Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
Religion & Spirituality:Buddhism
The mind is the creator of everything—all happiness and suffering. Thus, gaining control over the mind is the only real and reliable way to live a happy, peaceful life. Buddha said that "we make our destiny, “therefore, control yourself.”
To tame the mind, a practitioner relies on mindfulness. Although "mindfulness" is a broadly used term, its original meaning in Buddhist texts means remembering the right actions and avoiding the wrong ones. During meditation, this involves remembering and remaining on the meditation objective you’ve chosen. For example, when doing a breathing meditation like counting the breath, mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of the breath. However, in daily life, mindfulness means remembering our planned practice and staying aware of what our body, speech, and mind are up to!
Mindfulness refers to knowing what's going on in your body, speech, and mind and being mindful of your actions, words, and thoughts. When we’re mindful, we’re not acting on autopilot.
How does controlling the mind protect us from suffering?
The purpose of mindfulness is to control our minds and, therefore, our actions. According to Buddhist teachings, our harmful past actions, or karma, lead to misfortunes and dangers. An intention in the mind always precedes these actions, so negative karma comes from an uncontrolled mind. On the other hand, a disciplined mind restrains us from harmful actions and encourages virtuous behavior, keeping us safe. The Indian Buddhist master Shantideva said that taming our minds won't necessarily save us if we are attacked by a tiger, lion, or elephant. But it will prevent us from accumulating the karma that would lead to such dangers in the future.
How does controlling the mind lead to all happiness?
All good qualities come from the mind, including the six perfections of a Bodhisattva: generosity, ethical discipline, patience, joyful effort, concentration, and wisdom. From good habits in the mind, like these, arise good intentions, so we give to others. We are patient and kind. We make an effort to meditate and so forth, creating good actions or karma. From good karma comes every happiness we experience, as Taylor Swift sings in her song “Karma:”
“Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend
Karma's a relaxing thought
Aren't you envious that for you it's not?
Sweet like honey, karma is a cat
Purring in my lap 'cause it loves me”
Good karma ripens as anything from having a mind predisposed to happiness, generosity, or patience, to pleasant experiences like seeing a beautiful sunset. Training our minds in good habits leads to positive actions, which directly leads to our moments of happiness and their causes.
Admonish yourself.
Control yourself.
O bhikkhu, self-guarded and mindful,
You will live happily. (379)
Oneself, indeed, is one’s own protector.
One does, indeed, make one’s own destiny.
Therefore, control yourself
As a merchant does a fine horse. (380)
--Buddha, The Dhammapada
Links to References
Buddha.The Dhammapada. Translated by Gil Fronsdale. (Kindle). Shambala, Boston and London, 2011 (Link)
Buddha (1986).The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories. Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. (Website). Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon. Courtesy .of Nibbana.com. For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma.
https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=379
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Episode 195 - Feel before you act
Episode 194 - Enjoying without attachment
Episode 193: Compassion as antidote to anger
Episode 192 - Solving Anger with Dharma
Important Announcement
Episode 191 - Got problems? Buddha has solutions.
Episode 190 - Renunciation: This is the way
Episode 189 - Transforming the Three Poisons
Episode 188 - Practicing Impermanence
Episode 187 - Cleaning up bad karma
Episode 186 - Change your view and everything changes
Episode 185 - How to Transform through Buddha's Teachings
Episode 184: The Art of Ethical Living
Episode 183 - How to prevent anger
Episode 181 - Radiating Compassion
Episode 180 - Practicing Kindness Toward Ourselves
Episode 179 - Work with your greatest afflictions first
Episode 178 - Seeking The True Nature of Reality
Episode 177 - Thirst
Episode 176 - Light up this world like a moon set free
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