Harnessing Zen Moments
I'm currently reading Thich Nhat Hanh's Being Peace and I'm learning some interesting things. He stresses the importance of understanding as a key to compassion. Which sounds like a gimme, really. But sometimes it's too easy to forget to actually put this into practice.
When I was just beginning to get into Buddhism I was still into pushing away my anger, blacking it out, and otherwise banishing it from my mind. This was shortly after my heated break-up with numb nuts. He made me so mad. I needed a way to deal with it.
But in Hanh's book, he stresses that anger can't be banished or pushed away. It's a part of us and must be recognized as such. He says it's impossible to just be angry. There has to be something you're angry about. You need to discern what it is and disect the anger to find out where it's coming from. What is it about this person or situation that makes you angry? Could there be a reason for this? The clerk at the grocery store isn't rude for the sake of being rude. She's probably just had a rough day. So instead of being mad at how she handles your groceries, you offer a smile in hopes that she can have something pleasant come of her otherwise rough day.
I haven't finished the book, but so far I haven't seen anything on fears or spiders.
Seriously, though... I've read all sorts of Buddhist literature and it's mostly about coping with anger, impatience, jealousy and contempt. I don't remember fear being covered. But it's been a long time since I've read this stuff. And there's more books I have that I just never got 'round to reading. (I'm a bad Buddhist. But then was I ever certain that I was a card-carrying Buddhist? The philosophy of the religion appealed to me. And here I am.)
I can remeber a couple three occasions where I'd be flustered/freaked out/upset/sad-- To the point of tears. Jim urged me to take deep breaths until I'd stopped crying. Then he said: "Do that Buddha thing you do, calm down, and get some rest."
That Buddha thing I do.
Been a long time since I've meditated. I'm hoping my return to Buddhism will help curb my penchant for worrying.
Peace.
When I was just beginning to get into Buddhism I was still into pushing away my anger, blacking it out, and otherwise banishing it from my mind. This was shortly after my heated break-up with numb nuts. He made me so mad. I needed a way to deal with it.
But in Hanh's book, he stresses that anger can't be banished or pushed away. It's a part of us and must be recognized as such. He says it's impossible to just be angry. There has to be something you're angry about. You need to discern what it is and disect the anger to find out where it's coming from. What is it about this person or situation that makes you angry? Could there be a reason for this? The clerk at the grocery store isn't rude for the sake of being rude. She's probably just had a rough day. So instead of being mad at how she handles your groceries, you offer a smile in hopes that she can have something pleasant come of her otherwise rough day.
I haven't finished the book, but so far I haven't seen anything on fears or spiders.
Seriously, though... I've read all sorts of Buddhist literature and it's mostly about coping with anger, impatience, jealousy and contempt. I don't remember fear being covered. But it's been a long time since I've read this stuff. And there's more books I have that I just never got 'round to reading. (I'm a bad Buddhist. But then was I ever certain that I was a card-carrying Buddhist? The philosophy of the religion appealed to me. And here I am.)
I can remeber a couple three occasions where I'd be flustered/freaked out/upset/sad-- To the point of tears. Jim urged me to take deep breaths until I'd stopped crying. Then he said: "Do that Buddha thing you do, calm down, and get some rest."
That Buddha thing I do.
Been a long time since I've meditated. I'm hoping my return to Buddhism will help curb my penchant for worrying.
Peace.
posted by Sonny Shine at 3:19 PM
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