Why Buddha is a leader in the true sense of the word.

The Buddha’s teachings are given from experience and genuine compassion for life. He does not read from a book or his own notes, he is the book and the notes. He provides information that he has not read or heard from others but from his own journey and his own experiences. He would not be seen as a leader in the sense of the word that most people would interpret it. When people think of a leader names such as the President of the United States, General, Football coach, or boss typically come to mind. These are positions held by well-established and respected people who are giving out orders and/or directions to others and expecting them to follow. The Buddha does not tell anyone to do what he believes is right, he simply informs them of the things he himself has discovered. When he addresses the five monks in the Dhammacakkappavatana Sutta he does not tell them they are wrong or make them feel inferior. He speaks to them and asks them to think about the things they believe in at that moment. He offers them the idea of the four noble truths and walks through them while asking them if they agree. He sets the wheel in motion for them to begin to understand, he doesn’t try to force them to learn something because he says it is so. He allows them to take ahold of the wheel and steer while he shines the light ahead. This allows the monks to comprehend the truth for themselves and “rejoice at the words of The Blessed One”. With this method the Buddha is able to help monks, seekers, or bodhisattvas to discover their own truth and not simply just believe in his truth. Typically leaders believe they know the one universal “right” way or best way, and any other options are not as efficient or just plain wrong. They attempt to make you believe they know best. The Buddha has his own truth, and he simply wants to shine light in areas for others to search for theirs. This is the selfless and compassionate way that the Buddha offers his knowledge. In the next discourse of the Buddha, the Anatta-lakkhana Sutta, the Buddha walks the monks through their own thoughts rather than trying to implant ones he believe to be correct. He asks them to question what they believe to explain what they are actually searching for. Instead of trying to answer their questions of what and where the atman is, or tell them what he may believe is the answer, he asks them to consider where they believe it could be. By doing this, the Buddha is able to lead (in the true sense of the word) the monks on a journey within their own thoughts. He allows them to systematically come to disprove and believe that the atman is not anywhere they suppose it could possibly be. By doing this, the Buddha allows the monks to realize the truth on their own accord. He allows them to teach themselves something different than what they believed before, which was not working for them. This in turn allows them to truly come to believe, what they are discovering, in their own minds. They are not relying on the word of another, but coming to understand and believe their own truth. This is what makes Buddha a leader, the ability to allow others to discover reality for them selves so they can truly have a chance to discover the middle path. He does not throw orders at them, nor answer their questions directly, removing any self-thought from the process of learning and discovery. In this manner he is able to lead them to the beginning of the path of the middle way, while helping them develop their own truth and reality to hopefully find enlightenment.

If You Truly Want To Be "Happy".....

You typically hear of Buddhists seeking NIrvana, which most interpret as a sense of peace. This is true but slightly misunderstood. Nirvana is an escape from Samsara (the cycle of life), but it is also the concept of extinguishing emptiness associated with the five skandhas (form>feeling>perception>mental formations>consciousness). A concept of removing the blindfold so that you can see the truth. The first four skandhas lead to the 5th, a consciousness. Consciousness leads to the three poisons of greed, aggression, and delusion. This is what creates suffering, or duhka, which is led by thirst (tahna). When you meditate you release yourself from the five skandhas, you remove this concept of "self" or seperation from everything else. At some point we develop a sense of self-concept and everything else is "other". This leads us in a search for atman, or "self". We develop the belief in a deity or the idea of a "soul", something that is permanent. We lose the reality that everything is interdependent as we strive for the concept of independence. There is no "self", it is merely a construct within our minds, which we see as separate from the flow of everything else. We search for a soul to find this concept of "self" that we develop. Your mind is merely changing physical matter full of neurons that perpetuate concepts from the five skandhas. It is not who you are, not your soul. Your body is not permanent, therefor it cannot be your soul or "self", as a soul should be permanent. Your physical body has 10 times as many bacteria in relation to cells. That means that you physically weigh 10% of what you see on a scale, the other 90% is bacteria, bacteria can not be "self", they can not be your "soul" or atman. If you wish to believe that the cells you do have are you, or the existence of "self", then know this; every cell on your body is completely replaced by new ones anywhere from a couple weeks for your skin to less than 16 years for your gut. Therefore your physical matter, or cells, are not permanent. There is no soul or "self" in your cells. Everything is in constant motion, constant change. When one reaches a state of meditation they get a glimpse of enlightenment, a glimpse of a sense of joy. They lose the concept of self, realize the concept of emptiness, remove the bindings of duhka and tahna, remove the concepts of greed, delusion, and hate. They truly become, and live within this world in a state of peace and just a general sense of "being". They simply "be", they stop becoming, they stop doing. They realize even that samsara and Nirvana are the same, there is only one reality and endless perceptions of that reality. Only the ones who are able to truly remove the blindfold and see have a chance at finding real joy. My hope is that I eventually, in one of my many cycles of life, am able to achieve this enlightenment and be released from this suffering caused by my concept of self and search for atman. Emptiness is nothing and nothing is emptiness. Nirvana is samsara and samsara is Nirvana. There is no existence of dualism, as everything is everything. This is only a contradiction in the logic created by the constructs of suffering beings.

