We have all gone through some obstacles at a certain point of our lives in the name of survival. We often tend to deny them as they are difficult to deal with. However, as difficult as they are to bear, it is imperative if we want to live a fulfilling life.
According to Buddhism, happiness is based on embracing and accepting the negative aspects of life. Denying those turns a blind eye to real life and makes us resist the natural forces of the universe. This article focuses on few truths about the life we would all benefit from knowing!
Worrying is useless
Worrying is something that doesn’t help with any problems in our lives. It is a waste of time as it cannot change what is going to happen whatsoever. As Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh puts it, you need to remain in the present without thinking about the “future conditions of happiness” and putting labels on them.
“Worrying does not accomplish anything. Even if you worry twenty times more, it will not change the situation of the world. Your anxiety will only make things worse. Even though things are not as we would like, we can still be content, knowing we are trying our best and will continue to do so. If we don’t know how to breathe, smile, and live every moment of our life deeply, we will never be able to help anyone.
I am happy in the present moment. I do not ask for anything else. I do not expect any additional happiness or conditions that will bring about more happiness. The most important practice is aimlessness, not running after things, not grasping,” he explains.
Accept the reality
According to Buddhist philosophy, we must see reality for what it is. We need to be open minded and open to the truth, instead of focusing on our own unrealistic opinions. Many people choose to remain positive by avoiding negative situations, but what we need to do is to confront them. According to Buddhist master Pema Chödrön,
“We have two alternatives: either we question our beliefs or we don’t. Either we accept our fixed versions of reality or we begin to challenge them. In Buddha’s opinion, to train in staying open and curious – to train in dissolving our assumptions and beliefs – is the best use of our human lives.”
Accept change happily
Everything changes, no matter which aspect you look at in life. Embracing these changes gives us the energy and liberation we need to create a fulfilling life. As Buddhist Daisaku Ikeda says, accepting and embracing change helps us create positive changes in life.
“Buddhism holds that everything is in constant flux. Thus the question is whether we are to accept change passively and be swept away by it or whether we are to take the lead and create positive changes on our own initiative. While conservatism and self-protection might be likened to winter, night, and death, the spirit of pioneering and attempting to realize ideals evokes images of spring, morning, and birth,” he explains.
Do not pursue temporary feeling
Most people crave feelings of happiness, such as joy, euphoria, and excitement. However, these feelings are temporary and the pursuit of them turns into suffering. True happiness comes from inner peace and it is based on a feeling of being satisfied and happy with your true self. Yuval Noah Harari explains that people can stop suffering only when they understand the impermanent nature of their feelings and stop craving them.
Reduce suffering through meditation
Meditation teaches us that the present is all that exists and that everything is transient. As Yuval Noah Harari puts it,
“This is the aim of Buddhist meditation practices. In meditation, you are supposed to closely observe your mind and body, witness the ceaseless arising and passing of all your feelings, and realize how pointless it is to pursue them. When the pursuit stops, the mind becomes very relaxed, clear and satisfied. All kinds of feelings go on arising and passing – joy, anger, boredom, lust – but once you stop craving particular feelings, you can just accept them for what they are.
You live in the present moment instead of fantasizing about what might have been. The resulting Serenity is so profound that those who spend their lives in the frenzied pursuit of pleasant feelings can hardly imagine it.”
