112-In search of the truth - Buddhism in daily life
07/23/22 • 6 min
In search of the truth
In Buddhist temples, people like to tell each other stories, since cell phones, laptops or tablets are usually not allowed.
I find the story about the search for "the truth" particularly beautiful.
Once upon a time there was a powerful king who had already grown old. He had a beautiful daughter who could hardly resist offers, but he decided to give her as a wife only to the man who would find "the truth". When he had this announced, the young men poured out of his kingdom, each wanting to find "the truth" and live with the beautiful princess.
Those who wanted to marry traveled to all temples, to all provinces, to every wise man who had already been reported somewhere, everywhere they asked for "the truth", where one could find it.
On remote mountains, in distant valleys, in cities and in villages, everywhere the collective search for "the truth" broke out.
"The truth" itself was also coming of age, at some times it stood tall, at other times it had to hide. She quickly learned of the search for her, the birds brought her the news, yet she did not leave her cave in the mountains, "the truth" had endured too much over the centuries. She had become an old woman, her hair hung tangled in her face, her wrinkles were deep, she had no more teeth, she had already seen a lot, "the truth" had suffered badly over the years.
Suddenly a young warrior stood in the entrance to the cave, he was wet and shaky, but he asked determinedly, "Are you 'the truth', I've been looking everywhere for you?"
"Yes, I am 'the truth', I live here secluded, because most people just don't want to hear "the truth", they like beautiful lies better, I am tired of living with their stupidity, so I better hide here, but you come in and keep me company."
The two disparate people started talking, for a whole day and night, without a break. The young warrior learned answers to all his questions, he became a wise and educated man in a short time. He explained to "the truth" why he was here in the first place, "the truth" began to smile, and said, "yes yes, love".
The young warrior wanted to go back to the beautiful princess, the anticipation overwhelmed him. Then he asked how he could prove that he had found "the truth", and further, what he should tell about "the truth".
"The truth" answered him wisely: "Say that I am young and incredibly pretty, the rest will come naturally. But don't tell anyone where you found me."
Doubt everything. Find your own light
Buddha - honorary name of Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
In search of the truth
In Buddhist temples, people like to tell each other stories, since cell phones, laptops or tablets are usually not allowed.
I find the story about the search for "the truth" particularly beautiful.
Once upon a time there was a powerful king who had already grown old. He had a beautiful daughter who could hardly resist offers, but he decided to give her as a wife only to the man who would find "the truth". When he had this announced, the young men poured out of his kingdom, each wanting to find "the truth" and live with the beautiful princess.
Those who wanted to marry traveled to all temples, to all provinces, to every wise man who had already been reported somewhere, everywhere they asked for "the truth", where one could find it.
On remote mountains, in distant valleys, in cities and in villages, everywhere the collective search for "the truth" broke out.
"The truth" itself was also coming of age, at some times it stood tall, at other times it had to hide. She quickly learned of the search for her, the birds brought her the news, yet she did not leave her cave in the mountains, "the truth" had endured too much over the centuries. She had become an old woman, her hair hung tangled in her face, her wrinkles were deep, she had no more teeth, she had already seen a lot, "the truth" had suffered badly over the years.
Suddenly a young warrior stood in the entrance to the cave, he was wet and shaky, but he asked determinedly, "Are you 'the truth', I've been looking everywhere for you?"
"Yes, I am 'the truth', I live here secluded, because most people just don't want to hear "the truth", they like beautiful lies better, I am tired of living with their stupidity, so I better hide here, but you come in and keep me company."
The two disparate people started talking, for a whole day and night, without a break. The young warrior learned answers to all his questions, he became a wise and educated man in a short time. He explained to "the truth" why he was here in the first place, "the truth" began to smile, and said, "yes yes, love".
The young warrior wanted to go back to the beautiful princess, the anticipation overwhelmed him. Then he asked how he could prove that he had found "the truth", and further, what he should tell about "the truth".
"The truth" answered him wisely: "Say that I am young and incredibly pretty, the rest will come naturally. But don't tell anyone where you found me."
