hasunoha

Is my life correct in terms of Buddhism?

I am a consultation support specialist for disability welfare services, and I also work as an administrative counselor.

Since I was transferred to consultation work, I was required to have high social skills, and after making various efforts in my own way, I arrived at an existence called “Buddha.”
・Admit that you are powerless.
・Don't just focus on your opponent's bad parts and acknowledge that there are always good points.
・Even if the other person expresses an opinion that is directly in direct conflict with you, accept it once.
・Even if you are irritated by the other person's actions, recognize that it is an ego against “not moving your own way.”
・I won't get angry no matter what happens.
・Every morning, I recite sutras and give incense sticks.
・Participate in worship services, Dharma lessons, etc.
By putting these into practice, people began to say, “When I first joined the company, there was a sense of intimidation as if the yakuza came in, but that has changed recently.”
However, a way of life that simply always smiles and smoothly progresses in relationships is “the correct way of life in terms of Buddhism?” The question has arisen.
When it comes to monks, there is an image that they “always snuggle up and listen to me,” but is sometimes necessary to get angry or have an ego that goes through one's own arguments?
Thank you for your answers.

5 Zen Responses

Buddhistically incorrect

Of the 7 items you practice, unfortunately, the 6 items other than “don't get angry no matter what happens” are not Buddhist teachings.
The Buddha never said a word such as “admitting that I am powerless.”
The same goes for “don't just look at the bad parts of your opponent and acknowledge that there are always good points.”
Where on earth did they learn that this is a Buddhist teaching?
Naturally, a way of life that simply smiles and smoothly progresses in relationships is not the correct way of life in terms of Buddhism.
Fulfilling the tasks assigned to oneself after achieving harmony and coordination is the correct way of life in Buddhism.
If you really want to learn Buddhism, I recommend getting guidance from a trusted monk or reading a reputable Buddhist book.

In the Buddhist way of thinking, “action” is not only about appearance, but also about intention

In the Buddhist way of thinking, “action” is questioned not only by appearance, but also by intention.
For example, let's say you forgive a child's story about “I want to leave milk from school lunches,” saying “OK.”
At this time,
(1) Think about the child's physical condition and circumstances and forgive.
(2) I forgive it because it is troublesome to receive complaints from the child's parents.
Let's say there are two cases.
Even though these two seem to be outwardly the same words and actions, the reason why they actually took place is completely different. (1) can be said to be a good act due to mercy, and (2) can also be said to be an evil act due to arrogance.
Even though they are apparently the same in this way, depending on their intentions, whether they are correct or incorrect in terms of Buddhism differs.

In Buddhism, we are told to overcome the ego.
When people think about something and act, they inevitably think mainly about themselves. Above all else, we value ourselves and our own convenience. Because of this, the judgment on how to think and act originally is distorted.
In cases where personal convenience does not collide with the circumstances of the situation, there is no inconvenience even if you leave the action you should choose as it is. But can you take the same actions when you should make similar choices and when the situation is not convenient for you? Most of the time, they make a lot of logic and act in accordance with their own convenience.
The teaching of Buddhism is that it won't benefit your partner, and it won't benefit you.
With “high social skills,” the behavior of “always smiling and smoothly advancing relationships” is becoming important for whom they are conscious. Also, it becomes important who “sometimes gets angry” is for.

Even so, I can't suddenly switch my feelings like a switch. You can only gradually get into good shape.
Therefore, we are required to observe ourselves and not let our guard down each time to see what kind of intentions we are currently acting with.

The direction of reducing the causes of worry and suffering for oneself and others

