Some people consider Buddhism to be a religion, others see it as a spiritual practice, and still others as a philosophy of life. I think of the Buddha as a master psychologist because he understood the human condition, including how our thoughts, speech, and actions can intensify our suffering and how we can find relief from that suffering.
Some people consider Buddhism to be a religion, others see it as a spiritual practice, and still others as a philosophy of life. I think of the Buddha as a master psychologist because he understood the human condition, including how our thoughts, speech, and actions can intensify our suffering and how we can find relief from that suffering.
One of my musings lead someone to ask me who was my favorite sage.
There are so many to choose from. But without question, in my exploration, so many of the contemporary sages who I admire are all rooted in Buddha. Per the statement above, I think I gravitate to Buddha’s aphorisms because I do not attach any religious experience to them. No practice, no disciple, no deity. I see the aphorisms from Buddha as being perhaps the most adept at noting and understanding the human condition. His observational nature delivers wisdom through the ages and allows others to follow behind and find the truth in what he said, and decide whether or not that truth holds water for them.
Most important to me, is that there is no mystic interpretation required to understand Buddha. You need not believe in anything other than the reality that you are living in. There is no gospel. There is nothing magic about Buddha. Just a wise dude.
From hundreds of great choices, here are a handful to illustrate my point:
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
The mind is everything. What you think you become.
No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.
There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?
*********
It strikes me that he had insight into the larger picture. No doubt there were other sages who influenced him. Knowledge is a collection of thoughts that transmit over time. In any case, if you are ever having a really tough day, I invite you to go to:
https://www.brainyquote.com/search_results?q=buddha&pg=2
And peruse some of the quotes attributed to Buddha. His thinking is so wide and varied and loving and nonjudgmental, I have always found a lesson waiting for me when I go searching there.
So pound for pound, you can put Buddha up against Churchill, Maya Angelou, Lao Tzu, Sun Tzu, Lincoln, Thoreau, Hemingway, Gandalf, Yoda and all the great sages of time… and I think Buddha has more insight collectively than most I have observed.
Hope you have a spectacular Saturday!
Leave a Comment