What is Buddhism?

in travel •  7 years ago 

faith015.jpg

We were sat on some Himalayan hills smoking under the twinkling stars, my guide turned to me and passed the joint, blue plumes of smoke wisped up into the near atmosphere.

faith012.jpg

‘What do you think is the secret they keep in the monasteries?’

I was a little taken back by the question; I was in Bhutan and had surely travelled so many miles to get a glimpse at the answer to that myself. In a country where Buddhism is the staple of tradition, culture and society, I had made the assumption that the eight-fold pathway was laid out at school and that these guys knew how to do it all properly – a bit like taking swimming lessons or learning how to do algebra, as though incorporating a new task into a daily routine.

‘I mean’, he added, ‘I get so much pleasure from smoking, drinking, and women, and yet I am told that I cannot smoke tobacco, that I must leave the marijuana for the pigs, and that I must marry and bear children. And here I am at 28 years old married with one child, another on the way and a complete sense of dissatisfaction with life. My thoughts race at night, I feel trapped and at times I am plagued by anxiety about how mundane my life has become. This is the only view I fear I will ever see, and my wife’s face the only one I will ever wake up to’

‘Is it peace of mind and satisfaction that you want?’ I asked, empathising with and intrigued by the confusion that existed within my friend. ‘And is this the secret that you think is guarded within the walls of the monasteries?’

‘I think so,’ he replied, choking a little on the strength of the Himalayan hashish. For a moment more he contemplated – we each sat enthralled by the silhouettes of hills interlocking within our sights - subtle suggestions at a change of shade, making us all aware of the un-weaving multi dimensional Himalayan panorama,

india024.jpg

‘I watch monks every time I visit temples and monasteries with tourists, and they all look miserable, I mean, I never see them smile! I think they need a night out, a good fuck and some of this charras!’

His friend interjected and told us that he finds great peace in meditation and suggested that my guide should visit the temple more frequently to say his prayers, although agreed that life without women and smoking would be difficult indeed. We all paused in search of an answer or a solution to the many questions that erupted into our consciousness’s.

faith014.jpg

‘Perhaps,’ I concluded ‘we need to shave our heads, swop our jeans for robes and head down the monastery – and the cost of that answer will be our vices.’

faith017.jpg

I first encountered ‘Buddhism’ in Dharamsala, in north India. I had headed out on my intrepid travels as a young adult, in search of some truths and to ‘find my self’, so to speak. The conclusion I had come to after several long dusty and hot weeks, was that getting stoned in the sunshine was the answer to all of my worries. Although it wasn’t; plagued by a cycle of thinking and in a self induced stupor I complained that I was fed up and that I had had enough of India and that I was ready to go home, although I was more than aware that going home was not the solution to any of my issues.

I was staying in the hills on a small farm and felt that I needed to re-integrate with society after a few weeks of smoking copious amounts of dope and doing nothing but watching eagles circle and shout along tunelessly to the greatest hits of Paul Simon which I played on my CD Walkman. If not to engage or communicate with anyone but to remind myself also that I was indeed alive.

In the village I read that the Dalai Lama was giving a series of talks over several days and that these were open to all to attend. I had heard of him, but didn’t really know who he was or what Buddhism was all about. Intrigued, I decided to enrol, and after following the relevant procedures attended the following day at the monastery.

My initial perception of the guy was a cheerful small man surrounded by armed guards that escorted him to his throne, preventing the desperate population of local devotees from getting too close. As he entered the hall, monks around me threw rice like confetti. During loud chants the family next to me offered me some puffed rice, and I took it assuming that I was to throw it; landing over the monk in front of me, my hosts smiled awkwardly as they gestured that I was to eat the stuff. I apologised to the bloke in front of me and sat patiently, unsure of what was happening, however observed other foreigners tuning personal radio’s, and having bought one on the way in took this as a cue.

There were two options regarding the fm radios – one cost 100 rps, the other 350 rps, they both looked identical to some degree however came with the advice that the cheaper one wouldn’t be able to receive the translation frequency. I smiled smugly as I had been in India for several weeks by this point and of course was now seasoned to scams such as this one. I took the cheaper option and sat puzzled as to why I couldn’t find what the French woman was hearing to the left of me. She had spent an extra 250rps. I did however manage to find some trance music and considered this a compromise and settled into my own ‘meditation’. I received a couple of looks from the family next to me, and a tap on the shoulder from the French lady to my left as it seems that I should have invested in the more expensive headphones too.

