Buddhism in daily life - Mindfulness in every day tasks

Buddha Blog English Podcast Episode 16

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Are there "sounds"?

Does a tree falling in the forest make a sound even if no one is there and no one can hear it?

Are there any sounds at all if no one can hear them?

No, probably not!

A sound is something that originates in our brain, caused by a physical continuum of vibrations.

It comes to the noise by the perception of the human being who hears it, as a receiver of the sound waves. These waves spread in the air to the ears, are converted into electrical impulses, which are then processed by the brain as sounds.

So without a receiver there is no sound, only waves!

The extraordinary physicist Richard Feynman paraphrased the answer to the above question as "a sensation of noise". According to the brilliant John Locke "things would be able to exist independently of our experience". In the history of philosophy an everlasting dispute broke out around the topic, which seems to be unresolved until today.

If we explain a sound as a pure sense sensation, then contradictions to our "sound by a falling tree in the forest" inevitably arise.

And how does it further behave with "recorded noises", for example the music from a headphone, or if the sound of the falling tree is played back from the tape, that would correspond then to a perception illusion, after all the tree does not fall down "now", it has fallen down much earlier.

In our modern world "sounds" are mostly recorded, manipulated and by means of sound sources (loudspeakers etc.) transmitted "preserves", thus not authentic, we do not "know" what is "real" and what is "false".

In our multimedia new world we have lost the overview, what is reality?

This is also what happens to us when we look at pictures or films! Also these represent only a "beautiful appearance", what we see happens also in these cases not "in reality".

Fluid sounds, shimmering pictures, everything only "sound and smoke".

The "sounds" and "pictures" kidnap us from time and space, lead us into an illusory world, full of false sounds, distorted representation, everything just not real!

If we hear the falling tree, but do not see it, has the tree fallen at all?

What if we explain the "sound" of a falling tree to a blind man who has never heard it fall?

So, dear readers, now we are back to Buddha, because this is a Buddhist blog.

Buddha said that life is only a dream from which to "awaken". Just like the "sounds" and the "images" are just that.

And I am trying to explain "enlightenment" to those who have not yet "awakened".

Do you "hear" the sound, do you see the "image"?

Buddha found "enlightenment" just as Newton found gravity. Neither can be seen, and very difficult to explain.

Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt

- Richard Feynman - US physicist - 1918 to 1988

Happiness and unhappiness are two states of which we do not know the extreme limits

- John Locke - English philosopher - 1632 to 1704

What we know is a drop, what we do not know is an ocean

- Isaac Newton - English physicist - 1643 to 1727

How big small sounds become in silence

- Cornelia Funke - German children's author - born 1958

The earth is slippery

This principle was valid in the belief system of the Aztecs, an advanced civilization that existed between the 14th and the early 16th century.

40 years ago I was in Mexico with my parents, the temples made a great impression on me, until today I can't get the monumental structures out of my head. People, animals and plants adapted perfectly to their habitat, my visits to the pyramids of the past peoples were a "highlight" in my life.

From my visits to Mexico, this sentence has remained in my memory: "The earth is slippery".

According to the beliefs of Mesoamerican civilization, anyone could slip on the slippery earth; "evil," like "good," was not separate from each other in the continuing tradition of indigenous religion, but was directly opposed to each other as part of life. The various chapters of contemporary history have shaped this area; against all odds, the fusion of spiritual influences has enormous presence to this day.

And yes, the earth is slippery, at any time we can slip, fall, hit the ground.

Anyone can slip, but how do we deal with our mistakes?

What do we know about the religion of the Aztecs and the Mayas, the Incas? Little! The conquerors did a great job, had quickly sealed the fate of the New World. Little is left of the culture of the Central American inhabitants, but this phrase has been handed down: "The earth is slippery".

What has this continent seen over the centuries, oppression and enslavement came as original sin by the Europeans, the traumatic background is still not sufficiently processed.

Main god of the polytheistic people was "Huitzilopochtli", the god of the sun and war, mostly represented as a jaguar. Due to the change of the ongoing generations there was the concept of natural selection, the "tree of life" was understood as evolution in their culture!

I liked the spiritual philosophy of the "slippery earth" very much, again and again I have to think about it.

I trust in the future, every person is allowed to "slip" once, because the earth is really very slippery.

Buddha's teaching is very similar to this view, also we today's people should give the fellow human beings who slipped again a chance, we as a part of nature are allowed to make mistakes, our fate is written according to Buddha, therefore we are not at fault.

The transformation to a soul being is based in the concept of "enlightenment", in forgiving, in love and in forgiveness.

Our greatest glory is not to never fall, but to rise again every time.

- Nelson Mandela - former President South Africa - 1918 to 2013

God obviously loved ordinary people, because he made so many of them

- Abraham Lincoln - 16th President of the United States of America - 1809 to 1865

Horror makes us cruel

Many events in this world are horrible to behold, horror and terror accompany the "Homo Mediales", modern man living in a multimedia and virtual world permanent presence.

Misery and violence around us, on TV, on the Internet, in the media, in computer games; everywhere blood, dead, injured, viruses, diseases, dictators, civil wars, riots, lies, cheating, bullying, murder, manslaughter, alcohol, drugs, drug abuse, rapes, catastrophes; humanity has arrived at the edge of evil, the demons that were summoned are now our new reality. The infection is spreading rapidly, soon we will be completely penetrated by the forces of darkness.

We need help, because our society is seriously ill, humanity has become the accomplice of darkness. How can we drive out these demons again, push back the evil? Where is the "good" energy, the "positive" vibrations that could bring about some form of normality?

The constant horror dulls us, CONSTANTLY we are confronted with fears, we brutalize inwardly.

And if we understand such conditions then in the consequence as new normality, then our value conception will adapt to it, we ourselves become cruel, compassion, attentiveness and human values disappear in the nothing. It seems to be so, we see it everywhere, obviously horror and horror, coupled with cruelty, is now the life of us all.

But the "healing" from these conditions is also somewhere here, is already on this world, waits for us!

You may not believe in what I do, "Buddhism" is not everyone's cup of tea! But I know that an improvement can arise only from us. We, the members of society, must leave this unwholesome path, turn back to the "good".

In our new normality, everything around us is in motion, what used to be a certainty is now already lost in the fog of the past. But the words of Buddha are being heard again, society is longing for normality, consistency and peace. Whoever wants to make the Buddha's teachings his own must first find peace and silence.

Don't be distracted, go your way, mindfulness is the new "sexy", not "misery and violence".

Cruelty is one of the oldest festive pleasures of mankind. Consequently, the gods are also thought to be refreshed and in a festive mood when they are offered the sight of cruelty. And thus the idea creeps into the world that voluntary sufferings, the self-chosen torture have a good sense and value.

- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche - German philosopher - 1844 to 1900

The unimaginable eludes our memory, and that is just as well, but once, I believe, the horror must reach us, or there is no further

- Max Frisch - Swiss writer - 1911 to 1991

The power within us

The NOW does not come back, who does not live in the NOW, does not live at all, he only exists!

So many people do not live in the now, some live in the past, others dream of a "better" future.

But "here plays the music", in the "now", in the "today" we live.

Whoever understands that there is only this present moment, is much closer to "enlightenment".

Are you tormented by thoughts from your "past"? What if I had acted differently back then?

Are you always worried about "tomorrow"? Do you fear "the worst" will happen to you?

According to the teaching of the teacher of all teachers it only depends on the "now", the "here" and on the "today". Buddha has shown us with his journey to "enlightenment" how we can finally shake off our worries, our fears and our hardships.

Who doesn't wish for a peaceful life, free from sorrow and pain? How can we overcome the hardships of our existence, how to put down the agony and torment of human existence, how only?

At the beginning of our journey to "enlightenment" is the question: who am I? So the beginning starts with an extensive "self-examination", unsparingly and honestly we have to be to ourselves, otherwise we will not get "on a green branch"!

But how can we manage to stay in the "now" and "here", not to digress, not into the past, and also not into the future?

Quite simply, by inserting something else in place of useless thoughts, something valuable, something with a meaning. Instead, we occupy ourselves with our possible "enlightenment", our very personal "awakening", with our journey in the footsteps of Buddha.

If our thought palace has an interesting topic, which is worth to think about, then also the unpleasant voices in our head will become silent!

This is how we manage to stay in the "now" and in the "today" permanently.

