It has been over 2,000 years since the existence of the Buddha and people across the world are still attracted to his teachings. This is probably because there is something timeless about what the Buddha said. His teachings hold just as good today as they did two millennia ago. Here are 10 pearls of wisdom from the Buddha that can help make your life more beautiful.
Lesson 1
We live in an age of instant gratification. All the information we need is at our fingertips. From cabs to food to dates, we have the luxury of having what we want when we want it. Buddha, however, teaches you the value of patience. Anything that’s truly worth having takes time and effort. Whether it’s six-pack abs or your dream of publishing a book, great things need persistence and perseverance. Keep working towards your goals every day, no matter how small the effort, and one day you will achieve them.
Lesson 2
Anger is a double-edged sword and while you think you’re hurting someone else with your anger, the reality is that you’re also hurting yourself. How many times have you taken decisions in a moment of rage and later wished you had done differently. Anger clouds judgment and can only create trouble for you in the long run.
Lesson 3
Here Buddha implores you to give into your sense of reason and understanding. He is highly confident that humans are capable of sound reason and asks you to think things through before jumping to conclusions. How often do you question your beliefs? How many times do you take things at face value? If you get into the habit of questioning, you become a seeker of truth, not a blind believer.
Lesson 4
Buddhism lays a lot of emphasis on detachment. When you obsess about something or get highly attached to someone, the object or person also becomes the cause of your misery. It could be your car or a loved one. While getting involved fully in whatever you do is a wonderful way to live, you should also be careful not to get entangled.
Lesson 5
Buddha teaches the stark difference between liking and loving. Most relationships do not work because people are more concerned about what they can get from a relationship rather than what they can give. When you love someone, your only concern should be how you can help that person become happier. When you’re genuinely interested in the well-being of the person you love, your relationship flourishes automatically.
Lesson 6
While it’s great to love and show affection to people around you, like your friends and family, Buddha reminds you that loving oneself is also just as important. If you take the time to take care of your own mind and body, you become a more loving person to others. So don’t consider it selfish to take some me time every now and then.
Lesson 7
Buddha talks about the eternal nature of truth and how the truth always comes out. One of the most important aspects of life is to be true to yourself, if to no one else. Most of the time we don’t listen to our deep inner voice and end up doing things we regret. But if you are true to yourself, no matter what the outcome, you are always content that you did what you believed to be true.
Lesson 8
These words hold true in today’s times more than ever. In a world of Facebook posts and Instagram selfies, physical beauty has become the yardstick to judge a person’s character. When you meet someone, try to look beyond the surface and find out who that person really is before making opinions. Someone who is dressed shabbily by your standards might end up being the most beautiful person you’ll ever meet.
Lesson 9
Your thoughts are directly linked to your emotions. You cannot think a happy thought and not feel happy. The same applies to negative thoughts that make you sad and depressed. Be conscious about what you think and how you judge others because what you think is a reflection of who you are.
Lesson 10
While this teaching sounds like it’s all about traveling, Buddha is actually being metaphorical and telling you to live in the moment. Do not postpone your happiness to a future goal. Don’t make your joy conditional. Instead, take each day as a blessing and try to make the most of it. It’s great to work towards whatever it is that you want to achieve, however, the point is to not ignore what you already have.
These teachings from the Buddha may appear simple and obvious but can have a profound impact on your life if you decide to imbibe them. So take the time to reflect on your life while keeping these teachings in mind. Not everything may seem practical to you, which is why Buddha said, “Never accept anything if you cannot reason with it.”
