Path to enlightenment

Just to share my own path, which does seem to me as if it could be generic. [Not that I am anywhere near enlightenment]

My path to enlightenment...

Where and how should I start? Hm. I suppose I started from a non foundational practice, thru the chanting of Om mani padme hung and later 阿弥陀佛.

I learnt about the western pureland before I learnt about the fundamentals in Buddhism teachings. So for a long time, I was just chanting mindlessly. Not real mindlessly, but chanting with a lack of understanding and realizations. But 行 or worst in my case 形 cannot help or last for long. I thought it was "sufficient" but I was obviously wrong, and that depressed me for a while.

Luckily for me, I had e fortune to attend classes, meet spiritual teachers and have experiences that aided in my realizations. Classes here and there slowly but surely added onto my knowledge and let me see deeper into the true nature of reality.

The four noble truths are deeply ingrained in me after a tough lesson of lost. Emptiness is hovering for realizations around me. Bodhicitta is understood but yet to be fully cultivated.

The path is unwinding in front of me as I slowly take baby steps toward. I aspire to live each day in accord with my long term motivation of achieving full enlightenment for the benefits of all sentient beings. Amituofo

Does not all religion teach you to be good?

There are many levels to look at should one want to reflect on religions.

But on a very very basic level, I respect all religions, simply because I believe that fundamentally, all religions teach us to be good.

No doubt there are differences in philosophies and all, but as a human being, I understand that religions are basically kind, and that it provides lost beings with an anchor. From a Buddhism angle, it might not be the right anchor, but at the very least, it is better than nothing, and that it doesnt exactly harm us.

If they are so lost that a worldly religion can bring them comfort, I would say go ahead. From a shortsighted perspective, at least in this life time, they have some direction and guidance.

The sun never rises

Is that right?

Science will tell you that is true. For the earth is rotating on its axis, around the sun, and hence gives the impression that the sun is rising and setting. Yet it is not. But our naked eye sees it as if it is.
So is it rising, or is it not?

The sun is a good example. An example that we should not just believe what we can see, because it is not the ultimate reality. Before scientist discovered that we are rotating around the sun, it was believed that everything "rotates" around us. But that is not the case.

Similarly, there are many other truths that are yet to be discovered, so why do we persist in thinking that what we know of now is the ultimate truth?

Remember, the sun never rises, and the moon is always present.

Without curtains, light shines in

Life in a house without curtains, is truly different....

The light shines in unobstructed, and lights up everything in its path. Everything within the house reflects the light, and is ultra bright, as if it has its own light.

Objects in the house, which has been there for years, seems to look different. And one gains a fresh insight into the objects, and into being.

One awakes to the sun light shinning in, and begins one's day with the fresh perspective of gratitude of the light and air around.

Looking out at the vast expanse, colours are reflected and tranquility attained.

Life without curtains is a joyful experience.

Without curtains

Took off the curtains to be washed. Let me share a dirty laundry secret with you. My curtains have not been washed since they were first put up, when I moved in in 2006. lol....

Anyway, now the house looks and feels a little different. The lack of curtains seem to amplify the echoes....or our noise/sound.

I was looking out of my curtainless windows, appreciating the view outside and noticing the emptiness of the house. And I thank all and everyone for what I am and have today.

Somehow the curtains seem to make a difference. One where one has the opportunity to hide in the house, behind the curtains. As if the curtains can shield one from one's mistakes and wrongdoings....
That was how i felt all of a sudden, when the curtains were removed, that my life is open for all to view. But I am not fearful of that now. Not because I never made mistakes, but because I faced up to them, and I do not let my thoughts run wild out of fear or regret.

Now how would your life be like without curtains???

Fear comes from the image in ur head

Does it make sense to say that there is no such thing as real fear?

If we were to think logically about it, and analyse fear, to some extent, you will find out that there is no real fear.

Let's say you fear failing your exam. But why do you fear the failure. What will really happen to you should you fail? Will you die? No! So what is there to fear? You might say that you fear disappointing yourself and your parents. But while they might be upset with you, nothing will really happen to you, so what's with the fear. (Yes, you might get canned, but that is really not life threatening)

Very often, if we apply our rational and logical mind to our thoughts and emotions, we will reach the conclusion that fear is in our mind. We make certain assumptions, or have certain stereotypes, or prejudices, that brings about fear. If death is certain, and most phenomenon/happening around us does not lead to death, what is the need or use for fear?

We create an image of fear in our mind, and blow it out of proportion. Our mind leads us, and we need to control our mind, our thoughts. There is no such thing as fear, but the mind that creates it...

Crying wolf

Of course there are situations where the person cries wolf, but not deliberately.
But it will still create the impression that it is not serious, and when the axe really falls, everyone kenas.

Is there a point to this?
Just a reminder to myself not to judge, and to take each situation seriously.
Somehow, I am always encountering "cried wolf" scenarios.