Over the course of 2009 this blog has been dying a bit. My apologies that things didn’t go as expected. You can still find a lot of personal thoughts, including Buddhist and Management thoughts, on my personal blog.

I will try to update this blog every now and then, once I find time and passion to contribute further to the topics of Buddhism and Management. Maybe don’t expect too much but the odd article about how Buddhism can be useful in every day life as well as business and management.

For the festive season, a Merry Christmas, a peaceful and reflective time.

All the best for 2010.
Love and Kindness.
Volker

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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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This is the Buddhist thought of today – I really like it. I am a bit busy today, so will post more soon. Also wait for Marcelo to join back in.

Please visit my personal blog Volker Ballueder’s Blurb in the meantime.

The above quote is all about personal development and links back to our responsibility to grow ourselves and others in a good and passionate manner.

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Hmm, I said, I don’t know. So I studied Buddhism and Reincarnation this afternoon and came to the following conclusion.

Whether you are reborn as a human, an animal or any other form of living being depends on your karma. Your thoughts and actions in your current life. The better the karma, the happier the rebirth.

Some teachings suggest that the rebirth is nothing else than a having different stages of your mind, whilst changing your body and appearance. The outer skin is changing, whilst the mind goes through various stages. A cycle of consciousness.

Some theories imply an immediate rebirth whilst some Tibetan tradition say it can take up to 49 days.

I found the next picture, maybe not from Buddhism, but very interesting.

So to summarise, our consciousness or mind will travel indefinitely from one body to the next. The better our karma was in one life, the happier we are reborn. But, happier does not mean with more wisdom, or in a better place. It might just mean simpler, but happier.

Not sure if that is a good thought or not?

Marcelo, what do you think?

L&K
Volker

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March 10th Statement

Other news coverage about Tibet and the Chinese conflict can be found on BBC News.

Let’s pray for peace.

Love and Kindness.
Volker

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Their description of Buddhism is as follows:
“Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development. Buddhists strive for a deep insight into the true nature of life and do not worship gods or deities.”

Similar to what I mentioned last week. It is not so much of a religion with a god and the whole fuss about it. It is more for you, your personal journey and your life – focusing on everything around you.

The Kadampa Buddhism tradition where Marcelo and I met, giving local access to Buddhist teaching, was founded in the 11th century in Tibet. Vulnerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso founded the “New Kadampa Buddhist Tradition”, there is a blog about NKT I found, offers the following description:

“In his left hand he holds a heart, which symbolises great compassion and spontaneous great bliss… His round yellow hat represents the view of Nagarjuna, and the wisdom sword in his right hand teaches us to sever ignorance… Dorje Shudgen rides a snow lion …and has a jewel-splitting mongoose perched on his left arm, symbolising his power to bestow wealth on those who put their trust in him… His wrathful expression indicated that he destroys ignorance, the real enemy of all living beings, by blessing them with great wisdom.”

The NKT puts a high emphasis on “Buddhism in the modern world”. I remember when I used to attend the weekly teachings in London, that there is always a reference to daily life. Particularly in London. This really makes a difference to my view of any religion on spiritual thoughts as you have the direct connection to your environment.

You can download a comprehensive booklet about NKT on their website.

Also, browsing, I found a website about chanting.

I hope this gives you enough Sunday reading.

Have a peaceful week.
Love and Kindness
Volker

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I grew up as a Christian, got baptised and went to the confirmation, e.g. became a full member of the church. Why? Because that is what we used to do. My parents and grand parents have done it and it was a natural part for me. Over time I noticed that I agree with the values but that most of the church activities are not fitting into my life. I started questioning what role “God” could play for me. So I became an atheist.

Can you really become an atheist? Are we all born atheists? I am not sure, but church wasn’t “cool” anymore and I went to the USA for an exchange year. Now, church had to be “in” again as I was living the Mid-West. No way I could have not gone to church every Sunday. However, I only prayed if I felt lonely or was scared. I thought to myself, that is not why I am a Christian.

