Buddhism<\/a> to exist. But the guidance, the map, so to speak, is the Buddha\u2019s many teachings.<\/p>\nSometimes we make that same mistake and just dive in to the experience<\/i>\u00a0of meditation or ritual or what have you without understanding (or perhaps even reading) the teachings. Too often what then follows is incomprehensible. Experience flows, but it is not understood. Beneficial states are not distinguished from the harmful.<\/p>\n
And so it is with the three marks of existence: impermanence, non-self, and unsatisfactoriness. Understanding these first in a \u2018worldly\u2019 way is the foundation for understanding them in the\u00a0super-mundane or \u2018noble\u2019 manner that they must finally be known. The first is academic. The second is via experience.<\/p>\n
Having put in the time on the academic side, I\u2019m fortunate to be able to \u2018watch\u2019 some of life through awareness of the three marks. Change has been almost ubiquitous around here lately. In three weeks I\u2019ll be in L.A., then Taiwan, then back, then London, then finally India for four months. After that? Who knows. In the midst of that, my daily routine has become maddeningly busy. Everyone I know who has been to India is coming out of the woodwork to share stories and give advice. Old friends who I have neglected as a friend for much too long are suddenly wanting to hang out more. My parents are wanting to see me nearly every free weekend I have; and the holidays add weight to their \u2018you should visit\u2019 requests.<\/p>\n
In the midst of the excitement and activity is the pervasive hint of unsatisfactoriness. The \u2018high\u2019 of opportunity and travels is tinged with a bit of my already missing Montana. So I practice non-clinging to it all. People are in flux. Relationships, jobs, friends, etc. Just when I thought most of my dearest friends were out of Missoula, a few long, long time friends here began calling again. Turns out they were busy. I was busy. Bad conditions for an active friendship. But the seeds (of friendship) were there and now the conditions are apparently right again.<\/p>\n
People often think that being a practiced Buddhist<\/a> means you should be able to handle any circumstances with a smile. That\u2019s total B.S. if you ask me. The smart Buddhist, or anyone for that matter, is the one who cultivates the conditions for beneficial circumstances \u2013 all the time. When I wanted to hang out with friends but realized that they were all either too far away or too busy, I was bummed. Now the pendulum has swung to the opposite extreme. Change.<\/p>\nAnd the last of the three marks here, non-self, becomes evident as I settle in to the flow of all of this. Not the hippy \u201cgo with the flow, man\u201d way, but the \u201caccept change as it comes, with awareness\u201d way. Taking responsibility for the good \u2013 having worked hard and getting a job in India is pretty good; and the bad \u2013 I neglected many friendships in my busyness and suffered the consequences when I was back looking to hang out. And at the same time not focusing so much on the \u201cI\u201d as to lose sight of the flowing external factors: friends and colleagues advising and encouraging me toward the job, countless mentors along the way, my friends\u2019 own busyness. Seeing all \u2018that\u2019 it\u2019s foolish to take complete responsibility or give it away. Seeing more deeply into the situation, each of my own actions were influenced and directed by others; none came from some magical, self-existing \u201cI\/Me.\u201d Self-view is weakened.<\/p>\n
Yes it seems a bit paradoxical: taking responsibility and discussing actions of my\u2019self\u2019 and others when there is no \u201cself\u201d at the core of any actions. Kind of like the dissatisfaction with being so happy. Ha. Go sit with it.<\/p>\n
As an aside, I\u2019ve just been invited to see a movie tomorrow night. The trailer begins with this line:<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople say you have to travel to see the world. Sometimes I think that if you just stay in one place and keep your eyes open, you\u2019re gonna see just about all that you can handle.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I love it. Know the film?<\/p>\n
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