My First Official Dharma Lesson
“Practicing gratitude is like going green on the inside.” -Venerable Manpou
I finally made it to an official Dharma Lesson at the Temple where I’ve been going with my sister for meditation classes. While my first Dharma lesson was great because it was spontaneous and very intimate, this one was even better because there was some structure. Each month, we discuss specific topics in order to understand Buddhism, which is extremely complicated (at least for me).
Tonight we discussed Dependent Origination and the wheel of life.
We also discussed the five precepts:
- To refrain from taking life (non-violence towards sentient life forms)
- To refrain from taking that which is not given (not committing theft)
- To refrain from sensual (including sexual) misconduct
- To refrain from lying (speaking truth always)
- To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness (specifically, drugs and alcohol)
Yikes. I’m going to have a problem with #1. No, I’m not a serial killer. When Buddhists refer to sentient life forms they are talking about animals too. Like steak cows. I like steak and burgers and hot dogs, bacon, brats, chicken, fish, shrimp, etc. #5 is also going to be problematic for me. I like to drink a few beers socially. I have been known to over-indulge from time to time as well. I like beer. Am I sounding like Homer Simpson?
Anyway, they gave me an “out”. Baby steps. As long as you attempt to refrain from these five things, it’s all good. Any improvement is progress. As an example, they suggested that carnivores start off eating only vegetables one day during a month, then two days, then three….you get the idea.
I did get an answer to my question. Yes, they do believe that children born into abusive families had a lot of bad Karma in their previous life. They did make a distinction between the parent who takes out his/her anger about other things on their children vs. parents who simply cannot control their tempers when they are angered by things the children actually do. I didn’t understand why this distinction was pointed out. Maybe it will come to me later. Maybe I’ll ask next month. Maybe one of you has some idea?
Thanks for stopping by!
I have struggled with spirituality my whole life so I think it’s great you have found something to believe in. I was raised a Catholic but the constant guilt inducing was just too much for this free spirited girl to take so the minute I was out of my parent’s house – I flew that coop as well. It has always seemed odd to me as I’ve gotten older that the parents who tried to force such a restrictive religion on their kids couldn’t follow half the “rules” themselves. Anyway, I left religion of all kinds for years but am slowly trying to find my way back to some sort of spirituality again. I still feel like all religions (Eastern or Western) are rooted in at least a little bit of fear and repression but maybe in some circumstances that’s good. Sometimes it takes a shock to the sensabilities to straighten one out. Good luck in your pursuit and I hope it brings you the peace you are looking for. As far as being a vegetarian, I have been one for many, many years and I love it. It doesn’t really have anything to do with an attachment to a religious tenet per se, it mostly has to do with the visuals of dead and dying animals and dead animals in my mouth
I’m not sure if I’ve found something to believe in or not. I’m just in the very early stages of learning. It does speak to me enough to make me interested in learning more, whereas other religions have not. So far I have found nothing in Buddhism rooted in fear or repression, unless you count the idea that every cause has an effect (Karma) but I actually like the idea of Karma. We are all in control of our own destiny, there will be another life, and there is no god judging us. It’s all up to us. The reason they are vegetarians is exactly why you are. They feel compassion for all living beings so could never kill or eat one.
As you know, I most relate with Buddhism, it has been interesting for me to read about your discovery of the eastern beliefs.
I am curious how you feel about the Karma topic in regard to abuse toward children.
It is one way of explaining something that has always seemed unexplainable. That is one of the things people seek from religion, right? I’m not sure how I feel about it yet though. On the one hand I wonder if it only adds more shame onto abuse survivors but on the other hand, if you look at the bigger picture (not just this life) maybe it can be comforting. I’m also confused about why the two different types of abusive parents were pointed out.
If you look at the 5 precepts, it seems to me that just about all of the mainstream religions advocate pretty much the same thing. Which is why I can’t for the life of me figure out why there’s so much fighting and disagreement in the name of religion.
It doesn’t make sense, except that extremists believe that only their way is the right way.
They are essentially like a guiding North Star…as far as you have your North Star in sight and walk towards it with head held high…your way of life is right
BTW, am also a learner and an avid reader of various school of thoughts.