What made me to look into Buddhism

[ThatMan]

I was into Buddhism some time ago and now I am back to it, my wish to find that inner peace that stays day and night is pushing me even further.I always identified myself with Siddhartha Guatama and I've been trying to reach that stable ground, that middle path, for years, but I don't think that reaching this point is the end, but mearly the beginning, from this point on one can reach higher things.

It all started when I became aware that I am the slave of my emotions and that my emotions are triggered by external factors, things that I can't control.How can you not be angry when the situation ( the external thing ) is making you angry? Why can't I decide simply to not be angry? Why am I happy just in certain situations, why can't I be happy all the time without the need of an external factor? This is what I call the "carrousel of emotions", you are up then down, up then down, and somtimes neither up, neither down, but somewhere in the middle, but only for a certain time.Have you ever wake up feeling peaceful and remaining in that state for the whole day or even more? Then, you know, that peace goes away, this is still part of the ride in the "carrousel of emotions"; you have no real control.Well, I desire that peace that stays no matter what.The funny thing is that when I was around 5-7 years old, I noticed this thing, that I call the "carrousel of emotions" at the adults around me, I said to myself that I will never be this way and here I am.

Of course, this new awareness of mine is the result of hours of meditation,probabily the best thing that I discovered in this search for peace.

I am trying to reach that inner state where my being is not aymore affected by external factors, where I have fully control over what I feel and how I react., in simple terms, I want to achieve a state of full inner peace that will never go away.

I know that the "answers" can be found while in deep meditation for a prolonged period of time... I tried too many things from the external world and nothing worked, I have no desire in temporary peace, temporary happiness and so on; it's time to look within more than ever before.

Only one thing I want, peace that lasts forever.

What about you?

[sky]

Originally Posted by ThatMan

I was into Buddhism some time ago and now I am back to it, my wish to find that inner peace that stays day and night is pushing me even further.I always identified myself with Siddhartha Guatama and I've been trying to reach that stable ground, that middle path, for years, but I don't think that reaching this point is the end, but mearly the beginning, from this point on one can reach higher things.

It all started when I became aware that I am the slave of my emotions and that my emotions are triggered by external factors, things that I can't control.How can you not be angry when the situation ( the external thing ) is making you angry? Why can't I decide simply to not be angry? Why am I happy just in certain situations, why can't I be happy all the time without the need of an external factor? This is what I call the "carrousel of emotions", you are up then down, up then down, and somtimes neither up, neither down, but somewhere in the middle, but only for a certain time.Have you ever wake up feeling peaceful and remaining in that state for the whole day or even more? Then, you know, that peace goes away, this is still part of the ride in the "carrousel of emotions"; you have no real control.Well, I desire that peace that stays no matter what.The funny thing is that when I was around 5-7 years old, I noticed this thing, that I call the "carrousel of emotions" at the adults around me, I said to myself that I will never be this way and here I am.

Of course, this new awareness of mine is the result of hours of meditation,probabily the best thing that I discovered in this search for peace.

I am trying to reach that inner state where my being is not aymore affected by external factors, where I have fully control over what I feel and how I react., in simple terms, I want to achieve a state of full inner peace that will never go away.

I know that the "answers" can be found while in deep meditation for a prolonged period of time... I tried too many things from the external world and nothing worked, I have no desire in temporary peace, temporary happiness and so on; it's time to look within more than ever before.

Only one thing I want, peace that lasts forever.

What about you?

What is ' inner peace ' to you TM?

[ThatMan]

Originally Posted by sky123

What is ' inner peace ' to you TM?

A state of deep serenity.... mental calmness... Buddha achieved this state, to me this is the true happiness, inner peace.

What about you?

[sky]

Originally Posted by ThatMan

A state of deep serenity.... mental calmness... Buddha achieved this state, to me this is the true happiness, inner peace.

What about you?

Being content regardless of external happenings, maintaining a sense of inner calm.
I don't think peace of mind is the absence of conflict in our lives , but the ability to cope with it and to know you can control the way you react even though you can't control what life throws at you.

[ThatMan]

Originally Posted by sky123

Being content regardless of external happenings, maintaining a sense of inner calm.
I don't think peace of mind is the absence of conflict in our lives , but the ability to cope with it and to know you can control the way you react even though you can't control what life throws at you.

