted the laws of sangha for the Buddhist monastic community. Monks were prohibited from intimate contact with the opposite sex.

Unlike monks, lay people were not prohibited from such contact.

Therefore, the question arises, is it permissible for Buddhists (lay people) to have sexual relations outside of marriage?

In my opinion, yes!

However, a Buddhist should consider the consequences of his actions at all times, so the following should apply: no adultery and no sexual debauchery.

Sexuality is given to us, it is nothing to be ashamed of.

LOVE IS A GREAT DISEASE - TWO MUST ALWAYS GO TO BED AT THE SAME TIME

- ROBERT LEMBKE - GERMAN JOURNALIST AND TELEVISION PRESENTER - 1913 TO 1989

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Buddha Blog English Podcast Episode 3

 Hello and welcome to Buddha Blog, the Buddhist podcast. Your show for Buddhist topics, mindfulness and meditation. I am ⁠Shaolin Rainer⁠, and I am very happy that you are here. Buddhism in everyday life - Mindfulness in every day actions 

This podcast is largely funded by its listeners. I would be happy to welcome you as a supporter as well. Thank you to everyone who supports Buddha Blog in their own way.

Did you enjoy the podcast? Thank you for listening to Buddha Blog. Did you notice that there are no ads running here, that you are not inundated with consumer messages? Would you like to thank the author of this blog for his work with a donation? Support me, contribute to the extensive costs of this publication. Your support can help to continue the important work we are doing for Buddhism (my team and I). Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the ⁠Apple⁠ and ⁠Android⁠ stores. Via PayPal ⁠(click here)⁠ or by bank transfer:  Account holder: Rainer Deyhle, Postbank, IBAN: DE57700100800545011805, BIC: PBNKDEFF

1000 thanks! Copyright: ⁠https://shaolin-rainer.de

Change the words - or change yourself

Change the words - or change yourself

People have the habit of constantly complaining about others, I'm always right, others are wrong.

But what if all people are right, not just me?

If I change my thinking so that I also pay attention to the others and their feelings, maybe they are right.

The dog barks, that's its job. Children cry, mothers always have something to say. Everybody has an opinion. Newspapers, television, radio, constantly we are confronted with different views of other people.

That's nature, if you don't accept that, you can't make peace with your family, with your environment.

So we should put ourselves in other people's point of view before we judge, maybe look at others' position, include their worries and hardships in our worldview.

If I am always complaining about others, being against this and that, then my life will not be beautiful, I will always be fighting against others instead of at least trying the Buddha's way.

The Buddha's way is the middle way, it is balancing and just, appreciates the point of view of others, is concerned about balance.

Give it a try; this behavior can also be an important building block on the path to "enlightenment."

I am not saying that we have to put up with everything, sometimes we will automatically speak against it. We don't have to put up with everything, what is true may be said.

When sometimes enough is enough and I can't hear the "Bla Bla Bla" anymore, then also my patience has reached its limit.

Therefore: I am right - but all others are also right!

WORDS ARE THE MOST POWERFUL DRUG THAT MANKIND USES

- JOSEPH RUDYARD KIPLING - BRITISH WRITER - 1865 TO 1936

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Is a Buddhist allowed to eat meat or fish?

Buddhism and diet

Can a Buddhist eat meat or fish?

Buddha explained that in order to protect all living beings, meatless foods are to be preferred.

But Buddha did not know about modern meat factories. The so-called "modern diet" with "hamburgers" on every corner, "kebab" in every underpass, this was certainly not imaginable at the time of the historical Buddha.

How can a follower of the Buddhist philosophy in the Western world eat today? Without meat or meat products there is almost nowhere to eat. If you travel, for example, you can hardly eat vegetarian food.

As a Shaolin you are allowed to consume meat when you are training, Shaolin martial monks are exempt from the obligation to be vegetarian.

Personally, I eat meat and fish, but I pay attention to the quality. I strive to use it correctly, meaning that no piece should be wasted or thrown away. Animal welfare is an important issue for me. I also make sure that meat is "only" rarely and always a small portion on the plate.

The most important thing is that I dignify the animal I consume.

If you think about the animal when you eat it, you will automatically have a different relationship with meat and fish, you will be grateful to the animal, honor it, and generally be thankful for its food.

This gratitude makes a big difference, just try it!

Spend more money on the animal products you consume, eat meat (and fish) more consciously, in smaller quantities, gratefully and thoughtfully.

IF MODERN MAN HAD TO KILL THE ANIMALS HE USES FOR FOOD HIMSELF, THE NUMBER OF PLANT EATERS WOULD INCREASE IMMEASURABLY.

