What is Chan? Part 3
The sufferings from which we suffer have not only been poured out on us by karma, no, we have inflicted many pains on ourselves. For example, because in our insatiable thirst for satisfaction we are always thinking up new desires, then are disappointed when none of them come to pass.
Or because we are constantly stuck in the past, reliving over and over again the moments when we were "so" happy, then realizing that it's not like that now.
Also, because we imagine the future as we would like to "have it", then find out in reality that we are not "Superman".
We prefer to deceive ourselves, to delude ourselves, to see the world as we like it. And we continue to be disappointed, one after the other.
C. Deception
We want to be happy, we want to be satisfied with our job and our environment, we don't want to see the many things that go wrong as long as we can avoid them.
This is exactly where the teachings of Buddha come in, we should look "behind the scenes", not twist things so that they then correspond to our ideas, but accept everything as it is. This requires a great deal of courage, because most of the time "reality" is repulsive, not very pleasant, just not like in Hollywood flicks. Self-deception is something very unpleasant, because the rude awakening is guaranteed to come, if not today, then tomorrow.
The lifeline here is Chan (Zen) Buddhism, which offers us the chance to escape suffering here first. According to Buddha, sufferings are unnecessary, self-chosen. After "awakening" there are no more sufferings, man is already in Nirvana.
Of course you can still deceive yourself for a while, the flesh is not yet completely withered, the teeth are "still" in, the legs still "want". But you don't seriously believe that you will be spared the decay, that everything will remain as it is right now?
You will pass away, your family will go (one after the other), all your possessions will rust and rot, nothing will remain, even the planet will decay. If you continue to deceive yourself, you will be disappointed.
Nothing is for eternity, no living being makes an exception.
Nevertheless applies: The way is the goal!
In the next days you read further to the main topic "What is Chan?"
Because of simple sense pleasures he risks the death by hunger and thirst
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
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