Buddhist Wisdom for Daily Living

by Christopher Titmuss

Buddhist Wisdom for Daily Living examines why 2500-year-old Buddhist beliefs and philosophies have relevance in today's society. For the reader, contemporary Buddhist practice acts as a bridge between the monastery and the larger world. It enables them to find calmness, clarity and insight for dealing with the challenges of everyday life. In doing so, they'll discover the true length and breadth of the Buddhist path. Meditations are offered for each day, along with advice for beginning meditation and correct posture. Readers will also learn how mindful meditation and right living can make them more aware and committed to their individual spiritual paths.

Genres: Buddhism

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2001

Reviews

[Tanja Nayak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book - I re-read it at the start of every year. It has tons of practical advice about mental, physical, and spiritual health. The meditations are great.

[Totochelamouche · Rating 3 out of 5]

To the Unfriendly
May your anger and resentment subside quickly
May you understand the pain you cause yourself and others
May you find fresh ways to explore differences
May you see into the fear behind the anger
May you develop equanimity when things do not go your way
May others stop being angry toward you
May your realize that anger does not cease with anger
May others listen to you and may you listen to others

There are always contradictions in the inflexible mind. It takes skillful questioning to make a point using the contradiction, and then managing to end the conversation with an invitation for the other person to look at the contradiction. Otherwise, we can find ourselves battling with each other in a hopeless endeavor to score points through clinging to our position. There is no point whatsoever in taking responsibility for somebody else's inner world. We may be wise, skillful, insightful, and a master in communication, but that does not mean to say that we will make any impact on another's view if they have only one determination in their mind and that is to cling to their views no matter how harmful.

I remember in the 1970s one Buddhist center, the Insight Meditation Retreat center in Massachusetts, USA, put on a full program of retreats each year, with 50 to 100 people taking part. There were no computers, no databases, no network stations, no emails, no fax machines, and a small volunteer staff. Today there are directors and a management team and the center uses about a dozen sophisticated computers but it seems that more people complain about being overworked than twenty years ago. This situation is typical of organizations all over the world.

As we dig deeper into ourselves, we sometimes experience waves of insecurity that attach themselves to money matters. For example, when we are travelling we might carry our money and credit cards with us in our wallet, purse, or money pouch, which we are then unable to find: we can't find it on our body, nor in our bag, nor is it visible in our room. A whole wave of fearful emotion rushes through us. Until that moment, we had no idea how quickly we had become identified with the money. However, if we develop a practice of inner security through stabilizing our heart life in our day-to-day life, we can bring a degree of steadiness to the presence and absence of money, either in the short or long term.

I found myself living with between 100 and 200 monks and nuns, none of whom I knew. We were together seven days a week, morning, noon, and night, through the cool season, the hot season, and the monsoon. Sometimes we got on well with each other and sometimes we did not. Not even the teacher, Venerable Ajahn Dhammadaro, the Abbot of Wat Chai Na (Monastery at the End of the Rice Paddy) stood above criticism. [...]
By conventional standards, we led an austere life, permitted only a handful of possessions, including two sets of robes, a begging bowl, a razor, and a water filter. We ate only in the morning and fasted daily from 12 noon for the next 19 hours. Apart from meetings with the teachers, we spent many hours in silence and meditated in the formal sitting, walking, and standing postures.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this wonderful book, but it will remain in my reading pile for many months to come because now begins the daily practice and contemplation. If you want a book that reflects the Buddha's teachings but that applies to the modern world, a book written with a calm, insightful, gentle authorial voice, then this is the book for you.