Sundays With Buddha

Just as a solid rock is not shaken by the storm, even so the wise are not affected by praise or blame.
                                                                                                                  --Buddha

Week 41

"The Wise", or a variation of it, is used in many of these teachings. It sounds quite mystical and majestic but I really do believe it refers to anyone who has come to terms with who they are and the reality and nature of life. This can be anyone who understands the importance of following any noble path and practices a life of noble actions. What exactly are 'noble actions'? What is it to be noble? Does it require going way above and beyond our meager human ability?

Well, first of all, there is nothing meager about our abilities.  We all just very often do not realize how amazing we are. We doubt more than we believe. We shirk more than we accept. But, the answer is 'no'. We don't need to go above and beyond our abilities. Start with what is considered noble to you. Maybe it means a life of kindness and generosity or always trying to be truthful and compassionate. You don't have to join a monastery to become a noble person.

So, how does one become the 'wise' of which the Buddha speaks? According to what I have learned over time, and this is just my experience and oppinion mind you, when you get to a point in your studies, your faith or your life, when the ego, or the "I" that you identify with based on your belief of who you are as told to you by you and your 'story', has dropped away so much that you are not affected so deeply by either loss or gain, praise or blame, you have started to rise above the external things that we often associate with who we are.

When you are no longer crushed by or feel a terrible loss as a person for 'screwing up' or making mistakes and you are no longer basing your worth on feeling exalted, self-important or prideful over praise or honor, and are also not shaken when you experience loss or gain alike, you have dropped the ego and have stopped identifying with your losses or accomplishments.

The 'wise' are those who realize that all things come and go and that to identify who you ultimately are with these things is futile. They do not feel overwhelming loss when they have loss, nor do they feel overwhelming pride at any one gain. They realize that losses and gains are cyclic, moving in and out of the open doors and windows of their lives, and should not be counted on for their happiness. They are content, day by day, with their life; centered and present, like a solid rock that can withstand any storm.

This may seem like a dramatic feat; unattainable,  even. I don't write these posts to express how you should be, or even how I am everyday of my life. I use what I have learned from various teachings, and now from these wisdoms from the Buddha, to try to make sense of my life and to learn what I can do to get the best experiences from it. We all live with and through so much pain; pain that is not always necessary.  I'm just taking in these lessons to learn how to live joyfully, and share joy. Life is a learning process and a hands-on experience. One of those lessons is that we are supposed to live with joy and spread joy. If continuing to work towards attaining your goals and dreams makes you happy, then pursue your dreams. Just learn to stay unattached so that it is not undone by sorrow.

Be the rock of your own life. If you can weather the storm that life dishes out, you'll be around for a while.  More importantly,  you'll enjoy it.

Thank you so much for being here today. I truly appreciate you spending time here.

Namaste

Nanette