Though in our Western culture we tend to think of Buddhism as a religion, it is essentially a spiritual path for understanding our essential nature and ending suffering. In Greece, the famous inscription at the temple of Delphi advised: Know t h ysel f . The journey of the Siddhartha Gauthama Shakamuni, commonly referred to as the Buddha, followed just that directive. Through sitting meditation (zazen) he attained four insights, called The Four Noble Truths followed by the Eightfold Path, the fundamentals of every form of Buddhism worldwide. The Four Noble Truths: 1. Nothing lasts forever. We are frustrated or miserable when pleasant things come to an end. This is called impermanence, often stated as "all life is suffering". 2. This suffering starts because we develop ideas, ideologies and religions that suit our wish for impermanence. We like to make or see things the way we want them to be, not how they actually are. This is called illusion, often referred to as "desire". 3. There is a way out of this. It is our liberation. We can teach ourselves to let go of our illusions and attachments, so that we don't have to
suffer as much when things change, as they inevitably will. This truth is called freedom from confinement or extinction. It is like having a key to our jail cell or blowing out a candle that is burning us. 4. There is a path to liberation from suffering and getting burned by our expectations. This path runs between the extremes of hedonism and asceticism.
Meditation The way to this liberation must be grounded in meditation, the eighth branch of the Eightfold Path. Through sitting still, emptying the mind of all thoughts and clearing it from clutter, we come to understand how to embody the other seven parts of the path and attain freedom. When we temporarily remove the distractions of a busy life, we begin to see how reactive the mind really is. It is quite revealing to observe how many activities we do without thinking, i.e., subconsciously. Basic meditation is to simply sit still, for perhaps 15 to 20 minutes a day in the beginning, just being aware of the breath as it moves in and out of the body. Thoughts seem to come and go, demanding attention, like "Get up!" "What are you doing here", "Feed the kids!" "Pay the bills!" "Did you remember to turn off the stove?" "Maybe the house is on fire." etc. — During meditation, whenever we find ourselves adding more thoughts to the baggage, we keep concentrating on our breath, a simple act as always being in the present moment.
The Noble Eightfold Path 1. Right view 2. Right thought 3. Right speech 4. Right action 5. Right livelihood 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right meditation
Liberation After a long period of awareness and many worries and concerns racing around, we begin to notice their ebbing. We discover that we are not entirely made up of anxiety, anger and obligation. When fears start to recede, detachment begins. This is when meditation becomes beneficial. We learn how to let go of disparaging attitudes toward oneself and others. Compassion springs up like grass after rainfall. Anger, greed and ignorance loosen their grip. The negative actions of others seem less important; and the small everyday moments in life are brought to mind as beautiful. We focus more on making better choices and forgiving ourselves for mistakes. We are no longer prisoners of our thoughts. If we devote ourselves fully to this process, a deeper connection to life emerges. In this awareness are the roots of awakening and the path towards enlightenment. We become a Buddha, one who is awake. How do we assess a spiritual path whether it makes us more grounded, focused and aware, more compassionate? If your personal path seems to be lacking these elements, you may want to begin with just sitting meditation.
Lotus Zen Temple Lincoln, Nebraska www.lotustemple.us (402) 430-4431
Monday , Tuesday, Wednesday 7 p.m. meditation Thursday 5 p.m. meditation Friday as announced Saturday closed Sunday 10:30 a.m. Meditation and Dharma Service
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If you have not meditated before, please come 15 minutes early the first time for a brief introduction. Please call 430-4431 to confirm attendance since times may vary occasionally. ______________________ Zen Retreats and Training throughout the year
(Friday 7:00 p.m. to Sunday noon) • • • • January (MLK weekend): Winter Retreat May (Memorial Day weekend): Spring Retreat Aug./Sept. (Labor Day weekend): Summer Retreat November (Thanksgiving weekend): Fall Retreat Please ask for details
What is Buddhism?
A guide to understand the basic aim of the Buddhist spiritual path