The Basic Buddhist Teaching
(Today's post is also available as an audio post. To listen to Karl read this post live, click here.)
Today, I'd like to share with you the most basic teaching in Buddhism.
That teaching is... "Everything is change."
Every single thing is in a state of flux. A state of never-ending change.
Everything is created - and everything will ultimately wear out and be reduced to earth.
Your business suit is made and worn, and will ultimately fall apart and decay. All animals are born, and will eventually die. Buildings, machines, roads, clocks, books, everything...
Everything has a beginning. And everything has an end.
It's always changing.
And so what does this teach us?
Well, for a start, it helps us to realize we can never really be in control of anything. Everything changes. Once we accept that, we let go of really wanting to control it... And simply allow ourselves to control it to the degree that we do in that moment.
But perhaps more importantly, it puts us at peace with the world.
By contemplating this teaching, we realize that everything will ultimately reduce to dust. The glass you are drinking from will ultimately break. So when that break occurs, you don't need to curse at your misfortune... But simply realise that you're witnessing it's ultimate change in progress.
The cycle of everything is not if... But when.
The teaching is designed to put you at peace. To stop you trying to grasp onto things... To stop you trying to control things... But instead to realize, without apathy or helplessness, that everything changes. Everything moves. Everything is in a continuous state of flux.
It's a teaching which puts you in a state of acceptance.
And it's incredibly empowering... If only you really get it.
Giuseppe Tomas di Lampedusa said: "If you want things to stay as they are, things will have to change."
Nothing will ever remain the same. Everything changes.
Want to learn more about this teaching? Click here, or here.
Labels: inspiration, self-development
by Karl
5:36 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home