Buddhism Nhat Hanh the Stone Boy and Other Stories

¶ … mental discipline in Buddhism, based on Jean Smith's Radiant Mind: Essential Buddhist Teaching and Texts.

BUDDHISM

Buddhism has been called a religion, a philosophy, an ideology and simply a way of life. Buddhism has withstood the test of time along with the other great spiritual traditions. It offers many different paths for people with different needs, capacities, and sensibilities. Many view this diversity as a refreshing alternative to doctrinal rigidity (Smith,1999). However, it's important to maintain respect for the differences, and to keep in mind the historic distinctions that exist within all religions and within all cultures. Some approach the spiritual life to comfort themselves and to soften the harsh experiences of life such as illness, loss, death, and grief. But many are drawn to the communal activity of ritual that offers a powerful experience of transcending the boundaries of the individual self in order to participate in a greater, more bountiful life.

The quest for true happiness is a matter of developing skill in one's thoughts, deeds, and words. This skill is something that individuals can only develop for themselves. It requires mindfulness and alertness in all areas of life (Smith,1999). Through meditation, one can enter the present moment by dropping our memories of the past and our fantasies about the future. By observing the present, we then see that our 'self' is simply an internal dialogue of incessant chatter, and that as this chatter grows still, a point is reached where the 'self', the 'other', and the 'present' are transcended.

Meditation strengthens the qualities of mindfulness and alertness through practices that are aimed at developing powers of concentration and insight. A common meditation theme for developing these powers mindfulness of in-and-out breathing. This theme increases the levels of refinement, thus an individual may learn to move through all experiences in a graceful and skillful way, devoid of ignorance and craving, thus achieving liberation from the wheel of birth and death (Smith 1999).

Leaving behind all the sense impressions and unworthy things in life, leads to the attainment of a passionless state. Then one becomes conscious in the movement of the body and mind, the going and coming, the forward and backward. View all feelings, mental formations, and perceptions as impermanent, devoid of ego. To tame the mind, and guard the thoughts brings happiness and freedom from the bonds of temptation (Smith,1999).