By giving our head a "theme" we set the cause for a better life, we no longer lose ourselves in externals.

This power lies within us, we only have to "release" it, make the decision to do so.

According to the teachings of Buddha, it is already determined whether we will make this decision or not.

Eckhart Tolle, whom I greatly admire, said:

Put the "now" in the center of your life! Always say yes to the present moment

- Eckhart Tolle - Spiritual Teacher - born 1948

A "room of remembrance”

Upstairs in the house there was a small room, here she kept all the memories of her late son. All his letters, his clothes and shoes, his music collection, his model cars, photos of him from little boy to grown man, all the things that once belonged to him.

It was his room, he loved the view from the small window, out into the garden with the many trees.

Every time she was up here she thought of her "little boy", of the many stories, the great experiences, in her mind she saw him sitting at the table, the floor full of toys, when she was in this room it seemed to her that he was still alive.

It had been two years since the accident. Right in front of the front door, a car came around the bend, her son was about to leave on his bike, a big bang, lots of blood, the ambulance came quickly, death was faster. The driver was not to blame, it was just a chain of unfortunate circumstances that led to the collision.

The images of that day were immediately burned into her mind, every time she woke up since then the same movie started in her head, she saw the accident again and again. Her ego tormented her day after day with the past, terrible event.

When she became particularly sad she would climb up to his old room, she would fix his bed, air the room, fix his clothes, rearrange things. When she was done, she would sit at the table and look out the window, completely lost in her thoughts.

The pain was strong and did not stop no matter what she did, why only her son, how could this happen?

Her family tried everything possible to distract her, to comfort her, but no one could help her, she didn't want help either, she just wanted to "be with her son". And in his room she felt closest to him.

A light breeze came through the window as her eyes fell on her son's books. A particularly colorful one caught her eye, why had she never noticed this book before? "Buddha" was written on the spine, she sat back down at the table and began to leaf through it. She was a Christian, she couldn't do much with Buddhism, but because it was her son's book she just kept reading.

While she was immersed in the teachings of the Indian prince, she felt a warm wave rising within her, a form of peace spreading through her. How could this be, she asked herself. But she continued to look at page after page, time passed, quickly it was dark, she had to turn on the light. Her husband and daughter came home, calling for her. She closed the book and descended the stairs into the living room, but she kept the volume firmly in her hands. Every day she read that book, the philosophy of Buddha gave her much comfort, she regained her lost security.

Then came the day when she stopped going to the "Room of Remembrance." She had experienced "enlightenment."

THERE IS A BOOK THAT MANY WHO KNOW IT BY HEART DO NOT KNOW

- MARIE VON EBNER-ESCHENBACH - AUSTRIAN WRITER - 1830 TO 1916

8 points for "self-healing

A healing is always a "self-healing"!

When we get sick, our body immediately starts healing, all by itself. The healing powers of nature are tremendous.

However, self-healing is also a question of inner attitude, as strange as it sounds, some people want to be sick. For very different reasons. For example, some sick people just want attention, some flee into self-pity, others even want to die because their life seems "hard" and "pointless".

The majority of people, however, do not want to be sick; the natural healing mechanisms of their bodies function all by themselves.

As Buddhists we know that everything comes anyway exactly as it must come. So it is also already predetermined whether we get sick, and of course whether we get well. This is all already written.

So it is also already written, if you, for example after reading this text, think about your "I", if you reach a positive, creative "state" of your physical, mental and spiritual life.

Health is the wish of most people. But just not from everyone.

If you are suffering from an illness you should ask yourself if you are not "subconsciously" throwing "sand in the gears", question your "I", your goals!

Can it be that the "illness" has its causes in worries, in overload or stress? Or are there other reasons?

You have the power within you to end all negative and self-destructive influences.

You ask yourself how this could work?

1. take away all energy from negative thoughts, take away all power from harmful moods. Instead, focus on the Buddha's teachings, fill your mind palace with the concept of "enlightenment."

2. no matter how bad a thing is, smile, you can't change anything anyway.

3. look for the good in every situation. Everything "bad" contains something "good", and even if they are out of proportion, look for the "positive". Focus exclusively and ALWAYS on the positive aspects of every situation!

4. avoid the disaster news on TV and in the media, do a "news detox". There are not only "bad" things in the world, but positive things do not make good headlines. In a "sick" world, horror and horror just sells a lot better.

5. sort out "negative" from their lives, things and people that burden you are wrong in their environment.

Positive thinking always leads to positive feelings. Not everything is "bad" in life, what is "positive", what have you already achieved, what situations have you already mastered, what comes to mind spontaneously now? Do not be the "victim" of bad moods!

7. set yourself goals, what can you realistically and easily achieve, in the short term, medium term and long term, where should the journey go? Maybe even to your personal "enlightenment"?

8. first accept the situation as it is right now. From NOW on, practice "mindfulness". What is especially good right NOW, in this moment?

The best doctors in the world are: "Dr. Calm, Dr. Diet, and Dr. Cheerfulness."

- Jonathan Swift - Irish Writer - 1667 to 1745

There are a thousand diseases, but only one health

- Ludwig Börne - German Journalist - 1786 to 1837

Buddha's singing bowl

Buddha lived as a "normal" man about 2500 years ago in what is now India.

Even before the young prince found his "enlightenment" he is said to have been a very extraordinary person.

Again and again the story of the "singing bowl" from his life is told, which I want to reproduce here:

On his many travels, Buddha one day passed a waterfall that fell from a high mountain into a narrow, winding gorge. Next to the water falling in free fall was a shallow bank that invited one to linger.

Buddha decided to meditate here, the place was made for his purpose, he could feel the energy of the magical place. The mysticism and attraction at the waterfall were enigmatic, it felt like a place of healing, surrounded by water; a unique atmosphere, striking rocks enclosed the natural hollow path that led to the grottoes below the waterfall.

He took all things out of his pocket, placed his belongings around him. Thus, he is said to have carried (among other things) a singing bowl with him at all times, which he is said to have used frequently for meditative purposes.

So this singing bowl stood next to him during his meditative exercises, exposed to the sounds of the water. At night, Buddha also meditated, the stars shone clearly in the small gorge, the energy and radiance of the place changed continuously.

After several days he left the place at the waterfall, went down the mountain to the next village. There he found a farmer who offered him lodging. Here Buddha is said to have stayed for several days. The great teacher was very welcome here!

During his next meditation, Buddha struck the singing bowl again. He thought he could hear the sound of the waterfall when the singing bowl had long since fallen silent.

The power place "waterfall" had accompanied him, the sound of the water had entered the singing bowl, accompanied his adventurous journey.

According to this story, Buddha is said to have bowed at that moment before the beauty of nature and the power of water.

We too can hear the vibrations of nature, if we listen.

Everything is in vibration. If we change our vibrations, our life will change too!

Nature must be felt

- Alexander von Humboldt - German explorer - 1769 to 1859

The weather

The good weather comes, the bad weather too. Nothing we can do about the weather.

It is of little use to complain about the weather, just as it is of no use to be upset about our lives, or to be sad about events in our lives.

Certainly we can pray to the gods for "better weather," but will this be crowned with success?

As with the weather, so it is with our destiny. Whether we like what is happening in our lives or not, if we accept what is coming and how it is coming or not, we have to accept the weather as well. When we stop questioning our karma, then we have made a big step in our personal development.

Just as Buddha taught us, we must always accept our destiny, no matter how it comes, "good" or "bad", "happy" or "sad".

Do you know the song "I am singing in the rain"? When life seems hard again, the days bring little "happy", then it is exactly the right time for a song.

Just accept your karma, just like the weather, don't worry about the vagaries of fate anymore. Better think about the way out that Buddha advised us to do. His advice to us was to strive for "awakening."

According to his teaching, "enlightenment" lies dormant in each of us, wanting to be discovered.

According to Buddha's teaching, there is no "good" and no "bad" weather, there is simply weather.

SUNSHINE IS DELICIOUS, RAIN IS REFRESHING, WIND IS CHALLENGING, SNOW MAKES YOU HAPPY; BASICALLY THERE IS NO BAD WEATHER, ONLY DIFFERENT KINDS OF GOOD WEATHER.

- JOHN RUSKIN - BRITISH WRITER - 1819 TO 1900

According to the Buddha's teaching, therefore, there are "enlightened" and "unenlightened" beings.

