November 2015 — Page 6 of 10 — Jendhamuni-Buddhism

Respect Older People…

1 November 19, 2015
Elderly people are now who you will one day become. Respecting their wisdom, knowledge, grace and fortitude should come second nature to younger generations but it isn’t always the case. Sometimes we need reminding of why it is so important to respect our elders for what they have to impart to us that will help ease our journey through life. They should always be respected like you want them to respect you.

Be considerate of older people’s well-being. The reality of the human body is that it deteriorates as we age. Different people age differently, according to their genes, lifestyle choices and life’s experiences and so you will find some elderly are much fitter and daredevil than others who are forced to live with illness or medical conditions. It is only proper that fit and healthy younger generations show respect the reality of the human body’s growing frailty in ways that acknowledge the younger person’s ability to cope more easily with certain physical situations. For example:

Stand when an older person needs a seat, be it on public transportation, in a waiting room or anywhere else. You have young, able legs and a need to stay fit by standing on them. And here is the respectful part––do it with grace, not because the person is older than you. Do it because they matter as a human being. In thinking this way, you’ll find your attitude shifts a great deal.

Do not shout at an elderly person assuming that he or she is deaf or stupid. Being old doesn’t necessarily mean hard-of-hearing and it doesn’t mean they’re stupid. If anything, older people are much wiser than you, they’ve seen it all and some and have a few good tips for improving your way of living too.

If driving an elderly person somewhere, don’t assume they want to be in the back seat. Ask them where they’d like to sit first. And be on hand to help them in and out of the car––the distance from the seat can be difficult sometimes for those with less strength in their bodies.

Source: wikiHow
Help other people and touch their lives meaningfully

Comment November 19, 2015

The happiest people are those who are contented with what they currently have, not with what they lack. There really is nothing more rewarding in this world than helping other people improve their lives. This activity doesn’t only make you feel great about yourself – it also makes you value what you have in your life. Every little thing counts. You have the ability to make yourself feel to be more grateful in your life – never let anybody tell you different.

Source: Lifehack
How to Stop Crying when You Are Very Upset

Comment November 19, 2015

Steps

1. Take deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth, and extend your diaphragm as you do so. Although this may be painful if you’ve been crying for prolonged periods of time, the purpose is to relax. Continue even if your breathing is shaky.

2. Tense and relax your body. Once your breathing is fairly normal, try to find where the tension is in your body. Tense up the muscles in this area, hold for the count of five, and relax. Breathe and make a conscious effort to these and other tense areas, such as your shoulders and stomach.

3. Lay down in a position that is comfortable to you in your bed. Turn off the big lights, and turn on the soft nightlights or other small lamps.

4. Turn on some quiet music. Lose yourself in it. Turn this on quietly in the background. Talk to yourself in your head. Say stuff like (Everything is going to be ok) ,( It’s over) or (she is going to be ok).

5. Realize that life has its ups and downs. Crying isn’t a bad thing and that crying isn’t a bad thing to do, but that after a while, crying can actually hurt your body, so it’s important to try to relax.

6. Comfort yourself with the thought that eventually, all this will be a memory, and it won’t be as painful for you to think of, so try not to think about it.

7. Don’t be afraid to cry with a friend or family member. They have probably gone through what you have just experienced.

8. Take a break. If you cannot see the bright side to things, just lie down and go to sleep. You will feel so much better afterwards.

9. Go for a walk with a friend and talk about something that will make you laugh and remember to breathe.

10. Think of happy things. Avoid dwelling on what made you upset. Remember to focus on other things that make you happy. Continue reading →
Having a kind heart

Comment November 18, 2015

No matter what you think you look like, having a kind heart will always make you beautiful. ~Terry Mark
How to treat one’s parents

Comment November 16, 2015

Lessons in how to treat one’s parents,

Support for one’s parents,
assistance to one’s wife and children,
consistency in one’s work:
This is the highest protection.
[Sn II.4]

Mother & father,
compassionate to their family,
are called
Brahma,
first teachers,
those worthy of gifts
from their children.
So the wise should pay them
homage,
honor
with food & drink
clothing & bedding
anointing & bathing
& washing their feet.
Performing these services to their parents, the wise
are praised right here
and after death
rejoice in heaven.