- CHRISTIAN MORGENSTERN - GERMAN POET - 1871 TO 1914

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Buddhism and politics

Buddhism and Politics

More and more often I receive letters asking me to comment on this or that topic in politics. Especially I should "show the flag" when it comes to the controversial opinions on political topics around the People's Republic of China.

Exactly that I will not do! Here applies "no politics"!

This blog is about Buddhism, not politics. If readers think they want to express their views, I would like to politely ask them to write to the responsible member of the Bundestag.

This is a guide for people who are interested in the teachings and philosophy of the Buddha and strive for enlightenment. In contrast to various religions, a Buddhist should also not judge, but only observe.

Also, I do not want to comment on distant events from my desk in Stuttgart, because it is not my place to do so.

This blog is from people for people, should be a help in daily life, and should be a support in the implementation of Buddhist philosophy.

I also do not want to be "harnessed" by supposed do-gooders.

Please refrain from such letters.

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Buddhism and the Gods

Buddhism and the Gods

Since earliest times, people have prayed to various gods. In the caves of our ancestors you can find idol statues, figurines and religious devotional objects.

It was always a matter of speaking to a "god". Praying has always been talking to a "higher authority".

In the course of the changeful history there were thousands of gods, often the deity even resembled each other, repeated the characters and characteristics (e.g. the different "sea gods").

Often armies faced each other in wars, the respective priests prayed for the victory of their troops.

Gods came and gods went, according to the spirit of the times and the taste of the people.

You can also pray to a "fish head" if you only believe in it.

Buddhism is completely different here. It is not about the search for a bringer of salvation, a figure from outside, but about the striving for "enlightenment" (according to Buddha, the solution for this lies within us).

No god, no person, no one can bring us this state, only we ourselves can search for it, within us, not outside.

THIS QUOTE SEEMS TO COME FROM THE HISTORICAL BUDDHA:

WHAT IS THE POINT OF PRAYING TO GODS? IS IT NOT FOOLISH TO BELIEVE THAT ANOTHER CAN BRING US BLISS OR MISERY?

WHEN YOU TALK TO GOD, YOU ARE RELIGIOUS. WHEN GOD TALKS TO YOU, YOU ARE INSANE.

- DR. GREGORY HOUSE - FICTIONAL DOCTOR IN A US TELEVISION SERIES

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The right acquisition of life

The "right" acquisition of life is also the focus of life in Buddhism.

But what is "right" life acquisition?

I know people who have inherited a lot of money. Since then they have not worked and are bored beyond measure, occupying themselves with trivialities, going 'shopping', wasting their money on luxury, amusement, alcohol and drugs. They are usually in a bad mood, have no drive and define themselves only by material things.

Then I know other people who (despite working diligently) never really have any money, but are always in a good mood, take pride in their work, are dutiful and punctual.

Generally speaking, right livelihood must come from a source of income that is not to the detriment or oppression of others.

In this day and age, however, it is very difficult to delineate exactly what is harmful to other people or living beings and what is not.

The butcher, who slaughters animals on a continuous basis in order to supply mankind with food, is he harming other living beings, or is he just doing the work for the general public?

The lawyer who defends guilty criminals and obtains an acquittal for them, is he harming people?

The politician who does things just to get re-elected, what about him?

My opinion is that every person knows best for himself what he does, what consequences his actions have for other people and living beings. Everyone should evaluate their own work, fairly admit what they are doing.

As a Buddhist, one should realize that there can be no "black" and "white", not even in our work; everything is "gray". Only "good" does not exist, also only "bad" is not possible.

When one takes stock of one's actions, the good side should predominate, one should try to do "mainly" good.

Work is part of life, without it it quickly becomes boring; a meaningful occupation is very important, keeps us "afloat".

PERSONALITIES ARE NOT FORMED BY NICE SPEECHES, BUT BY WORK AND OWN PERFORMANCE.

- ALBERT EINSTEIN - THE MOST IMPORTANT THEORETICAL PHYSICIST IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE - 1879 TO 1955

THE MORE PLEASURE YOU GET FROM YOUR WORK, THE BETTER IT PAYS

- MARK TWAIN - AMERICAN WRITER - 1835 TO 1910

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Enlightenment - The central point

"Enlightenment" and Buddhism

What is the central point in Buddhism?

As in all religions, there are countless rules of conduct in Buddhism. Some go back to the historical Buddha, others were written later by monks or scholars.

In my view, Buddhism is not a religion, but a philosophy.