Doubt everything. Find your own light
Buddha - honorary name of Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
Previous Episode
111-The Spiritual Guide Part 4 - Buddhism in daily life
The Spiritual Guide Part 4
Have you heard the first parts about the "spiritual guides" here on my podcast?
Those in search of a spiritual teacher are particularly susceptible to cults. At first glance, cults make sense, of course, as they use values such as community, harmony, cohesion, and a sense of belonging to attract souls who feel alone and abandoned. Cults also approach people, speak directly to potential candidates on the street, and woo particularly lonely people.
In a second step, there is suddenly talk of money, the spiritual must be worth something, even a spiritual teacher must pay his rent, electricity is not for free and the car does not run on water either, period, you have to understand that! And the more expensive the seminar is, the more valuable is surely the content?
Does your adored guru perhaps even drive a Rolls-Royce? Are monthly fees demanded, or do you have the impression that profit is to be made from spiritual guidance?
Anyone who may tell you that spiritual breakthrough will come without effort and discipline is lying to you. A good Buddhist guide points with an outstretched index finger to the direction in which you should set out, but this guide is only a signpost, he is not himself the solution.
Whoever is looking for spiritual presence is welcome to be inspired, but he or she has to walk the path himself, no guru, no guide, no teacher, simply no one is able to take this part from us. We are not carried up the mountain, we have to make our own effort, the teacher can only be a kind of mountain guide for us, who just (leads) our way up the mountain, but just does not walk it.
A good spiritual guide will prepare you for the journey, will enable you to start and walk the journey.
The connection between teacher and student is something unique. I for one have been devoted to my master Shi Yan Zi for almost 40 years, we see each other frequently, talk on the phone regularly, I will be going to visit him again soon. When we see each other, sometimes I call him by his name, but sometimes I just call him Master.
For the people who wish to have a master, I like to be the virtual teacher and friend, a patient companion, a rock, daily you can read and listen to my words, just accept the offer, it costs you nothing (except time).
Again: the way is the goal!
To be rich in truth, diligence, virtuous control, and at the same time to speak good words, that brings the highest salvation.
Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
Next Episode
113-The lottery win - Buddhism in daily life
The lottery win
Imagine that a friend of yours had won the jackpot in the lottery without knowing about it, perhaps because the ticket can no longer be found or he has simply forgotten about it.
Now your friend would be a millionaire without having the slightest idea of the process, without wasting a thought on it, he would not have to think about it, he would not have to tell anyone about it, he would not have to conceal it, NOTHING would change for your friend, at least not as long as he does not know about it.
The situation is completely different when your friend knows about the winnings, now hundreds of considerations arise, the mind palace really gets going, what to do, who to ask, will life as a millionaire still be the same? Questions upon questions suddenly burst out of your friend, everything has to be put in order, has to be brought under control.
Or is it not?
Let's compare the two hypothetical states of said friend. The only difference is that in the first case he knows nothing, but in the second he does. Only his emotional state has completely changed for him, he is otherwise still the same guy, outwardly in any case, inwardly it is a different situation.
A Buddhist would (theoretically) behave like in the first scenario if he won the lottery, he wouldn't change just because he won (something), but he would be the person he was before.
If you think about it like this, once you were the friend, put yourself in his shoes. Imagine that you were the big winner, only you didn't know it yet. Now a certain security radiates through you, because financial prosperity brings independence, everyday worries become smaller. Now you think through the scenario, but now you "know" about the win.
This duality of events is also the right way of thinking for all lifetimes. Does she love me, or does she not? Does it really make a difference? After all, what is important is your feelings without asking for anything in return.
If you love, if you feel like a winner, no matter if you have won, then you are following the Buddha on his path.
What is important is not how things are, but how your attitude towards them is, how you look at things, which subsequently makes up your emotions.
Every new day is a real lottery win, the big jackpot is your inner attitude, nothing else.
The path is the goal!
Fight hatred by not hating, by kindness the wicked, win the miser by your sacrifices and the liar by your love of truth.
Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de
(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)
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