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I am on a path, one that I feel I will be on for the rest of my life. I am grateful to be on that path. Whether there is an achievable end or not, I will continue down this path. The path of Buddhism. I have been studying the ways of the Monk for a few months now, and have learned quite a bit. Under the tutelage of Snack, I have become a forever long student of Buddhism. This training has brought me more then just understanding Buddhism. It's taught me about myself, and the world. Learning the Four Noble Truths has brought me a perspective on our shared conscious experience that helps me perceive the world in a different, more empathetic, more kind, more fulfilling way. Learning the Eightfold Path has shown me a way to practice the values that I hold highly. This was not a short journey for the modern man, with short attention spans and the constant access to immediate gratification. But that gave me sorely needed insight. Relative to the lifelong pursuit of studying Buddhism, these initial steps in my journey were very short. I have learned and practiced patience, which gave me time to introspect, and really examine the way I live my life. I am grateful for this introspection. This might be a bit controversial, but as a studying Monk, I do not crave Nirvana, nor seek it. I believe those cravings are contradictory to the essence of the Monk itself. Not that seeking it is a bad thing. What I desire is to be someone who understands himself, and attempts to make an effort to do the same for others. And I think this journey I'm on will continue to help me do that. | |