Buddhist Boot Camp

by Timber Hawkeye

Gratitude has a way of turning what we have into enough,

Habitually contemplate whether your thoughts stem from love or from fear. If your thoughts originate in love, then follow them. But if they originate from a place of fear, then dig deep to find the root of your fear. Only then will you be able to finally let go of it so that fear no longer limits your possibilities.

As far as I’m concerned, anything not meant to benefit others is simply not worth undertaking.

All the happiness in the world stems from wanting others to be happy, and all the suffering in the world stems from wanting the self to be happy. —Shantideva

Your mind is like a spoiled rich kid! You have raised it to think whatever it wants, whenever it wants to and for however long, with no regard for consequence or gratitude. And now that your mind is all grown, it never listens to you! In fact, sometimes you want to focus on something, but your mind keeps drifting away to whatever IT wants to think about. Other times, when you really want to stop thinking about something, your mind “can’t help it.” Training the mind means being in charge of your decisions instead of succumbing to cravings and so-called “uncontrollable urges.” Can you think of a better method for training a spoiled rich kid than some serious boot camp?

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. —Douglas Adams

If we always do what we’ve always done, we will always be who we’ve always been. —Anonymous

You don’t have anything, yet there is nothing missing from your life.

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. —Frederick Douglass

Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose. —Eknath Easwaran

We have a tremendous personal responsibility for the way our life has turned out, and an equally important role of steering it into the future. Although we constantly make decisions, we’re not always mindful of their far-reaching consequences. The first step is to have a very clear idea of the kind of life you want to live (perhaps a simple life, uncomplicated, comfortable, calm and happy). Then, before making any decision, ask yourself, “Will this action that I am considering get me closer to the kind of life I want to live, or farther from it?” The key, again, is to think of the far-reaching consequences of your decisions, not just instant gratification.

There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going to.

One of the practices in the kitchen at the Zen Center is to wash, towel-dry, and put used dishes back where they belong (it’s part of the “leave no trace” training). Other residents occasionally left their dishes in the sink, so I did what I thought was the “right thing” to do and put them back. The Temple Keeper saw me doing it one day and gave me “the look” followed by “the speech.” “How are you helping them with their practice if you do that?” she asked. “Leave the dishes for them to see when they return.” It was interesting to understand that even an act of kindness could have a negative impact, and that sometimes we cause more damage by trying to help because we’re not looking at the big picture of what “helping” truly means.

Make an effort to shine no matter what, to love unconditionally, and to be a kind and gentle soul (even when nobody is watching).

Everything has its beauty, but not everyone can see it. —Confucius

Relationships are often misunderstood to be a simple commitment between two people; a dedication to each other with a sense of belonging to one another. That kind of limited perspective breeds expectations, possessiveness and disappointment, and it reeks of ownership, greed, ignorance, and selfish desire. A healthy relationship is an agreement between two people to support one another in their spiritual practice. It is a vow to encourage each other’s dedication, devotion and path, free from attachment or expectations (yet full of caring and compassion). A healthy relationship is based on unconditional love, not on the need to possess. Although you put plenty of “heart” into it, you lose nothing by giving love away. If each person is equally dedicated to inspire, create, awaken, and enrich the lives of others, then there is no hidden agenda. It is far less important what one receives from the other than what one can give. Intimacy would suddenly surpass warmth and tenderness to also include patience, vulnerability, honesty, active listening, understanding, connection, and unwavering trust. There is a healing power inherent in this kind of union, and it is capable of enabling deep transformation for both people. It is an incredible opportunity to actually practice what we learn (from non-violent communication to meditation, listening, mirroring, authenticity, resolve, radical honesty, appreciation, purpose, equality, celebration and mutuality). Healthy relationships are a co...