Faith
The only lack of faith I have is in myself. Mindfulness makes it easier to see exactly where I am, and what is going on. Still, it doesn't always provide me with the answers I need to adjust the way I do things. How does one shift to a healthier, saner way of being? I'm sure I'll figure it out. Time to find my cushion, methinks....
5 comments:
I am projecting onto your post, if that's OK. That is, I am not dispensing advice, or trying to give a clever answer, but rather using it to give voice to my own "internal dialogue" (bleah, that sounds too...something). That is, I am not addressing the original author even though it looks like I am directly replying to her. I just find I have had similar thoughts at various times.
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Mindfulness makes it easier to see exactly where I am, and what is going on.
Then where are you? What is going on? What precisely is the problem? To borrow a koan - what is wrong with this moment?
Still, it doesn't always provide me with the answers I need to adjust the way I do things.
What adjustment? If you need to find a job, mindfulness can't conjure one. If you need to buy food, mindfulness can't feed you. This is true. It may help you prioritize and become aware of more opportunities, but it isn't a magic trick.
How does one shift to a healthier, saner way of being?
Perhaps a more helpful question might be "How does one stop shifting away from being a healthier, saner being?" What is contributing to your dissatisfaction? If the root of the three poisons is an underlying (often subconscious) craving and a resulting attachment to a distorted view, and if these are driven by a false sense of alienation and incompleteness (based on the delusion of our separate and intrinisc existence as objective phenomena), then (pant, pant, catch a breath) is that we need to "become" something "more" or "different" or is it that we need to see things as they really are?
(See first line in original post)
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Thanks for your post and for giving me a chance for reflection.
*bowing with hands palm to palm*
Perhaps its not about having faith in oneself, as having faith in the Dharma. HH Penor Rinpoche, most every day at retreat, this year and last, stresses the need to have faith in the Dharma, the practice - to have no doubt - to have faith, inclination and pure view. It doesn't matter who we are, it is the power of that compassionate nature always in our hearts in which we need to have faith.
Mindfulnes may not provide the answer, just help to clarify the situation; but through prayer and practice - engaging in the method - the clarity of how to respond will emerge.
At really tough times sometimes I have just sat before the altar and repeated "have no doubt". If we can establish an unshakeable foundation of faith in our practice, the Dharma, our lineage, we will begin to experience the result in our daily lives.
Sounds likea lot going on at home - I wish you all the best!
I'm right there with you. I've been struggling with feelings of insecurity myself.
I suppose we jut keep plugging, work hard and nurture the right seeds.
My thoughts and well wishes are with you.
take care,
Greg
Hi EdaMommmoy.
I've found that the way to let go of doubts about one's behavior, and to 'shift to a healthier, saner way of being' is to adhere to the Buddhist precepts. Keeping the five precepts for a long period of time has enabled this mind to become more sure that it is doing 'the right thing' in this moment. Doubts like "Is this right?" and "Is that okay?" dissolve into the confidence born by 'correct' behavior. No feelings of guilt, remorse, or self-doubt.
Echoing the words of Kunzang, confidence in the Dhamma is what's truly important, for when searched for, the self is not found, and all that remains IS the Dhamma. In a sense, Buddhist practice is letting go into the way things are in this moment, and that includes any feelings of doubt that might be arising. Associating with the awareness, the Buddho, rather than the objects that appear in it, we are less likely to identify with the idea of ego, and suffering will be lessoned, giving way to wisdom.
Be well,
Gary at Forest Wisdom.
http://forestwisdom.thaipulse.com/
Would like to share a Buddhist website with a Budding Buddhist: http://www.cttbusa.org/
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