Tag Archives: advice

Daily Buddhism

When The Student Is Ready, The Teacher Will Arrive

2 Comments

A Reader Wrote:

Hello Brian,  I am married to a wonderful lady and it really bothers me to see her suffering over small things that I once suffered from.

Just this morning, we bounced a check and it was like we were going to be on skid row.

I try to share certain things with her without trying to cram it down her throat. I recall reading…”When the student is ready the teacher will arrive.”  Also, I know that I’m not alone when it comes to wanting to share the  methods that helped relieve some of my suffering. Sometimes I wonder (darn thinking!  LOL) what it would be like if she sought the same types of things and understood that there is a way to enjoy our time here.

Acceptance, patience, being still and quiet are the things that seem to help me for now. If I’m missing something, or you have a tip for me, I would appreciate it.

My Response:

You quoted, “When the student is ready the teacher will arrive,” which is true.

Someone else who wasn’t Buddha, once said, “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.”

The problem with the situation you are describing is that the student isn’t ready. You say acceptance, patience, and being still have helped you. They’ve certainly helped me over the years as well. Some people, on the other hand, are just less passive, always feeling the need to “act.” I’m not saying there’s anything intrinsically wrong with that. I believe the psychologists when they say there are “Type A” and “Type B” personalities. Type B’s are much more passive, calm, and predisposed towards the quieter ideals of Buddhism.  Type A people can do Buddhism too, of course, but it might be a little more difficult if they aren’t naturally drawn to it.

Next time you see she’s depressed, or in some state that you think you can help, simply ask her if she wants to know how you would deal with it. Explain it to her clearly and rationally. She’ll either show interest, or she won’t. As you said, short of shoving it down her throat, there’s not much else you ca do but gently bring it up once in a while.

Perhaps there will be some additional suggestions in the comment section below.

New Book: The Five-Minute Buddhist Meditates: http://amzn.to/17eZJ16 

 

Daily Buddhism, Koans

Koan: A Mother’s Advice

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A Mother’s Advice

Jiun, a Shingon master, was a well-known Sanskrit scholar of the Tokugawa era. When he was young he used to deliver lectures to his brother students.

His mother heard about this and wrote him a letter:

“Son, I do not think you became a devotee of the Buddha because you desired to turn into a walking dictionary for others. There is no end to information and commentation, glory and honor. I wish you would stop this lecture business. Shut yourself up in a little temple in a remote part of the mountain. Devote your time to meditation and in this way attain true realization.”

So what do you think? Was she right or wrong?
Comment below!

Daily Buddhism

Our Buddhist President: Politics and Religion

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Our Buddhist President: Politics and Religion

There’s no lesson today; I want YOU to teach ME about something I genuinely don’t follow much.

We’re less than two weeks away from the American Presidential election, and the polls seem to show the two candidates extremely close. For every poll that shows one candidate ahead, another shows the other guy winning. The closeness of this race, and the previous two as well, shows that we are deeply divided as to our opinions on how the country should be run. The rest of the world looks on with baited breath, the financial markets are uncertain, the partisans have pulled out all their dirty tricks, and some people just want the candidate’s signs out of their neighbor’s yard.

It’s a big one, and everyone who can vote, should.

I’m not going to tell you how to vote, but I want you guys to “advise” ME which way to go., taking your Buddhist thoughts into consideration. I really want your feedback on this one, as I am STILL undecided. Personally, I don’t believe anything I hear from either side any more as it’s all just campaign promises and what people want to hear, whether it’s true or not.

The Daily Buddhism is not a political platform; we’re here to discuss Buddhism. So let’s talk about Buddhism: Turn on your own mental or emotional ‚ÄúBuddhist Mode‚Äù and explain to me which candidate is better in that respect in your opinion. Neither of THEM is Buddhist, obviously, but which one seems to support Buddhist ideals and philosophy more? Which is closer to “our way” of thinking?

Post your comment in the blog below
Or phone in your thoughts at 937-660-4949 (might be a good time to try this!)
Or email dailybuddhism@gmail.com

And I’m posting this one on a Friday to allow more time for you to send in Feedback. Depending on the number of responses, I may or may not spend a day next week discussing the results, but I don’t want to go into politics too heavily here.

As always, no registration is required to post on the blog, and you’re free to use an alias if you want, but all posts are approved or moderated before they become visible, and anything inappropriate will never see the light of day.

Would we even WANT a Buddhist President? It didn’t work out so well for Tibet.

Podcasts

Words of Advice For The Beginning Buddhist

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Podcast Episode 46: Words of Advice For The Beginning Buddhist

Welcome back, this is Daily Buddhism audio show number forty-six. My name is Brian Schell, and I am the your host for the show. You can find the text as well as all links mentioned in this program and all past episodes on the website at www.dailybuddhism.com.

I love answering your questions, so please send in yours by email or voicemail to brian@dailybuddhism.com or 937-660-4949.

Announcements:

Nothing major to report this week as far as announcements go. The pledge-drive I announced last week has been doing really well, and we’re more than halfway to the goal. I’ll explain it again just this once, but beyond that I won’t bring it up again until the goal is reached.

Basically, I’m in the need for a new laptop. I need to go with as inexpensive a replacement as possible, so I’ve decided on one of the little $300-ish netbooks. I’m pretty much decided on an Acer Aspire One (link in show notes). As always, money is tight, and the job situation here in Dayton isn’t getting any better. I hesitated to ask for help, but it seems to have gone well so far. With your help, hopefully, we can wrap this up before next weekend.

If you’ve donated in the past, please don’t think I’m asking for more from you; thanks for your past support. If you are one of the folks who said they might send something in someday, or have otherwise intended to send something but put it off, then now would be a really good time.

As always, a donation of $50 or more will get you a free year of the Weekly Buddhism PDF Magazine. Of course, anything will help. You can donate at

Donate at: http://dailybuddhism.com/donate

Or check the status and totals of how things are going in the top-right hand corner of www.dailybuddhism.com or at http://www.dailybuddhism.com/pledge-drive

[Play iPhone iMantra software review request]

Well, I don’t have an iPhone, but it sounds like an interesting application. If anyone out there has an iPhone and the iMantra app, or any other app that might be of interest to the Daily Buddhism audience, I’d love to see you write a guest post with a review. Send me an email at brian@dailybuddhism.com if you’d like to write up a review. Of course, guest posts on most any topic are welcome.

Oh- I did cover Mala beads a while back. You can do a search on the site for the term ‘Mala’ and it’ll come right up with the article, or you can find the same information by listening to Podcast Episode 27,

And now let’s get on with this week’s show!

[Read the past five blog posts or emails for contents of the show]

This Week’s Links:

New Computer Pledge-Drive:
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/pledge-drive
The Goal:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EYVBE0/?tag=askdrarca-20

Rebirth and Karma
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1182

A Buddhist Diet
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1184

Beginners Buddhism Books
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1186

Koan: Trading Dialogue for Lodging
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1188

Words of Advice for the New Buddhist
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1189

Free Newsletter: http://www.dailybuddhism.com/sign

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