The Unequal Brothers

A very wise father had two sons who could not have been more different. Outwardly they were very similar, but in character they were complete opposites.

One son was an optimist, his brother was basically skeptical. One was always cheerful, the other was taciturn and constantly absorbed in his thoughts.

One brother liked to read a lot, the other did not even look at books, while one brother danced, the other covered his ears. One was cold, the other always had heat, one was good at school, the other had no interest in his education.

Two unequal brothers!

The father decided to analyze the characters of his sons.

When a big party was coming up, the father started an experiment. In the night he went to the rooms of his sons. In the optimist's room, instead of gifts, he laid out old horse droppings, and in the pessimist's room he spread gifts on the floor.

In the morning he heard shouting in the house, he then went to check on his sons.

The pessimist was upset and unhappy, the father asked: "what's wrong, why are you unhappy, don't you like the gifts"? The son answered him: "now I have all these toys, but they will break in the course of time, I will lose them. Therefore I am unhappy"!

The optimist sat in his room and blissfully looked at the horse droppings. The father asked: "what's wrong, why are you happy, you didn't receive a gift"? The son answered him. "if you put horse droppings in my room, it means you are giving me a horse, doesn't it"?

A pessimist is an optimist who has thought too much. Pessimists either experience pleasant surprises or are always right.

Optimists are not always right either, but they live more happily.

A Buddhist, however, is a realist who has gone far beyond pessimism and optimism.

The utopian sees the paradise, the realist the paradise plus snake.

- Friedrich Hebbel - German playwright - 1813 to 1863

Optimist: another word for fool

- Gustave Flaubert - French writer - 1821 to 1880

For myself, I am an optimist - it doesn't seem to do much good to be anything else

- Winston Churchill - British statesman of the 20th century - 1874 to 1965

Trapped in thoughts?

Are you caught in the "thought carousel"?

Constantly brooding, "what if"? Have I done something "wrong"? Is it "up to me"?

NO

Self-criticism is important, but too much of it will lead to depression.

It is always important to question why this thought arises in us right now, what brought us to brooding in the first place, was there a reason for it (and if so, what was it), does brooding have a benefit, how do we feel while we are brooding, what feelings do we experience?

Brooding is always a sign that we are too busy "with ourselves". And in a wrong way "dealing with ourselves", because instead of worrying about "what if", we should center our mental capacities on questions like "who am I", and "what results from this".

Of course, it also helps to distract ourselves first, to clear our minds for "new things". Here it can help to listen to music, to read a book, or to go for a walk. However, we should become really free in the head, otherwise even distractions do not really bring an improvement.

What helps us permanently, however, is to replace the negative thoughts with positive ones.

First of all, we should realize that we can do NOTHING about the past, brooding over it will bring NOTHING. We should make peace with ourselves and our past, everything is good as it is, according to Buddha everything was predetermined anyway, came as it had to come, therefore we are WITHOUT GUILT.

Because if our destiny was already written, then we had to act as we have acted, we had no choice in the consequence. From this insight of Buddha we can draw deep comfort, come clean with our past, rest in ourselves for the future, we can therefore stop brooding now.

If we make wiser decisions from NOW on, then after our destiny is already determined (whatever wiser may be).

Many advisors want to explain to us that we should "think positive", but from my point of view this is completely meaningless. What is "positive", what is "negative"?

It will only help us if we put something "positive" in the place of brooding.

Buddha has exemplified to us the "enlightenment" that MUST take the place of brooding.

Readers of this blog know that, in my view, Buddhist teachings revolve around only one subject, "enlightenment", the attainment of insight, "awakening".

EVERY DAY IS A LITTLE LIFE - EVERY WAKING AND RISING IS A LITTLE BIRTH, EVERY FRESH MORNING IS A LITTLE YOUTH, AND EVERY GOING TO BED AND FALLING ASLEEP IS A LITTLE DEATH.

- ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER - GERMAN PHILOSOPHER - 1788 TO 1860

As described in this quotation of Arthur Schopenhauer we can start completely NEW every day of our life, everything has come as it had to come, what will be tomorrow is also already written, then our karma will bring us tomorrow the possibility to at least think about the "enlightenment"!

Anyway, we are without GUILT, we don't have to brood any more, we can get out of the "thought carousel" with the help of the teacher of all teachers.

If we only want it!

I have a lot to regret!

Or not?

Who has nothing to regret, who is free from mistakes, who casts the first stone!

However, it is important how we deal with our past, do we learn from our history, or do we continue as before?

According to the teachings of Buddha, everything is already written, everything has come exactly as it had to come.

So what can we change for the future? Can we change anything at all?

YES and NO

If we reconsider our behavior for the future, then this is also our destiny, it is written so, whether we act "wiser" from now on, or not.

It is already determined whether we process the experiences of the past intelligently!

Nevertheless we can regret different things from our past, for example why we had not thought about our "I" much earlier, why we had not questioned our actions much earlier.

From the certainty that everything came as it had to come, from this, however, we can draw comfort, we just followed our destiny.

If we regret things, maybe even feel sad about various past events or strokes of fate, then we should not get stuck in this position, but quickly also arrive back at the present.

REGRET DOES NO GOOD IN LIFE. IT BELONGS TO THE PAST. ALL WE HAVE IS THE "NOW".

- MARLON BRANDO - AMERICAN ACTOR - 1924 TO 2004

When we are going through a period of "regret" again, it can help to put the teachings of Buddha at the center of our being. The teacher of all teachers has given us a way to deal with our problems, simply by devoting ourselves to his main theme, "enlightenment". If the negative thoughts are displaced by the positive theme of "Buddhism" we are already on a good path.

So we have nothing to regret!

Authentic regret is as rare as authentic love

- Stephen King - US writer - born 1947

My only regret in life is that I am not someone else

- Woody Allen - US comedian, film director, writer and actor - born 1935

We should all start living before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So is regret

- Marilyn Monroe - US actress - 1926 to 1962

When I tried to be someone I am not....

According to Buddha, life is not as it appears to us.

According to Shakespeare, the whole world is a stage, and we are only the actors in it.

We all try to present ourselves as well as possible to the outside world. In doing so, we bend ourselves, because we want to please other people. In any case, we present ourselves in such a way that we believe we can impress others.

But this is wrong.

When we meet a person we want to get to know his real personality, not to experience the role he plays. What we want from others, others want from us. We want to experience the real person, not his (self-chosen) role.

But it takes a lot of courage to show one's true personality openly.

In former times, when I still had "dates", it was very difficult to stand by my mistakes, I tried to "sell" myself as good as possible. This has always avenged itself, I could not hide my true "I" in the long run.

ONE DAY EVERYTHING WILL BE GOOD, THAT IS OUR HOPE

TODAY EVERYTHING IS FINE, THAT IS OUR ILLUSION

- VOLTAIRE (FRANÇOIS-MARIE AROUET) - FRENCH PHILOSOPHER - 1694 TO 1778

It is as it is, it comes as it must come. Things have the habit to hide themselves from us, then come to light with a big bang, have always come in the end as they had to come.

But revealing one's true personality requires knowing it. "Who am I" is the question of all questions.

So I ask my readers: "who are you"? Yes, exactly you, "who are you really"?

If you know who you are, you don't have to try to be someone you are not!

The matter of "enlightenment" can be so simple when you question yourself.

"So who am I?"

The music is not in the notes. But in the silence in between

- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - composer of the Viennese classical period - 1756 to 1791

I believe that the universe is subject to the laws of science. These may have been created by God, but God does not intervene to break these rules.

- Stephen Hawking - British theoretical physicist - 1942 to 2018

Nothing is more obvious than that nature hates reason

- Oscar Wilde - Irish writer - 1854 to 1900

Was Diogenes a Buddhist?

Diogenes was a Greek philosopher who propagated the doctrine of "needlessness", i.e. the complete opposite of today's "consumer society".

In his view, man should desire only elementary things. Everything beyond that, the scholar considered "useless", external conventions, such as marriage, he rejected.

For me as a Buddhist, Diogenes' views appear to be of elementary foresight; if I, as a human being, am going to crumble to dust anyway, what good are gold and money to me?

The philosopher is also said to have met the great King Alexander. According to the story, Diogenes was sleeping in an old wine barrel. When the king came to visit (the philosopher's reputation seemed enormous), Alexander introduced himself: "I am Alexander, the great king". To this Diogenes replied: "you stand in the sun for me, go to the side"!

