Jendhamuni - Buddhism and inspiring quotes

8 Things to Remember When Everything Goes Wrong

47 November 19, 2015

Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

1. Pain is part of growing.
Sometimes life closes doors because it’s time to move forward. And that’s a good thing because we often won’t move unless circumstances force us to. When times are tough, remind yourself that no pain comes without a purpose. Move on from what hurt you, but never forget what it taught you. Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there. Good things take time. Stay patient and stay positive. Everything is going to come together; maybe not immediately, but eventually.Remember that there are two kinds of pain: pain that hurts and pain that changes you. When you roll with life, instead of resisting it, both kinds help you grow.

2. Everything in life is temporary.
Every time it rains, it stops raining. Every time you get hurt, you heal. After darkness there is always light – you are reminded of this every morning, but still you often forget, and instead choose to believe that the night will last forever. It won’t. Nothing lasts forever.So if things are good right now, enjoy it. It won’t last forever. If things are bad, don’t worry because it won’t last forever either. Just because life isn’t easy at the moment, doesn’t mean you can’t laugh. Just because something is bothering you, doesn’t mean you can’t smile. Every moment gives you a new beginning and a new ending. You get a second chance, every second. You just have to take it and make the best of it.

3. Worrying and complaining changes nothing.
Those who complain the most, accomplish the least. It’s always better to attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed. It’s not over if you’ve lost; it’s over when you do nothing but complain about it. If you believe in something, keep trying. Don’t let the shadows of the past darken the doorstep of your future. Spending today complaining about yesterday won’t make tomorrow any brighter. Take action instead. Let what you’ve learned improve how you live. Make a change and never look back.

And regardless of what happens in the long run, remember that true happiness begins to arrive only when you stop complaining about your problems and you start being grateful for all the problems you don’t have. Continue reading →
Respect Older People…

1 November 19, 2015
Elderly people are now who you will one day become. Respecting their wisdom, knowledge, grace and fortitude should come second nature to younger generations but it isn’t always the case. Sometimes we need reminding of why it is so important to respect our elders for what they have to impart to us that will help ease our journey through life. They should always be respected like you want them to respect you.

Be considerate of older people’s well-being. The reality of the human body is that it deteriorates as we age. Different people age differently, according to their genes, lifestyle choices and life’s experiences and so you will find some elderly are much fitter and daredevil than others who are forced to live with illness or medical conditions. It is only proper that fit and healthy younger generations show respect the reality of the human body’s growing frailty in ways that acknowledge the younger person’s ability to cope more easily with certain physical situations. For example:

Stand when an older person needs a seat, be it on public transportation, in a waiting room or anywhere else. You have young, able legs and a need to stay fit by standing on them. And here is the respectful part––do it with grace, not because the person is older than you. Do it because they matter as a human being. In thinking this way, you’ll find your attitude shifts a great deal.

Do not shout at an elderly person assuming that he or she is deaf or stupid. Being old doesn’t necessarily mean hard-of-hearing and it doesn’t mean they’re stupid. If anything, older people are much wiser than you, they’ve seen it all and some and have a few good tips for improving your way of living too.

If driving an elderly person somewhere, don’t assume they want to be in the back seat. Ask them where they’d like to sit first. And be on hand to help them in and out of the car––the distance from the seat can be difficult sometimes for those with less strength in their bodies.

Source: wikiHow
Help other people and touch their lives meaningfully

Comment November 19, 2015

The happiest people are those who are contented with what they currently have, not with what they lack. There really is nothing more rewarding in this world than helping other people improve their lives. This activity doesn’t only make you feel great about yourself – it also makes you value what you have in your life. Every little thing counts. You have the ability to make yourself feel to be more grateful in your life – never let anybody tell you different.

Source: Lifehack
How to Stop Crying when You Are Very Upset

Comment November 19, 2015

Steps

1. Take deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth, and extend your diaphragm as you do so. Although this may be painful if you’ve been crying for prolonged periods of time, the purpose is to relax. Continue even if your breathing is shaky.

2. Tense and relax your body. Once your breathing is fairly normal, try to find where the tension is in your body. Tense up the muscles in this area, hold for the count of five, and relax. Breathe and make a conscious effort to these and other tense areas, such as your shoulders and stomach.

3. Lay down in a position that is comfortable to you in your bed. Turn off the big lights, and turn on the soft nightlights or other small lamps.

4. Turn on some quiet music. Lose yourself in it. Turn this on quietly in the background. Talk to yourself in your head. Say stuff like (Everything is going to be ok) ,( It’s over) or (she is going to be ok).

