Buddha Buzz: Buddhism, Self-Help, And Suicide

[sabaijai]

Buddha Buzz: Buddhism, Self-Help, and Suicide

Tricycle

Some of us Buddhists, myself included, like to decry Buddhism being used as self-help or therapy. And yet, Buddhism has become so entwined with self-help that in New York Magazine's recent self-help issue, half of the six feature articles mention Buddhism in some way. Kathryn Schulz's piece "The Self in Self-Help," accurately summarizes the whole phenomenon in just one sentence: "Curiously, Buddhism is simultaneously a burgeoning influence on the Western self-help movement and entirely at odds with it: anti-self, and anti-help."

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http://www.tricycle....elp-and-suicide

[Jawnie]

People tend to mix their meditation and awareness practices with Buddhism, which is not exactly accurate. Meditation and the awareness practices are not Buddhist per se but they are practices that are taught by Buddhist teachers. Buddhism is the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha: Shakyamuni, the sutras and tantras, and the lineage of masters along with their followers. One could practice meditation and awareness practices their entire life but never really encounter Buddhism.

People who meditate are not Buddhist. People who take refuge in the Three Jewels and follow a teacher, especially in the Mahayana and Vajrayana, and whether they meditate or not, are Buddhist. One must take refuge to be a Buddhist. I think meditation and awareness practices are self-help when divorced from Buddhism, which is often the case. When they are part of one's path as a Buddhist, they aren't considered self-help (although they do help one) but rather they are considered skillful means as part of the mind training that is central to Buddhism.

Edited January 25, 2013 by Jawnie

[rockyysdt]

People tend to mix their meditation and awareness practices with Buddhism, which is not exactly accurate. Meditation and the awareness practices are not Buddhist per se but they are practices that are taught by Buddhist teachers. Buddhism is the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha: Shakyamuni, the sutras and tantras, and the lineage of masters along with their followers. One could practice meditation and awareness practices their entire life but never really encounter Buddhism.

People who meditate are not Buddhist. People who take refuge in the Three Jewels and follow a teacher, especially in the Mahayana and Vajrayana, and whether they meditate or not, are Buddhist. One must take refuge to be a Buddhist. I think meditation and awareness practices are self-help when divorced from Buddhism, which is often the case. When they are part of one's path as a Buddhist, they aren't considered self-help (although they do help one) but rather they are considered skillful means as part of the mind training that is central to Buddhism.

Hi Jawnie.

Meditation and awareness practices are fundamental practices of the eightfold path.

Although to understand and practice Dharma is the ideal way, perhaps the regular practice of meditation and awareness yields insight, wisdom and self experience without much of the belief.

Doesn't saying that you can only become enlightened if you embrace the Buddha turn Buddhism into a religion, something which many shun?

Didn't the Buddha reveal a practice, free of labels, and the expression "Buddhism" was not known during his day?

Aren't meditation and awareness practices not just a subset of the eightfold path, but a fundamental core, without which all the knowledge of Dharma would be useless?

Doesn't regular practice of meditation and awareness lead to wisdom, insight, and self experience as a natural consequence?

In many ways, isn't self experience better than belief?

I find that attempting to practice wisdom and the wholesome ways described by the Buddha, without practice of meditation and awareness, will always be tainted by our conditioning.

Edited January 26, 2013 by rockyysdt

[Jawnie]

People tend to mix their meditation and awareness practices with Buddhism, which is not exactly accurate. Meditation and the awareness practices are not Buddhist per se but they are practices that are taught by Buddhist teachers. Buddhism is the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha: Shakyamuni, the sutras and tantras, and the lineage of masters along with their followers. One could practice meditation and awareness practices their entire life but never really encounter Buddhism.

