What is Buddhism? Applications - Final Chapter What is the Ideal Buddhist Way of Life?
Get link
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
In
light of what has been discussed in this series, what exactly constitutes the
ideal way of life?
Here
is a summary of the main points:
1. As
a follower of the Buddha's teachings, contribute to the well-being of all
living beings and take action to spread awareness that it is the duty of all
humankind to ensure that all living beings are free from suffering and able to
live in peace.
2. As
an advocate of the Buddhist Bodhisattva way of life, personally practice the
principle of valuing others as much as oneself, and strive to expand the circle
of empathy so that it becomes a common principle for all mankind.
3. Recognize
that all the events we experience in our daily lives reflect the accumulation
of our own actions from the past. Strive to improve the totality of our
accumulated actions by realizing their meaning for the present conditions and
improving our actions and way of thinking, especially toward others.
4. Understand
deeply the Buddhist principle of Dependent Originations and live in a way that
contributes to the well-being of all beings with whom we interact, realizing
that nothing we experience is unrelated to us.
5. In
daily interactions with others, always try to put ourselves in the other
person's shoes and make an effort to understand their thoughts and feelings,
rather than being caught up in our own viewpoints. Think about what we can do
to contribute to their happiness.
6. Recognizing
that we are kept alive by an infinite number of connections, both in the flow
of time and in the expanse of space, try to live in a way that allows us to
appreciate and give back to each of these connections.
7. Keep
in mind that although Buddhist scriptures are fundamentally for the study of
the Buddha's teachings, they are ultimately for the realization of all that we
are. When we recite the sutras, do so while being aware of the distance between
their contents and our current state of mind. Strive to become aware of areas
for self-improvement and share such awareness with the people around us.
8. By
reading the Buddhist scriptures and sharing what we have realized with those
around us, our awareness can become a catalyst for others to achieve their own
awareness. When that person shares their awareness with others, it may trigger
the awareness of many more people. In this way, the chain of awareness is
expected to spread infinitely in Mahayana Buddhism.
9. The
root of all evils that threaten the peaceful existence of human beings and
other living beings, causing suffering and sorrow, is human greed, selfishness,
hatred, envy, vanity, self-righteousness, and other follies. Buddhism teaches
the way to eliminate these vices from their roots. Therefore, to eliminate all
misery and sorrow in this world, all mankind can learn from Buddhism how to
eliminate our own vices by becoming aware of our foolishness and humbly
reflecting on it. We, as followers of the Buddha's teachings, should be aware
of our mission to make this known to all mankind.
10. Over
the years, superstitions, unscientific beliefs, misunderstandings, and
assumptions have led to unfortunate conflicts and great sacrifices. However,
Buddhist knowledge is so useful to everyone that modern science often validates
its teachings. In this sense, we should be aware that Buddhism can be an
indispensable guideline for the future of humanity, regardless of ideological
or religious differences, and we should make this fact known to the world.
These
points outline the ideal way of life for a follower of Buddhist teachings. It
is hoped that these guidelines and goals will be embodied in concrete actions
through the efforts and wisdom of each of us, and that the circle of such
actions will expand to all humankind.
I would
like to conclude this series by emphasizing once again that it is up to each of
us to make the most of the wisdom of Buddhism.
Thank
you very much for following along until the end.
(If you would like to watch this entire article with audio and subtitles on You Tube, please click on this link.)
(If you would like to watch this entire article with audio and subtitles on You Tube, please click on this link.) Although Buddhism has been thought to be enigmatic, extremely difficult to understand, and in many respects incomprehensible, advances in science are beginning to unravel many of its mysteries. Every time the latest science unravels the mysteries of the quantum and cosmos, it confirms the meaning and validity of Buddhist teachings that have been preached for 2,500 years. This series of videos is based on the latest scientific findings and attempts to unravel the mysteries of the core of Buddhism, which have been considered unexplained until now, and to show that Buddhism is not simply an oriental religion, but rather a source of wisdom that is extremely useful for all humankind.
Buddhism often appears as an enigmatic Eastern religion, its true purpose and ideas shrouded in mystery. The complexity arises partly from the diversity of Buddhist sects and their varied practices, making it challenging to grasp the underlying essence that unites them all. However, the difficulty in comprehending Buddhism extends beyond sectarian differences. Even fundamental Buddhist doctrines—such as the Middle Way, the Twelve Dependent Originations, and the concept of suffering—have been expounded in numerous commentaries, yet they remain elusive to many. Why does Buddhist thinking prove so elusive? The answer lies in the stark contrast between the Buddhist worldview and our everyday perspective. Typically, we adhere to naive realism, assuming that everyone perceives the same external world. Buddhism, however, asserts that the physical world is intertwined with our mental realm. Consider the Twelve Dependent Originations, which describe causal links leading to suffering. Mo
Comments
Post a Comment