So I have been asking myself a lot of questions lately. One of them, or two to be exact, is about my life style. Alcohol is one of them, whether or not I should give it up. Living in a country where it is rather uncommon to do so, I believe that 2010 will see some changes of behaviour about me drinking alcohol. Whilst I don’t see myself giving it up 100% yet, I believe that I will reduce it massively. It should be about enjoyment and not about diluting my senses. I experienced the absence of alcohol before.

However, as the title suggest, no Buddhist should harm any sentient beings, including animals. Hence I am contemplating of becoming a vegetarian, or similar to alcohol, abstain during the week and have one day at the weekend to enjoy some meat. More as a special treat. I recently watched a TV show about mechanically processed meat which almost made me throw up.

But why should I become a Vegetarian? There are lists of reasons why you should become a vegetarian to be found online. For me it is mainly about not eating cheap and nasty meat, processed meat, and to live more healthily. Of course I then need to feed my almost 6 months old boy vegetarian food too, and he can choose later in life what he would like to do. I think that is fair, don’t you?

Living healthier means living with less risk to get cancer. I read a book I can recommend on “Eat to beat cancer“. It gives you a good insight why eating meat in moderation is much more healthier. It is similar to me giving up smoking: it is just the healthier option to give it up, isn’t it? There is no argument about it either

According to a Buddhist source, a lot of Buddhists and non-Buddhist eventually lose their appetite for meat out of compassion for the welfare of other living creatures. But vegetarianism is not required in order to follow Buddha’s path. That makes sense. It is more about not killing an animal but there is nothing said about not being able or allowed to eat the meat.

So based on the above and the thought of how animals are slaughtered, I believe that I will step up the game and reduce meat or even stop eating it from next year.

Love and Kindness to you, and all sentient beings out there.

Volker

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Marcelo got back in touch and will write some thoughts shortly. He has been busy but will tell you directly.

I got a new book this week, the Dalai Lama’s Path of Tranquility. It contains daily wisdom quotes about Buddhism. I really enjoy reading those little daily reminders just before I put myself to rest at night.

Also, I bought a few CDs with Buddhist chanting on it. They are awesome, because you can have them running in the back ground whilst working and you get all relaxed. It is great and I would almost recommend them to enhance your performance at work.

It is one of those things where your unconscious listens to and relaxes you. The other day I was working on a PowerPoint presentation and put some classical music on. I didn’t even notice how much more productive I was until someone interrupted me.

Having a peaceful mind and a relaxed attitude to things, practising patience, makes you more successful. Another great example on how Buddhist principles can influence your performance at work.

Love and Kindness,
Volker

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How are you? Happy New Year to you.

My new year started with all the things I didn’t want it to start. Lots and lots of work.
Whilst in a recession I should not complain about it, the next 2 weeks will be busy too.

However, Marcelo, I am hoping the New Year brings to you what you wish for. Mine will be very excited with the expected birth of my son the beginning of June.

Also, I get more and more into “micro blogging”, Twitter. I wrote about it quite a lot in my personal Blurb Blog. I found a few people on there blogging about Buddhism so I get a new thought of Buddhism every day. That is nice and a nice reminder in this busy and difficult times.

I want to let you into a secret too. My plan is to join a Tai Chi class. I just don’t find the time nor the motivation to go to the gym, or to sit down and meditate. So I thought a combination of both would be good. What do you think of that? I have not discussed that with anyone yet, so not sure how many friends actually read this blog but….och well, if they know they know. Have you ever done that?

Other than that things are going well. If it gets quieter at work, I aim to read some more books and re-read books of Geshe. Any you could recommend.

For all our readers, have a great 2009, may all your wishes come true and please leave a comment on how you find this blog.

Love and Happiness,
Volker

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I have been thinking. Thinking a lot about various things.

I cannot and I do not want to believe that I would not die in an airline crash (using that as an example), if I had good karma. Everytime I go on a longer trip, I donate something to my Buddha, asking for protection, asking to come back as I have not yet fnished what I started.

That is my humble opinion. Maybe I have fulfilled my purpose already and it is not up to me to decide. But, who decides? Buddha is not like a god that is above us all, is he? Is it the law of the universe?

So, given the circumstances, that – and I assume that – I have a good Karma. What would happen if I had been in a crash. Would I die or not?

I don’t even want to picture it, because it is almost like “I don’t mind having an accident, because I have a good Karma”. However, I understand that if we decide to kill ourselves (jump in front of a train) or drink and drive, we are changing our Karma, even if last minute, to die? Did I understand that correctly?

Marcelo, when do I know if I have good Karma. When do I know I have finished what I set out to do in this life? Will I ever know?

I need to go back. I need to revisit Gelshe’s books. I need to visit the centre and I need to find my path. And, I need to do that in my own time. I need to do that whilst I start meditating more regularly.

Thanks for your input.

How are things with you.

Love and Kindness – from a train to Leeds
Volker

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So much input! So much thanks for that. So much to think about.

I agree – often I find myself thinking and analysing a problem over and over again until the problem is no longer a problem, but the me is. The ‘I’ that is looking at the problem becomes obsessed.

You are, undoubtedly, right, that I need to find a spiritual teacher. And, that I need practise.
But, did we not know that? Did we not know, in order to win the Olympics, we need to train 10 hours a day. Every day.

I still disagree that I take a wrong decision, even if I end up somewhere else than China. But we need to discuss that under the Olive tree

Whilst I not know where I WILL be, I know where I WANT to be. My longing for things in life is intact! Will always be intact. But, things might not go as well as you think they might.
You know it, I know it – the financial markets know it.

