"All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
The mind is everything. What we think we become."
~Buddha
Many people today talk about Buddha and the practice of Zen without really knowing the details. I know I did. When I started my book, I called myself a “Zen Mama” because I was letting go of many of the ways that caused my children and me to suffer. So, I did a little research on Buddha and Zen and here’s what I found.
Buddha lived 16 centuries ago, about 563 BC in Northern India or Nepal. He was born a prince. His name was Siddhartha Gautama. He renounced his wealthy life when he found out about the outside world and its suffering. He donned a beggar’s robe, shaved his head, and went out into the world on a quest for enlightenment. He traveled the world learning about real life. After his enlightenment sit- ting under a fig tree, he began to teach. He taught about a path that common people could take to enlighten them- selves.
Buddha felt that he could teach people to help themselves instead of turning to a higher being to help them. In his first sermon he spoke of the Four Noble Truths. The truth or acknowledgement of suffering, the causes of suffering, the letting go of suffering and then following the Eightfold Path to become enlightened.
The Eightfold path requires a commitment to wisdom, ethical conduct and mental development. You can definitely apply this commitment to motherhood!
Wisdom - The Realization
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•Right view: This is the realization of the four noble truths and understanding that nothing is permanent.
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•Right intention: This is a commitment to good will, non-desire and not to act violently.
Ethical Conduct - Getting Started
• Right speech: This is very important. You must choose your words carefully. Words, unlike the old saying, can hurt you.
• Right action: This is to be honest and not do things like lying and stealing.
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•Right livelihood: You must take care to gain your wealth by legal means and in a way that will not hurt others.
Mental Development - Putting It Into Action
• Right effort: is the ability to put into practice having the right thoughts, using the right words and doing the right deeds.
• Right mindfulness: is seeing things as they are without judgment. Also, paying attention to the little things.
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•Right concentration: Buddhists attain this through meditation.
Zen is a Japanese style of Buddhism. Zen teaches that enlightenment can happen here and now, through experience and based on action.
These simple explanations are just a start to understanding.