The central point in the philosophy of Buddha is the striving for "enlightenment", the finding of one's own self under the mostly buried personality.

Unlike other world religions, in Buddhism this important, central element (the "enlightenment") is absolutely in the foreground, the rules (also those written by Buddha personally) are only building blocks on the way to awakening.

Why did the Indian prince Siddhartha Gautama become so famous; what made his teachings so different from the teachings of the other "founders of religions"?

His peacefully meditating statue is in every second household, his paintings sell dazzlingly, but what do people in the West know of him?

Little is known, plain and simple. The image of a meditating Buddha puts people in a peaceful mood, Buddhism has been adopted as a kind of "second religion".

For those people who have an interest in the worldview of the historical Buddha, it is time to look at the central element from his teachings.

- ENLIGHTENMENT -

What is it, how does it work, how to deal with it?

"Enlightenment" is an "aha moment," the tiny instant when you understand the world, the universe, and yourself. It is not a "bang", not a "fireworks", not a "party".

And "enlightenment" just works, it is not an event reserved only for the historical Buddha. Buddha said that in every human being, animal or living being, enlightenment already lies, it only has to be found. And this is one hundred percent true.

"Enlightenment" lies within us, we just have to discover it for ourselves.

"Enlightenment" we can reach by intensively dealing with the subject, by seeing "enlightenment" as a good friend, by looking at it like our first great love, which we always and gladly think of, frequently and intensively.

By freeing ourselves to search for "enlightenment", within us, no person will give it to us, Buddha was a guide, a spiritual tour guide, he said we should not pray to him, but search for "enlightenment".

GIVE ME A FIXED POINT, AND I WILL LIFT THE WORLD FROM ITS HINGES

- ARCHIMEDES - GREEK MATHEMATICIAN - 287 TO 212 B.C. CHR.

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Buddhism and the hate

Buddhists can also hate

If you don't hate, you can't love. Hate and love are only two sides of the same coin.

But where do these strong feelings come from, how can we control them, make them useful for us?

Hate is a primal emotion. It arises mainly towards people. But we can also hate things; I hate "Christmas", I hate "red fruit jelly".

Many people feel hatred toward dogs or cats; they even turn their hatred toward words.

Especially topical are hate speech on the Internet, hatred against people who think differently, contempt and disgust are paired with aggressive thoughts.

Usually there is a trigger for hate, such as a situation in the past, but often we are no longer even aware of why we hate.

When we feel such a deep emotion as hatred, it is usually worthwhile to explore this feeling.

Put yourself in such a hate situation and try to find the motives in the depth of your ego. Analyze for yourself the circumstances that lead to this feeling, which accompanying symptoms are important, in which environment does the feeling occur, can you sense a connection to other circumstances?

And what if you were to give in to the hatred? Pursue this thought in a kind of game, try to find out for yourself what this emotion is linked to, what circumstances enhance the feeling.

As a Buddhist, you should be aware that you can hate just like any other person. Only one should be able to deal with hatred, to control it, to direct it and to equalize it.

Whoever has his hatred "under control", has come one step further on the way to "enlightenment".

KNOW THAT THOSE WHO PREACH HATE TO YOU DO NOT SAVE YOU

- MARIE VON EBNER-ESCHENBACH - AUSTRIAN WRITER - 1830 TO 1916

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Buddhism and the Ego

What stands in the way of our "enlightenment" is our own ego.

It is constantly chattering away, this and that are going through our mind, and the ego paints us in all kinds of situations.

Basically, there are two kinds of thoughts, "good" and "bad" ones.

Good thoughts pop into our heads when we have something to do, we have to make a plan, for how the sequence of our actions should be.

Bad thoughts occur differently. We constantly jump "mentally" from one topic to the next.

Is my girlfriend cheating on me? Is my son doing drugs? Am I doing everything right?

None of these thoughts are or were ever purposeful, how the situation really was later, we could not even begin to imagine. We only thought useless thoughts, we burdened ourselves senselessly, and the ego stood in our way (as always), and harmed us.

If we seek "enlightenment", we should deal with the ego, look at it closely and keep it under control more and more often. Because the ego feeds us with bad thoughts.

Only those who can keep the ego under control will at least come close to "enlightenment". There are certainly more steps, processes and transitions needed here; the right path also starts with just one small step.

Observe your thoughts, follow up on every single train of thought, check it for meaningfulness. And if the thought doesn't make sense, put it in a special (mental) drawer.

If this thought (or a similar one) appears again in your "thought palace", then immediately push it away into said drawer.

In the course of time you will get more and more practice in examining and classifying your thoughts.

