Buddhism for Humans
It took several years for me to fully embrace Buddhism. Although I found “Buddhist” concepts to be interesting and admirable, I initially felt it was an exotic religion in which the symbols, superstitions, and rituals were far removed from my own experiences. It was not until I was exposed to the teachings of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu that I was able to fully embrace Buddhism. These teachings then led me to Zen, which is a path unto itself.
I thought I’d share a summary/book report of my first exposure to the teachings of Buddhadasa Bhikku. The book/transcript, “Handbook for Mankind” served as a slap in the face for me; it caused me to question everything I had previously I thought I “knew” about Buddhism.
I hope you all find it interesting…
The teachings of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu
What is Buddhism? Is it a religion? If we are to refer to Buddhism as a religion, we must recognize that it is a religion based on intelligence, science and knowledge, rather than superstition and faith. As such, Buddhism is not concerned with invisible beings, ritual magic, and the afterlife.
Buddhism is a practical system of thinking and living. Through the study and practice of Buddhism, we strive to gain a clear understanding of the true nature of things, or "what is what," and live our lives accordingly. The objective of Buddhism is enlightened awareness and the corresponding elimination of suffering and the source of suffering.
Examine your own life and thoughts and ask if you truly understand what is what. Even if you know what you are, what life is, what work, duty, livelihood, money, possessions, honor and fame are, would you dare to claim that you know everything?
If we truly understood what is what, we would never act inappropriately; through this combination of clear understanding and appropriate actions, we would free ourselves of the causes of suffering. As it is, we are ignorant of the true nature of things, so we behave more or less inappropriately and, as a result, we suffer the consequences of our thoughts and actions.
Buddhist practice is designed to teach us how things really are. To know this in all clarity is to attain the Fruit of the Path, and live a more balanced, fulfilled life. Through continued practice, we seek to obtain even perhaps the final Fruit, Nirvana, enlightenment, or the complete quenching of craving and suffering, and a perfect awareness of the way things are.
A Buddha is an enlightened individual, one who knows the truth about all things, one who knows just what is what, and so is capable of behaving appropriately in all situations, with respect to all things.
Clear awareness through the practice of Buddhism brings an end to the source of suffering, anxiety and depression. When we come to know what is what, or the true nature of things, disenchantment with things takes the place of fascination, and deliverance from suffering comes about automatically.
At the moment, we are practicing at a stage where we still do not know what things are really like. Specifically, we are at the stage of not yet realizing that all things are impermanent and not "selves." We don't as yet realize that life and all the things we desire, rejoice over and become infatuated with are impermanent, unsatisfactory and not "self." It is for this reason that we become infatuated with those things, liking them, desiring them, rejoicing over them, grasping at them and clinging to them.
When, by following the Buddhist method, we come to see things clearly, we recognize that they are all impermanent, unsatisfactory and not "selves." There is really nothing about anything that might make it worth grasping at or clinging to. Once we realize this, there will immediately come about a slipping free from the controlling power of those things.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Parts of this discussion were copied directly from "Handbook for Mankind," the teachings of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. All of the material was inspired by the same teachings, with segments rewritten for the sake of communication with people unfamiliar with basic Buddhism and Sanscrit and Thai terminology.
For more information, visit http://www.buddhanet.net/budasa.htm
posted by Anatman @ Tuesday, February 21, 2006
13 comments
13 Comments:
If we truly understood what is what, we would never act inappropriately.
A Buddha is an enlightened individual, one who knows the truth about all things, one who knows just what is what, and so is capable of behaving appropriately in all situations, with respect to all things.
This clarity seems hard to believe - it sounds too good to be true. No one can predict the "future" perfectly, although I expect Buddha's wisdom certainly could help.
I know Brad Warner was rather down on Ken Wilbur (and for good reason) but this quote from Wilbur I think stands in contrast to the 'clarity' implied above:
"Books, really, who needs them? People think that being awakened means you understand everything, but it really means the opposite. It means you don't understand anything. It is, all of it, a total Mystery, a baffling babbling of unending nonsense.
Enlightenment is not "omniscience" but "ascience" - not all-knowing but not-knowing -- the utter release from the cramp of knowledge, which is always of the world of form, when all you are in truth is formless. Not the cloud of knowing, but divine ignorance. The Seer cannot be seen; the Knower cannot be known; the Witness cannot be witnessed. What you are therefore is just a free fall in divine ignorance, a vast Freedom from all things known and seen and heard and felt, an infinity of Freedom on the other side of knowledge, an eternity of Release on the other side of time.
Knowledge is mandatory in the conventional, relative world, ...
But all of it, truly, is just a series of ornaments on primordial awareness, a pattern of reflections in the empty mirror. Ken Wilbur is just a scab on my Original Face, and this morning I flick it off like a tiny insect, and disappear back into the infinite space that is my true abode.