And, I understand your analogy. If I have the best teacher in the world (or doctor) and don’t follow her/his advice, I would still be not learning (dying), wouldn’t I.

Marcelo, I pray for you and meditate. We speak soon.

Volker

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So much input! So much thanks for that. So much to think about.

I agree – often I find myself thinking and analysing a problem over and over again until the problem is no longer a problem, but the me is. The ‘I’ that is looking at the problem becomes obsessed.

You are, undoubtedly, right, that I need to find a spiritual teacher. And, that I need practise.
But, did we not know that? Did we not know, in order to win the Olympics, we need to train 10 hours a day. Every day.

I still disagree that I take a wrong decision, even if I end up somewhere else than China. But we need to discuss that under the Olive tree

Whilst I not know where I WILL be, I know where I WANT to be. My longing for things in life is intact! Will always be intact. But, things might not go as well as you think they might.
You know it, I know it – the financial markets know it.

And, I understand your analogy. If I have the best teacher in the world (or doctor) and don’t follow her/his advice, I would still be not learning (dying), wouldn’t I.
Marcelo, I pray for you and meditate. We speak soon.

Volker

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I mention it a lot but I am not sure I told you.

There is a website with the Buddhist Thoughts of the Day.

How suitable is today:

When we learn to deal directly with our complaints and difficulties, romanticized ideas about the spiritual path are no longer meaningful. We see that what is important is to take responsibility for ourselves, and to always be aware of our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

- Tarthang Tulku

Enjoy your day.

Volker

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Thank you for so much input. A lot to take in.

I enjoy asking, and a little bit teasing, you. You remember when I spoke about the olive tree we are meditating underneath in a few years time. Sometimes I think it will only be me, sitting on a green pasture and meditate and meditate until it gets dark. And then, I wake up and realise that it was all a dream.

Maybe we are only dreaming. I had a conversation with my wife, Jenny, this morning. I said that with increased responsibility in my job, life and environment, I still feel like I am 19 and have not changed. My perception is the same but the environment perceives me as mature.

It is as if my self-conscious has not caught up with me, protecting me from something, maybe myself. I might be perceived as the Business Development Manager and the person who can take so much on and works so hard, but in my own perception I am still in my bedroom in my parents house, looking out in the garden and watching the time go by.

Let me try to put this topic to bed about perception and karma. I need to have more thinking and meditation about karma before I come to terms with it and have a, maybe, final opinion.

I still believe that you can go different paths in life but if you are supposed to end up in China for example, you will. I believe that what meant to be will be. I will become what I set out to be or what my inner self set me out to become.

And I will. I know where I want to be in 9 years time (not physically but job wise for instance or family wise) – and, I know, if I put my heart, soul and effort in, that I will achieve it. And, I strongly believe, that if I changed jobs tomorrow I would still achieve it. Maybe not as easy or as comfortable, maybe quicker, maybe slower, but I will still become what I want to be. I am very certain about that!

Marcelo, I am a person, that cannot sit still. I find it hard to take a break, reflect, meditate or calm down. I have this inner drive to constantly do something. Workaholic they say But, I will try to learn and, I will try to meditate on what you wrote, because I very much like it. Thank you for that. I am not sure when, but I know someday, I will have the 3 years, 3 months and 3 days to meditate and find my enlightenment. And, possibly, I might not be able to do it all in one go but over a few years.

You ever worked that out? 5 minutes meditation a day, 150 a month, 1800 a year. That are 30 hours, or 1 day and a quarter. Not sure if I did the math right but at that speed, just to meditate 5 minutes a day, we need to meditate for 876 years to meditate for 3 days in total? Wow! I think I need to meditate more.

But lets use it as a metaphor and say we need to put a lot of effort in to meditate and reach enlightenment. You think it is the same effort for everyone?

I agree, we need to be out there and not hide away from what we are doing or living. We cannot learn, reach higher states or anything in life, without living it. You are an ex-monk, but you think that if someone retreats from the world to find enlightenment, that it will work? Would we not go insane? I am confident I would! I need people, challenges and learning to reach whatever I need to reach.

Sometimes I think I would like to know if I am turning 80, a 100 or die tomorrow in an accident. Sometimes I do not. When are we ready to move on? When can we change to a different status, a different living being. Is it something we want to do? When are we ready?

Again, whatever path, A, B or C, D or however many ways there are, we will reach death. Our all final destiny. But, we might achieve what we want to achieve and what we were set to achieve, again, no matter which path we chose. We will fulfil our purpose in life before we move on. That is my believe – does that fit in with Buddhism?

Have a good weekend my friend.
I send you all my love,
Volker

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In the UK it seems like every other person is ill at the moment – mainly people I know which makes me think

Seriously, I have a cold but not too many symptoms of it. More tiredness, headache, sore throat etc. But, what I noticed, in times of being “ill” there is this “something” you are more aware about your body.

You take more breaks. You work less. Your work life balance becomes more life than work. And, you try to sleep more in order to get your body up and working again.

And, I feel that my spiritual development is progressing too. Why is that? Is that just the awareness of my body, of my self and inner-self? Or would I just pay more attention due to the fact I want to feel my body again in the “normal state”.

Or, another thought for you: If I am not as aware of my body in the “normal state”, could that maybe be the “ill state” or “an ill state”?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

With love
Volker

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