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OT - Brain Scans Show That Buddhists Really Are Happier!
Thanks for posting this. I've only dabbled in Buddhist mindfulness
now and then, and yet the results have been amazing and permanent in some cases. I had actually started doing the Buddhist meditations through beliefnet a few weeks ago, and I do feel it has helped me accept the diabetes and refocus on my health. --pc Interesting stuff - in my own studies of Buddhism and of Asian culture vs. Western though, it occurs to me that what we Westerners place high currency on 'being happy'. This came to mind when something I read claimed that 'happiness' is not a state sought by Buddhists; then it occurred to me that the failure is in our *definition* of happiness. What we often define as 'happiness' is often really a fleeting 'peak state', and what we define as the 'pursuit of happiness' is the addictive attempt to have as many of these 'peak moments' and to hold onto them for as long as possible. We make ourselves miserable because this is often not an achievable goal. We don't place much currency on simply achieving harmony or contentedness. In fact such a person is to be disparaged as being 'lazy'. |
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"wilson" wrote in message
om... Thanks for posting this. I've only dabbled in Buddhist mindfulness now and then, and yet the results have been amazing and permanent in some cases. I had actually started doing the Buddhist meditations through beliefnet a few weeks ago, and I do feel it has helped me accept the diabetes and refocus on my health. --pc Interesting stuff - in my own studies of Buddhism and of Asian culture vs. Western though, it occurs to me that what we Westerners place high currency on 'being happy'. This came to mind when something I read claimed that 'happiness' is not a state sought by Buddhists; then it occurred to me that the failure is in our *definition* of happiness. What we often define as 'happiness' is often really a fleeting 'peak state', and what we define as the 'pursuit of happiness' is the addictive attempt to have as many of these 'peak moments' and to hold onto them for as long as possible. We make ourselves miserable because this is often not an achievable goal. We don't place much currency on simply achieving harmony or contentedness. In fact such a person is to be disparaged as being 'lazy'. Buddhist philosophy places great emphasis on the cessation of craving. Realizing that we are always WANTING something, thinking this or that will bring us happiness. The truth is that the absence of that kind of habitual craving is real and true happiness. This means finding peace in what and who we have, and not always seeking happiness elsewhere. I once saw a card which said: If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, then water your damned lawn!..... Sort of a pop version of that view. -- Regards, Evelyn (to reply to me personally, remove 'sox") |
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"wilson" wrote in message
om... Thanks for posting this. I've only dabbled in Buddhist mindfulness now and then, and yet the results have been amazing and permanent in some cases. I had actually started doing the Buddhist meditations through beliefnet a few weeks ago, and I do feel it has helped me accept the diabetes and refocus on my health. --pc Interesting stuff - in my own studies of Buddhism and of Asian culture vs. Western though, it occurs to me that what we Westerners place high currency on 'being happy'. This came to mind when something I read claimed that 'happiness' is not a state sought by Buddhists; then it occurred to me that the failure is in our *definition* of happiness. What we often define as 'happiness' is often really a fleeting 'peak state', and what we define as the 'pursuit of happiness' is the addictive attempt to have as many of these 'peak moments' and to hold onto them for as long as possible. We make ourselves miserable because this is often not an achievable goal. We don't place much currency on simply achieving harmony or contentedness. In fact such a person is to be disparaged as being 'lazy'. Buddhist philosophy places great emphasis on the cessation of craving. Realizing that we are always WANTING something, thinking this or that will bring us happiness. The truth is that the absence of that kind of habitual craving is real and true happiness. This means finding peace in what and who we have, and not always seeking happiness elsewhere. I once saw a card which said: If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, then water your damned lawn!..... Sort of a pop version of that view. -- Regards, Evelyn (to reply to me personally, remove 'sox") |
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