Originally posted by bohiruci:
Dear AEN ,
Spirituality is to let us see the solution to our everyday
problem
That's right, and fundamentally as Buddha taught -- the
fundamental problem of Suffering.
You may wonder why I look fine and not ugly need to seek
spirituality
Since young , several life misfortune struck me and made me ponder
the purpose of life
Yeah, I think everyone will eventually reach certain stage
having gone through much sufferings where he questions his old
patterns of samsaric existence and wonders if that's really the way
to be.
With Buddhism , its a strength for me to carry on in this
frustrating world ,where sometimes alot of ones happiness cannot be
fulfilled
when I see materialism is basically incessant wanting and no peace
of mind
spirituality is to regain our inner strength to find solutions to
problems in life
with Sincerity,
Bohiruci
That's right.. Buddhism gives the practitioners strength to
carry on in the world.. it has to do with how 'willing' the
practitioner is to face reality as it is moment to moment, neither
running away from what is at this very moment, or to become
attached in seeking something else in the future, thus taking the
moment as a means to an end.
It has to do with awareness penetrating the nature of all things.
As the Buddha said in this sutra about the
The Eight Worldly Winds, the difference between an instructed
disciple and an uninstructed 'run-of-the-mill person' is that an
instructed disciple clearly discerns with awareness that all eight
worldly winds are transient - changing moment to moment, and is
Dukkha (suffering). He discerns with awareness whatever arises as
it is, and his mind does not get consumed in suffering and in gain
and loss.
Whereas, the uninstructed 'run-of-the-mill' person does not discern
what is arising as it is, and as the Buddha said of such a
person:
"He welcomes the arisen gain and
rebels against the arisen loss. He welcomes the arisen status and
rebels against the arisen disgrace. He welcomes the arisen praise
and rebels against the arisen censure. He welcomes the arisen
pleasure and rebels against the arisen pain. As he is thus engaged
in welcoming & rebelling, he is not released from birth, aging,
or death; from sorrows, lamentations, pains, distresses, or
despairs. He is not released, I tell you, from suffering &
stress."
That's the problem with materialism... those attached to
materialism is always trying to 'get something better in the
future', and such a person can never have peace of mind. His mind
will never leave 'gain or loss', constantly seeking something in
the future and if he loses or does not get what he wants, aversion
arises.
So the Buddha said:
Let not a person revive the past
Or on the future build his hopes;
For the past has been left behind
And the future has not been reached.
Instead, with insight let
him see
Each presently arisen state;
Let him know that and be sure of it,
Invincibly, unshakeably.
today the effort must be made;
Tomorrow Death may come, who knows?
No bargain with mortality
Can keep him and his hordes away,
But one who dwells thus ardently,
relentlessly, by day, by night -
It is he, the Peaceful Sage has said,
Who has one fortunate attachment.
