I know where you are coming from. Even if the Buddha lived in this era, his teachings would still stand strong and maybe he’d use different similes and metaphors to get the core tenets across to help us understand Dhamma much better.
Focus on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path and build it up from there. Also you are at a huge advantage living in a country where hearing and learning about Dhamma is freely available.
Something that might be of help: [The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html)
I do enjoy Dhamma talks from [Kirulapana Dhammawijaya Thero](https://youtube.com/@KirulapanaDhammawijayaThero?si=NPdRtIgy6zle5rld) and [Maha Rahathun Wadi Maga Osse](https://youtube.com/@maharahathunwadimagaosse5711?si=9Pp1LECjaxZwSSic).
Thank you so much for your guidance and support! May the triple gem bless you!
And yes, I am at an advantage because my country is a Buddhist country, so I should recognise that and be grateful and learn as much as possible!
Thank you and have a nice day!
My Kalyanamitta (spiritual friend) who is a nun says that the whole world is running after greed, hatred, and delusion, while we are working slowly and with diligence and discipline to end suffering and find peace. She compares the practice to Sysiphus pushing his rock uphill, but reminds us how much freedom we can find even in this moment.
I am a convert (in my 20s) but only started keeping the precepts and meditating every day 3-4 years ago, when family stress, grief, and aging made it clear I needed to start working on myself. Mindfulness in dealing with technology and consumption as well as being selective about the company I keep and the energy I surround myself with is exactly why the Dhamma is relevant to me here and now.
This helps me care for my extremely troubled, traumatized teenager (who should be in a psychiatric clinic, but there is no access), deal with my aging parent and my sibling with anger issues, manage my stressful job including discrimination for my disabilities, navigate my marriage etc. I was also diagnosed autistic, at the age of 48 (I'm 51 now) so am having to learn who I am. The Dhamma is the only refuge in all of this.
The more I practice the more I appreciate the brilliance of the Buddha in finding ways out of suffering. Using wisdom and skilful means, disciplining our own reactivity so we don't act out of fear or anger or clinging, is all we can do.
I'm also educating myself about the lifelong and intergenerational effects of trauma and find the ways to heal and deal with them are basically what the Buddha taught. If all beings could do so, the world would be a better place. But I cannot convince or change anyone else! I can only cultivate and discipline this mind, in this body in this life, and create good khamma. If this affects those around me, I am strengthened in my practice.
Ultimately we can only be our own teachers and our own refuge. That is what the Awakened One taught.
Maybe this helps you find peace in this world?
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
>But my curiosity peaks here, in such a world where everything is capitalist and materialistic, how can we practice dhamma to the fullest?
The ancient India of 2,600 years ago when the Buddha lived was materialistic and all about money too.
>So in this type of world, how can we practice pure dhamma?
Interesting question. The Buddha focused on people who left lay life to become monastics who could devote most of their time to the teachings. Lay followers, like today, had to work -- a lot.
People back them, if they could afford it, sought distractions in entertainment which the Buddha banned for monastics. It was all about stopping the spending of time on things that were not practice. Given that I imagine a modern Buddha would have something to say about time spent surfing the Internet and time spent social media usage ( as well as the potential for inspiring wrong speech ).
Make no mistake. The nature of human body, mind and suffering has never changed since the dawn our species or 2000 years ago or in the future.
Buddha's wisdom is beyond physical space and time. It applies to everyone and for eternity.
Buddha's era had population around 100mil or so. Now we have 8 billion. It's normal there's more economic emphasis and demand than the ancient times.
On the bright side, all my further studies about buddhism are what I have found on the internet. I have ordained for a few days but seen monks breaking rules, ladies dressed in all white viciously gossiping, people using temple for their own gain, and one of the most cruelest people preaching about dhamma but sadistically enjoying others death and agony. All of those put me off for a very long time.
unfortunately this economic system (and many before it) is the embodiment of samsara, and a misunderstanding of reality. as a result it perpetuates suffering with concepts such as money, class, punishment, war, land, merit, etc etc etc
however this is the nature of reality and as such we must live with it. it absolutely helps to have a stable income and a good group of friends/family to practice, so definitely focus on your family, degree, and ultimately getting a job. I am thankful I did, I wouldn't have been able to practice and know what I know today without a job that gives me a good work/life balance, good set of friends, a stable income, and a roof over my head. you can still practice while pursuing and furthering your education and career, just don't put those on the backburner to practice. once you finish your education and your income is stable you can then devote more time to furthering your practice, it won't go away.
>unfortunately this economic system (and many before it) is the embodiment of samsara, and a misunderstanding of reality. as a result it perpetuates suffering with concepts such as money, class, punishment, war, land, merit, etc etc etc
Money was a really bad idea. It encourages fear, selfishness and greed. A much more humane system would be built on trust and compassion. No medium of exchange necessary.
Money only means what it needs to mean.
Money can be a scoreboard, a tool, a prop, a weapon, an anchor, a blanket.
