10 Must-Read Life Lessons from the Buddha
What I learnt and you should too…
Without sounding too preachy, I just wanted to share my personal experiences of following the Buddha, the Founder of Buddhism. A religion that is not only simple and practical but extremely profound; in its own way without imposing its ideologies on anyone who is effortlessly willing to embrace it wholeheartedly. A few years ago when my career was at its lowest ebb and I just wanted to give up on life, it was at this point in my life that I not only became spiritual but began reading on Buddhism. The teachings not only gave me my sense of self-worth but also showed me my purpose in life. Since then I’ve become a calmer person taking every challenge or a shortcoming in my stride. Anything that happens good or bad is for a higher purpose and the greatest good. So I have stopped worrying about the future and this has lifted a huge burden off my head and I am relieved. Here are the ten precious teachings that I practice to keep away all the noise and chaos that takes place around me and above all in my head.
The secret of good health is to live fully in the now
The harshest truth of life comes from the simple power of knowing and living in the now. How many of us lose our precious moments of not living in the present and enjoying quiet moments not only with ourselves but also with our family members? All we worry is about our children, their marriages, careers, and above all our financial problems. Worry is the biggest disease that will take us quickly to our graves. All we have to do is stop worrying and start living in the now.
No one can walk your path for you
My mother used to give me the wisest piece of advice, “Row in your own canoe”, which only meant walk on the path made by you. Even if the journey is filled with a lot of sharp thorns, and harsh rubbles you know how to get out of it in your own way. The path made by others will be filled with deep ditches, if you accidentally fall into it you will never be able to come out. Even if you come out there will be no one around to be blamed for it. So sort out your priorities and walk on your own path.
Be Kind To All
It does not cost anything to be kind to people whether they are rich or poor. Each one of us is fighting a battle that nobody knows, so being kind helps us to strengthen our own ‘karma,’ and help a poor soul in this journey called life.
Let go of Fear
Fear debilitates the mind and freezes its thinking processes. Why and who do we fear so much? Have we committed a crime that we have to fear being put in prison? That is for all the wrongdoers and lawless individuals who have no respect for either a fellow human being or the laws of their own country. Truth, honesty, and integrity are only words that decorate the pages of a dictionary but there are human beings on this planet who live by the ideals that are considered by many as lofty and unimaginable to achieve. They fear nothing and no one and that is what makes them unique.
Control your mind or it will control you
The enlightened Buddha was very wise in saying, ‘Control your mind or it will control you’. He knew very well what exactly plagued the human mind. The constant chatter that goes on in our heads can wreak havoc giving us a nervous breakdown. All hell will break loose if we don’t control our minds and our thoughts.
Choose your friends wisely
A popular saying that I quote is, ‘You become like the company you keep.’ Which is very true. We are humans who become weak under peer pressure. If our friends like to gamble we also like to join them, which will eventually lead to our doom. So choose friends who have like-minded interests and pursuits and will help you and you in turn will help them in mutual growth and respect for each other.
We are only responsible for our happiness and our own misery
I have found Buddha’s teachings to not only be simple and profound but also extremely easy to follow. The more practical and uncomplicated we keep our lives, our lives will not only be peaceful but a joy to live. Our miseries rise from a series of wants and desires that are going to be never-ending. Once we are caught in our own maya or illusion of greed and avaricious behavior this will only lead to misery and a life of hell. ‘Simple living and high thinking’ should be our motto in life.
Don’t expect from others
Expectation is a useless exercise in futility. The more you expect from others, the more likely you are to get hurt and disappointed. Instead expect the best only from yourself and there will be unexpected returns in the future. If people don’t rise to your expectations you will not only feel let down but also miserable. Expecting from others is simply a waste of our precious time and effort.
Patience is a Key Factor
Rome was not built in a day but took years of hard work and consistent efforts to reach a formidable position. Similarly, it took years of hard work for man and many civilizations to work together for the world to come to this stage of advancement and for a progressive society to live in comfort. Most people do not exercise patience when they start a project. They are in a hurry to see the fruits of their hard work. The key factor here is patience, which only bears fruits in the long run and not immediately.
Practice Gratitude
From my many years of experience working with people, very few give gratitude to the Higher Realization and Power that guides them in their lives. Whatever we have achieved we owe our success and achievement to that higher power we call God. With all the money that we have amassed we are not grateful to give thanks and say a prayer of gratitude to the universe. Practicing gratitude on a daily basis will make you a better and happier human being.
Buddhism to a certain extent has shaped me into the human being that I am today and I am grateful to Lord Buddha for opening me up to his world of spirituality and teachings that have impacted me in a positive way and have shaped me to become an empathetic and a kinder human being.