Well, to me also every day many people stand in the sun, but no kings.

The radical way of life of Diogenes, including his hard answer to the king, show similarities with the teaching of Buddha; not only the historical Buddha had reached "enlightenment", already before (and after) him extraordinary people had and have reached this state.

I claim: You can achieve it too, we all can become a Buddha!

According to another story, Diogenes is said to have had little in common with Plato (Greek philosopher, 428 to 348 BC). What a wonderful time this must have been, smart people were exchanging ideas!

IF YOU GIVE EVERYTHING, YOU CAN'T BLAME YOURSELF

- DIRK NOWITZKI - GERMAN BASKETBALL PLAYER - B. 1978

So what do our possessions bring us, what is "in the sun" for us? What are we "fighting" for, what makes up our personality?

We don't have to sleep in an old barrel, nor should we "stand in the sun" of other people.

We could engage in the philosophy of Buddha, peeling back the layers of our personality one by one, coming back to the "core" of being, but do we want that, do you want that?

Well, I do!

Diogenes was a Buddhist!

And I love the rays of the sun.

News Detox

Every day we are bombarded with "news".

Politician X demands ....................

Politician Y wants ..................

Politician Z is appalled .......................

I can't listen to it anymore!

So for some time now I have refused to listen to the media garbage that is poured over me.

Imagine it is "peace", there is silence around us, the "concerned" statements no longer reach me.

Therefore, I no longer read news, such or otherwise, I am no longer "reachable".

I don't read (and watch) "news" anymore, WITHOUT ME!

I have "news detox!"

There is no good news. Just because there is bad news doesn't necessarily mean there is good news

- David Benioff - US writer - born 1970

As a child I learned to read from the news of war

- Michael Walzer - US social philosopher and intellectual - born 1935

Headlines mislead us in some ways, because bad news is a headline, but gradual improvements are not

- Bill Gates - US entrepreneur, programmer and patron of the arts - born 1955

I don't even have an email address. I have reached an age where my main purpose is not to receive news.

- Umberto Eco - Italian writer - 1932 to 2016

News is always more, but it is only according to those who (let) choose it. The more news about unimportant things, the more important things remain hidden. Worldwide, millions of equally important things are concealed at the same time for millions every day

- Helmut Seethaler - Austrian writer - born 1953

I am accredited, have a camera and a lot of time. That is a deadly combination

- Oliver Pocher - German entertainer, showmaster and comedian - born 1978

About the downfall of a culture

If you look at the course of history, there have been many outstanding cultures. The Romans, the Greeks, the Chinese, the Indians, in different times different cultures have shaped the world and brought it forward.

Different ideas shaped entire eras, from the teachings of Buddha to the French Revolution, outstanding thinkers were able to leave a mark on entire generations.

What was responsible for the rise, or decline, of a cultural group? How could the mindset of nations change so much that people even cheered their apparent downfall?

Using ancient Rome as an example, it is easy to see what factors accompanied such contradictory behavior. At the beginning of a decline there was always the exaggeration of morality to the detriment of law. According to my opinion, law is the inner cohesion of a community, the structure that a people has given itself.

If now the right is eroded ever further, then the downfall is decided.

IF AN IDEA ENTERS A HOLLOW HEAD, IT FILLS IT COMPLETELY - BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER ONE THAT COULD DISPUTE ITS RANK.

- CHARLES-LOUIS DE MONTESQUIEU - FRENCH WRITER - 1689 TO 1755

In times of ever-increasing uncertainty, the teachings of Buddha appear to us as a haven of peace, peaceful and by no means hectic, balancing and purposeful.

The occupation with Buddhist philosophy helps us to look behind the story, to see things as they really are. According to Buddha, life consists of suffering, "enlightenment" helps us to escape from the everlasting cycle.

THE EXPERIENCE HAS NO ETHICAL VALUE. IT IS ONLY A NAME THAT PEOPLE GIVE TO THEIR ERRORS.

- OSCAR WILDE - IRISH WRITER - 1854 TO 1900

Again and again a culture stands at this fork in the road, rise or fall.

Which way would you choose?

1984

The novel by the English writer George Orwell appeared in 1949, and quickly became a work of wide-ranging significance.

It depicts the life of Winston Smith in a total surveillance state. His world was divided into three great powers, which were enemies of each other. The protagonist lived in the "English part", the "Landing Field 1″.

Through a new language ("Neusprech") the population was suppressed, people were controlled and bugged with constantly running "Televisors".

Obscure enemies of the state justified the necessity of a "Ministry of Truth", the omnipresent propaganda permanently brought phrases like "war is peace", "ignorance is strength" and "freedom is slavery" among the citizens.

As a young man, the book "1984" had a great impact on me; the very idea of having to live the way Winston Smith had to filled me with unease. In retrospect, I think it is possible that this very book made me receptive to the philosophy of Buddha.

Those who follow the Buddha's teachings know (or can figure) that everything is already written, the evolution of our society, personal circumstances and goals, life as a whole. So it is also already determined whether the individual sets out on the journey to "enlightenment" or not, whether he arrives at the destination or not, whether he can "free himself" from all circumstances that "cover" his life or not.

In my opinion there would be only one way out of the apocalyptic scenarios of George Orwell, the way of Buddha. A Buddhist worldview shows us the reality behind the scenes, as the connections are true, the gateless gate is finally open to the awakened people.

After harsh torture and brainwashing, Winston Smith had internalized the principle of government, he now lived for the doctrine of the state, he even eagerly awaited his own execution.

I can recommend every follower of the Buddhist doctrine to read the book "1984" once. What would the historical Buddha have done if he had lived in such a world, if he had been the protagonist of "1984"?

Freedom is the right to tell others what they do not want to hear.

- George Orwell - English writer - 1903 to 1950

Being in the minority, even in the minority of one, didn't make you crazy. There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth, even against the whole world, you were not crazy.

- George Orwell - English writer - 1903 to 1950

All propaganda lies, even if someone tells the truth.

- George Orwell - English writer - 1903 to 1950

The tree

In a beautiful forest stood a young tree, directly at the brook it struck deep roots, it had enough sun, in front of it were bushes, which protected it from the wind.

A hiker passed by and stopped right here for a rest. The man was in a bad mood, had lost his job, life was hard for him.

He looked at the healthy young tree, his mood became even worse, he became "jealous" of the tree that had such good conditions, occupied such a wonderful place; he, on the other hand, was disadvantaged by "fate". What a strange feeling he thought to himself, envy of a young tree!

Discontented, the wanderer thought about how he could "harm" the tree, for reasons he himself did not understand, he could not bear the "luck" of the tree.

Then he saw a heavy stone on the shore. He took it and placed it in the crown of the tree between the young branches. A feeling of happiness spread through the man, a smile crossed his gloomy face, gloating is just the most beautiful joy.

The young tree groaned under the load, the branches bent, but the stone remained well wedged in the crown.

The hiker went on his way "satisfied".

As a result, the tree quickly drove its roots into the depths, it had to balance the weight in order not to break. Thus, in a very short time, the young tree became a true giant, the stone fell off one day, the tree grew bigger and bigger, it had adapted to the situation, it could even profit from its "misfortune".

Years later, the hiker passed by the stream again. When he saw the tree then he could not believe his eyes, the stone lay shaken off under it, the young tree had become a giant, the most beautiful and largest tree of the forest stood now at this place. The former burden had made it strong.

ENVY IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF RECOGNITION

- WILHELM BUSCH - GERMAN POET - 1832 TO 1908

It is up to us how we deal with "heavy burdens", do we grow or will we break?

Buddhists know that everything is already written. What burdens our life holds in store, and how we deal with them, has already been determined. With this certainty, we can deal with the hardships of life, just as the young tree did in the story. We do our best!

If our "karma" is already fixed, then we can also act carefree, it comes as it must come.

The Stories of Aesop

The Greek poet Aesop lived about the time of Buddha. He founded the so-called "example narrative", he conveyed "morals" and "values" in his short stories.

The German phrase "getting a lion's share" goes back to a tale by Aesop, the "Fable of the Lion's Share". Here, a lion and a donkey go hunting together. The lion divides the hunted prey into 2/3 for himself and 1/3 for the donkey, simply because he is the stronger. He found in the fable many arguments why he had to get the main part.