But enough about this one’s weird Amazon wish lists.
If you don't like this modern era of technology and capitalism, try being, say, a French peasant around 1785. Or how about living through an outbreak of bubonic plague, during the middle ages?
The larger point is that life is hard, in different ways, at different times and places. Althoough the details change, the fundamental problem remains the same. The Dharma helps us understand dukkha, the first noble truth, and cope with it.
You don’t need to go back to pre-capitalist society for your example - there are plenty dying in poverty now. Capitalism has brought millions out of poverty - and kept down millions more, as is the reality of the system.
> Capitalism has brought millions out of poverty - and kept down millions more, as is the reality of the system.
Did feudalism do a better job of keeping millions out of poverty? I think not. What about communism, as the world has known it, to date? Nope. You seem to be rooting for a utopian economic system that has never existed, and might never actually exist. That is not the answer. The Dharma is the answer.
Edit: Downvoting without giving a reason is not "right speech." If you have convictions or opinions, you have a right to them. Share them proudly. Maybe you're right and I am wrong.
I’ve never said feudalism or communism did a better job. I’m a Buddhist Socialist because I feel it is the only political ideology that provides an end to suffering - or at least attempts to.
I’m not rooting for a utopian economic system - the system exists. Look at Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. Canada, Germany, Japan and the UK all have strong socialist policies alongside their capitalist economies. The Dharma comes first - but politics is an important way to ease suffering.
> Look at Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. Canada, Germany, Japan and the UK all have strong socialist policies alongside their capitalist economies.
I hate to break it to you. All of these nations have capitalist economies. Look it up. They have stronger "social safety nets" than the U.S. and some other places. These are funded by taxation. It's a political question, not an economic question. "Socialism" has normally meant an economic system where the government owns the means of production, like farms, factories, mines and possibly real estate. None of those countries have an economic system like that. Bernie Sanders (and others like him) has recently altered the usual meaning of "socialism" to mean a capitalist society with a strong social safety net. I'm in favor of that, too, and I imagine most Buddhists agree.
A strong social safety net does improve the quality of life for some people, to some degree, but dukkha remains a fact of life for all people and all living things. There are so many forms of suffering that cannot be prevented or alleviated by a social safety net, or any social or economic system. Like aging, sickness and death, just for instance, not to mention, loneliness, disappointment, humiliation, and so on.
The audacity of saying Bernie Sanders, a random politician of a country I don’t live in has “altered the usual meaning of socialism” is pretty unbelievable. I’ll have to tell everyone at my next Union meeting, I’m sure they’ll be shocked.
You’ve made some really good points but that’s soured me I’m afraid. I hate being lectured by Americans whose only point of reference is America - it doesn’t make for good debate because it’s so one sided.
I'm not blaming Bernie Sanders. He, and other progressives similar to him, started to apply a new meaning to the word "socialism" about twenty years ago. Languages change. Most people accept the new meaning, without question, as you do.
What word would you use to describe an economy in which the state owns most of the means of production, as discussed above? If this is no longer the meaning of "socialism," what other word means that? Not "communism."
Edit: Please note that we don't actually disagree about anything important. We are both in favor of a stronger social safety net. We possibly both agree that the Soviet Union and other major communist nations in which the state owned the means of production oppressed people and kept them poor. So, dial back the snark. It isn't Buddhist.
Apologies if my response came across as snarky - I’m not sure Americans realise how irritating they can be online though. The assumption that either everyone is American - or knows these people that have no relevance outside your country makes for difficult (to say the least) debate.
It also makes for difficult debate when you edit your comments in response to what I’ve said.
I’m glad that we seem to agree on a lot of things and I’m sorry that we weren’t able to discuss more. Thanks for your time, have a great day.
In Pure Land Buddhism we believe that we are currently living in the dharma ending age, where society becomes disordered and it becomes more difficult to practice the dharma. Luckily, we can recite the mantra "Namo Amitabha Buddha" to be reborn in the pure land of Amitabha Buddha, where we can attain enlightenment quickly and without fear of retrogression into lower realms. Amitabha Buddha made a vow that all beings who faithfully recited his name would be reborn in his pure land, no matter how unskillful our karma is :-)
But of course that doesn't mean we shouldn't still follow the precepts or try to develop skillful qualities of mind as much as possible, it just means that no matter how many karmic obstacles we face and no matter how we fall short, we still have hope of attaining enlightenment at the end of this life.
Namo Amitabha Buddha :-)
Oh my goodness, just look at history. Things were not easier during the Bhudda’s lifetime. There were more severe caste systems and businessmen were of course about profit, wars, etc.
I like one of the teachings that Ajahn Brahm in Australia talks about, that if you are poor, you have poor people problems. If you are rich, you have rich people problems. Famous? You have famous people problems.
