Life in the First Noble Truth
When I talk to non-Buddhists about Buddhism, something I come across is that people think Buddhism is just one thing. What I often get from people is that it’s all about sitting in meditation and magically feeling good about yourself and the world. For myself before I went to OCBC, I must admit I had never heard of Shin Buddhism. Now of course, it is a central component of my life. Buddhism has spent the last 2500 years transmitting around the world. Not only would it be impossible for it not to change, but it was designed to be organic and be able to change to suit the new areas and cultures it enters.
When the Buddha was dying he said to his disciples, “Go and speak in the language of the people”. Meaning speak in a way that people will understand and help them the most. When asked, I usually tell people that there are probably as many schools of Buddhism as there are Christian denominations. Usually the main difference is an argument on the right path to enlightenment. In Shin Buddhism we are given a break from that difficult path and use the teachings to lead a better and happier life. Thank you Shinran!
But no matter what school of thought, all schools of Buddhism have the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path. Don’t worry, I am not going to go through each one. I am just going to talk about the First Noble Truth.
But before I do that, a little side note about the Eight Fold Path. Here they are:
Right Views
Right Thoughts
Right Speech
Right Conduct
Right Livelihood
Right Energy
Right Mindfulness
Right Meditation
They are normally listed in this order and sometimes as 1 thru 8. We like to number things and put things in order. There is not really an order to the 8 fold path. You do not start with number one, master that and move on to number 2. Think of it as a circle. Jump on wherever you want and keep on going. You can also see it as something that organically happens to as you live your life in the Buddha Dharma. Ultimately, they are considered the cure for the First of the Four Noble Truth: Dukkha-Difficulty, Dissatisfaction comes from not living in accord with the truth of impermanence and interdependence.
Now for my latest issue with interdependence and impermanence.
I have been a bookseller at Barnes & Noble for about 15 years. One person I have worked with for all that time is my buddy Trevor. No, Trevor did not pass away, it’s not going to be one of those kind of stories as he is alive and well! Trevor and I have not just had a good working relationship, but we have seen each other through a lot of major health issues and other very personal stuff. Trevor decided to live a quiet life and transferred one of our stores in San Luis Obispo. After 15 years and taking things for granted this leaves a big hole for me. Causes and conditions have struck again!
So we do not have a choice of what happens to us, but we do have a choice on how we react to it. Although this does bring up the issue of whether or not we have free will, but I choose not to discuss that at this point in time.
I can be mad at Trevor for leaving or I can be a friend and be happy that he is doing something beneficial for himself. That seems like an easy decision, but it actually ends up not being what we always do. We stray from the Eight Fold Path.
Now along with doing the right thing for a friend. Things change for me. In fact, things change no matter what. Impermanence! In 15 years there, I have worked with a lot of different people, most of which I have liked. I have survived going through all that have come and gone and I will survive Trevor leaving too.
This is why we need to cherish the moment we are in and the people we are with. We can look back on all that we have gained and learned, but we need to go forward and keep moving with the flow of life. We will miss what we had in the past, but our connection with these people will always be part of us and who knows what the future will bring!
In Gassho, Matthew Stolz, Minister Assistant
