Meditation in action

Very valid question iane.
The internal vs. external development argument probably has quite a few sides to it.

For example, in terms of our own karma, it is obviously good to do a good action, but if it does not come with a change of mind, the result will just be one single positive result of a happy experience. But when we manage to change our mind so that we can change a bad habit into a positive one, in the long run, this would cause us to do many positive actions, not just one.

Whatever good we do in the world (samsara), it will still remain samsara, and that always comes with problems and suffering. Even if we manage to avoid one problem or disaster, the next one to come is just a matter of time. That way, almost everything we do within samsara is a bit like carrying water to the sea. If instead we progress towards enlightenment (of ourselves and others), we work on a definite ending of suffering - that's a very different scale of things.

It is easy to overlook that unless we make an effort to escape from samsara alltoghether, it will last for ever and ever, and we always end up with problems. If we manage to become a Buddha, we will not only be completely free of suffering, but we have the chance to teach others to make a definite end to suffering - that's incomparable to making someone happy for a few minutes or days.

Still, the above does not mean that we should all simply drop everything for meditation! Ironically, even to have success in our meditation, we need a basis of good karma. Such a positive basis is often best laid by helping others, whether that is by helping a neighbour with shopping or social activism.

So I think that the advice a teacher gives to a student in such matters very much depends on who, where and what the student is, and not necessarily what is 'best' in any absolute terms.

Maybe this is similar to the point often mentioned by Tibetan teachers that we need both method and wisdom: if we know a good method, but we lack the wisdom of how to use it, our actions will probably not be very succesful. If we have wisdom, but we lack a method to help others or ourselves, we are also stuck. Similarly, we need good karma (doing positive actions in the world) as well as develop wisdom at the same time.
Just about everyone easily understands the positive results of positive actions, but we usually overlook that without proper wisdom, our actions remain very limited at best, or they can even turn into problems themselves; something we can often observe in international politics...

I completely understand what you are saying. It's very hard to think that a monk sitting in a cave somewhere is gaining more merit (creating more positive karma) than an activist working every day for others.

I believe the reason lies in the intention of the meditator, which is to become enlightened as quickly as possible for the sake of all beings.

The Lamrim teachings say:
"Just as a bird with undeveloped wings cannot fly in the sky those without "higher perception" cannot work for the good of living beings."

"The merit gained in a single day by one who has higher perception cannot be gained in even a hundred lifetimes by one who does not possess higher perception."

The Lamrim goes on to explain that higher perception is achieved by developing "calm abiding" through meditation.

So the main idea is that an enlightened being can help sentient beings by guiding them toward an end to all suffering whereas an activist can only help by relieving certain current conditions which are very short-term.

Of course, in order to believe this you must at least consider the possibility of becoming enlightened and having higher perception.

You must also believe that the path to higher perception is quicker through meditation than through "good deeds".

As with many Buddhist teachings you need to use reason to gain confidence in them and then practice them to gain experience and conviction.

However, I bow down, as I'm sure you do, to all those working for the good of others.

That is an often heard and valid criticism of Buddhism. Apparently a belief in karma and rebirth has made Buddhist and Hindu (reincarnation) societies a little complacent that way. This is thought to be due to a misunderstanding of karma by the best known Buddhist teachers, though.

I believe that meditation and other Buddhist practice helps the world. The reasons are many and some are complicated, and they increase with time and experience, but they are very valid to me.

Volunteering is very helpful to the people and causes that need it, and the volunteer may get the most benefit from it. If you really have very little time and have to pick one, I would advise practice, because that will help order your life in a positive way and may eventually result in positive action.

I try to leave a higher-than-expected tip to food service people; as that they are not making minimum wage and also to service people who normally don't see a tip at all. (Employees who clean showers in truck-stops, for example.) Knowing that these actions "make their day" helps me to feel that I am doing something until the more occasional "bigger action" may come along. For example, truckers are often first responders at urgent scenes. (One fellow has delivered 3 babies roadside in his 20 year career...no I'm not kidding!) These "bigger action" things just plop in your lap; a driver isn't looking for it. So, perhaps it is meditation that, in part, gives me "presence of mind" and calmness that when first upon an urgent scene on the roadway, I have a meditative awareness to respond quickly and appropriately. ("Soul Sword" is a good book on that theme.) Then giving unexpected tips to shower-cleaners keeps the desire to help, in tone, keeps my mind alert to any possibility to help..."large" or "small".

Meditation in action is Compassion and Wisdom in action. I guess the only way to do this is too be truly selfless and giving of your time and attention. I know that I want to be of service to others, help them, make them happy, and care about them...but I find myself restrained and retarded by my own body and mind. I am my own worst enemy (or my ego is).

I need to let go so much, so far...that it almost makes me cry. Letting go...of every thought, every memory, every vestige of identification...every label, every judgement, every desire, every plan for the future, every resource in my hand. I am too scared to let go of all this because I'm afraid of......what??? Afraid of dying? Even a thoughtless wild animal knows enough when to eat and sleep to survive.

