This file started on November 8, 2000 -
Here's a rough idea of where I'm headed with a few ideas ....
It was sparked by a session working with photgraphs and webpages ...
As I often do, I wondered what the world would be like if everyone suddenly became a Buddhist ... there would probly be no photgraphy as the aim is to live COMPLETELY in the present MOMENT rather than in the past by trying to 'capture' it on film ... probly no horse racing either :) ... or McDonald's burgers ... hmmm ...
Further to yesterday's ruminations about "What the world might be like if everyone suddenly became a Buddhist" ... it has the seeds of an entire piece - a separate HTM ... for example -
* No alcohol or tabacco or other mind-altering chemicals as the aim is to do-it-yourself from the INSIDE rather than take the lazy option ... :)
* Far less 'entertainment' as such - for similar reasons and certainly a different 'flavour' of leisure activities ... (to even label some activities as 'leisure' ...
* Most likely NO restarants
* Most likely NO cosmetics or jewelery etc
* Most likely NO 'fashion' & associated concepts ... no hair stylists ...
* Most likely little or no 'travel' as the exploration of inner space would be seen as ultimately more satisfying than traveling the globe ... :)
* Not to mention the obious - no violence or disharmony amongst individuals or amongst nations ...
* Far less injustice and separation between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' ...
* Far less complaining, gossiping, blaming, judging and other bad habits (and that is ALL they are - HABITS)
* Details of why the above would or would not occur ...
Plus it is Melbourne Cup tme of the year and the mischievious aspect of my nature - after someone declares it their dream to ONE day win a Melbourne Cup - Yes, racing like all forms of 'competition' relies on the fact that MANY other human beings invest their time & emotional energy into a concept like 'competition' ... if we all woke up tomorrow and thought how truly silly horse racing is then that dream would no longer be possible if you were the only being on the planet holding onto such an idea .
..
Yes, if our source of self-esteem was more internally focused rather than invested in ideas & pursuits that involve the notion of 'winning' to boost one's levels of self-esteem & satisfaction ... hmmm ...
A few more ideas I've been toying with -
"Why? Simple. I have disciplined myself not to think a complaining thought - anyone can do likewise but people seem to prefer the lazy way ... ?? ... blaming ... judging ... seeds of anger ... you can fill in the blanks ... surely ... :)
On the bus this afternoon -
Yes, people do focus on trying to control external circumstances rather than internal ones. And they tend to categorise these external events or circumstances into 'good', 'bad' and 'neutral' ... meditation is the systematic dismantling of the basis of this categorisation and compartmentalisation process ... but it needs constant practice to dismantle an entire belief structure and become comfortable with the fact that any belief or idea is only as valid as you allow it to be ... to be or n
ot to be ...
Yes, anything which encourages a superficial or spiritually unhealthy state .... hmmm ... that's MOST of the modern western way of life ... :) ... science ?? ...
Then there was a list I did a while back of jobs & occupations one would not be likely to consider if one was a Buddhist ...
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Pest Controller - would go against the idea of respecting all life.
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Farmer - ditto - if it involved farming animals for human consumption.
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Cook or anyone involved in the preparation of animals for human consumption.
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Sportsman? - would involve possible physical injury to others as well as being based on an 'Us & Them' style of thinking which is what Buddhism sets out to erase.
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Basically any job that would perpetuate inequity or involve any likelihood of causing harm to another living creature. Boy! wouldn't the world look very different if we allbecame Buddhists overnight?
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Or any job which would require a person to act in a way which was not kind & compassionate
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Any job in the 'entertainment' industry as it tends to foster 'escapism' & short attention spans and especially if the entertainment is used as a medium for displaying violence or unhealthy actions based on anger, greed, jealousy, selfishness rather than compassion & kindness. Since we absorb that to which we pay attention. We are what we eat - physically, emotionally, spiritually.
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Anything to do with the military - manufacturing weapons - also anyone required to enact unjust laws ...
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Anything which would disturb the balance of nature - habitat - poisons - heavy industry - what else?
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You may be able to think of others ... (no pun intended)
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A good question might be why we have or need such occupations ...
That's why Buddhists seek perfect enlightenment - not just for their own personal benefit but to benefit all beings. Because until you attain that state your efforts to help others will be based largely on guesswork and you may not be helping them much at all ...
Some Buddhist Links -
Update June 2009 -
Click Here for Lama Yeshe presenting a Buddhist perspective on "mental illness"
Let's visit a Random site about Buddhism
Huge list of Buddhist resources
Living Meditation - Dr Thynn Thynn
Book reviews about Tibetan Buddhism
