Reblogged from Mike Eiman’s Middle Way:
I’ve recently had several conversations with people about karma (aka cause-and-effect, what goes around comes around, you reap what you sow), I’ve realized that there is a lot of confusion about the subject. The word “karma” is practically an English word, one that has lost virtually all of its meaning.
In short, karma means that everything you experience in the present is caused by how you have acted towards others in the past.
May the Buddha Bless You.
Filed under Buddhist Blog
My Mom is gravely ill, I would appreciate prayers for her. Thank you.
May the Buddha bless you.
Filed under Compassion, Grief, Redemption, Sadness, Sorrow
Happy Easter to all of those of the Christian persuasion. I have decided to write a bit about the founder of Christianity, the person Jesus Christ, who for many is more than just a person, He is God Incarnate, God in the Flesh.
There has been a number of people who use a very common catch phrase these days “WWJD”, “What Would Jesus Do”, this meaning in all your actions what would your Savior do and what could you learn from His example and follow in His footsteps, it is truly a very inspirational and worshipful guide to your daily activities.
Being a Buddhist, I do not follow Jesus Christ, yet I do read the Holy Bible and study religion. I would like to propose a set of items that I call “What Would Jesus Not Do”, “WWJND”. These are from my own readings of the Gospels and appearances of Jesus when he dealt with people, I then apply them to daily issues.
This is not meant as a criticism of Jesus Christ but more of a pointing out to His followers certain things I do not think really set the correct tone of being a follower. My apologies in advance to any who take offense as more often than not, someone surely will.
Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Jesus Christ Crucifix (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
May you have a nice Easter and may the Buddha bless you.
Filed under Buddhist, Buddhist thought, Christianity, living, What would Jesus not do?
Sorrow can visit you in many ways, general sadness is a fact of life. People can easily understand when someone refers to the ups and downs of life. The ‘up’ being a good or happy moment. The ‘down’ being a contrast of not so good and sad.
I know a person who has never liked me, that is not unusual, some people just don’t ever come to a point of friendship. I accept this as natural, not everyone will be your friend. With this in mind, I do generally try to not make enemies as this would cause harm to another person and myself.
I found myself in a curious place with this person today, where the gesture of a Kleenex caused reflection on life in general. I was showing them kindness as I thought of how I would appreciate someone showing the same kindness to me.
The ‘Do unto others as you would have others do unto you’ is certainly known in culture. Luke 6:31 is often cited as the basis for the Golden Rule, the two-way street of fair and kind treatment to one another. Almost all cultures have a concept of the Golden Rule, you can find references from Ancient Egypt, Greece and China.
The person in question was searching for a box of tissue, they suffer allergies at this time of year and today was a Kleenex today to say the least. No one around them had any so they had to resort to using napkins, a coarser type of paper to relieve their nasal symptoms.
I thought of a box I had in my car and I went and got it, hobbling along with my cane and arthritis in a slow progression to get the facial tissue box that would certainly be gentler for a stuffy nose.
A small box of Kleenex. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I was smiling when I came upon the person and offered them the box of Kleenex, a new box at that as I had purchased them just the other day. They said they had napkins and I explained the cost of using those could be a sore nose.
I was then struck by their comment ‘Thank you, but I don’t need a Kleenex from you. I will get some later, I prefer to use the napkins than yours.’ The emphasis on ‘from you’ and ‘than yours’ was very clear and unmistakable.
I silently walked away with the box of tissue in hand realizing my gesture was not wanted or appreciated. I am not attached to praise or thanks so that was not a problem. I did know this person did not like me, they care nothing for my religion or myself. They determined a long time ago I would not be called up yonder to join the Heavenly Host and their opinion has not changed or strayed since their first sizing of my life.
I have no attachment to people’s approval but I did find thoughts of karma coming to me. What had I done to bring about rejecting even a tissue from my hand? Of course, the person involved had karma at work also but I would have no way of knowing anyone’s but my own. An earlier life where I refused the help of someone, was that playing out now in my current life?
A sorrow crept over my mind, like gentle waves washing upon the shore, slow and repetitive. Attachment had shown itself, and I was facing my hindrance towards enlightenment. I meditated today on why I would appreciate even the ‘down’ points of life that you do not expect.