I think a HUGE idea that keeps people reluctant to "let go" and become enlightened is this mentality of scarcity in the world. They are afraid their needs won't get met..whether they are medical needs, nutritional, hygeine or otherwise. And I guess in some places in the world that is the case such as in India unfortunately. But for people who live in America or some other abundant country were we live relatively more secure and comfortable lives, this notion of scarcity is a complete myth propagandized by corporate media. Forrest Gump could run across the country back and forth and his physical needs were apparently met as a lonely traveler.

I just think we are afraid of becoming that bum or vagrant on the street if we truly let go. At least that is how I feel. If I totally "let go", I might stop working for money, forget to brush my teeth, not bother cleaning up after myself or changing my clothes. That is why I hold back. I'll be like a begging buddhist monk but with less to give. I don't really want to take that selfless route to be honest.

Thx Rudy. I think I equated "letting go" with letting go of all responsibilites. In a sense I percieved letting go as not caring about anything anymore. Perhaps this is a misunderstanding. When people say "he/she really let themselves go" they usually mean that they stopped taking care of themselves (they gained alot of weight, lost teeth, they're dirty and run down)

There seems to be such a fine line between self cherishing and nurturing one's self. The Middle Way seriously comes into play with this spiritual aspect of life. There is narcissism and vanity on one side of the mirror and sloth and neglect on the other. The Middle Way is fulfilling your own personal needs and helping others fulfill theirs.

I think that I always had in mind that a monk or saint had to be destitute and impoverished to be "acceptable in the eyes of God". Forsaking wealth and choosing poverty as a way of life. But this is also another facet where Buddha's Middle Way is so important to realize. We don't have to be homeless beggars to become enlightened. Or do we? Is money and the luxuries of life always going to keep us imprisoned within the palace walls? What if Siddhartha never left his wife and child? Would we still call him The Awakened One? Probably not.

Perhaps I need to leave my modern "luxuries" and venture out into the world as a faithful servant. No car, no cell phone, little money, little possessions. Only relying upon the earth and karma.
Maybe this is the only way to liberation for me. This will teach me to be grateful and selfless. This will humble my ego and force me to use the buddhadharma as strength. I might take this radical approach in some way very soon.

Yes, very true to both of you.

Another way of saying 'letting go of the ego' is to say that we need to let go of our obsession of putting ourselves as number one ALL the time. The tendency to think ME FIRST much of the time, as soon as something happens, we tend to think WHAT ABOUT ME?. This constant obsession with our own welfare at the exclusion of others is the real problem.

It is allk too easy to not be bothered with thousands of people suffering from wars, natural disasters, hunger or illness. But as soon as I don't get my chocolate or feel the slightest discomfort, I put the entire universe second to my own tiny problem - that is obviously completely mad when you think of it. Still, we all tend to do just that.

Taking care of ourselves and trying to find some happiness, free from suffering is probably the most basic human right we have, but considering myself to be more important then the rest of the universe, is clearly madness. So I need to work on becoming a bit more realistic about the situation.
It is undeniably hard to break a habit that I seem to have had since beginningless times. Yet, I have no other option to find real happiness free from suffering. So it is all my own choice: do I want to keep fighting for little scraps of comfort or do I want to go for the jackpot?

Weird enough, it is possible to feel good about helping others instead of ourselves as well. This is a source of happiness that many people discover when they have children, work in healthcare or follow the impulse to just help someone in trouble. It gives a mental satisfaction that is much deeper then chocolate or alcohol, and comes without a hangover.
So in that way, we can get encouraged to do a little more for others. It does not mean we need to give up our own happiness; on the contrary, helping others is a very good way to feel good about ourselves, whereas only helping ourselves makes us lonely and miserable however money, food or whatever we have gathered..

Ok my last reply was a little wierd. I still seem to have this "worldly battle" mentality of the Buddha-warrior destroying all the other "false" religions of the world. I know this isn't helpful for me and my practice, but it's like a piercing thorn in my side that seems to get my attention whenever I watch the news or read about social events.

The flexibility of buddhism is what makes it so beautiful and effective for societal understanding. Nobody gets stuck on political parties or some dogma when they are in tune with the Dharma. Buddha's medicine could cure the world of such grotesque diseases as corporate greed and Islamic terrorism.

It just seems that Buddha doesn't get the respect he deserves. I know HE doesn't care about that, but I do. It seems that poor, pitiful Jesus with his long, blond hair and blue (caucasian?) eyes gets all the attention and praise and glory while having only a small fraction of the Buddha's great wisdom.

I just want to see an enlightened Buddhist future, not more of the suffering Christian one or "God forbid" an oppressive Muslim one. Buddhism is progressive, futuristic. Abrahamic religions are backward and degenerative. It just is what it is, not merely my own petty opinion, but factually evident through history, science and human psychology.

Peace. Don't mean to offend anyone, but we need to be real about what's going on in the world. Buddha makes the world a better place...have any of the other religions really achieved this?

Hi Brian,

I think your contradictions are a bit extreme in the last posts:

Will I subject myself to it? Will I pursue true enlightenment? Will I find enlightenment in a sober state of mind?

and

It just seems that Buddha doesn't get the respect he deserves.

So you mean that other people should respect the Buddha's advice, but you can disregard it and go the opposite way?
Really respecting the Buddha means to try and follow his example and teachings, and that is most certainly not getting drunk and letting our aggression out to people who believe in something different then we....