The Eight Winds - Using Resistance to Navigate Through Adversity

11/05/22 • 0 min

Whether you’re a Buddhist, a Christian, Jewish, or Jedi, or even if you don’t identify with any preconceived ideology, if you’re human, there’s one thing we all have in common, without exception. That is, none of us are able to go through life without eventually encountering obstacles and adversity. No matter how rich or poor, or how well-educated you may be, there’s no such thing as a perfect life, devoid of mishaps. Even Luke Skywalker had issues...

Regardless of how much we plan, or how hard we work on achieving something, at some point, without fail we’ll inevitably hit a roadblock that forces us to rethink our strategy. Just when we think we’ve got everything under control, we’re blindsided by a tornado of unforeseen dilemma. Sometimes a setback can throw us completely off course and discourage us from continuing on our journey, creating stress and frustration and subsequently, weakening our self confidence.

The strategy for dealing with adversity and remaining on the path is to first identify the root of the problem and then determine whether we’re allowing our ego to get in the way to distract us and sabotage our progress.

When we’re inadvertently tossed into the eye of a storm, most of us react impulsively, based on our deluded, egoic self. Unfortunately, the ego has a way of stirring up the waves and throwing us overboard, making things even more difficult. If we instead become more mindful and allow our enlightened consciousness to make decisions, we’ll eventually realize the issue isn’t really the problem itself, but rather, our reaction to it.

In this episode, I discuss the buddhist concept of the Eight Winds and how becoming aware of what they are and identifying how they affect your decisions can help you turn your sails more effectively and use resistance to navigate through the storms. After all, you were born to resist, not to be abused...

For more information, please visit https://www.sixstringbuddha.com

For more information, please visit https://www.sixstringbuddha.com

Previous Episode

Enlightenment: What It Is and What It's Not

Of all the terms most commonly associated with buddhism and eastern philosophy, the word “enlightenment” is likely the first one you think of, any time buddhism or meditation is the topic of conversation. It’s also the one that’s often misunderstood, misinterpreted, or thought of as some superhuman state that requires years of deep meditation and drastic lifestyle changes to attain. It couldn’t possibly be something the average person could experience, with a 9 to 5 job, family, kids, school, or whatever distraction we allow to occupy our mind, from moment to moment, right?

The funny thing about enlightenment is that it’s already inside each and every one of us and just about everyone has experienced it at one time or another, even if they’re not practicing meditation, or not the least bit spiritual. The great thing about enlightenment is that once you understand what it really is, the more you’ll want to have the ability to access it in your own life, at any given moment, to bring about that feeling of interconnectedness, or being “one” with everything and take control of your erratic & anxious mind.

It’s the very same thing Eckhart Tolle describes in his best-selling books “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth” - both of which I highly recommend! Once you develop a deeper understanding of what enlightenment is (and what it’s NOT!) you’ll see how it can drastically improve the quality of your life and create a sense of inner-peace, regardless of what this chaotic and entropic world of ours is conjuring, moment to moment.

In this episode, I break down my understanding of enlightenment, through my own experiences, as both a buddhist and also as a musician and explain it to the best of my ability, for you to utilize, at any moment . You may be surprised to find out how you’ve already had “fleeting glimpses” of it in your own life and just how powerful it really is!

Next Episode

Learning to Shred Like a Buddha - The What, Why & How of Buddhist Practice

By definition, practicing means doing something repeatedly, to develop skill, proficiency, or competence, in order to become “better” at it. It involves spending time, implicitly focused on a particular area of interest, to rise above the surface level and master something; then perhaps eventually using your knowledge, talent or skill to help or inspire others to strive for excellence and develop themselves in that area as well.

As a young kid, my aspiration to be a great guitar player taught me the importance of disciplining myself to sit and practice. Music touched me on such a deep level that I wanted to be able to share it with others, in my own way. I knew that if I ever wanted to play like the guitar heroes who’d influenced me, I’d need to first put in the time to master the fundamentals, study the relevant theories and learn whatever I could from other players, in order to develop my own style, using the skills and knowledge I’d acquired. It was difficult at first, but I conditioned myself to make it a habit.

In that manner of thinking however, what does it mean to practice buddhism and what exactly, are we trying to become better at? Is there some “expert level” to strive for? (and, who’s judging, anyway?) Why should anyone even begin practicing in the first place? Does it contribute any value to others, or is it merely a self-indulgent pursuit for enlightenment? More importantly, if someone decides they want to practice buddhism, how does one actually do it? (hint: there’s no rulebook or blueprint!)

In this episode, I reflect on my own experiences as a musician and as a buddhist, to answer those questions and explain the similarities as well as the differences between practicing music and walking the Eightfold Path - and why practicing anything is a lifelong pursuit!

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