Buddhism in everyday life - Mindfulness in daily life

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If you are a beginner with Buddhism, it will be difficult.

First of all, something very important up front: Buddhism is not a religion , it is a philosophy and worldview. Buddha expressly warned his followers not to worship him, but to strive for personal "ENLIGHTENMENT". That is why you can follow a religion (for example as a Christian, Muslim or Jew), but still be a Buddhist.

Many different teachings have developed from the original philosophy of Buddha, the influence of different cultures has even given rise to completely different types of Buddhism in different regions. Buddhism is lived differently in China than in Thailand or Tibet, other "saints" are the focus, almost everywhere other rituals are used. There is not even agreement on the exact birthday of Buddha. In part, the differences between the teachings are also immanent (comparable to the Catholic and Protestant views in Christianity).

For my part, I follow the pure teaching of the Buddha, as well as the characteristics that his worldview received through Bodhidharma and Hui Neng in the Shaolin Temple in China, the Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Chan (or Zen) originally comes from China (or Japan), see also "A Brief History of Chan (Zen) Buddhism".

Buddhism differs fundamentally from the major religious worldviews  . This is NOT about a belief system, the Buddha's teaching has as its goal no dependence on God or gods, not the bond to a "higher power", in Buddhism no dialogue in a superior and subordinate relationship is required. Buddhism is about the laws of the world order, about reaching the destiny of the human being (the "enlightenment"). Buddhism is just not about faith!

One does not have to believe in "ENLIGHTENMENT", it is not a confession; worship of an almighty Creator is not necessary. Nevertheless, statues are "worshiped" in most Buddhist temples today. Over the centuries the spiritual teacher Buddha slowly turned into a "god", the priorities changed over the centuries, "believers" wanted symbols. In my opinion, the statues of the Buddha are symbols for one's own "I", they serve for inner gathering, they are symbols for the law of cause and effect.

Who was the man who was born as "Siddhartha Gautama" about 2500 years ago and who is followed today by millions of followers around the world as "Buddha"?

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Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de

Buddha Blog Podcast Episode 01 - English Version

Buddhism in everyday life - Mindfulness in daily life

Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores.

In my opinion, Buddhism is all about personal "ENLIGHTENMENT".

What do you think there is possibly a task that people in this world have to do? Could it be that there is a purpose hidden behind our existence to be explored? Or are we on this earth simply to reproduce?

Is there a chance (from your point of view) that life could be about something completely different, behind the mere existence a magical, mysterious and hidden destination awaits us?

During conception, the male sperm comes together with the female egg cell, the genes are mixed together, and the human being is created. But where does the personality come from , was it also created? Or does this personality come from completely different sources?

Where does my "I" come from? So who am I? Where have I been and where will I go? Questions about questions to which only "enlightenment" can give us the necessary answers.

But what is “awakening”, what makes a person “enlightened”?

According to the philosophy of Buddha, the whole of life is predetermined by karma, written down in advance, so to speak.

How do we have to imagine that now?

When we come to a crossroads we have different options: we can go straight on, turn right or left, we can go back, or even settle down at this crossroads forever, build a house there, start a family right here. We can stay at this crossroads for an hour, a month, a year, or even for our whole life.

The Buddha's teaching tells us that everything is predetermined, whether we are sad or happy about it. Today you could say that life is like starring in a film, the script is already done, the actors are engaged, and we are one of those actors from our own film. No matter how we think and act, the film continues to play whether we agree or not. Regardless of age, gender or social environment, we have to take what and how it comes, we must not let fate get too close to us. From this predestination it follows that we cannot change anything, that we have to overcome both suffering and happiness, and that, according to Buddha, we   should take the path of the center. Not “cheering up high”, and not “saddened to death”, but rather we have to stoically accept our fate, then we too will find “enlightenment”, peace, contentment and quiet happiness.

See life like a movie, your movie, the movie of your life. Lean back and look soberly and "neutrally" at every aspect of your story, your very own film. Are you old and sick? If you follow the Buddha's philosophy, you will understand that, firstly, you cannot change anything and, secondly, you will get “enlightenment” from it . Your life really is like a movie, sit back and watch it. 

According to the teachings of the great Buddha, everyone can really find "enlightenment". "Enlightenment" is not a big secret either, it is this small, short moment in which we get out of the previously known life, out of worries and hardships, out of eternal self-doubts. Accept the film as it is, whatever may come!

Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de

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