American college student explores Buddhism

[the-heart-on-fire]

[bookmania]

[booksnatureandgirls]

Africa and their people are so quintessentially associated with poverty, war, hunger, and need, that no story about the continent or its people as a source of wealth can be ever imagined or told

Manuel Barcia

[i-dah-buddha]

Skillful

having the training, knowledge, and experience that is needed to do something well

-Merriam-Webster 

[i-dah-buddha]

One of the main things I've been thinking about with this concept is the idea of skillful vs unskillful helping. Going into humanitarian work there are a plethora of examples of unskillful helping (NGO's that build playgrounds no matter what they local people actually need). But I think this idea of skillful helping is important to keep in mind. One of my favorite examples that I tell my friends are the worms on sidewalks on a rainy day. Sometime people will kick them back into the grass thinking they are saving the worms life, however the worms get stranded on the sidewalk for a reason. Putting them back in the dirt actually hurts them because they now have to expend the energy to get back to the sidewalk. 

[i-dah-buddha]

Skillful

having the training, knowledge, and experience that is needed to do something well

-Merriam-Webster 

[i-dah-buddha]

Sangha

it refers either to the community of ordained monks and nuns (bhikkhu-sangha and bhikkhuni-sangha) or to the community of “noble ones” (ariya-sangha) — persons who have attained at least stream-entry, the first stage of Awakening.

-Access to Insight

[i-dah-buddha]

If only all your student were ordained we would be your sangha:)

[i-dah-buddha]

Sangha

it refers either to the community of ordained monks and nuns (bhikkhu-sangha and bhikkhuni-sangha) or to the community of "noble ones" (ariya-sangha) — persons who have attained at least stream-entry, the first stage of Awakening.

-Access to Insight

[i-dah-buddha]

Renunciation

the formal rejection of something, typically a belief, claim, or course of action.

-Google Definitions

[i-dah-buddha]

Realize

To be an enlightened individual one must be fully engaged. Being fully engaged means one must realize the life that is going on around them. I think a lot of the time when I think of realizing something I always think of a moment of epiphany rather than a long process, but it's really important to remember that being awake in life is a lifelong process. 

[booksnatureandgirls]

Radically Re-Imagine Relationship

[i-dah-buddha]

to fundamentally reinterpret the “way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected.” 

-Google definitions

[i-dah-buddha]

I always think of this first in terms of mindfulness and letting go. One must be able to let go of their current preconceptions of their relationships in order to be mindful of allowing them to flourish.

[booksnatureandgirls]

Radically Re-Imagine Relationship

[i-dah-buddha]

to fundamentally reinterpret the “way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected.” 

-Google definitions

[i-dah-buddha]

Nirvana:

ending of ignorance

[i-dah-buddha]

The state of full enlightenment.

[theadventureoflauren]

[i-dah-buddha]

Mindfullness

maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.

-Greater Good

[i-dah-buddha]

Another key aspect of mindfulness is acceptance. When one is paying attention it is also important to pay attention with an open mind/heart. When one practices mindfulness, ones thoughts tune into sensory experiences in the present moment rather than revisiting the past or imagining the future.

[i-dah-buddha]

Mindfullness

maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.

-Greater Good

[booksnatureandgirls]

The Middle Way

[i-dah-buddha]

a suggestion about how one can live life in order to bring dukkha to a minimum. The eightfold path encourages one to look inward rather than following a preset code of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’

[thoughtjoy]

Right view

Right intention

Right speech

Right action

Right livelihood

Right effort

Right mindfulness

Right concentration

The Noble Eightfold Path

[booksnatureandgirls]

The Middle Way: The Eight Component Course