But all that infinite space is impulsive. It sings its songs of manifestation, it dances the dance of creation. Out of sheerest purest gossamer nothingness, now and now and forever now, this majestic world arises, a wink and a nod from the radiant Abyss. So I finish unpacking the books, and go about the morning's business."
"No one can predict the "future" perfectly, although I expect Buddha's wisdom certainly could help."
Perhaps knowing what is what would make even the idea of predicting the future laughable. Sort of like arguing who is stronger, Mighty Mouse or Superman...
My take on the meaning of "what is what" is that the phrase refers to qualitative knowledge, rather than quantitative. To see a Ferrari, and not know the make and model, but rather know the true nature of the phenomenon of seeing the Ferrari... as opposed to seeing it and being filled with desire for the object and all of the erroneous associations that we have built up around it.
But to "behave appropriately in all situations" suggests that either the future can be seen so that no choice is ever regretted, or... regret is dismissed, ignored, not acknowledged, 'does not manifest' - but poor choices are still possible...
PS - that quote is from Wilbur's book "One Taste"
Maybe guilt and regret can be prevented without seeing the future.
Could it be that regret and guilt are the result of actions and decisions that were motivated by emotions such as pride, envy, anger, jealousy, etc.?
Buddhadasa would argue that these emotions are cause by misunderstanding the nature of things around us, and that if we understood the nature of things, such emotions and confusion would not arise. When these emotions and confusions do not arise, we behave appropriately, and do not experience guilt or regret for our inappropriate actions.
Another key to his teaching is that a basic misunderstanding of "what is what" is mistakenly thinging in terms of "me" and "mine". This gives rise to jealousy, anger, depression, anxiety, etc.
Anatman wrote, Could it be that regret and guilt are the result of actions and decisions that were motivated by emotions such as pride, envy, anger, jealousy, etc.?
Buddhadasa would argue that these emotions are cause by misunderstanding the nature of things around us, and that if we understood the nature of things, such emotions and confusion would not arise.
*****Regret and guilt arise from the (mistaken) notion that one could have done otherwise, that one had a CHOICE.
There are no choices...shall I say that again?...there are NO choices. When this is Seen, clearly, guilt and regret (and pride) no longer persist. The rest of the emotional baggage (grief, anger, jealousy, joy, sadness, love, even confusion) is present for life. And would you really want it any other way? (Do you think those who are Awake don't ever get angry? Feel sorrow? Experience grief? ... c'mon now...being Awake means being open to the ten thousand things, not being afraid of one's emotions, and recognizing that nothing...persists.)
The trick is to be able to ride the emotional waves without getting submerged, drowned, overwhelmed (at least by the painful emotions). When this happens it is as the zen aphorism goes: a wise man can be happy in hell.
cheers!
endo said Regret and guilt arise from the (mistaken) notion that one could have done otherwise, that one had a CHOICE.
A hypothetical story about an awakened (?) zen master - is this plausible? And if not, why?
This zen master is walking at night and steps on what at first appears to be a dangerous snake. But in the weak moonlight he sees it's a rope. He continues walking, reassuring himself it must have been a rope (but he has doubts) and he tells no one. The next day he learns that another monk walking that same path earlier that morning was bitten by a snake and subsequently died.
No regret? No self? No choices were possible?
Hi Mikedoe ~
You wrote, "If you saw a man drowning and could not yourself swim what would you feel?"
The only HONEST answer to that is: "I'll tell you when it happens."
Anything else is fantasy, imagination. Not reality.
I'm not saying that speculation isn't fun, and that we all do it from time to time. We postulate "what ifs" because we believe they will help determine the "right" course of action. It's the way the brain is wired and we all engage in it - some more than others. Some people almost live in that realm! Sometimes "what ifs" are very useful ("What if I take this next 'adult' beverage? Will I be able to safely drive home from the bar?"). And many, many times, the motivation is simply fantasy spinning, a habit (actually it's an addiction) learned at a very early age.
I don't see any harm in it but there is a cost: losing touch with what's going on right now, getting "lost" in thought. Is it more satisfying to pay ATTENTION to doing the dishes, swipe by swipe or does one prefer to fantasize about the 'fun' one will have once the 'chore' is completed?
For me, it varies from instance to instance. On the whole, though, I do find that there is a feeling (vague but noticeable) of being more "alive" when I'm paying attention (and not lost in thought). There is some immediate sense of Yes! when I pull out of the fantasy world of thought and pay attention to what I'm doing at the moment. But it's not something I can control. It happens when some...thing...reminds me to do so. And that 'thing' (Consciousness, Source, Totality) I have no control over. The reminding either occurs or it doesn't. It can't be forced.
Endo wrote, “There are no choices...shall I say that again?...there are NO choices. When this is Seen, clearly, guilt and regret (and pride) no longer persist. The rest of the emotional baggage (grief, anger, jealousy, joy, sadness, love, even confusion) is present for life.”