A lesson learned from a Kleenex.
May the Buddha bless you.
Filed under Buddhist Blog, Buddhist thought, Karma, Kindness, Right Effort, Sadness
A Buddhist Monk is always a Mother’s son and I am no exception. The duties of a Monk’s life carry him far away from home at times, often for years on end. One thing is a constant, you never stop thinking about your Mother, you know where you came from. Life begat life and that is always a point to remember and honor.
Sickness visits everyone, my Mother has had more than her share and in her seventh decade the visitor has returned in the form and shape of a deadly cancer. The biopsies give it a name of Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor commonly called MMMT. A rare form of cancer that is aggressive with a prognosis in this case described as catastrophic.
I have spent a good part of my life attempting to help people, not always successful and far from perfect. I can not even count the number of people I have comforted when facing the death of someone they love. The one thing I always tried to offer was hope, even if in the form of your loved one will no longer have to suffer. Hearing the words directed at myself were a numbing experience.
I have seen people die, I have stood beside Mothers, Fathers, Daughters, Sons, Brothers and Sisters as they watched life slip away. I have been with people in my family who have passed away. I would have thought I would be able to accept this with peace and understanding.
Sadly, life is not always peaceful and understanding. A beautiful young woman who wanted to get away from home, married and realized the warnings of her friends were true far too late. ‘Your life will be sad and full of sorrow if you stay with that person.’ Amazing how people can see so clearly what some refuse to see one foot in front of them. This same young woman finds herself with a child, hoping life will improve but it does not.
No help from family, no help at home, just constant berating and suffering. Years of this will cause the young child to grow up and run away from home as quickly as he feet can carry him, much like the young woman years ago. The young man went overseas and through the years found the face of a smiling man who spoke of enlightenment. The woman found herself not so young anymore and could not find a smiling face anywhere she looked.
Years later, the young man returns home with a shaved head and a robe and finds the same sorrow he left. Greed is a horrible thing, especially in a one income family. It is the person’s money and they know it. The partner may wish to have a nice home, to have one simple vacation but instead the money goes in a bank, lifeless and dead for no use will come of it. I am all for saving by the way, I am also for living.
The woman does find relief in the tales her son brings of places far away, she doesn’t agree with his religion but she is glad to hear of other places and things. The man cares less which has always been the case.
Through the thirty plus years the young man with a robe and shaved head has been back home, he sees the woman age and seldom smile, he witnesses sickness and disease take its toll. The word cancer shows up more than once, each time worse than before. Finally, a Doctor mentions the words ‘It is fatal’ and a son realizes how sad the life has been.
No words come to the man who sees an old face in the mirror looking back at him, no sayings, no scriptures, the words offer no comfort to him. Silence is all that remains and in that he meditates and prays for the woman who gave him life, the woman who could have had such a wonderful life if she had just changed a few simple choices. The irony sits heavy on the shoulders at times.
I hope people understand when I don’t write in the blog or leave a tweet or post on Facebook. A Son takes care of his Mother even if the care will lead to where he no longer sees her in his eyes anymore. The circle of life, the wheel of fortune does not always turn the way you expect, but it does turn.
May the Buddha Bless You.
Filed under Coming Back, Grief, Sadness, Sorrow
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys have been busy putting together a personalized report detailing how this blog did in 2011!
2011 Year in Review
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 13,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 5 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Click here to see the complete report.
May the Buddha Bless You.
Filed under Buddhist Blog, Year in Review
As fate would sometimes have it, illness occurs. As illness would sometimes have it, you get really ill. That has been the case and so the blog has been fairly silent. I really expected to see the blog would have ended by now but I was very much surprised to see people were still visiting. I hope in some small way, you have benefited by finding this blog.
I will be coming back after I build up my strength a bit more, just not up to task yet. Look forward to seeing you all soon.
May the Buddha Bless You.
Caine
Filed under Buddhist Blog, Coming Back
My name is Caine Das and I am a Ordained Buddhist Monk. This blog is dedicated to the Buddha who changed my world from a dark place to one of light and peace. May the Buddha bless you.