I took this as my cue to leave quietly so as not to offend or disrupt any further proceedings, however left with intrigue about what this was all about and whether this was the solution I had been looking for. I spent the next few years exploring this concept further, trying to weave practices into daily rituals, travelling to countries of predominate influence, gazing at massive golden statue’s, and sitting peacefully in meditative thought.

My initial inspirations for travel where exotic images of maroon cloaked monks in temples awash with oriental mystery. I had stumbled upon ‘Buddhism’, it seems to me as though by accident. I had stood, thinking about those stupa’s, encased in precious metals and gems while starving people pleaded with me for money in between praying to Buddha to help them. I had attended courses as part of my work in mental health care that insisted that you could achieve mindfulness in a matter of days, and that the process began by putting a raisin in your mouth. In contrast I had seen monks in old age sat beneath huge prayer wheels, counting rosary beads, and wondered,

‘Do they not get raisins out here?’

faith027.jpg

So there I was sat in Bhutan, with the whole notion challenged again. Only this time the impact was greater; I was a feigning western hippy pretending to have some ‘insight’ and expansion of mind, but these guys, to me where the heart of everything that I wanted to understand about life and the soul of what I felt I needed to know about myself, and they simply felt the same.

After a few years of wondering, I’ve come to the personal conclusion that the answers to all of these questions are delivered through the course of human experience and that with patience that is afforded with age, they are answers that we will all receive in some form or another at some point along the way. I’ve also begun to learn that everyone treads their own path and that the answers that they seek will be delivered in due course. Although it would be nice to put some supernatural attribution to the whole process, I’m starting to think that simply by living, and by doing, instead of smoking and thinking is where the magic in it all exists.

Thoughts and comments appreciated, Full Steem Ahead!!

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!
Sort Order:  

If you really want to understand Buddhism, search for a Lama, a teacher who suits you. Take refuge and get instructions, initiations for your spiritual practice. ;-)
Start small, try to practice every day, develop devotion to your practice, contemplate and exchange with your teacher and other devotees. :-)
You don't need to be a monk to practice Buddhism.
Look at Milarepa, Marpa, Saraha and the other great yogis. ;-)

Actually practising Buddhism cannot be aim . Aim is always to undertand what is mind and body. When you start exploring mind you will observe body is changing all the time. Every particle born and dies several times every second and this has been proven by scientists which was discovered by buddha 2500 years ago. When you understand this you have to keep trying reducing the gap between conscious ans unconscious mind. This takes ages. One this is done you will be at bliss. Practising Buddhism is like living a monk. Following a certain way of life. Which may not take you where you want to go. Dor example many buddhist countries citizens do not even know about Vipassana. Which was discovered by Buddha and taught by him 2500 years ago. Every single human beign can become buddha.. amd buddha said I am not the first Buddha there have been many in the past and many will become in future.

Thanks for your insights! Ill carry on treading my own path and wish you all the best with yours!! :-)

My best wishes to you.

Thanks, think you missed the point I was making though, I don't want to understand buddhism anymore, Id much rather live my life!! All the best :-)

Do Vipassana. Unless you practise this form of meditation you wont understand Buddha.. If you dont understand budhha then no point talking about Buddhism. I dont blame you though most people are confused today when they want to walk on the path of spirituality.

Whem we say I want to get enlightened. We need to understand what we are seeking. Once you experience that every particle in universe is imparmanant in mature then mind does nt distinguish between good or bad, it stays in equilibrium. It stays in bliss mode. This state of bliss is what you seek in spirituality. This state is blissfull ness cannot be described in words because it is beyond your five senses.

Through the practise of Vipassana this can be achieved . Because buddha gave vipassana to the world.

Thanks for taking the time to read!! I considered Vipassana, but then realised that it sounds like a long time doing nothing and contemplating, when I could be out there doing, each to their own though and all the best :-)

Yes it takes time. Best thing to do is contribute to society, help others all the time. The more you give more will be returned to you. Best example is steemit community.

very good point @shrinivasdontul, I think that the point I was trying to gain for myself by writing this is that perhaps some of the philosophies are best incorporated rather than mulled over for lengthy periods within the confines of a strict regime such as a religion. If we all committed more time to practice instead of thinking about doing hopefully the world would be a better place for it too. All the best :-)

Such a great read!