Only pursue the thoughts that bring something, "would-have-had" or "if-if-if" brings nothing and can go away.

ONCE YOU HAVE FOUND YOURSELF, THERE IS NOTHING LEFT IN THIS WORLD TO LOSE.

- STEFAN ZWEIG - AUSTRIAN WRITER - 1881 TO 1942

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Buddhism and the addictions

Buddhism and the addictions

We know how much drugs (cigarettes, alcohol, intoxicants) harm our bodies, hurt them, even often make us look ridiculous.

When we try to limit, or stop these addictions, we often fail because our body (and/or mind) is addicted, kind of like the devil's advocate, we know about the harmfulness of drugs, but still we have to consume them.

So most of the time we can't stop our bad habits, the addiction has a firm grip on us.

To fight an addiction, we need to come to ourselves for some time, calm down and center ourselves.

This can be a form of meditation, another type of exercise, working on ourselves and our bodies (and minds).

So the important thing in fighting an addiction is that the moment of overcoming it comes, in five minutes things can look very different.

With "enlightenment" it is similar, we have to come to ourselves. We don't have to come to us forever, only in this moment, in the "here and now", later may be too late.

A miracle can start with a small idea, a different worldview can come from a short moment, whole continents are changed by thoughts, so also a short thought can help to "defeat" the addiction forever, or to "keep" it forever.

Everything depends on our thinking, if we think that "to stop smoking" is so difficult, then it will not happen, if we think that we have also made the decision to start in five seconds, then, yes then, we can also decide to stop again in five seconds.

Even a huge tree grew from a small seed, so "just do it"!

QUITTING SMOKING IS EASY AS PIE. I HAVE DONE IT A HUNDRED TIMES

- MARK TWAIN - AMERICAN WRITER - 1835 TO 1910

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Buddhism and the Pope

Right now the web is full of opinions about the Pope.

A believer called him to her, the pope slapped her on the hand.

Now, however, the question arises as to why there is so much excitement. What must he be like, the Pope? Is he not allowed to show human reactions? Must he conform to the ideas we have of a pope, of a "Vicar of God"?

And why must he not react indignantly? After all, he is an elderly gentleman, and the woman has selfishly "claimed" him.

But whether her or his behavior is or was right or wrong is not the point here. I am writing here about the ideas we have of the Pope, or even of Buddha.

How has or should he be, what is our expectation, and what happens if our expectation is not fulfilled then?

In the imagination of the Western world, Buddha was a peaceful, meditating man who radiated wisdom and goodness, did not do evil things, took upon himself the worries and needs of all mankind.

But Buddha was also a normal man; he was married, had a child. Our ideas about him are probably often wrong. His greatest achievement was reaching "enlightenment," the state of awakening.

His "enlightenment" makes Buddha a role model for us to this day; his actions and speeches explain "awakening," but our conceptions make Buddha a god.

Buddha explicitly said that he did not want to be worshipped.

He was an ordinary man (albeit with enlightenment); our imaginations often lead us astray.

It is exactly the same with the Pope; our expectations of him are perhaps too high. He is not a saint and he does not have to be.

IT PAINS ME WHEN I SEE A PRIEST OR A NUN WITH THE LATEST AUTOMOBILE

- POPE FRANCISCUS - HEAD OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH - B. 1936

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Buddha Blog English Podcast Episode 2

Hello and welcome to Buddha Blog, the Buddhist podcast.  Your show for Buddhist topics, mindfulness and meditation.  I am Shaolin Rainer, and I am very happy that you are here.  Buddhism in everyday life - Mindfulness in every day actions  Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Androidstores.  This podcast is largely funded by its listeners. I would be happy to welcome you as a supporter as well. Thank you to everyone who supports Buddha Blog in their own way.

Did you enjoy the podcast?  Thank you for listening to Buddha Blog. Did you notice that there are no ads running here, that you are not inundated with consumer messages?  Would you like to thank the author of this blog for his work with a donation?  Support me, contribute to the extensive costs of this publication. Your support can help to continue the important work we are doing for Buddhism (my team and I). Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores.  Via PayPal (click here) or by bank transfer:  Account holder: Rainer Deyhle, Postbank, IBAN: DE57700100800545011805, BIC: PBNKDEFF

1000 thanks!  Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de

Woulda, woulda, woulda, please no bike chain

Would have, would have, please no bicycle chain

What if my wife hadn't left me, if I hadn't quit my job, if I hadn't drunk so much beer yesterday!

"Would have, would have, would have!"