Link source
A refuge supreme

Comment November 16, 2015

They go to many a refuge,
to mountains and forests,
to park and tree shrines:
people threatened with danger.
That’s not the secure refuge,
not the supreme refuge,
that’s not the refuge,
having gone to which,
you gain release
from all suffering & stress.

But when, having gone
to the Buddha, Dhamma,
& Sangha for refuge,
you see with right discernment
the four noble truths —
stress,
the cause of stress,
the transcending of stress,
& the noble eightfold path,
the way to the stilling of stress:
that’s the secure refuge,
that, the supreme refuge,
that is the refuge,
having gone to which,
you gain release
from all suffering & stress.

~Dhammapada

Link source
Wishing you a most peaceful and beautiful Sunday

Comment November 14, 2015

I want to thank all my wonderful friends, brothers, and sisters so much for your kind and caring messages. My health have been back to normal –100 percent recovered. Because I got sick for nearly one week, I have so many projects to complete before returning to a normal schedule on gplus. I miss all of you. Love and respect all my dear friends just like my brothers and sisters. Due to my very hectic schedule, I hardly have time to respond to any friend on gplus. Only come by to post several items each day. ~Jendhamuni
Practicing generosity

Comment November 14, 2015

Practicing generosity in a Buddhist context means to consider everyone equal, not to discriminate against anyone. There are cruel persons and kind persons among the poor and destitute, just as there are among the wealthy, and we must not exclude the cruel ones from our practice.

As the sutra states, ‘Bodhisattvas consider everyone, friends and enemies alike, as equal. They do not condemn anyone’s past wrongdoings, nor do they hate those who are presently doing harm.’ This expresses the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism. Poverty creates anger, hatred, and wrongdoing. If we teach Buddhist philosophy through lectures, but do not practice generosity to ease the suffering of others, we have not yet attained the essence of Buddhism. We should practice generosity with compassion and not disdain, without discriminating against people who, because of their poverty, have caused anger and hatred. ~Thich Nhat Hanh
How mindfulness can reconnect people to Mother Earth

Comment November 14, 2015

Mindfulness can help people to reconnect by slowing down and appreciating all the gifts that the earth can offer.

Many people suffer deeply and they do not know they suffer. They try to cover up the suffering by being busy. Many people get sick today because they get alienated from Mother Earth.

The practice of mindfulness helps us to touch Mother Earth inside of the body and this practice can help heal people. So the healing of the people should go together with the healing of the Earth and this is the insight and it is possible for anyone to practice.

This kind of enlightenment is very crucial to a collective awakening. In Buddhism we talk of meditation as an act of awakening, to be awake to the fact that the earth is in danger and living species are in danger.

~Thich Nhat Hanh
Can We Understand the Suffering of our Enemy?

Comment November 14, 2015

When someone has done us, our loved ones, or our people, a great wrong, this is the very last thing in the world we want to do. We hate and loathe our enemies, and may well have very good reason for this antipathy.

It takes tremendous courage and insight to break this self-perpetuating cycle, but it is possible. And Buddhism offers unique insights into how we can break down the barriers that separate us and find a path to peace. And one skillful way to do this is through meditation in which we empathetically become one with our enemy and his suffering. Again, this is not easy to do, but in understanding another’s suffering, however much we may think they deserve it or have brought it upon themselves, we find common ground. We all suffer. Being human, we all know what suffering is. We know what it is to lose a love one, to be abused, to be victimized. In our common suffering, and our compassionate response to suffering, we have a basis for finding and seeing our common humanity. ~Thich Nhat Hanh