There are the Six Realms for reality. In this Buddhist cosmic view, every sentient being is born, dead, and reborn, repeating the cycle of birth and death endlessly, called Samsāra. Nobody can get out of this cycle unless one gets enlightened, leaping to the state of Nirvāna. In the Fourth Noble Truths, life is suffering … Continue reading The Six Realms of Samsāra
Tag: #Buddhism
Before the Beginning and After the End
Everything has a beginning and an end. So does our lives. What is the beginning of your life? Should it be your birthday? Or should it be something else? How about the end of your life? Should it be the moment of your death? Or should it be something else? Not only life but any … Continue reading Before the Beginning and After the End
Life’s Paradox
What makes our lives valuable and fulfilled? Consciously or unconsciously, we have noticed that life is what we are supposed to possess and take care of it by ourselves. That is why we call life “my life,” “your life,” “his or her life,” or “their lives.” Life looks as if an object that we should … Continue reading Life’s Paradox
How Toxic We Are
In Buddhism, among various practices, well-known are these five precepts. By keeping them, the practitioners are supposed to achieve peace in their minds and lives: Abstention from killing living beingsAbstention from theftAbstention from sexual misconductAbstention from falsehoodAbstention from intoxication Each of them looks so common. Everyone knows that we should refrain from these ethical misconducts. … Continue reading How Toxic We Are
Serendipity
If something fortunate and yet unplanned happened accidentally, we call it serendipity. Being more creative and useful, it is a sort of gift that a series of unexpected accidents give us in one way or another. To receive such gifts, we even welcome accidents and troubles. Often, we can recall our problems and failures ended … Continue reading Serendipity
Be not Defeated by the Rain
Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) is one of the well-known novelists and poets in Japan, especially for children's literature. While he was unknown as the author during his lifetime, his works are now part of the best classic lineups. Almost all Japanese now are familiar with his name and have read some of his novels, poets, and … Continue reading Be not Defeated by the Rain
Thereof One Must be Silent
There are Buddha's teachings on healthy skepticism. Since the days of the Buddha, people have quickly fallen into the so-called blind faith. That is far from the authentic faith derived from a humble realization of our cognitive limitations. At the moment in our lives, we would inevitably encounter the situation that we can't do anything … Continue reading Thereof One Must be Silent