From a Buddhist point of view, such thoughts are simply nonsense. It always comes as it must come, fate is predetermined, "what if thoughts" lead to no result.

Should I have taken this turn, or should I have taken a different direction?

If I had not said this and that, would the argument with my son not have escalated?

We have to live in the "here" and "now", the past has already passed, the future is uncertain, no matter how we imagine a coming situation, it won't happen that way anyway.

"WE ARE WHAT WE THINK. EVERYTHING WE ARE IS CREATED FROM OUR THOUGHTS. WITH OUR THOUGHTS WE SHAPE THE WORLD." "DO NOT DWELL ON THE PAST, DO NOT DREAM ABOUT THE FUTURE."

- BUDDHA -

Our thoughts correspond to "would have, would have, would have."

In retrospect, did it ever do any good, the "would have, would have, would have"?

There we should be completely honest with ourselves, not lie to ourselves.

Nothing has come of it. These "would-have-been thoughts" were always useless.

Buddha's goal in life was to experience "enlightenment".

Win big step on the way to "enlightenment" is to banish this "would have, would have, would have" from our thoughts, to really live in the "here and now" and to silence our thoughts chattering away, to experience this "aha moment", if we would at least sometimes switch off the thinking (would have, would have, would have) that our ego produces.

Buddha experienced "enlightenment" and I know people who have also succeeded in doing so.

Buddha said that all people have "enlightenment" within them, but it has been "buried" but can be rediscovered.

I know that this is the truth! The only truth beside which other things simply pale.

THE SHORTEST WORDS, NAMELY "YES" AND "NO" REQUIRE THE MOST REFLECTION

- PYTHAGORAS OF SAMOS - GREEK PHILOSOPHER - 570 TO 510 B. CHR.

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Nirvana is for All

Buddhism with Heaven and Hell - Nirvana is for Everyone

In Western culture, we think in terms of "heaven" and "hell."

Food was heavenly; living with my wife is pure hell, or heaven on earth.

We know exactly what "heaven" and "hell" mean.

But what do "heaven" and "hell" mean to a Buddhist?

From the Buddhist point of view, there is neither "heaven" nor "hell", because this already presupposes a "thinking", a division of things into "good" or "bad", into "evil" or "right".

As a Buddhist, one should look at things, but not judge them.

The ego makes the decisions for us, but the Buddha's way was to silence the ego, to stop having to put up with the ego chattering away all the time.

Not to judge, but to accept things and people as they are, to live in the "now" and in the "here".

Nirvana" is the state of nothingness, thinking and evaluating are over, the chattering ego is silenced, there is no more I, nothing exists.

I am then in Nirvana when I have no more desires, feel no more limits.

Nirvana is "heaven" and "hell" in the same land, in the same mind.

It depends on the way of looking at it, on the point of view.

So if you don't think in categories like "heaven" and "hell", but only "assume", then you are in Nirvana!

We have the Nirvana in us! Do we find it?

FATE TAKES NOTHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN

- LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA - ROMAN PHILOSOPHER - 1 TO 65

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The switch is within us!

What does Buddhism bring to people in the West?

In many households in the West there is a Buddha, a statue, a painting.

Even at the well-known furniture discounter from Sweden you can find an image of the Indian prince in almost every ensemble.

When I ask people what they associate with the image of Buddha, the answer usually comes: peace, tranquility, balance.

Deeper knowledge about the life story, the deeds and the work of the enlightened are not present, also many people do not really care. Even the Buddha's birth name is mostly unknown.

So what do so many people in the West associate with the statue in their living room?

Just the sight of the Buddha meditating peacefully brings many people something positive in their daily lives. Buddha shows us another world, not hectic, but at rest, focused within, spared from the mischief of the world.

In this day and age we have lost our connection to the divine, the sight of Buddha can show us a new path.

I would argue that every person who is attracted to the image of Buddha also feels an interest in Buddhism within himself.

But how can we learn more about the Buddha's teaching? Buddha's teaching includes as its core message the attainment of "enlightenment."

The first and central question we have to ask ourselves is whether this goal is also interesting for us, whether we want to concern ourselves with "awakening".

If we answer this question in the affirmative, then the further stages will arise for us as if by themselves.

"Enlightenment" is certainly possible for each of us.

Each of us has a house or an apartment, but where is the switch?

The switch is within us!

I AM SO FAST THAT WHEN I FLIPPED THE LIGHT SWITCH IN THE HOTEL ROOM LAST NIGHT, I WAS IN BED BEFORE THE LIGHT WAS OFF

- MUHAMMAD ALI - BOXER - 1942 TO 2016

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