Kindle Notes & Highlights
The sooner you understand that the choices you made in the past cannot be changed, regardless of whether you wish you could, the sooner you will begin to live in the here and now.
Because no one can ever truly understand the defining power of “a moment” until they allow themselves to experience it. A moment is a minuscule amount of time that can change your life forever if you know how to make use of it and how to ‘live it fully.’
From there, he traveled to deliver his first sermon based on the revelations he had received on his journey to enlightenment. These teachings led to the formation of the Dhamma, which later came to be known as Buddhism. Many people consider Buddhism as a religion. However, Buddhism, in its true sense is not a religion; it is a philosophy - a way of living.
Zen is a philosophy of guidance; it will only guide you and will not order you around. Shakyamuni always guided his students to find the path of liberation on their own and not by depending on others. It is only by studying oneself can a person truly achieve the Truth.
“There is no path to happiness, happiness is the path.” - Buddha
there is no dwelling on the past or attempts to predict the future. It teaches that the past cannot be changed, and the future cannot be foretold, but that does not mean this should cause unnecessary concern or stress.
To fully embrace the Zen state of mind, you will need to understand that nothing stays the same, and this can be a struggle for many to accept.
However, the best teaching to take away from this phenomenon is simply this: the only foundation this world has to offer is constant change.
The suffering you experience at any given moment is often not suffering at all, but rather the fear of the suffering you may experience in the future if things pan out the way you think they will.
La expectativa es lo que nos llena de miedos y sufrimiento.
In this regard, control over your mind is exponentially important. If you can learn to control your mind, you can learn to control your fears.
Zen is something that has to be actively practiced and lived. The first step is to stop complaining.
The sooner you realize that people and situations are not going to change because you don’t like it, the sooner you can break the shackles that hold you in a state of negativity. You will then be free to live your life, experience the world, change what you truly want, and accept things as is.
The Zen way is “Let go of this need for immediate approval and safety. Step aside and allow another to go before you. You will have the satisfaction of enjoying their gratitude, and you will feel organically good about yourself. Being the strongest does not prove you are better in any way.” All it does is reveal your fear.
Everything exists in the universe; it is what you choose to see that creates the world in which you live.
“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” – Buddha
When you accept the moment that you are in and take wondrous inspiration from it, all of the petty things within your world become less important. They lose their significance. Your priorities change and you are able to see the good in all things.
According to the Buddhist school of thought, the life of an ordinary human being is steeped in pain and suffering due to desire, anger, greed, and delusion.
You need to learn all about this moment. It’s forever changing, but it’s all that you have at this time.
“You can only lose what you cling to.” - Buddha
Letting go won’t change anything except giving you the ability to be in that moment, and that’s what you are training your mind to do.
A thought is just a thought. Don’t give merit to it by overthinking it. Don’t give demerit to it by dismissing its relevance. Just view it and then don’t view it.
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” - Buddha
The basic guidelines to the Zen philosophy are based on the four noble truths: the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to this end of suffering.
“When you let go, you create space for better things to enter your life.” - Buddha
Self-love just means making yourself the best person that you can be so that you are able to give the world and the people around you the best person rather than the one who is riddled with self-doubt and who may become a liability rather than a valuable part of their lives.
Meditation can be the lighthouse that can save you from the sea of suffering and pain known as Samsara.
“However, many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?” – Buddha
"Meditation research, particularly in the last 10 years or so, has shown to be very promising because it points to an ability of the brain to change and optimize in a way we didn't know previously was possible."
“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.” - Lao Tzu
A small mind dwells, and a big mind acknowledges.
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s, there are few.” - Buddha
Whatever you do, do not wait for the big moments of appreciation in your life. Your life is filled with so many small victories and treasures that deserve to be cherished just as much as the large moments, and to neglect the smaller moments is to take the larger ones for granted.
If you wait for only the big moments in your life, you may be waiting a lifetime to experience the pleasure you deserve.
life is not something that is happening to you, but rather for you.
Know that the moment you are in is the best moment of all because you are there and it is within you.
the pursuit and attainment of unadulterated and untamperable happiness starts within… and that is the essence of Zen.
“Train your mind to see something good in everything.” - Buddha