People who meditate are not Buddhist. People who take refuge in the Three Jewels and follow a teacher, especially in the Mahayana and Vajrayana, and whether they meditate or not, are Buddhist. One must take refuge to be a Buddhist. I think meditation and awareness practices are self-help when divorced from Buddhism, which is often the case. When they are part of one's path as a Buddhist, they aren't considered self-help (although they do help one) but rather they are considered skillful means as part of the mind training that is central to Buddhism.

Hi Jawnie.

Meditation and awareness practices are fundamental practices of the eightfold path.

Although to understand and practice Dharma is the ideal way, perhaps the regular practice of meditation and awareness yields insight, wisdom and self experience without much of the belief.

Doesn't saying that you can only become enlightened if you embrace the Buddha turn Buddhism into a religion, something which many shun?

Didn't the Buddha reveal a practice, free of labels, and the exp<b></b>ression "Buddhism" was not known during his day?

Aren't meditation and awareness practices not just a subset of the eightfold path, but a fundamental core, without which all the knowledge of Dharma would be useless?

Doesn't regular practice of meditation and awareness lead to wisdom, insight, and self experience as a natural consequence?

In many ways, isn't self experience better than belief?

I find that attempting to practice wisdom and the wholesome ways described by the Buddha, without practice of meditation and awareness, will always be tainted by our conditioning.

My point is, Roccyeksyyyt (sp) that to be a Buddhist includes making specific oaths and commitments and committing to following the Buddha's teachings specifically. This is why I say that just because one meditates or does awareness practices does not make one a Buddhist. It's not about labels, it's about the methods one uses for training the mind and, even more so, what the individual's ultimate world view is. If one wants to meditate and be aware, the do the awareness practices; if one wants to become enlightened (as a Buddhist), then one needs to follow the Buddha's teachings. Individuals who can become enlightened without a teacher or the appearance of a Buddha are exceedingly rare...in other words, most people need to follow a path.

Meditation is not exclusive to Buddhism. Anyone can meditate: Christians, Jews, Muslims, Communists, non-believers, corporate execs, etc., because it is a natural part of the mind. When they do it, however, it is for relaxation and self-help because these pursuits and traditions don't teach the broad-based mind training approach found in Buddhism.

Edited January 31, 2013 by Jawnie

[rockyysdt]

My point is, Roccyeksyyyt (sp) that to be a Buddhist includes making specific oaths and commitments and committing to following the Buddha's teachings specifically. This is why I say that just because one meditates or does awareness practices does not make one a Buddhist. It's not about labels, it's about the methods one uses for training the mind and, even more so, what the individual's ultimate world view is. If one wants to meditate and be aware, the do the awareness practices; if one wants to become enlightened (as a Buddhist), then one needs to follow the Buddha's teachings. Individuals who can become enlightened without a teacher or the appearance of a Buddha are exceedingly rare...in other words, most people need to follow a path.

Meditation is not exclusive to Buddhism. Anyone can meditate: Christians, Jews, Muslims, Communists, non-believers, corporate execs, etc., because it is a natural part of the mind. When they do it, however, it is for relaxation and self-help because these pursuits and traditions don't teach the broad-based mind training approach found in Buddhism.

?? (sp).

Thanks Jawnie.

I don't disagree with you other than to say that we must all have a beginning (path).

My thoughts are that the Christians, Jews, Muslims, Communists, non-believers, corporate execs, etc, might initially practice meditation and awareness to relax/self help, but employing such techniques regularly will open a new path for them.

Until we are free from attachment to greed, delusion, and aversion, we remain trapped in samsara.

States of anxiety and fear can only occur when one has a strong sense of self or ego.

Those who employ regular meditation and awareness without initial knowledge of Dharma, and who find freedom from anxiety are indirectly reducing attachment to self or ego through their practice and corresponding self experience.

They are unwittingly practicing Dharma.

My feeling is that such travelers, who maintain regular awareness/meditation practice, are better placed to discover Dharma than those who have studied Dharma extensively but who fail to practice.

Edited January 31, 2013 by rockyysdt