In the conclusion of the story, the author warns about the society of "powerful people" for whom the law does not apply.

WOE / TO THE POOR VICTIM WHEN THE SAME MOUTH / THAT GAVE THE LAW ALSO PRONOUNCES JUDGMENT!

- FRIEDRICH VON SCHILLER - GERMAN PHILOSOPHER - 1759 TO 1805

The works of Aesop still have their social importance, since they deal with human weaknesses, which are known to have survived. Stupidity, envy, avarice, vanity, the materials from which even today the headlines of our newspapers are made.

Through his stories, Aesop imparted to us wisdoms very similar to the teachings of Buddha, which were also carried out in a similar form in the Bible.

As Buddhists, we know that everything is already written, that we must accept our "karma" as an unchangeable quantity.

Whether poor or rich, for us humans the universal laws are the same, nothing we can change.

However, "enlightenment" offers us a way out of the cycle of suffering.

Not only Buddha was "enlightened", many people before him had reached this level of perfection, and many people after the great teacher have also "awakened".

I wonder if the Aesop might have been one of these "enlightened ones"?

If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from you

- George Orwell - British writer, essayist and journalist - 1903 to 1950

If you act like a rock star, you will be treated the same way

- Marilyn Manson - US musician and member of the rock band Marilyn Manson - born 1969

Nothing meets one that he is not able to bear by nature

- Marcus Aurelius - Roman emperor from 161 to 180

The wisdom of Socrates

Socrates was a Greek philosopher whose understanding of the world was characterized by knowledge of human nature, ethical principles and unchanging values. In many points his views show great overlap with the teachings of Buddha.

Few personalities were able to leave a lasting mark on their posterity; Socrates was such an exceptional figure.

The following story has been handed down from his life, which by its simple clarity has retained its validity to this day:

A visitor arrived at Socrates' home, a man who had traveled far to meet the great thinker.

In conversation, the guest began, "Do you know what your friend said"? Socrates immediately interrupted the man, "Stop!" He is said to have replied. "Before you tell me a news, about a third person, I must ask you something. Did you give this story through the three sieves"?

"What sieves?" Asked the man.

Socrates replied, "Well, every story I deal with, it has to pass the test of the THREE SIFTS. First, there is the sieve of truth. Have you checked to see if what you are about to tell me is really true?"

The visitor became thoughtful, he answered, "No, I only heard it, whether there is any truth in it I don't know, but the one who told me was credible."

"Well then" replied the philosopher, "have you then given this report through the sieve of goodness, is it a good thing that you want to tell me about"?

The visitor now became meek and said, "No, even the opposite, it is not a good thing of which the event reports".

"I suppose that can't be helped, but surely the incident you want to tell me about will be of some use to me after all, was what you want to tell me given through the sieve of usefulness?"

"Usefulness, no, the anecdote has no real usefulness either, it is about gossip," the guest replied to the learned man.

"Then I don't want to hear about it either," Socrates said sullenly, "if it is not secured truth, is not good and has no real use, why do you want to waste my time with it?" "Please do not burden me with such nonsense"!

The "message" of this story is not to make unreflective statements, not to start rumors.

The question is always whether a story can pass the requirements of the three sieves?

THE SIEVE OF TRUTH: IS IT TRUE WHAT IS BEING TOLD HERE?

THE SIEVE OF GOODNESS: IS IT GOOD WHAT IS TO BE TOLD HERE?

THE SIEVE OF USEFULNESS: IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS EVENT USEFUL?

Each of us is omniscient. We only need to open our consciousness to listen to our own wisdom. The heart then knows the way.

- Buddha -

To gossip is to confess other people's sins

- Wilhelm Busch - German Poet - 1832 to 1908

Gold in the cupboard

In a prosperous town once lived a rich man. He had many businesses, he was involved in almost all aspects of economic life, he did not miss any good deal.

He kept his wealth in a large cash box in the closet of his house, every day he opened it, looked at his coins, thought about the profitable and past transactions, when he looked at his fortune became quite "warm around the heart".

One fine day, when he came back to his house after a long, busy day, he already had a bad feeling at the door. Immediately he noticed that something was not as it should be, fear rose in him, he ran to his closet, which stood wide open, the cassette was gone, one had stolen from him. Then he was furious, he called for his wife, for the children, no one knew anything, all had not been in the house during the day.

The police came, the neighbors, each of his friends, they all consoled him, but nothing could alleviate his misfortune, he had always enjoyed his coins so much.

One of his friends, however, said something of Buddhist wisdom to him, first asking, "did you have any use for your wealth"? "No", replied the stolen man, "but I have always looked at my money with such pleasure". "Then," said the friend, "just look at the closed cabinet and imagine that the box is still in it!"

"What is it to you by whom he who once gave it to you reclaimed it from you"?

- Epictetus - Roman Slave - 50 to 138

Wealth is one of those things. Who is rich, who is poor? Is perhaps a farmer with a very small farm a richer man than a millionaire banker, if the farmer is loved but the banker is not?

And is not the absence of suffering the true wealth in a person's life? Just as Buddha exemplified to us?

You shall not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.

- Bible -

Accumulating more and more wealth, does that make you happy?

I say: NO

Sure, money makes you independent, it gives a certain security, things can be bought, some ideas can be implemented with money, but real capital is not material, true wealth lies in happiness, love, harmony, contentment, success, health, serenity and in the family.

Personally, I don't want to "own" many things, I get my joy when I can "use" them sometimes. Renting a nice car, over the weekend, and then returning the car, that's more fun for me. Staying in a nice hotel for a few days, I find that much better than owning a vacation home.

But I find it even much better when I'm driving in a very small car (no matter who owns it) and there's a person sitting next to me who really likes me. Or when visiting another city I can sleep on the sofa of a good friend, that makes me happy.

If the cornfield is far from the house, the birds eat the fruit.

- Proverb -

I also like to think of my fortune that I keep in the closet, but I never open the door!

A little piece of heaven

Every year, a large German company organizes various company outings, joint events and various activities that are intended to strengthen team cohesion, build a sense of community and make it easier for colleagues and employees to get to know each other. The company's management places particular emphasis on the shared experience, trust and motivation.

This spring, it was the turn of the management level to participate in seminars, a team hike was scheduled for the department heads, and the focus for the managers was to be on performance and sovereignty.

As well-paid higher employees, all participants were very full of themselves, their life was good, but for that the managers had enough other problems, they were already "getting on in years", in search of "themselves".

The hike was organized in a beautiful forest, the group was divided into two teams, at a meeting point the employees were to meet again, along the way they had to perform various tasks, similar to a scavenger hunt.

However, one team went off the trail, they got lost in the deep, dark forest. Anxiety came over the hikers, the phone had no network, it got really creepy for the city people in the untouched nature.

As they continued walking they saw a magical wooden hut by a small stream, here at least they could wait for rescue. As they approached, the men discovered a bearded inhabitant, but he was beaming all over, exuding happiness and contentment, the wanderers had not expected a hermit.

"Hello, wanderers," he called out delightedly to the group. "Good day," the lost ones replied to him. The managers told them about their excursion, and the bearded man explained the way back to their camp.

Before they left, a member of the team asked, "why are you so radiant, it has come to our attention that you are very happy, may I ask why? Do you live here alone, in this little hut"?

"Yes", answered the inhabitant of the forest who revealed himself as a Buddhist, "I live here alone, but I lack nothing. And my happiness is not a secret, I enjoy "my forest", the little piece of heaven that I can see from my place, from my chair here, from the door in front of my hut".

"May I sit in your chair once," asked one of the group? "Yes, why not, just take a seat" replied the hermit. The manager sat down, looked around, then spoke in slight amazement, "I can't see much from your seat, just trees, leaves and some sky, why are you so happy about it?"

"I don't know how to explain it to you," replied the bearded forest dweller, "but it's my place in life, my piece of heaven, my trees, I'm happy because I found my place, this is where I belong. Sitting on this, my chair fills me with happiness"!

There are millions of reasons to smile!

The fat Buddha

In the gift store of a temple, the nearsighted woman asked, "How much is that fat Buddha, the one standing back there next to the door?" "Shh! Speak softly," whispers the monk at the cash register, "that's our abbot."

Buddha is often depicted as a "Happy Buddha"; in Chinese there is the expression "Mi Le Fo" (弥勒佛). The broad laughter on his face is said to symbolize his endless love for all living beings, and his fat belly shows the joys of life.

