[Kryfamid]

I will start with the law of Karma. The other day i was watching a video for a buddhist monk talking about the law of karma and that the vast majority of people misunderstand it. He started by talking about the tsunami (he was in Thailand at that time) and that many people were trying to interpret the tsunami as a punishment or as a bad karma. According to this monk, if those people understood the law of Karma they would have started rebuilding the damaged city rather than wasting time asking useless questions!!

Yes. Tsunami is not caused by karma. It is caused by natural geological forces. If you are personally affected by a tsunami, the only karmic cause is you choose to live near the sea.

To sum up, the law of Karma according to the abovementioned monk is about being positive, proactive, turning negative/possibly hrmeful things into positive/useful stuff. I found his explanation of the law of Karma very impressive. Yes. The monk is correct. The Buddha taught the karma we do determines our destiny or quality of life (see here)

Any beginner to buddhism would probably start with the four nobel truths. Buddhism starts with a very NEGATIVE notion: life means suffering!!! This is incorrect.

The 1st Noble Truth simply lists those things which are suffering, just like a medical dictionary lists diseases. It does not say 'life means suffering'.

The 3rd Noble Truth describes the state of mind which is free from suffering.

The Noble Truths are OPTIMISTIC & POSITIVE because they reveal that, in this life, there is freedom from suffering.

Even if we agree that happiness is impermenant, should not we agree that also misery/suffering is impermenant? Ordinary happiness is impermanent. Suffering is impermanent. But true spiritual happiness is not impermanent.

The 3rd Noble Truth describes the highest state of happiness.

If a person can attain this happiness, this happiness is permanent (until they pass away).

the ultimate goal of buddhism: to break out of the cycle of rebirth by achieving nirvana This is incorrect. This is Hinduism.

The ultimate goal of buddhism is to break out of the cycle of ego/self rebirth by achieving nirvana (see here)

A poor man, Depra, once found an enormously valuable jewel. Being a person of little desire and content with his small income, Depra pondered to whom he should give the jewel. He tried to think who was most in need and suddenly was inspired to give the jewel to king Prasenajit. The king was stounded as there were many poor and needy people, but Depra said: "O king, its you who is the poorest, because you lack contenment". Nice story

As you can see from the above story, the criteria being used to determine richness is how content you are with what you already have! However, does that mean that being ambitious is a bad thing!! what do we mean by being ambitious? isnt it to not be fully satisfied with what we have? if we fully satisfaction with what we have then how would we get motivated to do anything in life? I agree that its a virtue to learn how to control your desires and learn how to be happy with what you have but if we look at some countries like Burma, dont you guys agree that this Phiosophy (being passive and indifferent to whats happening outside) enabled their dictators to rule them out without any opposition and steal the wealth of a poor nation!!

According to the Zen philosophy, we should learn how "to go with the flow" be passive, and never resist whatever life through in your face: You are mixing up the worldly/materialistic with the spiritual here.

In the Buddhist path, one gives up certain pleasure to gain a higher pleasure.

"Going with the flow" is a method for developing the superior happiness of meditation.

So what all of this is about? being self-centred? is this the way to make the world a better place? 'Self-centredness' is something human beings must learn, like children must learn to walk, read, write, etc

But, in the 1st Noble Truth, Buddha said 'self-centredness (attachment) is suffering'.

For example, my father passed away this year. This is not suffering for you. Why? Because my father is not your father.

But if/when your father passes/ed away, that is probably suffering for you. Why? Because he is your father.

In a different article i ve read the following: "Buddha sitting under his bodhi tree...if the whole world suddenly disappears, will it make any difference to Buddha? -none. It will not make any difference at all. If the whole world disappears, it will not make any difference because he has attained to the center"

Great!! so if the Buddha sees someone suffering why should he bother helping? to help others we should be motivated, we should have some sort of desire, isnt it. Again, your understanding is incorrect here. When Buddha cannot help, his mind is unaffected & at peace. But when the Buddha can help, he does so and is happy for the happiness of others.

Buddha teaches four qualities for helping others: (1) loving-kindness; (2) compassion; (3) appreciative joy; and (4) equinimity.

The last quality 'equinimity' is used when we cannot help.

But the first three qualities are used when we help. 'Appreciative joy' is to be happy for the happiness of another.

Buddha is happy when he sees others are happy.

Buddha has compassion when he sees others are suffering.

But when people do not listen to his advice, Buddha has equinimity. His mind remains at peace.

...so if i liberate myslef from all desires (which sounds good to me) and i become free, why should i bother doing anything in life!! I would just sit there doing nothing (a complete dispassion, no attachement whatsoever) and wait for death to come... true

but what you do not realise is the liberation from all desires is the highest happiness a human being can experience.

if you could experience, here & now, freedom from all desires, your mind would be far more happier than if you watched your favourite movie, listened to your favourite music, ate your favourite food, made love to your favourite wife, etc...

One last point is in relation to "living in the presnt moment" and in the "here and now" what buddhism say about planning? is planning for the future a bad thing according to buddism? Definitely not. Buddha taught to plan for the future, that is, to set oneself in the right direction (see here)

Planning for the future is generally about material things, such as where to live, what job we do, managing our money, etc.

But to have spiritual happiness, the mind dwells in the present moment.

The mind 'plans for the future' in the present moment.

Why? Because, in reality, the present moment is the only moment.

Your input will be highly appreciated. Thank you