Orange County Buddhist Church
Orange County Buddhist Church
Resolving Life's Problems Through Buddhism
This month I will begin a four week course in our Buddhist Education Center program titled, "Resolving Life's Problems Through Buddhism." In the four week course, I will be covering four major topic areas of life's problems. The first topic will be the problem of life and death. The second topic will be relationship problems, such as husband and wife, and parent and child. The third topic will be work related problems, and the fourth topic will focus on self esteem and finding meaning in life.
In this month's article, I would like to discuss in general, the topic of the four week course. To give the conclusion first, in my mind, Buddhism is a teaching that enables us to resolve any problem of life, great or small. I say this, not out of belief that Buddhism can do this, or hope that Buddhism can do this, but I state this because the Buddhist tradition is rich with the proof of living Buddhists who have been able to resolve the greatest problems of life through the teachings. The class will involve reading about some wonderful Buddhists who were able to resolve the most tragic of life's problems through their spiritual life, through their spiritual understanding of the Dharma and the Nembutsu.
We all face problems in life. No one can escape them. We face little problems and big problems. Sometimes little problems build up over time and become big problems. Sometimes big problems don't get resolved and they become seemingly insurmountable problems.
The Buddhist approach to resolving life's problems is first to address them, to face them, to even embrace them. Our normal reaction is not to face our problems. Usually we want to escape from our problems. We want them to just go away somehow. If we can't face them or if they don't go away, then we find other ways to deal with them, like drinking ourselves into a stupor, or taking drugs to numb the pain, or finding entertainment to take our minds off of them. The problem is, when we sober up we find that the problem is still right there, unresolved, unchanged.
For many great Buddhists, the greatest problem of their life was the very seed that enabled the flower of enlightenment to emerge in their lives. In those cases, the great problem of life that they faced is now looked at as an irreplaceable jewel in their life. Without that problem, they never would have come to the deep realization of the Dharma. Without that problem they would not have come to receive the teachings in their heart. Without that problem they would never have known the great joy of the teachings. Now they wouldn't trade that problem of life for anything. Their problem of life that caused them pain and torment, was transformed into great joy and realization.
Buddhism enables us to resolve our problems of life. Not escape them. Not deny them. Not ignore them. We must face them, accept them, even embrace them, and allow them to be the compost that produces the fertile soil with which a radiant flower blooms. This is the message of Buddhism. This is what Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu offers to us in our lives.
The solution, however, is not as simple as looking it up on page 52 of some Buddhist textbook. Buddhism is not a “how to” manual in which we might expect to find the answer to our problems quickly and easily. It will take time and effort on our part to listen to and study the teachings, but for every ounce of effort that we put digging into the teachings, we will receive twice back in what we gain and learn.
If you are facing some kind of problem in life, a serious illness, the loss of a loved one, a relationship issue with a spouse or family member, difficulties at work, or a lifelong problem like low self esteem or an unresolved conflict from your younger years, why don't you give Buddhism a try? Why not listen to the Dharma, allow it to permeate your life, like the fragrance of good perfume or incense, and see how it can transform your life and the problems you face. When you think about it, what do you have to lose? At worse, you give Buddhism a chance and you decide it is not for you. You are not out an exorbitant amount of money. It is better for your health than drinking away your problems, or taking drugs to ease the pain. It is more lasting than a weekend in Vegas, or even a two week cruise, which can temporarily allow us to forget our problems, but doesn't resolve them ultimately. Can you see any better solution to your problems of life that you face? Give Buddhism a chance to resolve the many problems of life that we all face.
Look Within
There is no fire like greed,
No crime like hatred,
No sorrow like separation,
No sickness like hunger of heart,
And no joy like the joy of freedom.
Health, contentment and trust
Are your greatest possessions,
And freedom your greatest joy.
Look within.
Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of living in the way.
p. 85
Teaching of the Buddha
Edited by Jack Kornfield
Namuamidabutsu,
Rev. Marvin Harada
April 2008
