one day at a time

A man said to Buddha “I want happiness.” Buddha said, “First remove ‘I’; that is ego. Then remove ‘want’; that is desire. You are left with only happiness.”

(Source: pink-haired-tribble)

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lizrizmatiz:

juliantalens:

anditslove:

SICK!

….. My mind is blown forever…. i just… woah… THE POSSIBLITIES!!!!!!

(Source: videohall, via timothydelaghetto)

162,654 notes

No place to sleep? No problem! Just make your own space.

May 29th

1 note

No place to sleep? No problem! Just make your own space.

Those days when you just feel like a dinosaur.

(Source: pleasedontleadmeon, via lmaogtfo)

epic4chan:

They’re both texting someone right now saying ‘some weird guy next to me is wearing the same thing as me.’

May 27th

68,069 notes

epic4chan:

They’re both texting someone right now saying ‘some weird guy next to me is wearing the same thing as me.’

(via timothydelaghetto)

"Don’t let them stop you from being young."

May 26th

476 notes

(via whatynot)

Buddhist? Really? No, really… You’re a Buddhist?

SO I THOUGHT my local Vietnamese temple taught Mahayana Buddhism.. But whenever I’m there (which isn’t very often - which illustrates my lack of faith) it doesn’t seem like everybody fully grasps and understands the teachings of this religion.

From what I understand (and please forgive me if I am mistaken), there are two main schools/branches of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana.

My predicament is choosing which branch to follow (if I were to fully commit to a religion). You see, I am half Vietnamese/half Cambodian.

Generally, Vietnamese people follow the Mahayana branch. Cambodians, on the other hand, follow the Theravada branch. The two local temples in my area are neighbours. The Khmer Buddhist Centre of Victoria teaches Therevada buddhism. The Vietnamese Hoa Nghiem Temple teaches Mahayana. If you don’t know what the hell the difference is, then click-click.

I’m stuck - the perplexity of my situation is not at all that perplex to begin with really, since I’m not going to religiously and faithfully follow either branch of Buddhism. I’m not ready to commit myself to a religion. Nevertheless - I’m so confused!

What I’m trying to understand is the difference between the two branches, AND… why everybody who supposedly is devoted to this religion - seems to be on the contrary? I’m leaning more over to the right of the fence towards Mahayana. Although with that being said, all branches/types of Buddhism is still Buddhism. It’s all the same.

Okay, my first little pick at all (okay, most of) the “buddhists” at my local Vietnamese temple: I thought Mahayana Buddhism taught to “look inward and not look outward” (BDEA Inc. & BuddhaNet, 2008) in order to achieve enlightenment. And yet whenever I’m there, everybody seems so superficial and materialistic. People holding LV/Chanel/Gucci bags with their noses held up high, and looking down on those who don’t possess these luxuries. Oh, and not to mention the cars! ‘He drives a BMW, you say? Well. You know what that means. He must be a very good boy, handsome, and his family must REALLY have etiquette down to a “T”’. Everybody seems to be looking “outward”.

Secondly, the basic teachings of Buddhism, I believe, say that we are supposed to be loving, kind, and generous. BuddhaNet (2008) phrases these as the “Five Precepts in positive terms”, which entails:
“1. Act with Loving-kindness;
2. Be open hearted and generous;
3. Practice stillness, simplicity and contentment;
4. Speak with truth, clarity and peace;
5. Live with mindfulness”.

So… where is this evident in everyone? More importantly - HOW is this evident in everyone? I get the feeling that most people at the temple just give love, kindness, generosity and blah-blah because they know that “to be good” they have to do these things. That everything action is just an exterior. “Being good” under false pretences. I’m not saying that these people are in fact this way. Keywords here were “I get the feeling”. So don’t mark my words - or mark my words - you’ll just be wrong somehow. So, har!

“Practice stillness, simplicity and contentment”. Really? I would, just for kicks, survey everybody that is on premises one day at the temple and ask them exactly how content they are with their lives. These people are chasing after imaginary digits in their bank accounts - just willing those digits to spring out of the ground magically. Chasing after luxury bags, the next best car, or the most expensive TV. Chasing after these things as if they’re necessities. Then twisting everybody’s words, and good intentions into something sinister. Making assumptions and accusations. Hiding behind facades wealth and honesty wherein truthfully lies deceit, contempt, and jealousy. Simplicity? Where is the simplicity? We’re making things more and more complex for ourselves! This is far beyond living simply.

BuddhaNet (2008) also mentions in “The Ten Paramita” that we should have “patience or forbearance”. Honestly, the people around me are the most impatient and un-forbearing people I know. I know it’s hard, but sometimes it can’t be helped - I’m talking about holding grudges. Lets speak less vaguely here, and use an example: forgiving people and giving them a chance to change, to make up for their wrong-doings. I’m telling you, people do not give you too much time to change and make-up. I’ve noticed particularly with a lot of Asian cultures.

What does everybody think, that change happens overnight? That it has to happen immediately? No. Not at all. It takes time - first to acknowledge the need to change, then begin the process of change, and then finally, change. But it seems that there is hardly any patience in people for others. Many of you may have seen this image here of the Dalai Lama’s “Paradox of Our Age”. Perhaps that will explain much of my anguish to you all. And we are definitely not forgiving/forbearing and/or tolerant people. Not. At. All. But I shall dwell on this a different time, in a different place.

There is also the infamous Buddhist “Eight Fold Path”. I’m sure many individuals - Buddhist or not - may have seen or heard somewhere before. BuddhaNet (2008) lays it all out conveniently for us all on their website. The Eight Fold-Path entails:

“1. Right View, Understanding;
2. Right Attitude, Thought or Emotion;
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action;
5. Right livelihood;
6. Right Effort, Energy, and Vitality;
7. Right Mindfulness or Awareness;
8. Right Samadhi ‘concentration’, one-pointedness. Integration of, or establishment in, various levels of consciousness.”

If this were an exam paper, I think half the people who “religiously” go to the temple would fail the first four of the Eightfold Paths. Oh, I’m being so sardonic - I’d be a terrible Buddhist! (-__-)”

Enough of my yapping for tonight. I’ve written what seems like an essay. I know this chunk of text may seem like I am being very short-sighted about things - but I’m really not. It’s just going to take too long to accurately and properly articulate every single thought in my mind about this topic. It’ll call for a lengthier rant, and I really don’t want to go there.

I’m not perfect. I’m still learning and trying to understand all of this. Perhaps one day I will find enlightenment in my own way, and then I wont have to commit to a religion that is not for me. Re-reading my rant, I’ve come to the conclusion that, you know what? Let them believe whatever they want to believe. Let them do what they please. They are individuals, and as am I - we can make our own decisions, and we’ll just have to learn to get along and respect each other for that.