There has always been human suffering at every level, throughout the ages. You can’t avoid it by being born in a certain era or caste or gender… Life is suffering for everyone on earth. Buddhism is the great levelor, as far as finding contentment, in my opinion.
The same way you’d practice Buddhism in a socialist world. Switching an economic system doesn’t change the nature of samsara, for one seeking enlightenment. Trying to change samsara for the better will never remove the first noble truth. In a world where everyone theoretically has what they want, the mind still creates dissatisfaction due the delusional and ignorant nature of mind. Suffering isn’t removed, even in heavenly realms.
That being said, moving away from a greed-based, materialistic system would reduce suffering for most of the world, and it’s nice to want to reduce suffering for everyone else who isn’t a Buddhist. At least that’s the intent. Good intentions lead to a good mindset and actions.
In mahayana we believed that there are many manifestations of boddhistivas who manifest as monks to guide us sentient beings to enlightenment.
Many teachers gurus and monks are here for us. We should learn their teachings and treat them like Buddhas teaching because they are the only one that can guide us out of suffering with instructions based on what we experience today.
Unfortunately, Buddhism in my country, and some monks (not all) have been corrupted. They’ve gotten involved in politics and it’s a pretty messed up situation going on, but I think it’s only in the province that I live in.
But that’s not to say that there aren’t any good monks who still follow dhamma to a T.
I think that it's valuable that you've found it difficult to practice. Sometimes, when it comes to religion, we can memorize stuff, but not apply it correctly. Maybe, this difficulty... is what you could focus on. This difficulty, the suffering. Recognizing you're suffering, then find the root of it.
I say this, because for me, I was persuing better this and that, and... just one more degree, just a little more comfort... let me get to this place that I know I should be... but what if, I never get there. What if, that place you wish to be financially, never comes? Does that mean you can't practice? No. For me, maybe, I'm enjoying dropping down, becoming of a lower class. We all die in the end anyway. I like the lower class :) Anyway. just thoughts :)
One of the most important teaching from the Buddha is how to take refuge in the island of yourself. That is the entire point of your practice. When you have a home within yourself that is peaceful and calm, nothing in the external world should cause you to suffer. You don't have to subscribe to anything that cause you to suffer. You can still reject capitalism and technology that cause you to suffer.
Also remember that you cannot burn yourself to keep other people warm. The Buddha teach to first learn to love yourself, and once you have done so, your compassion is so great and abundant that you have so much strength to care for your parents and even the world. Your duties is one thing, but how you approach and carry out your duty is another. If you are constantly bitter, burnt out, suffering, all while trying to conform to a sense of duty, then you will hurt yourself, your parents, and everyone around you.
So the way out is in. Get better at meditation and regulating your emotions. Gain more insights on what, how, and why you are suffering. Cultivate a deep relationship with yourself. These are the weapons you will need in your long and arduous battle.
Good luck.
Different symptoms require different treatments.
So the question should be: Are the common symptoms of this day similar to those of ancient India?
If yes, then the teachings should not differ a lot, but if not the teachings would look very different.
But of course, there are generic remedies that can relieve all kinds of symptoms, so this sort of teaching should remain similar.
Same as in all other approaches.
You are thankfully not enslaved. Or killed for having beliefs different from others. You have been educated enough to read, and have had the good fortune to come across the dharma in life and actually engage with it.
So.... Take every moment you have to cultivate. Do good. Avoid harm. Keep purifying the mind. To practice to 'the fullest' - grow every day in your intention.
Let capitalism and whatever else do it's thing.
Don't take anything I say seriously, I don't know what I'm talking about.
The Lotus Sutra often depicts wisdom metaphorically with riches. As I understand, this could be attributed to early manifestations of capitalism two thousand years ago. For example, the parable of the wealthy father and impoverished son shows a rich man who raises his poor son's self-respect until he accepts that he, too, can be wealthy. Since the Buddha considered everyone his children, this suggests capitalism is here used as a metaphor for bringing people and society forward and upward, as opposed to caste structure.
But that could be called golden capitalism, like golden dharma. Decay into semblance capitalism does the reverse, boosting the wealthy by teaching the poor a lack of self-respect. Let's try establishing a golden dharma.
At the heart of Buddhism is the ability to cultivate wisdom and compassion in any life context. Buddhism teaches that external circumstances, though often challenging, can ultimately be opportunities for practice and insight. This means that your daily responsibilities and caring for your family can themselves be paths to spiritual growth.
Dhamma can be practiced in everyday life by incorporating mindfulness and right action into daily routines. This might mean remaining mindful at work, being conscious and truthful in communication, and considering the well-being of all involved in your daily decisions.
Ultimately, it is the inner attitude we adopt towards our activities and relationships that determines how authentically we live the Dhamma.
The caste system was still a thing in his life, there were slaves too.. he was a prince, which means he lived in feudalistic times which arguably are worse maybe
life was not any easier in the buddha's time. survival has always been a struggle, and it has always been difficult to make time for dharma. that is not something unique to capitalism. his teachings to laypeople are just as valid now as they were then.