Many people think that the Buddha's teaching is a very serious matter, just that, the "enlightenment" as the core statement of Buddhism would be quite a joyless thing.

The preoccupation with one's own "I" is clearly a rather heavy subject, but in the life of a Buddhist, joy, laughter and fun should by no means come "too short".

According to Buddha, suffering is an integral part of life. But only where there is shadow, exactly there you can see the light very well. This reminds us that we should enjoy life (as it is), experience beautiful moments, meet great people, fun and joy are a completely normal part of all life, we should "turn off" suffering, make the attitude towards "joy" in us.

Some people have forgotten how to laugh, but you can learn to laugh again. With laughter we get out of thinking, reach the present again, relaxation occurs, energies can flow again.

If life is sorrowful then start to change something.

The historical Buddha found "enlightenment" for us, but he was certainly also a joyful person, he knew about human hardships, about emotions, and about their place in life.

We should enjoy our lives, rejoice in every day despite all adversities, look at every encounter with pleasure, allow serenity and amusement in every possible moment.

Every day that you do not smile is a day lost.

- Charlie Chaplin - British actor - 1889 to 1977

When I look at my daughter, when I look at the beauty of nature, when I take in the colors and smells, when I think of a good meal, when I look at my partner, when I look at my work, I almost always have to smile.

There are millions of reasons to smile!

The certainty around the teachings of Buddha is a truly good reason to rejoice in one's own existence.

Suffering and joy are then the two sides of the same coin!

Bad luck becomes good luck

- and vice versa

My father used to say, "Son, there is nothing bad that doesn't have something good about it"!

Examples (freely invented):

Mr. K. broke his leg in a car accident, a complicated comminuted fracture, at first the doctors thought they would have to remove the foot, he was in the hospital for almost two months, for a long time he thought he would never be able to walk properly again.

/ during his time in the hospital he met a nurse, the two fell in love, married shortly after his discharge. If he had not broken his leg, who knows if Mr. K. would have ever met his wife, he still says today that this accident changed his life in a positive way.

For a long time Tom felt a slight tugging in the stomach area, but thought nothing of it, he didn't want to go to the doctor, after all there was always so much to do, to take care of, to work, it will pass, he thought to himself anyway. One morning he slipped in the shower, hit his head on the edge of the tub, the skin burst, he had to call the ambulance to have the wound stitched.

/ while being treated by the paramedics, he also told them about the pain in his stomach. The doctor patched him up, and also immediately examined the other complaints in question. He thought it could be appendicitis, utmost urgency was required, he was immediately taken to the hospital, emergency surgery was the result. Tom knows today that the fall in the bathroom probably saved his life.

Actually, Mrs. T. wanted to go home by plane at the weekend, she was in another city the whole week, her work gave her little pleasure, but was well paid. She had been looking for another job for some time, but found nothing suitable. In her cozy home her family was already waiting for her, her husband had prepared a big meal, the children were jostling on the phone, she was tired and exhausted. At the airport she was told that the flight was canceled due to technical problems, that she could not fly on today, that a hotel room had already been booked for her, and that she could not fly until tomorrow. At first she was very disappointed.

/ in the waiting area of the airport she got into conversation with another passenger, both of them complained about their fate, in the course of the conversation she also told the fellow sufferer about her unsuccessful search for a new job. The man was the managing director of a company, he was looking for new employees but could not find any suitable personnel. He immediately offered Mrs. T. a job with much better earnings, and for her much better working hours and conditions. Even today, she remembers that day fondly; the supposed bad luck changed her life in a positive way.

The M. family wanted to go to the sea by car this year, finally on vacation together, the summer was hot, the children were looking forward to the cool pleasure. But halfway there, the old car broke down and stopped. Black smoke came out of the hood, the towing service took car and family to a small town, there was the nearest garage. The mechanic said that he would first have to order spare parts, and that it would be impossible to continue the journey for the time being. The children's nagging was great, no beach, no bathing, the vacation was a disaster. At first sight.

Listening helps!

In China, there was a Buddhist teacher who taught throughout the country. He was very respected, his wisdom was legendary, many people attended his talks. As a monk of his monastery he was popular, many brothers listened to him.

When he was about to leave for another reading tour, a novice (aspiring monk) approached him and asked if he could accompany him. Since the two men were about the same age, and the travels were exhausting him more and more, the teacher agreed, and together they traveled. At each lesson the Buddhist student now sat in the auditorium, soon he knew every interpretation of the teacher, every sentence was well known to him, he listened again and again to the words of this master.

The brothers used the evenings to talk about what had happened, to further deepen the contents of the teaching speeches. Often the teacher noticed that the disciple already knew his lectures almost by heart, that also his argumentation and his expression improved constantly, he was taken with the novice. In the teacher grew the realization that the student had reached the end of his training, that he had also become a master by "listening". This filled the teacher with deep joy.

One morning, as the two of them were leaving for another course in the dining hall of a temple, the teacher said to the novice, "I want you to give the lecture today, you have heard my words often enough now, you will surely do the job as well as I have"!

So it was! The novice did his job well, the people listened to him with pleasure, he could "reach" the visitors with his lecture, the Buddha's teaching came easily and loosely over his lips. After the lecture, those present approached him, praised his calm manner, his lecture was a success.

From then on, the teacher and the disciple took turns in giving further lectures, and the novice became better and better in his lectures.

Back in their temple, the teacher went to his abbot, he explained to him that the novice could now also spread the teachings on his own, that he was now qualified to be a monk.

The novice was soon ordained as a monk because of the intercession.

A short time later, he was preparing for his own first lecture tour when a novice approached him and asked if he could accompany him.

As long as one talks oneself, one learns nothing

- Marie Freifrau Ebner von Eschenbach - writer - 1830 to 1916

In reality there are only the atoms and the void

- Democritus - Greek philosopher - 460 to 370 B.C.

What is poverty?

Let me call the family "the Peters" for simplicity's sake.

The father has a prosperous business, he manufactures spare parts for cars. In his early youth he became an apprentice in a similar company, graduated as a master craftsman there. A few years later he started his own business, with diligence and luck he worked his way up, became wealthy, his company grew bigger and bigger. He was very proud of his success, liked to brag about his possessions, felt important to other people, his life had always gone "according to plan" for him.

Due to his financial independence he was able to find a good wife at a young age, the couple fell in love, married quickly, and had two healthy children, a boy and a girl.

The couple bought a beautiful, large house, with a swimming pool, sauna, surrounded by an enchanting garden.

The wife came from a much less rich country, she still had her family there, her parents were simple farmers. Often she went to visit the homeland, lived there a completely different life than with her husband, simple, but also hardworking.

Often she also took the children with her so that they could visit their grandparents. The children could spend their vacations there, learn modesty, help on the farm, experience animals, feel nature.

Especially her daughter gave her a lot of joy, as the girl developed into a particularly intelligent and compassionate being, a little light seemed to burn in her. She charmed her fellow men, wisdom spoke from her words, despite her few years she was special.

On the way back after the vacation, a conversation developed between mother and daughter. The mother asked: "And, my darling, how were the vacations for you, was it interesting with grandpa and grandma"? The daughter answered: "Yes mother, it was very interesting, I played a lot, often helped the grandparents, and I learned a lot. I also saw how poor our family is, and yet they are much richer than us". This astonished the mother, she asked the daughter how she came up with such an idea. "Mother, we have only one dog, but our grandparents have many animals. We only have a small swimming pool, but at your parents' house there is a big lake. We have many lamps on the property, but in the yard here there are millions of stars that I could look at every night. Our property is bigger than the neighbors', but we look at the back wall of their houses, my grandparents can see all the way to the horizon."

Then the mother understood!

NOT HE WHO HAS LITTLE, BUT HE WHO DESIRES MUCH, IS POOR

- LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA - ROMAN PHILOSOPHER AND DRAMATIST- 1 TO 65

When we internalize the Buddha's teaching, we are rich, rich in inner peace, in tranquility, balanced and in the pure. Poverty and wealth are two sides of the same coin. Because it is only up to us how we look at wealth and poverty, the feeling arises from our contemplation. Even without having a single coin in our pockets, we can be very rich people.

