Taking refuge

Published on March 13, 2005 By dharmagrl In Philosophy

I'm taking refuge in the Buddha. I'm immersing myself in the dharma. Over the next few days I'm going to make myself sit with me, my thoughts and feelings and pain. I'm not going to run and hide. I'm not going to try and escape...because the escape has to come to an end at some point and those feelings will still be there.

I'm going to sit and examine my feelings, turning each one over in my head....looking at it from all sides, from every angle, analyzing and trying to understand it.

I'm going to sit until I can come to terms with what I'm feeling.

I'm going to sit until this wave of sadness has subsided.

I might be here for a long time....

Comments (Page 2)

AndyBaker

on Mar 17, 2005

Dharma, I love those books. My aunt, who is also a Buddhist, recommended "Living Buddha, Living Christ", and I found it a real eye-opener. Throughout his writing, the author oozes peace, tranquillity and wisdom. As soon as I read it, I realised that it's that side of the spiritual life which most Christians lack. I think that serenity, love and understanding should come before dogma, rules and regulations, rather than the other way round.

Because Thich Nhat Hanh is primarily a Buddhist, some Christians might find it an uncomfortable read, at least initially, but I hope that will change over the years as humanity grows up. Being brought up in a Christian household, I was personally liberated to discover that when we openly explore the heart of Eastern cultures, not only are we able to see how they fit in with our own Christian perspective, but we also find that they greatly enrich our own faith whilst we remain safely anchored within it.

dharmagrl

on Mar 17, 2005

I realised that it's that side of the spiritual life which most Christians lack. I think that serenity, love and understanding should come before dogma, rules and regulations, rather than the other way round.

That's exactly how I feel too. I think that a lot of people get so caught up in the dogma and rules that they lose sight of the overall message....I know that when i was practicing Christianity I was guilty of doing just that. I literally couldn't see the wood for the trees, if you know what I mean.

One of the best pastors I ever knew had a collection of Thich Nhat Hanh's works right alongside his Christian reading material.

dynamaso

on Mar 17, 2005

Your point is true, but it's only true as long as we’re spiritually asleep

Agreed. As you point out a little later, Andy, a lot of folk who like to think of themselves as 'spiritual' don't even understand this very point. Their idea of spirituality is bound in, as you rightly say, dogma, rules and regulations. Their practice is limited to the time they walk throught the doors of their church, temple or mosque to the time they walk out again, which is really quite sad.

Apologies for not getting to this sooner.

One of the best pastors I ever knew had a collection of Thich Nhat Hanh's works right alongside his Christian reading material

Sort of in keeping with the biblical quote about 'the House of God having many rooms'. What an enlightened man this Pastor must be.

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