Bodhi Mind Reflection

Happiness and Contentment

Damon Buren (Fa Dao 法道)

Several weeks ago I was watching a national news show that was covering a situation that involved a lot of violence at the Capitol.  I wasn’t aware of it but my six year old daughter noticed my reaction as I watched the tv and simply asked me, “why are they all so angry?”.   It was a simple question but it made me reflect on the Dharma teachings and how it may apply. 

I thought about the concept of greed, anger and ignorance as connected to suffering.  I considered how this manifests in me and I how it sneaks up on me.  

Although I’m not perfect, simply noticing that anger arising has been helpful.  It feels as though being mindful and aware that angry feelings and thoughts are occurring paradoxically helps me to let it go. 

Often I have thoughts that things should be a certain way when often times they aren’t.  Sometimes this is when the anger starts to subtly creep up on me.  Often it starts as annoyance and then starts to permeate my thoughts.  It enters my conversations with other people and it starts to color my experience.   

However, the more I can be mindful and bring some awareness and then eventually some compassion to the anger.  I start to realize how much damage it’s doing to me and to what end.  It’s like the saying about picking up a hot coal to throw at someone, the only person that gets burned is you.  Once I can untangle my thoughts from the anger it frees me to then make choices on how I want to deal with it.  

Sometimes I instead deal with it by turning off the news and spending more time with family.  Sometimes I try to advocate for purposes I feel are important in peaceful ways.  Other times I play with my dogs or learn something that’s interesting.  I can be more open to having conversations with people I disagree with and it still be okay.  

I am far from perfect at this but I have these experiences or moments that give me a sense of contentment and happiness despite the circumstances.  I feel more of a sense that I have a choice on how I want to deal with situations.  

菩提心旅

快樂與知足

Damon Buren (Fa Dao 法道)

數週前,我在國家新聞報導中看到國會暴動的情況。我沒覺察到什麼,但我六歲的女兒注意到我看電視時的反應,並簡單地問:「為什麼他們都這麼生氣?」那是個單純的問題,但它讓我反思佛法教義,以及如何應用。

我思考關於貪、瞋、癡和苦的關聯。我更進一步檢視這三毒如何悄然上身並反映在我的言行中。

雖然我並不完美,但如果能注意到自己瞋心生起就對我有幫助了。在保持正念和覺察瞋心矛盾地交互作用下, 我學習了放下。

通常我會認定事情應該是什麼樣貌,然而卻經常事與願違。有時這就是怒氣輕爬上身的開始。這煩惱的開端,漸漸滲透到我的想法中。然後它進入我和其他人的談話,最後開始染污我的經驗。

然而,當我保持正念,終究覺性會在瞋心中注入慈悲。我開始體認到瞋心對我的傷害 。就如俗諺所說,撿起一塊熱煤碳丟向他人,唯一被燙傷的只有你。一旦我能從憤怒中抽離,就能自在地選擇我想如何處理它的方式。

有時我會關掉新聞,轉而花更多時間在家人身上。有時我試著用和平的方式來提倡我的信念。其他時候我跟我的狗玩,或學些有趣的東西。我能更開放地與跟我意見相左的人對話,而不會產生摩擦。

我知道在修行上我還差得遠,但這些學習的經驗帶給我知足與快樂 。我覺得我更能感受到,我的人生是掌握在我自己的一念之間 。

 

 

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