I found quite an interesting book during my voluntary work in SABS temple at Wesak Day. The way who the book is written strike me profoundly (though I didn't finish the book...). The book was entitled "the four Noble truth.
But before that, I need to clarify one point. I am not a staunch Buddhist as you guys might think. I might consider myself as a skeptic, or even an atheist. Strictly speaking, I didn't consider myself as a follower of any religion.
And maybe because of that I was not shackled by any religion's bias . Only because of that I can view other religions from an unbiased point of view. It might be ok for me to glance through the verses of Quran and Bible without any bias. I would rather view religions as a researcher or student view, rather as a believer. Regardless of existence of god, I believed that there are wisdoms inside every religion that we should study.
And if that so some people might ask me why am I joining the dharma talk almost every Sunday and participated in certain activities of Buddhism...
True is, I viewed Buddhism as a way to live, not as a religion. And while listening to the talks, I might gain something which might prove useful in my life. Dharma talk is not about something religion term- sophisticated stuff, it was just something related to our daily life such as how to relieve stress.
I might not know how this karma thingy works, but at least I know something useful throughout the session.
Ok, back to the topic. (if this post is too religious kindly let me know so that I will do sth to this.)
The book talks about suffering....
Suffering?
Yep, it is quite some sophisticated stuff. Suffering is not defined as extreme suffer such as you are smacked by a 10000tonne stuff, or extreme tragic fate. It is about impermanence, unsatisfactoriness that we might deal in our daily life.
For example, " I think I get fat, I need to diet again," by a miss yuin yi that had just finished her KFC. She is not satisfied, then she is suffering...
.............???????( even i get confused)
And most of us tend to get angry or sad because we tend to associate the unsatisfactoriness with themselves. For example, we keep to say that sorrow is our sorrow, problem is my problem etc. However is that any difference between your sadness and other sadness? Is Mr. A feeling of sadness differs? No, it's the same.
And by knowing that you can see sadness not as your own, and then only you will acknowledge it better, from a third eye view when you can see your problem clearly...
And suddenly I had an "weird" idea. Can people view themselves as others, or simply speaking, can people view themselves from an unbiased view?
Try an example. You're dumped by your girlfriend and out of anger you smacked her to unconscious. You might justify your act by saying "she being unfaithful to me, and she deserve it etc.
Even though from third point of view, you're just a guy that is being unsatisfied and childish. But will you think of sth like that?
No...most probably......and you will come out with lots of reason to justify your own action.
You might be thinking I do this because of etc etc even though from unbiased view you are just being selfish.
Believe me, it is hard to do "looking urself from unbiased view" because we are often restricted by the frame "I"
But if we can do that, we might attain some invaluable wisdoms and knowledge about life, as well as a confidence of your own act and knowledge in every moment.
This is the concept of "non-self"
Hope you can correct me if any details mistake and it is not religious post despite the word "buddhism" it is only a philosophical point of view.
ZZZZZZ I still have much to learn.....
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1 comment:
I like your post. =)
You don't have to be religious to go to the temple or the buddhist association. buddhism is a really liberal religion *though some will disagree with me*
for me, buddhism is a way of life as well as a religion. it's the way i govern my life. i choose not to hurt others due to the law of karma, i choose not to accept blindly and evaluate everything; and whatever happens, i bear fruit to my karma.
which by my spouting buddhist philosophy, many wondered why i go to church more than i go to temple here. one particularly interesting and funny one is that my crush is christian. lol.
it's just i don't know why, i don't like the environment in sabc. the ambience is wrong, somewhat. according to kalama sutta, i can choose. if i feel it's not going to benefit it~ i can reject it. and if it is beneficial~ and make me a wholesome person, i can follow. somehow going church here gives me a sense of peace and contentment. so i go~ no restrictions.
that's what i love about buddhism, well, at least, the version i grew up with in my hometown. heck, i am sure none of my religious leaders/friends will condemn me for converting if i want to so long it makes me a better person.
you don't have to be religious to go to sabc. you don't have to be a buddhist. i consider myself agnostic, and i go to both buddhist associations and churches.
don't feel apologetic for it. i am glad that you realized we will be perpetually biased, and that suffering can be found in the smallest matter after going to sabc. you are one step closer to enlightenment, and surely wiser already.
=)
by the way, sorry for writing a novel here. i simply could not resist... the post seemed so unlike the JK image i have been 'fed' with, and i have to say, i like this side of you more.
lol. may the blessings of the triple gem be upon you always.
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