August 20, 2012

• Before my annual vacation trip to the cottage, I purchased The Philosophy Book and I like one of the philosophies in particular: Happy is He who has overcome his Ego ~Siddhartha Gautama
  Apparently a eastern philosophy tradition, and Buddhist approach.. I agree with the following:

  1. Suffering is an inherent part of existence from birth, through sickness and old age, to death –> The truth of suffering

  2. The cause of suffering is desire: craving for sensual pleasures and attachment to worldly possessions and power –> the truth of the origin of suffering

  3. Suffering can be ended by detaching oneself from craving and attachment –> The truth of the ending of suffering

  4. The Eightfold Path is the means to eliminate desire and overcome the ego –> The truth of the path to the ending of suffering

  

  So we all (obviously) desire pleasure over pain. We also may focus much of our attention to the pain that we suffer, creating more pain and suffering.

  If we only look at #3, then we might only take from it that if we stop craving and seeking attachment, we will avoid suffering. Thats basically saying to shut it out of your mind. A spiritual friend of mine said that it isn’t healthy to do that, but better to just accept your cravings and be yourself. I understand that; the more you fight against it, the more inner turmoil you create. The more turmoil, the more suffering. While I understand it, i’m on the fence; if you’re able to erase a craving from your mind, maybe it doesn’t create as much turmoil. A person that is constantly thinking, constantly worrying though, this cannot be done.

  When you take into account #4 though, its saying that if you follow that kind of lifestyle you will naturally become detached from craving and attachment.
  For ease of reading, here is the translated english 8-fold path:

  1. Right View – having a flexible, open mind, without clinging to a view that ignorant or dogmatic
  2. Right Intention – to constantly aspire to rid themselves of whatever qualities they know to be wrong & immoral
  3. Right Speech – abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, and from idle chatter
  4. Right Action – conduct that is morally upright and not corrupt or that brings harm to oneself or others
  5. Right Livelihood – having an occupation that is honest and ethical (vs unethical like prostitution/weapon smuggling) and acting ethical in business dealings
  6. Right Effort – making a constant effort to avoid harmful thoughts, words and deeds
  7. Right Mindfulness – paying attention to what you say and do, being aware of the situation 
  8. Right Concentration – basically to spend time practicing meditation

  Can you see yourself following some of these paths? Do you see that you’re actively off this path?

  For me:
  1. Right View – think i have a curious and open mind and try not to be set in my ways in thinking
  2. Right Intention – I tend to know what i’m doing is right and wrong and try to have upright dealings
  3. Right Speech – i’ve fallen off this path as, i’m more than ever, filtering my speech to get more information out of people; playing ‘the game’ as I see it. Saying one thing, but thinking something else. Plotting something else.
  4. Right Action – no comment
  5. Right Livelihood - Ive always wondered whether if providing financing is ethical.. I guess it isn’t horrible and is helpful in some situations; the business doesn’t approve those with poor credit.. but we create a world in which people get services when maybe they shouldn’t because they can’t afford it.
  6. Right Effort – i think too much and the darkest part of me is in my mind and thoughts
  7. Right Mindfulness – per #3, while I pay attention to what I say, its normally for my benefit and not out of the goodness of my heart
  8. Right Concentration – while I don’t actively meditate, I do tend to go to the chapel where I do my best thinking/meditation. So many worldly problems are solved there.

  Congrats! You made it to the end.. or you just quickly skimmed it
  
  My next candidate for a canvas print

  • 11:52 am
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