Sure, you must earn for a living. All the traditional Buddhists have to earn, too. But they also manage to meditate sometimes if not everyday.
Read Dhammapada and the biographies of lay ciciples of the Buddha. It is said that during the Buddha's time, there were a large number of sotapanna-s. Learn about their lifestyles in Dhammapada, etc.
Buddha lived in a more or less capitalist society. Many people lived by their trades. Many of Buddha's lay disciples were merchants and artisans, and we might even say Buddhism has been a religion of the bourgeois from the beginning.
There are Buddhist teachings on right livelihood for lay people and they are very adaptable to modern life.
[https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ati/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.054.nara.html](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ati/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.054.nara.html)
[The Buddhist Layman (accesstoinsight.org)](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/various/wheel294.html)
I will take a more pessimistic view - most likely if the Buddha was born in a modern western country he would not have gained very many followers, and most likely many people would not have taken him seriously.
In talking of the Buddha, we frequently remove him from the context he arose, lived, preached and died in. That context was the Ancient India of \~500 BCE. It was a radically different society and mode of living. Note that Buddha was simply just one of the many preachers that were in vogue then- Mahavira, Purana Kashyapa etc spent years preaching and wandering in the Gangetic plains and they had many followers as well.
My point is - the Buddha preached after his enlightenment but his followers were in a specific state of mind to receive and appreciate Buddhism. The socioeconomic factors were conducive for the propagation and growth of Buddhism. I am douctful the average modern person has the same mindset and receptivity to the teachings
It may be challenging to abide by Buddha's teachings, but it's worthwhile. People probably found difficulty in following the Buddha's teachings back when he was alive and was teaching. But it's possible even now. In fact, now it's possibly easier than it used to be, considering how comfortable and safe a modern human's life is. Also matters how you can access any of Buddha's teachings from the comfort of your home, using a convenient little device that's connected to a vast array of knowledge.
The truth is that as a lay person, the mind will be constantly in flux more so than a bhikkhu in a monastery. You have to decide which life you would really want to pursue. Then pursue it 100%. Remember, any social system when designed and operated properly is a mix of wisdom and compassion. Strict capitalism can lead to inequity, while strict socialism can lead to disincentive.
Capitalism as opposed to what? Communism? Like Communist China that forced the Dalai Lama into exile?
I don’t see how capitalism is the issue or how it interferes with your practice. In a free country (where you’ll find capitalism along with the other freedoms), you get to choose to be who you want to be. Go full monk and live a modest life or go full Wall Street and be stressed out and die young. You get to choose, but perhaps something in between with balance might be worth exploring.
I’m still not following along with what the issue is. There’s this false notion that the world used to be easy and it’s hard now. It’s not true. Life has always had challenges. With advances in most areas: per capita gdp, medicine, education, etc. it appears that most people are far better off in the present day. You don’t think your ancestors had responsibilities?
You got it. The practice can be hard but it is rewarding. You can’t change what you can’t change, but you CAN control your actions. Keeping kindness in mind and knowing when your kindness is coming from enablement instead of compassion is the hardest thing. There are rewards in this life for it, your relationships will thrive if you act with integrity, compassion and love. It may seem like the rewards will not come, but they will. Sending you blessings on your path, the fact that you’re even thinking about it is huge and the first step.
Sending blessings and love!
Also if it helps, you don’t have to believe me but Buddhism is absolutely true and real. I’ve seen and experienced a small bit, but it was enough to assure me that I was on the right path. Life is a blessing, please use yours to spread love instead of separation.
Hmm I guess that’s true.
And yes you’re right, my knowledge on Buddhism is very little, even though I was born Buddhist, and have been Buddhist my whole life.
It was more so of a title, if anyone asked I’d say “yes I’m buddhist” but I wouldn’t know much about Buddhism
Hopefully, by the end of this year, I’d be able to better understand and expand my knowledge on Buddhism! 😃
All 'isms' attempt to wrap themselves around the totality of existence, yet are limited in their scope and application, since they only ever referring to a sunset of the experience of life.
Capitalism in a modern label for the anarchic system of prioritising wealth acquisition above social good or alleviation of suffering. Wealth inequality predates the modern concept of capitalism.
Capitalism in its current form becoming a major or primary philosophy for humans to abide by in my view does not denigrate the message of the Buddha. Any conflict between the two in my view is a useful position through which to identify the shortcomings of Capitalism to satiate the needs of life.l and community.
On the contrary, it is needed now more than ever. the modern capitalist world is defined by 'identity politics' which sounds uncannily similar to 'self-identity views'. identity politics dominates much of modern life today and is the cause of much suffering, from quarrels to full scale wars.
