The content of the article
- Be careful with the words.
- Do not abuse food
- Meditate every morning
- Combine the personality of a hero and a child
- Explore every opportunity
- Stay in every situation
- Set sleep mode
- Smile and serve others
- Just live
- Do one thing at a time
- Suffering is inevitable, but you can put an end to it
In order to follow these principles, it is not necessary to be a monk and live in a monastery. The suggested tips are universal, can be applied by any person who wants to fix his life, make it richer and happier.
Be careful with the words.
The contemplative lifestyle that Zen Buddhism recommends strongly disciplines speech. For people who do not practice meditation and self-restraint, it is common to be at the mercy of the senses. Captured by an emotional impulse, they often make unrealistic promises or insult other people, later regretting what they did.
Do not abuse food
Modern civilization has created a cult of nutrition. For many, it is not just satisfying hunger, but to a much greater extent – enjoying tastes. This leads to overeating, which causes weight gain, various diseases of the internal organs. Monks are unpretentious in food, eat twice a day.
Meditate every morning
During the day, the monks spend many hours in contemplation, but the average person will have enough 15 minutes every morning. The traditional pose is sitting on the floor, standing, and even while walking. The main thing is to stop your thoughts, focus on what is happening around and find happiness in a simple observation of life.
Combine the personality of a hero and a child
This is a good way to show the diversity of your nature. The hero is a fearless person, he has rich experience, can protect others. The child is curious, a lot of things are interesting and unfamiliar to him, he is not able to openly confront difficulties. It will be correct to approach different situations from these two points of view in everyday life or meditation.
Explore every opportunity
The Zen principle says that there are no hopeless situations, but only the inability to find a solution. Any event is an opportunity for further growth, provided that the person’s actions are correct. Based on his own wisdom and desire for good deeds, he gradually learns to intuitively, without any hesitation, make the right choice..
Stay in every situation
Regardless of the circumstances, the Zen follower should not forget about his destiny – the desire for a high level of consciousness, inner discipline. Many events capture unprepared people, making them worry about what happened. Meditation Will Help Get Away From It.
Set sleep mode
Rest at night very much regulates the quality of life. How a person slept today will determine his well-being in the next 2-3 days. The monks go to bed around 8-9 o’clock in the evening, and at 4 in the morning they already begin meditation. This is an ideal schedule – early awakening will add clarity to consciousness, vigor, and it will become much easier to enjoy life.
Smile and serve others
The positive view of what is happening with the Zen monks is combined with the desire to benefit others. This reduces the selfishness of an individual, teaches humility. The main condition is free participation. Such activities should not be paid for or otherwise compensated. Only then will human actions be sincere.
Just live
Although the monks are satisfied with cheap food and a minimum of things, spend a day in labor or meditation, they have a very happy life. They believe that they already have everything they need, so they are not interested in new gadgets or fashionable clothes. Zen advises you to look around you and understand that you already have enough, so there is no point in wanting something extra.
Do one thing at a time
Zen Buddhists recommend refusing to combine several tasks and actions at once. Only one thing needs to be done at a time. If a person is engaged in cleaning, preparing food or washing dishes – let him do just that and do nothing more, multitasking is not necessary. The result is a peculiar form of meditation instead of routine processes..
Suffering is inevitable, but you can put an end to it
A person more often lives in thoughts about the past and the future than awareness of the current moment. These memories and dreams cause suffering, make you nervous again because of what has already happened or has not happened yet. Meditation and minimalism in the necessities of life will help bring thoughts to a calm state..
What practical steps can one take to incorporate the 11 rules of Zen philosophy into their daily life in order to achieve genuine happiness?
What are some practical steps to implement the 11 rules of Zen philosophy and start living a happier life?
1. Simplify your surroundings: Declutter and organize your physical space to create a harmonious environment that promotes peace of mind.
2. Practice mindfulness: Be fully present in each moment and cultivate awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and surroundings.
3. Let go of attachment: Detach yourself from material possessions and outcomes, recognizing that true happiness comes from within and not external sources.
4. Embrace impermanence: Accept that everything is transient and focus on enjoying the present rather than clinging to the past or worrying about the future.
5. Cultivate gratitude: Develop a daily gratitude practice to shift your focus towards the positive and appreciate the simple joys in life.
6. Practice compassion: Extend kindness and understanding to yourself and others, fostering empathy and nurturing deeper connections.
7. Live with intention: Set meaningful goals and align your actions with your values and desires, ensuring greater fulfillment and purpose.
8. Cultivate patience: Embrace the journey, understanding that life unfolds at its own pace, and be patient with yourself and others during the process.
9. Embrace simplicity: Streamline your life by prioritizing essentials and eliminating unnecessary distractions, allowing for more focus and clarity.
10. Find balance: Seek harmony in all aspects of life, including work, relationships, leisure, and self-care, to promote overall wellbeing and happiness.
11. Practice self-reflection: Take regular time for introspection, self-evaluation, and self-improvement to continually grow and evolve on your path to happiness.