Love comes like a thief - unexpectedly

We all want to be loved and to love. Love is beautiful, builds us up, gives us strength, we can move mountains when we love. Endless songs tell of beautiful love stories, there are love movies, love novels, a whole industry takes on love.

Not everyone will experience love in his life; others possibly several times, karma is karma, the history of our life is predetermined.

It doesn't help to beg fate, to present our wishes to the gods, love comes unexpectedly, just like a thief.

But what helps is to look forward to love, to prepare ourselves and our "I" for this possible moment, to become and be the person we want to present, the person we can be. In any case, if we make an effort for love, it is right and important.

Let's take examples:

A man who drinks all the time, gambles away his money, doesn't think about tomorrow, seeks only his satisfaction, would he be in great demand with women?

A woman who lets herself go, who doesn't care about her appearance, would she be in high demand among men?

Sure, a stereotypical approach, very graphic examples. But apt.

If you always liked to drink too much, you will behave like that in the future, love or not.

If you already always do not take care of yourself, then love will also hardly bring a change.

The correction must happen soon, we can't expect a partner to "change" us, that's not his job either. And this partner should not want to change us at all, otherwise the conditions are wrong. He should love us as we are.

We must become the person whom the partner can love without "if" and "but", i.e. we must "love ourselves" before we can be loved.

According to Buddhist teachings, everything is already written. So it is also already written if and when we will recognize our behavior, if we might even find "enlightenment". And also whether we find love is already determined.

And remember, love comes when you don't expect it.

THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN BEING LOVED, LOVED FOR ITS OWN SAKE OR RATHER IN SPITE OF ITSELF

- VICTOR HUGO - FRENCH WRITER - 1802 TO 1885

5 blind and 1 elephant

5 Blind Men and 1 Elephant

At the court of a popular king there lived many learned men who served him as advisors.

No matter what the subject, there were always disputes between the many "experts"; the experts did not agree on anything.

The quarrels became more violent every day, the palace was filled with bickering and strife. The king decided to remedy the situation, he thought about what he could do. One day he had a good idea.

Among his advisors were five blind men who, due to their age, had lost their sight. He had these men led in front of an elephant, they were to get an overview only by their sense of touch, and then report to the king, in the presence of all the other advisors, what it was all about, describe what they felt.

The first scholar was led to the side of the elephant, he felt an ear, he reached around the large surface, felt the brittle surface. He thought: "According to the smell it is an elephant, but according to the feeling it is a big leaf".

The second educated blind man had his turn, he was placed in front of the elephant, felt the trunk. He spoke: "Yes, it smells like an elephant, but it is an arm, long and strong".

The next scholar was directed to the rear of the animal, he felt the tail of the colossus. He too agreed with the previous men, "it smells like an elephant, yes, but it feels like a rope, with a brush on the end".

The fourth blind man was led to one leg of the elephant, he said "yes, the smell is strong, but since this is a riddle of the king, it can't be an elephant, I think it is a pillar".

Then came the turn of the last of the selected blind scholars, he was placed at the belly of the animal. He too admitted that it smelled like an elephant, but he also believed that the king was trying to "hoodwink" them, he thought it was a large spiky surface, and therefore not an animal.

The king began to smile, he said: "Oh you scholars, how can you not recognize such a simple thing, it is of course an elephant. But I wanted to show you that it is often different than it seems at first, nothing is really simple, every matter has its difficulties, before you quarrel again in the future, you should remember this elephant, this moment. And everyone at my court has seen how difficult it is to recognize an elephant, to describe it, everyone has felt something different, felt it. And only because you lack one sense, the eyesight. And how is it only with smaller things, with those that are harder to describe, harder to understand, complicated and complex"?

All the scholars understood what the king wanted to tell them, they now realized. And also why he had staged this spectacle was now obvious.

The example with the elephant should not be forgotten so quickly by all advisors at the court.

As a Buddhist, one should not judge or evaluate.

FIRST LOOK AT YOURSELF, THEN JUDGE ME!

- SPEAKING WORD –

The color of our skin

You think you can determine your life?

I tell you, nothing you can determine!

Have you chosen your "skin color"? Or the "color of your hair"? Their "sex"? Or the "place" where you were born?

NO

You did not determine any of these things, you did not choose any of these things. You were born in a certain body, in a certain place, at a certain time, all this you did not choose yourself, it was your karma!

THE ROMAN POET OVID WROTE CA. 25 V. CHR.: "EVERYONE SHOULD KEEP THE LIMITS OF HIS DESTINY".

If therefore already the corner points of our existence were not determinable by us, how do we get the idea that we could determine over our life?

This question would be worth a consideration, don't you think?

And what would be the conclusion from such a thought? Would it be possible that we simply follow our karma, not being able to change anything or very little about it?

YES

According to Buddha's philosophy, everything is already fixed, is "already written", so to speak. Even if, and when, we find "enlightenment" is predetermined.

For example, if you start thinking about your "I" while reading this text, then this was also predetermined. "Who am I," is the question of all questions. This leads to other points, such as "where do I come from"? And, "where am I going"?

In answering them, the teachings (of the teacher of all teachers) can help us quite significantly.

If we get involved with Buddhism, this results in a completely different approach to our lives, peace and serenity are the consequences. If I can't determine anything, then I don't have to get upset about anything, thoughts can calm down, the mind palace starts to give us joy, the voices in our head become quieter, fade away, disappear into nothingness.

The worries and troubles are now replaced by another thought: "Can it be that Buddha has shown us the right way with the subject of "enlightenment""? Therefore, the central question for every Buddhist is: "What is enlightenment"? And from this arise further issues: "Do I want to find enlightenment? And how can I do that"?

Should you embark on the journey to "awakening", make the decision to follow the teachings of Buddha, this decision was also their karma, it was also predetermined.

Just as their "skin color", the "color of their hair", their "gender" and the "place of birth", are and were also their karma.

YOU ARE OF THE KIND OF PEOPLE, HE SAID, WHO EASILY GET USED TO A PLACE, NOT EASILY TO A DESTINY. TO ALL SUCH THE UNSTEADY WAY OF LIFE IS PRESCRIBED, SO THAT THEY MAY PERHAPS REACH A SECURE WAY OF LIFE

- JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE - GERMAN POET - 1749 TO 1832

Buddhism and the right tempo

Every person has his or her own pace, his or her typical energy level. In the modern world, people are rushing through their lives, stressed and under pressure.

I, for example, always have a fast pace, often have a lot to do, rush from appointment to appointment, and am always on the go in my private life.

Lately, however, I've been noticing a slight pain in my left hip (when walking fast), which got me thinking about my pace and energy level. After all, in a previous blog post I had written about the "walking meditation" that keeps me busy. In short, I looked at my energy level and decided to slow down for once, to process things more carefully, more accurately, and pay particular attention to walking more slowly.

From a Buddhist point of view, my life is locked into my "karma" anyway, the things that are supposed to happen to me will come exactly as they must, so why rush.

And anyway, the hurry serves in principle only the fulfillment of my desires and needs, according to the teaching of the Buddha only a "desire and needless man" is also happy.

What has the haste and the sense of duty of the last years actually brought me? Can I still remember it?

Now I do the exact opposite. And I have a lot of joy doing it.

Often I find myself wanting to "storm off", then the slight pain reminds me of my energy level and I switch back.

I would like to recommend every reader to take a closer look at their own energy level and to question their own motives. And above all, does the pace serve to satisfy your ego?

Do I walk slowly or quickly? Do I eat hastily or at my leisure? Do I leave enough time for my loved ones? What energy level suits me. Can I play with the energy?

In any case, you should then put this energy level in relation to your wants and needs.

The right pace is an important building block for the journey to "awakening", to "enlightenment".

A great journey always begins with a small step, the question now is at what pace!

MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT KIND OF PACE THEY COULD HAVE, IF ONLY THEY WOULD RUB THE SLEEP OUT OF THEIR EYES FOR ONCE

- CHRISTIAN MORGENSTERN - GERMAN POET - 1871 TO 1914

Excuses and Buddhist Answers

Every human being has "talked himself out of it" at one time or another. The boundary between an excuse and a lie is fluid, the more often one uses "white lies" the more fluently they roll off the tongue.

If something is important to us, we will find a way to realize it, to stay on it, we become creative, develop strength and think about how it could be done. If something is not important to us, our ego creates excuses, evasions and lies.

Do we want to be lied to ourselves? NO, nobody wants to be deceived.