Buddha Explains Fitness and Sex

I asked my Buddhist teacher what the viewpoint is by Buddhism on a focus on physical health an also intimate relationships. I have been having conflict on these issues with the views of the Buddha and concerned if I was at least stumbling down the right path. This is the amazing (delivered in a very Buddhist fashion of open ended thought) answer she gave me on the two issues. Made me feel a bit better.

ANSWER:

In view of Buddhism's nondualism, there is also no mind/body dualism. Hence they have a sound mind mind/sound body viewpoint. I notice at the temple that the monks and nuns are well-groomed and very neat--with few exceptions I have always seen them dressed in immaculate, pressed robes. They also are encouraged to be physically active (with exercises ranging from taiji to basketball). The historical Buddha realized that the self-denial of asceticism compromised his understanding of reality--the Middle Way!

As for relationships, the original plan seems to be a world of monks and nuns on the express lane to enlightenment. But gradually a recognition of lay practice evolved. Weddings are celebrated. So intimate relationships can have a very important role in grounding people and providing support. This means avoiding the 3 poisons of greed, anger and delusion as well as obsessive attachment. I believe this approach actually makes for the best possible relationship.

My understanding is that no activity is "forbidden"--all that matters is the motivation (wisdom and compassion).
I received this quote from a Thai Buddhist I met at a conference in Asia:

What money can buy:
       a bed, but not sleep;
       a computer, but not brains;
       food, but not appetite;
       finery, but not beauty;
       a house, but not a home;
       medicine, but not health;
       luxuries, but not culture;
       amusement, but not happiness;
       sex, but not love.

Marijuana and Prostitutes

I'm sick of the debate over marijuana being legalized. I don't care if it is, I don't smoke it nor care to condone it. But the bottom line is that it is unconstitutional for it to be illegal. You can not create a law banning something because it is immoral. We all know marijuana is illegal because it is considered a drug and immoral, yet alcohol is a drug and is legal? The supreme courts ruled many years ago that our civil liberties (including our Bill of Rights in its entirety) are priority, except in matters of Public Safety or National security. So now they can twist it around to make laws where they feel like it. It is illegal to smoke pot because they say it is a "public safety concern". Yet you can freely smoke cigarettes, which cause you drastic physical disability and/or death. However, they are legal because many of our founding fathers were tobacco farmers. Alcohol is an even better example. It is an intoxicating and mind altering drug, yet it is legal. It is a fact that alcohol is much more toxic for your body than marijuana, and it carries numerous other issues along with it's use that could very much be considered public safety concerns; drunk driving, rape, alcohol poisoning, increased aggression, crime, etc. Marijuana makes you tired, hungry, and usually lazy. Yet it is the public safety concern, and not alcohol? Why is prostitution illegal? Because it is a sin and immoral. But it is said to be illegal because it is a "public safety concern". So having as much sex as you want for free or for jewelry and dinner is fine, but don't accept cash. If you accept cash then it becomes a public safety concern. It is a civil liberty to do what you want with your body, if you want to be a dirty hooker then go for it. There are tons of guys and girls who do it legally for free, what about porn stars? They are just as dirty as hookers, but they legally get paid to have sex with people. How is being payed for screwing on camera legal, but screwing in a hotel for money not? It is unconstitutional, no matter if you agree with it or not. I don't care if prostitution or marijuana are legal, that is not the point. The point is if we say we are going to continue to follow the supreme law of the land, then we can't pick and choose when to do so. If you want marijuana to be illegal because it is a "public safety concern" then fine, but so should be cigarettes and alcohol. If you want prostitution to be illegal because it is a "public safety concern", then fine but so should be sex with multiple partners and porn. But society wants to get drunk and smoke cigarettes and have orgies, so they will remain legal.

Photo Art

Please check out my first photo projects if you have a chance. I would like any constructive feedback to help me out. Thanks
              http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelyons80/

P90X Journey photo and video album, digital scrapbook, slideshow - Beeclip

P90X Journey photo and video album, digital scrapbook, slideshow - Beeclip