Bonzer Words!: The Will To Survive
...As a practicing Buddhist, it is my duty to work out my own salvation with diligence, while allowing all other people to do the same. In this way whatever refinement of the Buddhist path I achieve will stand as testament to others of the worth of the endeavour...
Terry O'Connor points the way to a path which could lead to a better world.
Terry writes for Bonzer! magazine. Please visit www.bonzer.org.au
'It’s the exercise of my will, and I will survive.'
Pretty strong stuff to begin an article with, don’t you agree?
Don’t worry unduly though, as I am not advocating terrorism or the overthrow of any government order and I am not trying to rock the establishment in any way. The sole purpose of this comment is to aid in my own moral and spiritual development.
As a practicing Buddhist, it is my duty to work out my own salvation with diligence, while allowing all other people to do the same. In this way whatever refinement of the Buddhist path I achieve will stand as testament to others of the worth of the endeavour.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to explain firstly, what I perceive Buddhism truly to be, for it is a question that has puzzled many people over a long period of time. It is often claimed that Buddhism is a philosophy, a religion, or a way of life. I feel that Buddhism is too vast and too profound to be neatly placed in any one category, for it embraces all three and goes beyond them as well. Perhaps the reason we like to categorize or label things is so that we may lay claim to a doctrine [superficially], thereby avoiding the need to actually do something meaningful about the way we live.
I can understand this scenario for we all live in very stressful times. It is a fact that today’s world is hard for many people. However, this is where I believe that Buddhism could play an important role to play in any person’s life. If you do not categorize the elemental Teachings of Buddhism then you are able to see that Buddhism could fit nicely into this world stage. While it will not always give us clear cut answers to our problems, it will however, give us insight into the true nature of life and the world. Perhaps this is where Buddhism has so much to offer our present times, for while the world has drastically and dramatically changed from the days of the Buddha, the true Teaching in today’s world is still a vibrant and efficient way of dealing with the issues of life’s journey.
I believe that Buddhism is on a new threshold in Australia and has the opportunity to develop minus the entanglements of tradition and ritual. As people living ordinary lives with all the commitments, involvements and responsibilities it’s difficult to devote much time to developing a good practice, but perhaps this is where we may be in a position to appreciate the Buddha’s Teaching and apply it to our lives, for so much of it is to do with ordinary daily living and how to make the best use of this life as an ordinary person.
I refer to Australia being on a threshold here, but in reality it could be said the same holds true for any nation of people. A human being can reflect on the results of living and can choose which direction to go. But one must make that choice one must take that opportunity to make the choice. That is, one must take an interest in one’s life, reflecting on it by means of meditation.
© Terry O'Connor