But when it suits ourselves, the "talking ourselves out of it" always works very well.

Christianity says: "Do not do to others what you do not want done to you".

With the excuses and the lies it is so that everything is good, as long as the thing does not attract attention, however, if then the number is "blown", the big misery begins.

Personally, I try not to lie, and have often spoiled a lot for myself by doing so. Could it be that some people would rather be lied to than know the truth?

YES

Confronting the truth yourself can be incredibly problematic, painful and unfamiliar for many, preferring to keep up appearances, pretending everything is fine, living in a dream.

The world is as it is, who accepts it, comes (from my point of view) simply better through the time, has less ballast, can be more liberated and act more carefree.

But that requires HONESTY, being honest with others, but mainly with yourself.

Excuses are lies, little lies, but lied is lied, there is no such thing as a little pregnant!

Start being honest, answer better, not when you are angry, do not promise anything when you are happy. And don't decide anything when you are sad! Usually nothing good comes out of it.

The noble Buddha shows us his way, we have to walk it ourselves!

Prudence requires time and effort, but above all honesty.

- Plato - Greek philosopher - 427 to 347 before the year zero

I have not noticed that the honesty of people increases with their wealth

- Thomas Jefferson - Third American president - 1743 to 1826

Honesty and openness make you vulnerable, be honest and open anyway

- Mother Teresa - Catholic Blessed, Religious Sister and Missionary - 1910 to 1997

What does a master give me?

The question arises: "What advantage does a Chan master bring me, what can he give me"?

The central theme of Buddhism is "enlightenment", the teaching of the teacher of all teachers is about "awakening". Certainly Buddha said and did many wise things, but what made him really special and unique was the (re)discovery of "enlightenment".

Nowadays, when we strive for "enlightenment", the very approach turns out to be very difficult. Buddha did not leave his teachings in writing, all Buddhist texts were written down long after his death. Over the centuries, various interpretations were added, the views and customs of the respective countries were taken into account, and the views changed over the centuries. Important teachers shaped Buddhism by their personal views, over the centuries the philosophy of Buddha was changed more and more, thereby the core of Buddha's teaching (awakening) receded further and further into the background.

If we look at his main statement isolated, we could summarize: "Life is suffering, the way out is "enlightenment", every person can awaken, the "enlightenment" is already within us"!

In modern life many people find it very difficult to follow the path of Buddha, much has changed in the world since the days of the holy man. Hectic, fast pace, technology, constraints, many things have developed since then, only the problems and worries have remained for people, but just in completely new packaging. The struggle for life has changed, life itself has remained almost unchanged over time. The questions: does he love me, is she cheating on me, will we get through the time, will I stay healthy? These issues have remained the same, only the environment has totally changed.

Those who begin the journey to "awakening" today do not have it easy. Just to struggle through the various Buddhist teachings takes a lot of time and patience. But a Chan master can help other people in their "awakening" by talking again and again about the core of the teachings, by leading people back to their self, by revealing their inner self, by taking away what is alien to them, what is useless and empty covering their being, and also by making it difficult for them to see their own "I".

A teacher leads gently through the Buddhist philosophy, he makes people think, shows solutions, develops the personality of the students, helps them to wisdom, to see through. He conveys love, kindness and values, he shows the way, but you have to walk it yourself.

Through a teacher one has no real advantages, he brings us nothing that we could not do and make ourselves. He can not make the journey for others, but he can help, comparable to a tour guide on a package tour, nothing that you could not do without him, he is not really important, his contribution is small.

And that is exactly why he is so important!

Three things make a good master: Knowledge, skill and will.

If we meet Buddha for a short, tiny moment at the end of the journey, then we don't need him as a guide anymore either!

Learning and not thinking is useless.

Thinking and not learning is useless.

- Confucius - Kong Fuzi (Chinese 孔夫子) - Chinese philosopher - 551 BC to 479 BC.

To think in one's own way is not selfish. He who does not think in his own way does not think at all

- Oscar Wilde - Irish writer - 1854 to 1900

Nothing is mine

WITH WORRIES THE GATE SPEAKS: "MY MONEY AND MY CHILDREN!"

"HIS" IS NOT EVEN HIMSELF, BUT CHILD AND MONEY EVEN LESS.

- BUDDHA-

Nothing belongs to us, even the dirt under our nails is not ours. We will perish, crumble into shreds, our bones will turn to dust, coming from nothingness, the journey for our body will go back to the lack of content, to emptiness.

And then we say: "My son, my daughter, my money, my house, my car, mine, mine, mine"!

Nothing is mine!

And nothing is yours either! We can use things, share our time with people, walk part of the way together, make friends, have a partner, father children, keep animals, but they are not ours.

The sooner we understand this, the quicker we can turn to the deeper understanding of our own self, take care of our badly neglected self.

Does the idea frighten you, do you fear the end of your existence, the all-encompassing aloneness, the infinity of the universe?

If your answer is a "yes", a spiritual approach to your own self can be an important step towards the awakening described by the historical Buddha as the salvation of all suffering. Enlightenment as a way out of the cycle of all being.

Are you interested in the Buddha's teachings?

The concept of awakening seems unusual to us at first, but can the answer to our questions be so simple? Yes, it is even much simpler. The journey towards "enlightenment" starts with a decision, with the decision to get involved in this thing, to try it.

And honestly, what do you have to lose? If you don't like the journey, you can always turn back, decide anew each day. Buddhism is not a faith, it is a philosophy, Buddha was not a god and did not want to be worshipped. You don't have to make a profession of faith to become a Buddhist, you have to deal with a worldview, contemplate the teachings of Buddha.

Think about it, nothing belongs to us, everything is transient.

Just the journey to "enlightenment" can be incredibly satisfying, provide deep peace, make life significantly easier.

It would be worth a try, don't you think?

Property is theft

- Pierre Joseph Proudhon - French Economist and Sociologist - 1809 to 1865

Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana

- Bill Gates - US entrepreneur, programmer and patron of the arts - born 1955

The appearance of property is an effect of the institution of the state

- Thomas Hobbes - English mathematician, state theorist and philosopher – 1588

The wise ruler

In a beautiful land once ruled a king, but on his territory the people were poor, the harvests were changeable, the soil difficult to cultivate. The subjects feared the king and because of the many famines they were dissatisfied and disappointed, they blamed their ruler for their predicament.

Now the ruler truly could not change anything about the circumstances, he tried his best, but his possibilities were limited.

On a particularly beautiful day, the ruler called his subjects together in the main square; he had news to announce. With grumbling the inhabitants of his capital gathered, full of fear and curiosity they waited closely for the appearance of their regent.

What will come, what is so important to call a meeting?

The worries of the waiting people increased, the clamor of voices reached its peak when finally the monarch appeared in front of his palace. The king greeted the waiting crowd politely and with great kindness, the people's worries quickly diminished, the people hung spellbound on his lips.

My son shall not grow up as a prince, the king said, he shall get to know the life of the people normally, like any other child of my people in my country, without privileges, without status. Only then will he become a good king, only then will he truly understand his subjects. So I gave my son to a family some time ago, his new parents do not know who he is, I exchanged the child of a simple family with my son, the other child is now growing up here in the palace.

But I instruct you to take good care of my son, no harm shall come to him, if something happens to him I will call you all to account!

Then the ruler said goodbye and went back to his palace. The crowd remained perplexed, and after a while they all went their separate ways.

But in the minds of the subjects what they had heard remained ever present, no one forgot the words of the monarch. And they began to treat all the children in the city and in the country very well, after all, every child could be the king's child.

Time passed, year after year passed, the children grew up, had children of their own, still no one knew who the prince was.

Through the love and new cohesion of the community among themselves, the city and the country developed splendidly, the territory of the ruler developed rapidly, there were many

Schools, libraries and hospitals were built, and children's voices were also heard more than in other countries; a child's opinion now carried great weight in this country.

People were content and happy, achieved a certain prosperity, the country was unrecognizable.

And why?

Because everybody treated everybody like a king.

WHAT YOU TELL ME, I FORGET. WHAT YOU SHOW ME, I REMEMBER. WHAT YOU MAKE ME DO, I UNDERSTAND.

- CONFUCIUS - KONG FUZI (CHINESE 孔夫子) - CHINESE PHILOSOPHER - 551 B.C. CHR. UNTIL 479V. CHR.