What is right can also be described as whether the means are appropriate.
Depending on what the purpose is, it depends on whether the means are correct.
Buddhism aims to reduce the suffering of oneself and others.
To that end, reducing the causes of worry and suffering is the correct means.
The causes of worry and suffering are worries such as greed, anger, laziness, pride (ego), etc., and delusional distractions (thinking too much about the past, future, oneself, and others) that stimulate anxiety.
Therefore, if you want to reduce the worries and suffering of yourself or others, it can be said that the correct way to live is to practice training to weaken greed, anger, laziness, pride, etc. while being careful about delusional distractions.
Specifically, it is about valuing the four immeasurables of mercy and devotion, observing the Five Commandments (lifestyle practice) as much as possible, practicing samatha meditation (practice of concentrating the mind) and vipassana meditation (ascetic practice to realize the truth by observing phenomena of body, reception, mind, and law), and keeping in mind alms (giving gifts and services for others without asking for anything in return).
It is also important to observe that the body is impure (actually not beautiful), the feeling (input from eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind) is painful, the mind is impermanent (changing every moment), and that the law (thinking about this or that with the head) is selfless (like an illusion), and realize that the acceptance method is not worth obsession.
If you live that kind of life, merits (good habits will become easier to understand) will accumulate.
Conversely, words and actions left to anger, for example, become sinful (bad habits make it difficult to understand).
So, if you want to reduce the worries and suffering of yourself and others, it is more correct to reduce anger and ego in both the short and long term.
Anger causes your own stress, so if you can stop delusional thoughts that stimulate anger in 1 second, the stress will be 1 second, and if it lasts 1 hour longer, the stress will be 1 hour's worth.
You want to reduce stress, right?

Thank you very much for your consultation.

While reading the sentences, I felt that he was a person who was facing himself very sincerely.

The job of a consultation support specialist or administrative counselor is a job that stands between people and provides support while accepting various thoughts and circumstances. Sometimes you may receive unreasonable demands or be bombarded with emotions. Among them, I think it is really precious that I learned from Buddhism in order not to lose sight of myself and have practiced attitudes such as “I am powerless,” “my partner has good points,” and “accept it first.”

However, in the midst of that, questions such as “is it enough to just smile all the time and smoothly advance relationships?” and “is it Buddhist wrong to get angry or make one's own assertions?” I think the fact that this question was raised is important in itself.

Buddhism is by no means a “teaching not to be angry.” Rather, it's a teaching about carefully observing one's own heart and looking at where that anger comes from.

For example, there is also anger that “I get angry because it doesn't turn out the way I want it to.” On the other hand, there are also harsh words born from the thought that “if you leave this person alone, you and your surroundings will be hurt.”

Seen from the outside, they both may look like the same “angry figure.” But what underlies it is vastly different.

Shinran Shonin was by no means someone who just accepted anything. Sometimes people's mistakes are pointed out in harsh terms. What's important is the difference between whether you want to beat your opponent or whether you think and communicate for them.

Also, I don't think it's necessary to think too much about “don't have an ego.” We are all human. I have my own thoughts, and I also have values that I cannot give up. Rather, in the field of consultation support, it is sometimes necessary to take a resolute attitude in order to protect the rights and safety of users.

The goal of Buddhism is not to erase oneself, but to value one's own thoughts and those of others.

Therefore, rather than aiming for “people who don't get angry,” I think it's more Buddhist to aim for “people who aren't swayed by anger.”

You have gained more power to accept your opponents than you used to be. And now, I think we've reached the stage where we learn the balance between “accepting” and “communicating.”

“Give up” is to look clearly at yourself as you are.

It's not easy to be like the Buddha, is it? It's human, isn't it?
Rather than sticking to what you shouldn't do, it's important to take a close look at yourself to see why this is happening.

It means watching clearly “I want to give up.” By looking at what you can see, what you don't want to see, what you hide, and what you really are, you accept the current state of affairs. Without looking at who I am now, I can't get what I'm looking for.

What happens when you get angry, and what kind of feelings do you have?
When you put your own arguments through, what kind of thoughts do you have?
Is that really what you want? Isn't there a way (choice) to prevent that from happening? I wonder if they thought about it from various angles. I wonder if they've heard other opinions. I wonder if it's necessary. Do you really think that's what you think? Is that the right thing to do? are you happy? maybe now...

It's like I'm looking at myself, and I'm not able to do it. How do you perceive my existence? Looking at an important way of life is probably the right path to take.

As someone involved in consultation work, what am I in a position to do to my partner?

On a daily basis, as an administrative consultation support worker, it is important for me to accompany others while empowering them so that they can solve problems faced by themselves. To that end, we will provide counseling on what issues are being addressed. Simply proceeding smoothly with a smile will not lead to a solution. Worry together, walk together. Let's think about our efforts as a counseling support staff and our own way of life separately.