Blog of Wade Making Connexions

The Buddha’s Five Remembrances (Thich Nhat Hanh’s Version)

I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.

I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape ill health.

I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

(from Mel)

[...] The popular understanding, along with both dictionary.com and wikipedia are missing the actuality karma. The literal translation for karma is action, which is what wikipedia had it as. This is where it all starts going wrong. One of The Buddha’s Five Remembrances is what I used to reach the true nature of karma. [...]

[...] Admitting to the unknown is the only way to turn that unknown into a known. If you think you know something, a mental barrier like that of a brick wall is raised, and nothing gets past that brick wall. If you are unwilling to listen to someone, it’s impossible to learn from what they have to say. The same principle is also behind admitting when you are wrong or made a mistake. Mistakes aren’t made on purpose, they are the general result of a lack of understanding. When you admit you are wrong, you then have the opportunity to correct this in the future. Accepting the consequences of one’s actions is one of the Buddha’s Five Remembrances. [...]

[...] require external ‘things’ for happiness, sadness and disappointment are sure to follow. External things end, they don’t always arrive when you want them, creating states of craving and aversion. Even [...]