Thanks for taking the time to read :-)

I thoroughly enjoyed your piece here and was heartened to find that, in your closing paragraph, you pretty much concluded what came to my 52 year old mind by paragraph 2 or 3!

However, speaking as I do to spirit these days, I tell you esoteric/supernatural energy is at work in the background gently guiding us all to fullfil our life mission ~ whatever that may be.

:)

However, freewill is king and is never thwarted which means that many off us meander off piste at times.

I invite you to pass by mine for a browse if you have time.

And thank-you for a crackin' read.

Be well.

xox

Thanks for taking the time to read!! Hoping that I'm on to something then by just accepting things as they are and cracking on?! Really enjoying looking through your profile :-)

In a nutshell, we all sit and dream, and most of us wish, or pray, when in fact the simple solution for most things in people's lives is to just DO! I contemplate life, I mull over things that annoy me, but most of the time actually taking action to make a change, I let another day drift by and allow my mind to do the rest, which is nothing in the real world!

I say that people should try things in life while they can, as there really is no quick answer to anything in life other than getting away from a keyboard, and go outside into the real world and communicate with other people.

This was a very nice read, and you sound as though you are well aware yourself of​ what YOU have to do to achieve what YOU want!

Thanks for reading and full steam ahead :-)

This is awesome dude, really enjoyed reading it - it's written perfectly! This is exactly what Steemit is perfect for, this post seriously deserves a much bigger upvote than I can give it!

This post has been resteemed from MSP3K courtesy of @creativesoul from the Minnow Support Project ( @minnowsupport ).

Bots Information:

Join the P.A.L. Discord | Check out MSPSteem | Listen to MSP-Waves

Thank you!! :-)

Personally, i think we complicate our lives too much. Ive never met a monk, but I believe they keep life simple. And thats why they seem content. Nice travels man.

I agree mate, the simpler I keep things, the quieter my mind seems to be, hope you're good :-)

I'm fine, hope you are too. It's getting more difficult to keep things simple with the pressures of life

Buddhism is simple. Being conscious about everything you do, knowing what implications they will have and still living in the present.

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

I have a few questions:

  • How long ago was this?
  • How long did you stay there to come to this conclusion:

I’ve come to the personal conclusion that the answers to all of these questions are delivered through the course of human experience and that with patience that is afforded with age, they are answers that we will all receive in some form or another at some point along the way.

  • What is your ultimate goal? Enlightenment? To be as content as you can be? Continue to determine what your goal is?
  • What habits have you adapted to push yourself towards your goal, if any?

Other than these questions, Buddhism, to me, is a philosophy. It is a set of guidelines that Buddha came up with and it's goal is to allow people to get out of Samsara (the cycle of birth and death) and escape suffering. Life is suffering and the way out is Nirvana. Easy to say but hard to do...

Now, obviously, there's more than just what you said or what I said concerning Buddhism. Just thought I'd drop my 2 cents here. Would love to talk to you more about this!

Hi @cabernet, thanks for reading. I intended this piece of writing to be a summery of my experiences over around 15/16 years with a hint of self depreciating irony intertwined. I travelled across asia over the 15/16 years with no ultimate goal, just to achieve some piece of mind, and after trying to figure out existence, our place and meaning in the world and ways to achieve some peace of mind and understanding of these basic questions, I tried yoga and mediation and meaningful employment / charity work and none of it gave me answers, just more to do, and so my own personal conclusion, which is the point i was trying to make (we all have our own experiences in life which bring us to certain conclusions), is that this all just gave me more to do and think about, so since dropping that way of thinking, Ive dropped a whole lot of baggage which I think I inadvertently acquired during my quest. And fully agree, I don't think any one person can sum up a religion or explain it succinctly to another individual, but as you say its just 2 cents worth, thought I hope through the power of Steem it might be worth a few more ;-) In summery Ive realised that I personally get a lot more satisfaction and peace of mind by just doing and being, as a opposed to over thinking and not really doing much! You've got a great profile, Ill look forward to following your posts :-)

thought I hope through the power of Steem it might be worth a few more ;-)

Haha I see what you did there :P

I agree with you. Instead of overthinking what you need to do or how you need to feel, just focus on doing the best you can. Express gratitude and find yourself. Everything else will follow! :)