This is a good advice but we both know that things like this are very hard to put into practice.Buddha tried 6 years ( if I am right ) all sorts of things but when nothing worked, he did one last thing, he entered a deep meditative state with a goal in mind.You know, people say, when you meditate don't plan, just go with the flow, but from my own experience, amazing things happen if you meditate having a goal in the back of your mind.

My plan is to try what Buddha did, deep meditation for a prolonged period of time, you know, fully giving in.I tried so many things and I've made some progress but not enough.

Do you experience this serenity all the time or just some times? I only experience it very rarely... in the rest of the time I feel a state of extreme agitation ( it's like I am doing something very stressing all the time ), it's like torture, maybe I have a health problem...

[sky]

Originally Posted by ThatMan

This is a good advice but we both know that things like this are very hard to put into practice.Buddha tried 6 years ( if I am right ) all sorts of things but when nothing worked, he did one last thing, he entered a deep meditative state with a goal in mind.You know, people say, when you meditate don't plan, just go with the flow, but from my own experience, amazing things happen if you meditate having a goal in the back of your mind.

My plan is to try what Buddha did, deep meditation for a prolonged period of time, you know, fully giving in.I tried so many things and I've made some progress but not enough.

Do you experience this serenity all the time or just some times? I only experience it very rarely... in the rest of the time I feel a state of extreme agitation ( it's like I am doing something very stressing all the time ), it's like torture, maybe I have a health problem...

I thankfully don't suffer from stress, I have had times in my life and still do when I could easily resort to feeling agitated but through experience I have realized that getting stressed out and agitated makes situations even worse than what they really are.

My Motto is ' Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change '

I'm not medically qualified to say your agitation is a health problem but there are illnesses that can make you feel like that so maybe a talk with your Doctor will put your mind at rest...

I feel calm most of the time but not always, things change and you have to go with the flow and keep trying.

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by sky123

Being content regardless of external happenings, maintaining a sense of inner calm.
I don't think peace of mind is the absence of conflict in our lives , but the ability to cope with it and to know you can control the way you react even though you can't control what life throws at you.

Nicely put, sky123 !

I went to a seminar on trauma once. The speaker baited everyone with his opening remarks.

"There is no such thing as a traumatic event."

"There is no such thing as a stressful job."

There were eyerolls in the audience. However, no one took the bait since it was an obvious trap.

The speaker continued.

"There are, however, traumatic REACTIONS and stressful REACTIONS".

I never forgot that presentation. You are absolutely correct that, while we cannot control what life throws at us, we can become MASTER OF OUR REACTIONS.

Well put !

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by ThatMan

I was into Buddhism some time ago and now I am back to it, my wish to find that inner peace that stays day and night is pushing me even further.

I got involved with Buddhism because my wife and daughter
are Buddhist.

The Temple that I generally go to is the Temple of the Dawn.

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

I got involved with Buddhism because my wife and daughter
are Buddhist.

The Temple that I generally go to is the Temple of the Dawn.

If you're talking about the Temple in Bangkok, it is truly memorable.

https://www.watarun.net/

Although I was raised Roman Catholic, I utilized the purification methodology from Buddhism (Sattipattana Sutra and Heart Sutra) and Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras. They are both awesome.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

If you're talking about the Temple in Bangkok, it is truly memorable.

https://www.watarun.net/

Although I was raised Roman Catholic, I utilized the purification methodology from Buddhism (Sattipattana Sutra and Heart Sutra) and Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras. They are both awesome.

That is the one!

I really loved traveling up and down that river where the Temple is located.

Interesting history how the reflective material on the temple came about.

China traded with Siam but Siam did not find anything worth trading or buying from China.
Because of that situation, China merchants decided to put
ballast in their ships that were made of porcelain with
'free material' put inside the ballast.
Once the ships arrived in Siam, the ballast was left behind. The clever
Thais took the porcelain pieces and put it on these temple.

I even have some pendants made from this ballast material.
Surprising, I went out of my way to look at these beauties today!

If you go around to the side of the Temple, there is a statue of Marco Polo.