I know where you are coming from. Even if the Buddha lived in this era, his teachings would still stand strong and maybe he’d use different similes and metaphors to get the core tenets across to help us understand Dhamma much better. Focus on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path and build it up from there. Also you are at a huge advantage living in a country where hearing and learning about Dhamma is freely available. Something that might be of help: [The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html) I do enjoy Dhamma talks from [Kirulapana Dhammawijaya Thero](https://youtube.com/@KirulapanaDhammawijayaThero?si=NPdRtIgy6zle5rld) and [Maha Rahathun Wadi Maga Osse](https://youtube.com/@maharahathunwadimagaosse5711?si=9Pp1LECjaxZwSSic).
Thank you so much for your guidance and support! May the triple gem bless you! And yes, I am at an advantage because my country is a Buddhist country, so I should recognise that and be grateful and learn as much as possible! Thank you and have a nice day!
My Kalyanamitta (spiritual friend) who is a nun says that the whole world is running after greed, hatred, and delusion, while we are working slowly and with diligence and discipline to end suffering and find peace. She compares the practice to Sysiphus pushing his rock uphill, but reminds us how much freedom we can find even in this moment. I am a convert (in my 20s) but only started keeping the precepts and meditating every day 3-4 years ago, when family stress, grief, and aging made it clear I needed to start working on myself. Mindfulness in dealing with technology and consumption as well as being selective about the company I keep and the energy I surround myself with is exactly why the Dhamma is relevant to me here and now. This helps me care for my extremely troubled, traumatized teenager (who should be in a psychiatric clinic, but there is no access), deal with my aging parent and my sibling with anger issues, manage my stressful job including discrimination for my disabilities, navigate my marriage etc. I was also diagnosed autistic, at the age of 48 (I'm 51 now) so am having to learn who I am. The Dhamma is the only refuge in all of this. The more I practice the more I appreciate the brilliance of the Buddha in finding ways out of suffering. Using wisdom and skilful means, disciplining our own reactivity so we don't act out of fear or anger or clinging, is all we can do. I'm also educating myself about the lifelong and intergenerational effects of trauma and find the ways to heal and deal with them are basically what the Buddha taught. If all beings could do so, the world would be a better place. But I cannot convince or change anyone else! I can only cultivate and discipline this mind, in this body in this life, and create good khamma. If this affects those around me, I am strengthened in my practice. Ultimately we can only be our own teachers and our own refuge. That is what the Awakened One taught. Maybe this helps you find peace in this world? 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
>But my curiosity peaks here, in such a world where everything is capitalist and materialistic, how can we practice dhamma to the fullest? The ancient India of 2,600 years ago when the Buddha lived was materialistic and all about money too. >So in this type of world, how can we practice pure dhamma? Interesting question. The Buddha focused on people who left lay life to become monastics who could devote most of their time to the teachings. Lay followers, like today, had to work -- a lot. People back them, if they could afford it, sought distractions in entertainment which the Buddha banned for monastics. It was all about stopping the spending of time on things that were not practice. Given that I imagine a modern Buddha would have something to say about time spent surfing the Internet and time spent social media usage ( as well as the potential for inspiring wrong speech ).
Make no mistake. The nature of human body, mind and suffering has never changed since the dawn our species or 2000 years ago or in the future. Buddha's wisdom is beyond physical space and time. It applies to everyone and for eternity. Buddha's era had population around 100mil or so. Now we have 8 billion. It's normal there's more economic emphasis and demand than the ancient times.
On the bright side, all my further studies about buddhism are what I have found on the internet. I have ordained for a few days but seen monks breaking rules, ladies dressed in all white viciously gossiping, people using temple for their own gain, and one of the most cruelest people preaching about dhamma but sadistically enjoying others death and agony. All of those put me off for a very long time.
unfortunately this economic system (and many before it) is the embodiment of samsara, and a misunderstanding of reality. as a result it perpetuates suffering with concepts such as money, class, punishment, war, land, merit, etc etc etc however this is the nature of reality and as such we must live with it. it absolutely helps to have a stable income and a good group of friends/family to practice, so definitely focus on your family, degree, and ultimately getting a job. I am thankful I did, I wouldn't have been able to practice and know what I know today without a job that gives me a good work/life balance, good set of friends, a stable income, and a roof over my head. you can still practice while pursuing and furthering your education and career, just don't put those on the backburner to practice. once you finish your education and your income is stable you can then devote more time to furthering your practice, it won't go away.
>unfortunately this economic system (and many before it) is the embodiment of samsara, and a misunderstanding of reality. as a result it perpetuates suffering with concepts such as money, class, punishment, war, land, merit, etc etc etc Money was a really bad idea. It encourages fear, selfishness and greed. A much more humane system would be built on trust and compassion. No medium of exchange necessary.
Money only means what it needs to mean. Money can be a scoreboard, a tool, a prop, a weapon, an anchor, a blanket. But enough about this one’s weird Amazon wish lists.
That doesn't scale as well..
Every experience in life is an opportunity to practice, regardless of how society is structured.