Endo, while I agree with you intellectually and philosophically, my experience begs to differ. I believe you are correct; there are no choices. I understand this, and I “see” this. However, my experience is quite clear as well: I make choices from moment to moment. I am asked to choose between various options regularly both in my professional and personal life. I make decisions. Looking back, I can say, “I had no choice, because I am who I am, and I do what I do.” But the looking back is a fantasy, as I’m sure you’ll agree. In the moment, when faced with a dilemma, I choose.
Also, it seems to follow, as you say, that guilt and regret are the result of wrong thinking. I fully agree. But to say that anger and jealousy are present for life, whereas pride is the avoidable result of wrong thinking does not jive. I think anger and jealousy are closely related to pride.
Anger: “How dare YOU say that to ME!” I am hard-pressed to think of an angry reaction that is not somehow related to pride, or a strong sense of self.
Jealousy and envy are also related to wanting things for ONESELF, and having negative feelings toward another for having those things. This also seems related to strong sense of self, and valuing that sense of self (pride).
Three pounds of flax
I think the metaphysical problem of whether we do or don't have freewill is dependent on the notion of a real separate, continuous self. We imagine a part of reality - a separate zone or point, which is 'self' - that is 'determined' (or not) by the rest of reality around it, including the part of 'not self' that we regard as the physical basis of mind and self - the neurophysiology of the brain.
But the mind/self determines as well as is determined. Its just a 'fenced off' part of reality and causes and effects go in both directions. Does 'an ocean' have freewill? Of course not. Is it determined by the rest of reality? Yes but it also determines the rest of reality. Even a raindrop affects the rest of reality. Is it determined by itself? It is itself, there is no extra something that is affected by the ocean's state.
When the notion of a separate self is seen as a conventional and utilitarian concept then such questions of freewill are similarly seen as questions of convention - politics and psychology - rather than metaphysics. There is no real answer to whether we have freewill or nor since 'we' are not ultimately real.
Anatman ~
You wrote, "But to say that anger and jealousy are present for life, whereas pride is the avoidable result of wrong thinking does not jive. I think anger and jealousy are closely related to pride."
I singled out pride because that presupposes a belief (erroneous at the extreme!) that one is the author of one's situation, one's thoughts, one's actions. Taking pride in one's achievements, or feeling guilt at one's failures, presupposes that one had a say, a CHOICE, in how one acted.
Noting that such is not the case, pride and guilt cease. No bodymind mechanism is "at fault" for the thoughts that visit it, for the actions that arise through it. So pride and guilt are misplaced.
All the other emotions can arise at any time due to circumstances and don't necessarily presuppose that the specific bodymind mechanism in which the emotion arose was the author of the emotion. Seeing someone kicking its pet dog on the street, anger can happen. Seeing someone entrance the woman to whom I'm married, jealousy may arise. Seeing the new Lexus my neighbor purchased, envy may arise ("I wish I had that car"). And yet, it is possible to realize even with these states, that one isn't the author of the emotions, that the emotions arise from a complex constellation of genetic, biological, environmental, and historic influences which, in their sum, actual ARE the constituent parts of the that particular bodymind mechanism. They are what I refer to as the innate conditioning-in-the-moment. And they are what each bodymind mechanism is.
Pride and Guilt, however, are different. The foundation of these emotions is the belief that "I am the author of my life" and so "I am a good author" (pride) or "I am a lousy author" (guilt). Realization that "you" didn't have any control whatsoever as to where you are, who you are, what you are, diffuses these two emotions, pointing to the fact that you couldn't be other than what you are at any moment and that such a state is not due to any great talent you developed nor to any weakness you indulge in. You are the recepients of both talents and weaknesses, and they operate and function THROUGH you. But you are not the Author of them. So why feel prideful or guilty?
You wrote, "Anger: “How dare YOU say that to ME!” I am hard-pressed to think of an angry reaction that is not somehow related to pride, or a strong sense of self. Jealousy and envy are also related to wanting things for ONESELF, and having negative feelings toward another for having those things. This also seems related to strong sense of self, and valuing that sense of self (pride).
A sense of self is a natural, normal, and necessary component that allows a bodymind mechanism to function in phenomenality. One needs to be able to distinguish self from other, else one will end feeding one's neighbor and wonder why one is always hungry. An ability to differentiate self from other objects is also critical, otherwise one may end up at the end of the day driving to the local gas station thinking it is one's home. An awareness of self has a downside too: it produces neurosis. The only cure for that is to See and Understand the nature of this sense of self. Seeing through the illusions that are constructed about it, one is not chained to it. As Wei Wu Wei has written, "All else is bondage."
"One needs to be able to distinguish self from other, else one will end feeding one's neighbor and wonder why one is always hungry. An ability to differentiate self from other objects is also critical, otherwise one may end up at the end of the day driving to the local gas station thinking it is one's home."
I love the images. Thanks for the laugh!!
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