Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Billows Her Skirt

          After completing the book Becoming Enlightened by Dalai Lama, I desire to reflect on the many things I learned. I’m still researching about all kinds of religions and spiritual paths which is why I initially read the book. Buddhism has always fascinated me. I feel like there are points in every religion that I agree with and can apply to my own belief systems.
          Buddhism is basically the pathway to escape suffering. Suffering is caused by many things including mundane pursuits, counter proactive emotions, narrow-mindedness, and karma. I’m not an expert on Buddhism but this is just what I absorbed. Altruism is the main way in which to alleviate suffering and obtain nirvana. It encourages love of others, selflessness, and acts of kindness. I realized that that is the life I wish to pursue; I want to share my knowledge, affection, and sympathy with everyone. I want to aid others in their quest for wisdom and joy. After a year of recovery, I have progressed significantly and now I am capable of sharing with others because I am stable and healthy.
          Ignorance is perhaps the greatest obstacle. With ignorance, there is bigotry, narrow-mindedness, misunderstanding, hatred, and prejudice. External qualities are only an allusion and are usually inaccurate. I realize that I must reject appearances and “first impressions” and seek truth. I must learn to treat all people equality and wish everyone happiness and freedom from suffering. Dalai Lama made an interesting point when he questioned how most people treat their friends, acquaintances, and enemies. We often elevate friends onto a pedestal because we love and cherish them more than others. Yet in regards to our enemies, some enjoy when they are miserable. Although I use the word “hate” quite freely, I truly do not hate anything or anyone. There have been people in my life that have caused me great pain. But through time, therapy, and meditation, I have forgiven all of them. They deserve compassion, patience, and sympathy just as a friend or family member deserves it. For truly, the ones that hurt others are the ones that suffer the most. I have this insight because I used to purposely hurt others as well. During my eating disorder, there were times when I felt so low that the only solace I could acquire was by unleashing my hatred upon innocent people. The relief such actions brought be were merely temporary allusions. Enemies, also, are the ideal practice for compassion, patience, and love anyway. When you began to identify how every human being is dependent upon one another, you began to formulate a better appreciation for them. Everyone possess an intrinsic quality or skill that will eventually bring joy or solace to someone else. That made me think of what mine was and influenced me to dedicate my life to aiding the development of the human race. Buddhism promises that such altruistic endeavors will bring great rewards and bring a person closer to Nirvana.
          It’s important to remove bias in order to wish happiness and health for all people. In the book, there was a suggested meditation practice that required me to think of three people: a close friend, a detested enemy, and an acquaintance. It made me wish all of them peace, prosperity, and freedom of suffering regardless of my previous dispositions. Upon doing this, it dawned on me how ridiculous it is to discriminate against others! People’s actions do not always reflect their true character and everyone can change as long as are able to identify their wrongdoings. And lastly, all things are not permanent. The person who is your friend may not always be your friend and vise versa for the enemy and acquaintance.
          I now understand what I must do. I must question hatred and in order to be omniscient. I must love all in order to learn patience, tolerance, and peace. I truly hope that you, my lovely readers, benefit from my loquacious ramblings. I believe that blogging has given me the opportunity to be altruistic in my own way. I aspire to be a catalyst for change and I hope I inspire you to pursue your own journey of self-discovery and wisdom.

“Even if I have to do it alone, I will free all sentient beings from suffering and the causes of suffering, and connect all sentient beings with happiness and it's causes."
chris

37 comments:

Alice Mary said...

Gorgeous photos, inspiring words. I feel like I need to return to this again to properly take in all you say... I'm currently pursuing a similar avenue of investigation myself.

Herdiana Surachman said...

love the straw hat, very suitable with this vacation spot, lovely picture, last is the best

i following your blog now
HS

Jen @ redsolesandredwine said...

Lovely images and inspiring thoughts Also checked out your magazine! Amazing, amazing, how did you do that?

Thanks for your comment and will read your magazine more thoroughly!

http://redsolesandredwine.com

Charlotte said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous photography. I especially love the feet propped up on the canoe and the girl curled upon the dock. Awesome.

The Cat Hag said...

I learnt so much from reading about your thoughts on buddhism.

And I strongly agree that we need to look beneath the surface and see the good in people instead of only seeing the superficial differences.

There is good, no matter how much the amount, in everyone. :)


xoxo,
Addie
The Cat Hag

Fashion and Number said...

This is a great post. Well, I am actually a Buddhist myself. I believe in Karma. Whatever you don't want people to do it to you, don't do it to others. Life is a journey, try to learn how to accept things with open heart. Things will be more beautiful this way. And of course, everything happens for a reason! ;)

Thanks for posting this. from the bottom of my heart. It feels good to see my belief to be reflected on a blog.