5. Realize that life has its ups and downs. Crying isn’t a bad thing and that crying isn’t a bad thing to do, but that after a while, crying can actually hurt your body, so it’s important to try to relax.

6. Comfort yourself with the thought that eventually, all this will be a memory, and it won’t be as painful for you to think of, so try not to think about it.

7. Don’t be afraid to cry with a friend or family member. They have probably gone through what you have just experienced.

8. Take a break. If you cannot see the bright side to things, just lie down and go to sleep. You will feel so much better afterwards.

9. Go for a walk with a friend and talk about something that will make you laugh and remember to breathe.

10. Think of happy things. Avoid dwelling on what made you upset. Remember to focus on other things that make you happy. Continue reading →
Having a kind heart

Comment November 18, 2015

No matter what you think you look like, having a kind heart will always make you beautiful. ~Terry Mark
How to treat one’s parents

Comment November 16, 2015

Lessons in how to treat one’s parents,

Support for one’s parents,
assistance to one’s wife and children,
consistency in one’s work:
This is the highest protection.
[Sn II.4]

Mother & father,
compassionate to their family,
are called
Brahma,
first teachers,
those worthy of gifts
from their children.
So the wise should pay them
homage,
honor
with food & drink
clothing & bedding
anointing & bathing
& washing their feet.
Performing these services to their parents, the wise
are praised right here
and after death
rejoice in heaven.

Link source
A refuge supreme

Comment November 16, 2015

They go to many a refuge,
to mountains and forests,
to park and tree shrines:
people threatened with danger.
That’s not the secure refuge,
not the supreme refuge,
that’s not the refuge,
having gone to which,
you gain release
from all suffering & stress.

But when, having gone
to the Buddha, Dhamma,
& Sangha for refuge,
you see with right discernment
the four noble truths —
stress,
the cause of stress,
the transcending of stress,
& the noble eightfold path,
the way to the stilling of stress:
that’s the secure refuge,
that, the supreme refuge,
that is the refuge,
having gone to which,
you gain release
from all suffering & stress.

~Dhammapada

Link source
Wishing you a most peaceful and beautiful Sunday

Comment November 14, 2015

I want to thank all my wonderful friends, brothers, and sisters so much for your kind and caring messages. My health have been back to normal –100 percent recovered. Because I got sick for nearly one week, I have so many projects to complete before returning to a normal schedule on gplus. I miss all of you. Love and respect all my dear friends just like my brothers and sisters. Due to my very hectic schedule, I hardly have time to respond to any friend on gplus. Only come by to post several items each day. ~Jendhamuni
Practicing generosity

Comment November 14, 2015

Practicing generosity in a Buddhist context means to consider everyone equal, not to discriminate against anyone. There are cruel persons and kind persons among the poor and destitute, just as there are among the wealthy, and we must not exclude the cruel ones from our practice.

As the sutra states, ‘Bodhisattvas consider everyone, friends and enemies alike, as equal. They do not condemn anyone’s past wrongdoings, nor do they hate those who are presently doing harm.’ This expresses the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism. Poverty creates anger, hatred, and wrongdoing. If we teach Buddhist philosophy through lectures, but do not practice generosity to ease the suffering of others, we have not yet attained the essence of Buddhism. We should practice generosity with compassion and not disdain, without discriminating against people who, because of their poverty, have caused anger and hatred. ~Thich Nhat Hanh
How mindfulness can reconnect people to Mother Earth

Comment November 14, 2015

Mindfulness can help people to reconnect by slowing down and appreciating all the gifts that the earth can offer.

Many people suffer deeply and they do not know they suffer. They try to cover up the suffering by being busy. Many people get sick today because they get alienated from Mother Earth.

The practice of mindfulness helps us to touch Mother Earth inside of the body and this practice can help heal people. So the healing of the people should go together with the healing of the Earth and this is the insight and it is possible for anyone to practice.

This kind of enlightenment is very crucial to a collective awakening. In Buddhism we talk of meditation as an act of awakening, to be awake to the fact that the earth is in danger and living species are in danger.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

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Shantidevas’ Bodhisattva vows

Should anyone wish to ridicule me and make me an object of jest and scorn why should I possibly care if I have dedicated myself to others?

Let them do as they wish with me so long as it does not harm them. May no one who encounters me ever have an insignificant contact.

Regardless whether those whom I meet respond towards me with anger or faith, may the mere fact of our meeting contribute to the fulfilment of their wishes.

May the slander, harm and all forms of abuse that anyone should direct towards me act as a cause of their enlightenment.