So lets put it behind us I thought, I think the 10 commandments are great and I believe in the Christian principles, the Christian way of life but for me, I don’t need to go to church to practise to be a good kid, do I?

I came across various religions but Buddhism had a fascination for me. It was a way of life, a way of a moral life and develop a wisdom and understanding of “what’s out there”. It is about being mindful, aware of your thoughts and actions. Wow, that is what I was looking for. This is the idea I had, my personal development plan to be aware of what I do, how I do it and why I am doing it. I had a reason for things now, and if I didn’t, I had to find one.

Buddhism helped me to find a purpose in life and made me understand the purpose of every living being. It gives me guidance to pure happiness, teaches me patience and makes me happy on the way. I care less about my “luxury and my material values” but more about myself, my partner, my other living beings that surround me. Particularly with my first child to be born this year. Happiness for him, my family is priority number one.

Buddhism is placed around 4 noble truths:
1) life is suffering – Buddhism teaches you how to avoid it.
2) suffering is caused by craving and aversion – Buddhism helps you!
3) suffering can be overcome and happiness can be attained
4) There is a Noble 8-fold path that leads to the end of suffering. Being moral, focusing the mind on being aware of your thoughts and actions, developing wisdom by understanding the 5 noble truths and developing compassion for others.

Also Buddha suggested 5 precepts:
1) not to take the life of anything living
2) not to take anything not freely given
3) to abstain from sexual misconduct an sensual overindulgence
4) refrain from untrue speech
5) avoid intoxication (losing mindfulness)

That sums up my moral thoughts and my personal development – Buddhism helps me to combine my utterly drive to help others, to eliminate mine and other suffering plus my drive for personal development and happiness. Living by the above helps me to become who I am set out to be.

You find a lot of studies and questions answered on the “Buddhanet” .

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Dear Marcelo!

We have now completely moved our blog and homepage to Balamadana’s own domain. We are now using Wordpress as a CMS system.

Shortly, we are back to “normal” and continue writing about Buddhism, Management and the deeper things in life.

Thanks for bearing with us.

Volker

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Good to see you back. Apologies for being not as good in replying as I used to be.

What are the reasons, and what is going on in my life? As discussed with you yesterday, the recession is hitting Britain hard. Whilst our industry is still growing faster than the overall economy shrinks and our jobs are safe, we are looking at longer sales cycles, longer decision making processes and overall more work per individual to get the same income.

Where does that leave me? Honestly. A bit stressed. But I am working on it and will actually soon write about some stress management over at my personal blog. But also, I have been looking into Tai Chi. Do you know why I like it?

I like Tai Chi as for 1 hour my mind is turned off. It is as if I meditate whilst moving slowly and do figures. It is amazing and I enjoy it so much. You know I had difficulties sitting down and meditate even for 10 minutes. But Tai Chi allows me to move and free my mind at the same time.

Now, that does not mean I am not going back to meditate additionally. I believe Tai Chi is just another form to do it, wouldn’t you agree?

Marcelo, it is all about stress management for me at the moment. My baby is fine, I am going to be a dad and I need to re-think my position. You often say I don’t change that much, and maybe you are right. Maybe I think I prepare myself for the big change in June. Then life might even be more stressful.

But, there is another thought. My mother in law does not like the word stress, and to be overly honest me neither. I like to think of it as a challenge. And sometimes this challenge goes above our horizon, our means and our capabilities.

When we have to meet this deadline and do 3 other things at the same time. Or just when we got on top of things we get thrown off the path again. Sometimes, these challenges are overwhelming, just like life itself.

But I believe that we need to counteract it. Tai Chi, Meditation, exercise, family life. The right life life balance, you remember we were speaking about it earlier?

Marcelo, I leave you with these thoughts for the weekend. Don’t forget to check my personal blog and remember that I am trying to move this blog to a new platform next weekend. Apologies in advance.

Love and Happiness to you.
Volker

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