[encumeterz]

I have been reading the bardo thodol. I have no school (mahayana vedanta or otherwise). All the identities seem to cloud my perception of the present. I don't feel like I am here to be smart or even influential. I just crave to express the love and compassion that overwhelms me.

I would do this in public but I do not know the appropriate avenues for this. Anyhow, how can we achieve this and at the same time sort of let go of our own tainted egos. It's like ohh look at that guy or that group and do as they do (wear a uniform). This scares me cause I know that there is Buddha-nature in all of us.

I am very scared to cast judgement as they are good or bad or even judge things as a they and us. I feel that I am waking from a long sleep full of hells and pitfalls. But somehow through it all I feel that the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara chenrezig has been so patient sort of smiling at all things confident that a more universal wake up call is at hand.

So anyhow I am new at all of this. I have so much to learn. I am scared cause I am at the end of myself and I do not know where to turn. My heart tells me to give all my things away and go to where I can be of any possible assistance to all the others who are scared here in samsara.

[bonyclayd]

Hi Friedenbaum and welcome to the group !

I think that its important that you don't worry too much and just try to understand some of the basics about the Buddha's teachings to begin with.

This link (which is also in the Beginners forum) "What is Buddhism" will be helpful:

http://www.dhammasukha.org/Study/Tal...T-MAR03-TS.htm


and also this one (in the Beginners forum) about the Buddha's core teachings called The Four Noble Truths:

http://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries...s-Tamara-Engle

With kind wishes,

Aloka-D

[AnneseeKels]

It's really good that you feel that you don't want to judge others and that you want to help others who are scared.

However, I think that to begin with its important to develop our own understanding, awareness, and freedom from fear, so that we can better assist others.

There are many ways that we can be of help to others whilst we are on the path, without having to give away all our possessions - doing voluntary work with the needy for example. Or getting a paid job which is helping others in the community in some way.

with metta,

D-A

[tetMitshisk]

I am scared cause I am at the end of myself and I do not know where to turn. My heart tells me to give all my things away and go to where I can be of any possible assistance to all the others who are scared here in samsara.

Hi Craig,
First, just relax and check the excellent links that Aloka-D provided. The answers you are looking for are closer than you think but they are not 'out there' over a misty horizon, they are within your very own fathom-long body.

It just takes a bit of time to connect with it all. Giving "things" away isn't a good place to start. There is giving-away to be done but it is an inner process of relinquishment and quite independent of material things.

Hang around, read stuff and ask questions.

Namaste
kris

[Lxbsvksl]

I have been reading the bardo thodol. I have no school (mahayana vedanta or otherwise). All the identities seem to cloud my perception of the present. I don't feel like I am here to be smart or even influential. I just crave to express the love and compassion that overwhelms me.

I would do this in public but I do not know the appropriate avenues for this. Anyhow, how can we achieve this and at the same time sort of let go of our own tainted egos. It's like ohh look at that guy or that group and do as they do (wear a uniform). This scares me cause I know that there is Buddha-nature in all of us.

I am very scared to cast judgement as they are good or bad or even judge things as a they and us. I feel that I am waking from a long sleep full of hells and pitfalls. But somehow through it all I feel that the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara chenrezig has been so patient sort of smiling at all things confident that a more universal wake up call is at hand.

So anyhow I am new at all of this. I have so much to learn. I am scared cause I am at the end of myself and I do not know where to turn. My heart tells me to give all my things away and go to where I can be of any possible assistance to all the others who are scared here in samsara.

I can understand where you are speaking from and how you feel about these things. Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Zen, etc. have a particular viewpoint on how to obtain peace, happiness, and oneness within ourselves, while others philosophical ideas and religions have other formats for trying to explain the same basic truths. I understand that you are trying to understand what you are feeling and thinking through the Buddhist perspective but, I also feel there is a wealth of knowledge out there to be drawn from apart from that. In seeking unity within yourself, the feeling in you will become lighter and more cohesive to your thoughts and your observations of the world will fall into harmony with the way you know the world should be. Once you do for yourself what you wish to do with those around you, then you will know how and to whom you should share this love with. You'll obtain a sort of automatic sensor for such things.

May I suggest a book? It's called "Getting The Love You Want", A Guide for Couples, by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. You can read through it and begin to practice the concepts, even if you are single. You do not need to be in a romantic relationship to gain something from reading it. Its a good start for where I believe you are at but, you would know better. A quote from the book in quoting an other: "Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field. I will meet you there" ~ from the poet Rumi

[vekiuytyh]

I just found this saved to a documents file on my laptop but, I never made note of who wrote it or where it came from. Thought it was good for this thread though ...

"The Benefits of Cherishing Others
… Another reason for cherishing others is that it is the best method to solve our own and others’ problems. Problems, worry, pain, and unhappiness are types of mind—they are feelings and do not exist outside the mind. If we cherish everyone we meet or think about, there will be no basis for developing jealousy, anger, or other harmful thoughts, and our mind will be at peace all the time. Jealousy, for example, is a state of mind that cannot bear another’s good fortune; but if we cherish someone how can his or her good fortune disturb our mind? How can we wish to harm others if we regard everyone’s happiness to be of paramount importance? By genuinely cherishing all living beings, we will always act with loving kindness, in a friendly and considerate way, and they will return our kindness. Others will not act unpleasantly toward us, and there will be no basis for conflict or disputes. People will come to like us, and our relationships will be more stable and satisfying.

Cherishing others also protects us from the problems caused by desirous attachment. We often become strongly attached to another person who we feel will help us overcome our loneliness by providing the comfort, security, or excitement we crave. If we have a loving mind toward everyone, however, we do not feel lonely. Instead of clinging onto others to fulfill our desires, we will want to help them fulfill their needs and wishes. Cherishing all living beings solves all our problems because all our problems come from our mind of self-cherishing. For example, at the moment if our partner left us for someone else we would probably feel very upset, but if we truly cherished him we would want him to be happy, and we would rejoice in his happiness. There would be no basis for us to feel jealous or depressed, so although we might find the situation challenging, it would not be a problem for us. Cherishing others is the supreme protection from suffering and problems, and enables us to remain calm and peaceful all the time."