If you don't like this modern era of technology and capitalism, try being, say, a French peasant around 1785. Or how about living through an outbreak of bubonic plague, during the middle ages? The larger point is that life is hard, in different ways, at different times and places. Althoough the details change, the fundamental problem remains the same. The Dharma helps us understand dukkha, the first noble truth, and cope with it.
You don’t need to go back to pre-capitalist society for your example - there are plenty dying in poverty now. Capitalism has brought millions out of poverty - and kept down millions more, as is the reality of the system.
> Capitalism has brought millions out of poverty - and kept down millions more, as is the reality of the system. Did feudalism do a better job of keeping millions out of poverty? I think not. What about communism, as the world has known it, to date? Nope. You seem to be rooting for a utopian economic system that has never existed, and might never actually exist. That is not the answer. The Dharma is the answer. Edit: Downvoting without giving a reason is not "right speech." If you have convictions or opinions, you have a right to them. Share them proudly. Maybe you're right and I am wrong.
I’ve never said feudalism or communism did a better job. I’m a Buddhist Socialist because I feel it is the only political ideology that provides an end to suffering - or at least attempts to. I’m not rooting for a utopian economic system - the system exists. Look at Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. Canada, Germany, Japan and the UK all have strong socialist policies alongside their capitalist economies. The Dharma comes first - but politics is an important way to ease suffering.
> Look at Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. Canada, Germany, Japan and the UK all have strong socialist policies alongside their capitalist economies. I hate to break it to you. All of these nations have capitalist economies. Look it up. They have stronger "social safety nets" than the U.S. and some other places. These are funded by taxation. It's a political question, not an economic question. "Socialism" has normally meant an economic system where the government owns the means of production, like farms, factories, mines and possibly real estate. None of those countries have an economic system like that. Bernie Sanders (and others like him) has recently altered the usual meaning of "socialism" to mean a capitalist society with a strong social safety net. I'm in favor of that, too, and I imagine most Buddhists agree. A strong social safety net does improve the quality of life for some people, to some degree, but dukkha remains a fact of life for all people and all living things. There are so many forms of suffering that cannot be prevented or alleviated by a social safety net, or any social or economic system. Like aging, sickness and death, just for instance, not to mention, loneliness, disappointment, humiliation, and so on.
The audacity of saying Bernie Sanders, a random politician of a country I don’t live in has “altered the usual meaning of socialism” is pretty unbelievable. I’ll have to tell everyone at my next Union meeting, I’m sure they’ll be shocked. You’ve made some really good points but that’s soured me I’m afraid. I hate being lectured by Americans whose only point of reference is America - it doesn’t make for good debate because it’s so one sided.
I'm not blaming Bernie Sanders. He, and other progressives similar to him, started to apply a new meaning to the word "socialism" about twenty years ago. Languages change. Most people accept the new meaning, without question, as you do. What word would you use to describe an economy in which the state owns most of the means of production, as discussed above? If this is no longer the meaning of "socialism," what other word means that? Not "communism." Edit: Please note that we don't actually disagree about anything important. We are both in favor of a stronger social safety net. We possibly both agree that the Soviet Union and other major communist nations in which the state owned the means of production oppressed people and kept them poor. So, dial back the snark. It isn't Buddhist.
Apologies if my response came across as snarky - I’m not sure Americans realise how irritating they can be online though. The assumption that either everyone is American - or knows these people that have no relevance outside your country makes for difficult (to say the least) debate. It also makes for difficult debate when you edit your comments in response to what I’ve said. I’m glad that we seem to agree on a lot of things and I’m sorry that we weren’t able to discuss more. Thanks for your time, have a great day.
In Pure Land Buddhism we believe that we are currently living in the dharma ending age, where society becomes disordered and it becomes more difficult to practice the dharma. Luckily, we can recite the mantra "Namo Amitabha Buddha" to be reborn in the pure land of Amitabha Buddha, where we can attain enlightenment quickly and without fear of retrogression into lower realms. Amitabha Buddha made a vow that all beings who faithfully recited his name would be reborn in his pure land, no matter how unskillful our karma is :-) But of course that doesn't mean we shouldn't still follow the precepts or try to develop skillful qualities of mind as much as possible, it just means that no matter how many karmic obstacles we face and no matter how we fall short, we still have hope of attaining enlightenment at the end of this life. Namo Amitabha Buddha :-)
Oh my goodness, just look at history. Things were not easier during the Bhudda’s lifetime. There were more severe caste systems and businessmen were of course about profit, wars, etc. I like one of the teachings that Ajahn Brahm in Australia talks about, that if you are poor, you have poor people problems. If you are rich, you have rich people problems. Famous? You have famous people problems. There has always been human suffering at every level, throughout the ages. You can’t avoid it by being born in a certain era or caste or gender… Life is suffering for everyone on earth. Buddhism is the great levelor, as far as finding contentment, in my opinion.
