I recently went to a Buddhist center with a friend just to check it out and get a better understanding of Buddhism. I have always liked Eastern teachings and Buddhist philosophy but I wanted a deeper understanding. I'm not sure this community center was the right thing for me though... the people seemed too fanatical and said a couple of things I didn't agree with: 1) other sects are "wrong" 2) and people in the "wrong" sects need to be converted. I have never thought that anyone should force their beliefs on others. I don't believe religion is for everyone. We each have our own way of dealing with difficulties in life and for some religion is the best way to deal with problems.
Anyway, at the end of the lesson we all did a chanting meditation, nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I forgot what every word means but I'm sure a quick search will pull up the translation for you. Although I don't think the words themselves are that important (especially when you forget the meaning behind them) what is important is the feeling of completeness that they gave the people chanting them.
So... what is my nam-myoho-renge-kyo? Recently there have been a lot of ups and downs and things have been happening so fast I haven't had the time to really think about them...that can be good, it can help you move forward rather than spending valuable time and energy dwelling on things... however if it goes on for too long it can also be bad, not letting you digest and grow from your experiences.
To be continued... I got really sleepy all of a sudden.
Update 27/3/11: Wow, it has been a long time since I made this post and now I don't remember where I was going with it. I'll do my best to finish it up.
I think my nam-myoho-renge-kyo is more a combination of internal and external forces. It's not a chant or religion but rather my focus on my goals. I am very goal oriented. That's not to say I have tunnel vision or can't handle a change of plans. Actually, I'm quite good at planning and re-planning and re-re-planning... you get the idea. But one thing that never changes with all these plan A's, B's, C's, etc. (and oh yes there are more than three plans) is my resolve to reach my goals. I find a lot of comfort in making and reassessing my plans. When I feel really discouraged, like I can't go on and reach my goals, I think of all the time and effort I spent in getting as far as I have come and all the people I have met and all the people who have supported me or tried to hold me back, some of the supporters are even standing by me at times when I think this, and I think that I can't give up on everything that I worked so hard for or "disappoint" (can't think of the perfect word) the people who stood by me and I sure as hell won't stand by and let someone hold me back from something I want and worked hard for, I can't just give up without giving it my all. This applies to everything in life. I really do believe that if you want something bad enough and you work hard enough you can eventually get it... but sometimes instead of walking a straight line from A to B you have to take many detours and visit or re-visit points C, D, E, etc. But then again the detours are what make for interesting stories and what make life richer. No one wants to hear a story about how Little Red Riding Hood made it safely to grandma's via the bright and sunny path through the open prairie without encountering the Big Bad Wolf. That's uneventful. It's far more entertaining to hear about her dark and scary journey on the winding forest path where she had a terrifying encounter with the wolf. BOO!!
Anyway, at the end of the lesson we all did a chanting meditation, nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I forgot what every word means but I'm sure a quick search will pull up the translation for you. Although I don't think the words themselves are that important (especially when you forget the meaning behind them) what is important is the feeling of completeness that they gave the people chanting them.
So... what is my nam-myoho-renge-kyo? Recently there have been a lot of ups and downs and things have been happening so fast I haven't had the time to really think about them...that can be good, it can help you move forward rather than spending valuable time and energy dwelling on things... however if it goes on for too long it can also be bad, not letting you digest and grow from your experiences.
To be continued... I got really sleepy all of a sudden.
Update 27/3/11: Wow, it has been a long time since I made this post and now I don't remember where I was going with it. I'll do my best to finish it up.
I think my nam-myoho-renge-kyo is more a combination of internal and external forces. It's not a chant or religion but rather my focus on my goals. I am very goal oriented. That's not to say I have tunnel vision or can't handle a change of plans. Actually, I'm quite good at planning and re-planning and re-re-planning... you get the idea. But one thing that never changes with all these plan A's, B's, C's, etc. (and oh yes there are more than three plans) is my resolve to reach my goals. I find a lot of comfort in making and reassessing my plans. When I feel really discouraged, like I can't go on and reach my goals, I think of all the time and effort I spent in getting as far as I have come and all the people I have met and all the people who have supported me or tried to hold me back, some of the supporters are even standing by me at times when I think this, and I think that I can't give up on everything that I worked so hard for or "disappoint" (can't think of the perfect word) the people who stood by me and I sure as hell won't stand by and let someone hold me back from something I want and worked hard for, I can't just give up without giving it my all. This applies to everything in life. I really do believe that if you want something bad enough and you work hard enough you can eventually get it... but sometimes instead of walking a straight line from A to B you have to take many detours and visit or re-visit points C, D, E, etc. But then again the detours are what make for interesting stories and what make life richer. No one wants to hear a story about how Little Red Riding Hood made it safely to grandma's via the bright and sunny path through the open prairie without encountering the Big Bad Wolf. That's uneventful. It's far more entertaining to hear about her dark and scary journey on the winding forest path where she had a terrifying encounter with the wolf. BOO!!
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