Story of The Buddha

Story of The Buddha

“Positive Vibes Only”: A Path To Suffering In this episode, we discuss The Story of The Buddha and how to find your middle way, so that you are no longer controlled by pain and pleasure. You'll discover the dangers of pursuing only "positive" experiences and how to live more balanced.

Important Quotes:
  •  “Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away. They’re like messengers that show us with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are.” -Pema Chodron
  • “You can begin from your very weakness. That’s your strength. It’s not your big ego and your big will that is the strong thing here. It’s your it’s your sloppiness, it’s your weakness. It’s your foolish side that is your strong suit.” - Alan Watts
  •  “The hostile attitude of conquering nature ignores the basic interdependence of all things and events—that the world beyond the skin is actually an extension of our own bodies—and will end in destroying the very environment from which we emerge and upon which our whole life” -Alan Watts
  •  “What you resist persists.” -Carl Jung
  • If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” -African Proverb
Key Takeaways:
  • Pleasant emotion generated through delusion often will feel uneasy, contrived, or like you’re trying to talk yourself out of the agitation or discomfort the current feeling is creating. If this comes up, take a moment to reflect deeper.
  • Pleasant emotions generated through intention feel effortless, balanced, and present. Often times when pointing in the direction of intention, you may not even acknowledge or even notice the feeling due to being present in the here and now.
  • Look to your weaknesses and flaws. These are the parts of yourself that you attempt most to hide. Look to your anger, your sadness, your fears, your frustrations, the things you dislike most about yourself. What are these emotions really trying to tell you?
Zen Stoic Intentions and Delusions Episodes:
References:
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