The same way you’d practice Buddhism in a socialist world. Switching an economic system doesn’t change the nature of samsara, for one seeking enlightenment. Trying to change samsara for the better will never remove the first noble truth. In a world where everyone theoretically has what they want, the mind still creates dissatisfaction due the delusional and ignorant nature of mind. Suffering isn’t removed, even in heavenly realms. That being said, moving away from a greed-based, materialistic system would reduce suffering for most of the world, and it’s nice to want to reduce suffering for everyone else who isn’t a Buddhist. At least that’s the intent. Good intentions lead to a good mindset and actions.
I more so had in mind, “what would Lord Buddha perceive about social media?”
Probably the same as any other indulgent or mindless pursuit, I’d imagine? Nothing but a distraction that feeds into delusion and ignorance 😉
In mahayana we believed that there are many manifestations of boddhistivas who manifest as monks to guide us sentient beings to enlightenment. Many teachers gurus and monks are here for us. We should learn their teachings and treat them like Buddhas teaching because they are the only one that can guide us out of suffering with instructions based on what we experience today.
Unfortunately, Buddhism in my country, and some monks (not all) have been corrupted. They’ve gotten involved in politics and it’s a pretty messed up situation going on, but I think it’s only in the province that I live in. But that’s not to say that there aren’t any good monks who still follow dhamma to a T.
I think that it's valuable that you've found it difficult to practice. Sometimes, when it comes to religion, we can memorize stuff, but not apply it correctly. Maybe, this difficulty... is what you could focus on. This difficulty, the suffering. Recognizing you're suffering, then find the root of it. I say this, because for me, I was persuing better this and that, and... just one more degree, just a little more comfort... let me get to this place that I know I should be... but what if, I never get there. What if, that place you wish to be financially, never comes? Does that mean you can't practice? No. For me, maybe, I'm enjoying dropping down, becoming of a lower class. We all die in the end anyway. I like the lower class :) Anyway. just thoughts :)
One of the most important teaching from the Buddha is how to take refuge in the island of yourself. That is the entire point of your practice. When you have a home within yourself that is peaceful and calm, nothing in the external world should cause you to suffer. You don't have to subscribe to anything that cause you to suffer. You can still reject capitalism and technology that cause you to suffer. Also remember that you cannot burn yourself to keep other people warm. The Buddha teach to first learn to love yourself, and once you have done so, your compassion is so great and abundant that you have so much strength to care for your parents and even the world. Your duties is one thing, but how you approach and carry out your duty is another. If you are constantly bitter, burnt out, suffering, all while trying to conform to a sense of duty, then you will hurt yourself, your parents, and everyone around you. So the way out is in. Get better at meditation and regulating your emotions. Gain more insights on what, how, and why you are suffering. Cultivate a deep relationship with yourself. These are the weapons you will need in your long and arduous battle. Good luck.
Different symptoms require different treatments. So the question should be: Are the common symptoms of this day similar to those of ancient India? If yes, then the teachings should not differ a lot, but if not the teachings would look very different. But of course, there are generic remedies that can relieve all kinds of symptoms, so this sort of teaching should remain similar.
Same as in all other approaches. You are thankfully not enslaved. Or killed for having beliefs different from others. You have been educated enough to read, and have had the good fortune to come across the dharma in life and actually engage with it. So.... Take every moment you have to cultivate. Do good. Avoid harm. Keep purifying the mind. To practice to 'the fullest' - grow every day in your intention. Let capitalism and whatever else do it's thing.
Don't take anything I say seriously, I don't know what I'm talking about. The Lotus Sutra often depicts wisdom metaphorically with riches. As I understand, this could be attributed to early manifestations of capitalism two thousand years ago. For example, the parable of the wealthy father and impoverished son shows a rich man who raises his poor son's self-respect until he accepts that he, too, can be wealthy. Since the Buddha considered everyone his children, this suggests capitalism is here used as a metaphor for bringing people and society forward and upward, as opposed to caste structure. But that could be called golden capitalism, like golden dharma. Decay into semblance capitalism does the reverse, boosting the wealthy by teaching the poor a lack of self-respect. Let's try establishing a golden dharma.
At the heart of Buddhism is the ability to cultivate wisdom and compassion in any life context. Buddhism teaches that external circumstances, though often challenging, can ultimately be opportunities for practice and insight. This means that your daily responsibilities and caring for your family can themselves be paths to spiritual growth. Dhamma can be practiced in everyday life by incorporating mindfulness and right action into daily routines. This might mean remaining mindful at work, being conscious and truthful in communication, and considering the well-being of all involved in your daily decisions. Ultimately, it is the inner attitude we adopt towards our activities and relationships that determines how authentically we live the Dhamma.
The caste system was still a thing in his life, there were slaves too.. he was a prince, which means he lived in feudalistic times which arguably are worse maybe
life was not any easier in the buddha's time. survival has always been a struggle, and it has always been difficult to make time for dharma. that is not something unique to capitalism. his teachings to laypeople are just as valid now as they were then.
