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How to Live Without the Whims of Gain and Loss
by The Limster, The Buddhist Channel, 4 March 2023
A reflection on the Buddhist teachings of the "Eight Winds" *
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Are you tired of the relentless pursuit of gain and the constant fear of loss? Do you find yourself caught in the never-ending cycle of desire and aversion, always craving more and fearing what might be taken away?
If so, perhaps it's time to embark on a journey that transcends these material concerns and to one that leads to a lifestyle grounded in contentment and inner peace.
There are a few simple, practical steps to achieve this.
Easy as it may seem, it will require discipline and personal drive to acquire results. Once you master these steps, you will find yourself treading on more gentle, peaceful grounds.
Entrusting your Mind to Dharma Practice
The first thing one can do to cultivate such a lifestyle is by entrusting their mind to Dharma practice. This involves wholeheartedly dedicating oneself to spiritual growth and understanding, prioritizing these pursuits over worldly gains.
By immersing oneself in the practice of Dharma, such as cultivating loving kindness, compassion, altruistic joy and equanimity, you begin to see the impermanent nature of material possessions and the futility of clinging to them. This shift in perspective helps loosen the grip of desire and fear, allowing you to find greater peace and fulfillment.
Live Simply, and Simplify your Life
Embracing a life of simplicity is another essential aspect of transcending the pursuit of gain and the fear of loss. This doesn't mean advocating poverty, but rather valuing contentment with what you have and resisting the urge to constantly accumulate more.
Before you go out to buy something, perhaps a new dress, a wallet, a cushion, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?", or this is "Something that I would like to have, but I won't die if I never had it?"
By examining your needs versus wants and finding joy in simplicity, you can free yourself from the endless cycle of craving and aversion that often characterizes modern life.
Make Time for Reflection
Cultivating a habit of reflection is crucial on this journey. Deepening your meditation practice allows you to experience the vast, unconditioned nature of your mind, beyond the constraints of societal expectations and personal insecurities.
Do not just depend on your physical senses as your life's guide, as they are limited. If you look deep into your mind, it may lead to insights and intuitive understandings that transcend conscious reasoning, offering glimpses into deeper truths and realities.
Such understanding isn't dependent on external circumstances. Through such wisdom, a sense of inner peace and contentment can arise, helping you navigate life's ups and downs with greater resilience and acceptance.
Practice Compassion and Altruism
One powerful way to transcend self-centered pursuits is by cultivating compassion and altruism. By focusing on the well-being of others and dedicating yourself to their service, you naturally shift your attention away from your own desires and fears, finding greater fulfillment in the act of giving and connecting with others on a deeper level.
Go Travel, Experience the World
Never underestimate the power of travel in this journey. Going for a holiday or exploring new places can offer a fresh perspective and break the monotony of daily life. When we get too comfortable with what we have, we habituate the normalization of our good life by "taking it for granted". Hence the rise of boredom and the search for novelty.
Thus, traveling helps us realize how easily we take our good fortune of "peace and happiness" for granted and encourages us to reflect on our habits and behaviors.
Final Word
Transcending the pursuit of gain and the fear of loss requires a fundamental shift in perspective and lifestyle. By entrusting our minds to Dharma practice, embracing simplicity, cultivating reflection, nurturing compassion, and exploring new experiences through travel, we can cultivate a life that is rich in meaning, contentment, and inner peace.
So why not embark on this journey today? Your future self will thank you for it.
There are a few simple, practical steps to achieve this.
Easy as it may seem, it will require discipline and personal drive to acquire results. Once you master these steps, you will find yourself treading on more gentle, peaceful grounds.
Entrusting your Mind to Dharma Practice
The first thing one can do to cultivate such a lifestyle is by entrusting their mind to Dharma practice. This involves wholeheartedly dedicating oneself to spiritual growth and understanding, prioritizing these pursuits over worldly gains.
By immersing oneself in the practice of Dharma, such as cultivating loving kindness, compassion, altruistic joy and equanimity, you begin to see the impermanent nature of material possessions and the futility of clinging to them. This shift in perspective helps loosen the grip of desire and fear, allowing you to find greater peace and fulfillment.
Live Simply, and Simplify your Life
Embracing a life of simplicity is another essential aspect of transcending the pursuit of gain and the fear of loss. This doesn't mean advocating poverty, but rather valuing contentment with what you have and resisting the urge to constantly accumulate more.
Before you go out to buy something, perhaps a new dress, a wallet, a cushion, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?", or this is "Something that I would like to have, but I won't die if I never had it?"
By examining your needs versus wants and finding joy in simplicity, you can free yourself from the endless cycle of craving and aversion that often characterizes modern life.
Make Time for Reflection
Cultivating a habit of reflection is crucial on this journey. Deepening your meditation practice allows you to experience the vast, unconditioned nature of your mind, beyond the constraints of societal expectations and personal insecurities.
Do not just depend on your physical senses as your life's guide, as they are limited. If you look deep into your mind, it may lead to insights and intuitive understandings that transcend conscious reasoning, offering glimpses into deeper truths and realities.
Such understanding isn't dependent on external circumstances. Through such wisdom, a sense of inner peace and contentment can arise, helping you navigate life's ups and downs with greater resilience and acceptance.
Practice Compassion and Altruism
One powerful way to transcend self-centered pursuits is by cultivating compassion and altruism. By focusing on the well-being of others and dedicating yourself to their service, you naturally shift your attention away from your own desires and fears, finding greater fulfillment in the act of giving and connecting with others on a deeper level.
Go Travel, Experience the World
Never underestimate the power of travel in this journey. Going for a holiday or exploring new places can offer a fresh perspective and break the monotony of daily life. When we get too comfortable with what we have, we habituate the normalization of our good life by "taking it for granted". Hence the rise of boredom and the search for novelty.
Thus, traveling helps us realize how easily we take our good fortune of "peace and happiness" for granted and encourages us to reflect on our habits and behaviors.
Final Word
Transcending the pursuit of gain and the fear of loss requires a fundamental shift in perspective and lifestyle. By entrusting our minds to Dharma practice, embracing simplicity, cultivating reflection, nurturing compassion, and exploring new experiences through travel, we can cultivate a life that is rich in meaning, contentment, and inner peace.
So why not embark on this journey today? Your future self will thank you for it.
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* The Buddhist teachings of the eight winds are: praise and blame, fame and ill-fame, gain and loss, joy and sorrow.
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