Hi Everybody,
Here we go into Chapter Nine. Buddhism and Negativity. So we look at what it is, where it comes from and what we can do about it to stop it inhibiting and curtailing our lives.
' In taking up this practice we are in a sense being invited to take part in what could be described as a huge on-going experiment. We are the focus of the experiment you might say, and our life is the test bed. Practice we are told without being begrudging or half-hearted about it. Give it a sincere and committed trial. And then look for the changes in your life. Put simply the change we are seeking is to shift our whole life towards the positive end of the spectrum. And as we do that, so the promise is, we are also changing our environment. As we change, as we move away from a basically self-centred life state say, with its concentration on our own needs and our own ego, towards a more compassionate and responsive approach towards others...which was I like to think very much my own progression...so we find those qualities reflected back at us from our environment. The challenges and the problems are no less frequent or severe; why should they be, since Buddhism is real life, not magic? It cannot simply sweep life's normal flow of problems away. The fundamental change lies in the clarity with which we perceive them, and the strengthened ability to respond to them positively.
The clarity is an important factor. Indeed Nichiren describes one of the main benefits of the practice as being the greater clarity of perception it brings; what he describes as a purification of the senses. But what does that mean exactly? Th fact is that many utterly feet-on-the-ground people who practice , talk for example of seeing opportunities in their environment that they hadn't previously noticed, or of seeing problems arising at an earlier stage when they can more easily be resolved. They often talk of their life seeming to run more smoothly for them, or of being in the right place at the right time. Pure coincidence you might say? Possibly. Of course there's nothing resembling research to prove anything either way, nor could we reasonably expect there to be. But that's not really the point is it? We're talking about how people feel about their lives. The fact is that many people express this sense of greater stability in their lives, no longer so frequently blown off course by the tough stuff that comes out of left field, able to make positive choices and decisions more readily, because they had a clearer sense of an objective or direction.
All those and more are are the kinds of feelings that people express as they gain confidence in the practice. So not a revolution, but a steady evolution towards a generally more positive life state. And it's that steady evolution that encourages them to continue. '
That's it for today. I'm pleased to say that I've had some very positive feed back this week about this book. People saying it's so practical and down-to-earth and yet inspiring! That can't be bad can it?
Anyway, see you next time I hope, andlet me express the wish that I've expressed before, if you feel that you can bounce this on to any friend or acquaintance, Buddhist or not, you have my heartfelt thank.
Best wishes, William
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