Love, Fashionandnumber

Kaylia Payne said...

This is such an inspiring post. And such true words as well. Beautiful :) xoxo

tasha faye said...

Cassidy, you are so incredibly inspiring. <3 thank you so much for sharing this! xxx

Katia said...

Well I'm glad you found what you were looking for :) I follow some of the things you said but I'm an atheist. I just think that if I want to believe in something and live by something, it is what is truly important to me, not what a religion tells me. I know you did your research to find the religion that suits you (I'm not talking bad about religion!) I'm just saying it doesn't work for me.. but good luck sweetie!

Anonymous said...

eeeeepppp love these photos and LOVE your blog!

x

www.devious-studios.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Super amazing post! I can only agree with you. I find buddhism very interesting. Your blog is really amazing btw! I like it :-)

xx

Ella said...

amazing images! i'm glad that book has got you thinking about religions and spiritual paths. Buddhism is a really fascinating subject!

Kimberly said...

Hey !
I always thought buddhism really fascinating :)
The pictures are gorgeous by the way

Xoxo

Cara Edwards said...

these photographs are amazing! i love the feet!

Magical Daydream said...

So true. I am in Thailand now where 95% of the population is Buddhist. I am happy to hear you seem to have found some peace in your relationship with others and therefore with yourself. Many of the battles we fight happen in our head. Loving someone can be so much harder at times than going for the easy way out, blaming them or feeling self pity. If you are interested in Buddhism, I will share pictures on my blog of my trip in about two weeks (when I come back to the Netherlands) including monks and beautiful temples I have visited here. I will definitely check out your magazine 'femme', but will wait for that until I come back too (so I have the time to go through it).

love,

Marielle

avthenas said...

Thank you! Your pictures are so beautiful, very inspiring! xx

http://golden-mirrors.blogspot.com

Mila said...

oh amazing!

k said...

I love the part about questioning hatred, I think some time reflecting on that would be beneficial for sure.

emily-kallista said...

Hey lovely girl, just checking out your amazing magazine!!! thank you so much for sharing, looks like a wonderful read ahead!

Daria said...

That was really interesting to read your reasoning! I was thinking a lot about this theme lately. And indeed every religion has something useful to know, that's like the rules for a qualitative life. May be the detailes are changing from culture to culture, but the base is the same, and it helpful.

For me meditation is a great thing, it helps to find some calmness and peace.

xxx
Daria

Anonymous said...

your photos always so good :)
Greets!

Anonymous said...

Love the photos and you are such a prolific writer! I admire your quest to learn more, if we could all have a little bit of you, the world could be a better place. i kno, i'm cheesin

xoxo
amuseinme.com

Unknown said...

I love the pictures. They are great :)
Love Lois xxx

http://lisforlois.blogspot.com/

melindaaa said...

i want to try that meditation, about thinking of the three people. if I do it every morning, I wonder if I will feel more content about myself too? I'm actually going to try it. the interesting thing about buddhism is that buddhists almost encourage exploration of other religions; i love how you explored ideas of buddhism! and of course, gorgeous pictures.

Shoe said...

Beautiful pictures, and that's an admirable philosophy to try to live by... All the best with the journey :)

Julia Topaz said...

absolutely beautiful photos.

Felix Curds said...

lovely post. i think that religions can be quite beautiful in their philosophies- buddhism particularly- and that people should appropriate from all different ones:)

Eliska H said...

love is the answer indeed♥
some lovely photos.

Ashley {hudson's happenings} said...

SUCH dreamy pictures. LOVE THEM.

LeeLee said...

Lovely photos.

Unknown said...

these are such great images! such an interesting topic too, I believe buddhism has many great qualities to apply to our lives but not as a religion. I totally agree with your thoughts on hate!

xoxo

Kristen said...

I applaud your wise decision to explore different faiths to find what resonates the most for you. Good luck on your journey!

Sick by Trend said...

very good picture. All of them make me feel sensuality and desire! Thanks for sharing

xx

www.sickbytrend.com

Imogen said...

Great pictures and your writing is inspiring and gives us something to think about. I find many aspects here relevant to my life and what I am trying to deal with at the moment.

Fransisca Angela said...

I always adore the way you write words and photographing things. enough said :D

Charlotte said...

amazing.
i wish to jump in that water right now. bliss.
your post below is amazing too. i love all the pictures.
xxx

Lauren Winter said...

I absolutely love your photos and blog.. I shared some of your posted photos here!

http://bloomingleopold.blogspot.com/2011/08/sand-and-sea.html