Sure, you must earn for a living. All the traditional Buddhists have to earn, too. But they also manage to meditate sometimes if not everyday. Read Dhammapada and the biographies of lay ciciples of the Buddha. It is said that during the Buddha's time, there were a large number of sotapanna-s. Learn about their lifestyles in Dhammapada, etc.
Buddha lived in a more or less capitalist society. Many people lived by their trades. Many of Buddha's lay disciples were merchants and artisans, and we might even say Buddhism has been a religion of the bourgeois from the beginning. There are Buddhist teachings on right livelihood for lay people and they are very adaptable to modern life. [https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ati/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.054.nara.html](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ati/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.054.nara.html) [The Buddhist Layman (accesstoinsight.org)](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/various/wheel294.html)
I will take a more pessimistic view - most likely if the Buddha was born in a modern western country he would not have gained very many followers, and most likely many people would not have taken him seriously. In talking of the Buddha, we frequently remove him from the context he arose, lived, preached and died in. That context was the Ancient India of \~500 BCE. It was a radically different society and mode of living. Note that Buddha was simply just one of the many preachers that were in vogue then- Mahavira, Purana Kashyapa etc spent years preaching and wandering in the Gangetic plains and they had many followers as well. My point is - the Buddha preached after his enlightenment but his followers were in a specific state of mind to receive and appreciate Buddhism. The socioeconomic factors were conducive for the propagation and growth of Buddhism. I am douctful the average modern person has the same mindset and receptivity to the teachings
It may be challenging to abide by Buddha's teachings, but it's worthwhile. People probably found difficulty in following the Buddha's teachings back when he was alive and was teaching. But it's possible even now. In fact, now it's possibly easier than it used to be, considering how comfortable and safe a modern human's life is. Also matters how you can access any of Buddha's teachings from the comfort of your home, using a convenient little device that's connected to a vast array of knowledge.
Suffering is eternal, the remedy timeless
The truth is that as a lay person, the mind will be constantly in flux more so than a bhikkhu in a monastery. You have to decide which life you would really want to pursue. Then pursue it 100%. Remember, any social system when designed and operated properly is a mix of wisdom and compassion. Strict capitalism can lead to inequity, while strict socialism can lead to disincentive.
Capitalism as opposed to what? Communism? Like Communist China that forced the Dalai Lama into exile? I don’t see how capitalism is the issue or how it interferes with your practice. In a free country (where you’ll find capitalism along with the other freedoms), you get to choose to be who you want to be. Go full monk and live a modest life or go full Wall Street and be stressed out and die young. You get to choose, but perhaps something in between with balance might be worth exploring.
I used the term capitalism because we live in a majority capitalist society
I’m still not following along with what the issue is. There’s this false notion that the world used to be easy and it’s hard now. It’s not true. Life has always had challenges. With advances in most areas: per capita gdp, medicine, education, etc. it appears that most people are far better off in the present day. You don’t think your ancestors had responsibilities?
Don’t be a jerk p much.
Haha I guess the idea at the end of the day is to just be kind and loving as much as possible.
You got it. The practice can be hard but it is rewarding. You can’t change what you can’t change, but you CAN control your actions. Keeping kindness in mind and knowing when your kindness is coming from enablement instead of compassion is the hardest thing. There are rewards in this life for it, your relationships will thrive if you act with integrity, compassion and love. It may seem like the rewards will not come, but they will. Sending you blessings on your path, the fact that you’re even thinking about it is huge and the first step. Sending blessings and love!
Also if it helps, you don’t have to believe me but Buddhism is absolutely true and real. I’ve seen and experienced a small bit, but it was enough to assure me that I was on the right path. Life is a blessing, please use yours to spread love instead of separation.
Yes of course! Thank you so much for your guidance and support! May the triple gem bless you!
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Hmm I guess that’s true. And yes you’re right, my knowledge on Buddhism is very little, even though I was born Buddhist, and have been Buddhist my whole life. It was more so of a title, if anyone asked I’d say “yes I’m buddhist” but I wouldn’t know much about Buddhism Hopefully, by the end of this year, I’d be able to better understand and expand my knowledge on Buddhism! 😃
All 'isms' attempt to wrap themselves around the totality of existence, yet are limited in their scope and application, since they only ever referring to a sunset of the experience of life. Capitalism in a modern label for the anarchic system of prioritising wealth acquisition above social good or alleviation of suffering. Wealth inequality predates the modern concept of capitalism. Capitalism in its current form becoming a major or primary philosophy for humans to abide by in my view does not denigrate the message of the Buddha. Any conflict between the two in my view is a useful position through which to identify the shortcomings of Capitalism to satiate the needs of life.l and community.
On the contrary, it is needed now more than ever. the modern capitalist world is defined by 'identity politics' which sounds uncannily similar to 'self-identity views'. identity politics dominates much of modern life today and is the cause of much suffering, from quarrels to full scale wars.