Mind Over Matter Essay -- essays research papers

Mind over Matter     Out of the myriad of religions that encompass the earth, iodine of theleast understood is Buddhism. In the pursuit of a higher mo nononous of existence, aBuddhist monk will renounce his worldly unsanctified life, instead embracing a lifeof meditation and study. While attempting to come across enlightenment, andtherefore nirvana, a Buddhist must initiatory come to supplant his sense of self,effectively destroying his ego. By doing this, "durkha," (pain and suffering),end and one can be at peace and harmony with the world and all who reside in it.A practice that helps monks achieve this enlightened state is meditation. By clear the mind of mundane clutter and distractions, a monk can conk in tunewith his inner being and body, which results in a great understanding of thebarriers that need to collapse before nirvana can be achieved. This practice ofmeditation was the Buddhist practice that I participated in, with the intent ona g reater understanding of what being a Buddhist means. This work aside taught methe inherent difficulty in quietening the mind, along with the negative set upoutside influences like other people have on the practice.     The first place I attempt to meditate was outside my dorm following(a) to atree. This proved to be a comfortable place, heretofore amply of distractions. I havemeditated before in my martial arts classes, yet it was difficult calming mymind. While concentrating on my ventilating system, I was easily put off by outsideoccurrences such as leaves falling and people paseo by. The more(prenominal) I attemptedto shut out the outside world, the more my mind heightened on the little thingsaround me. I gained quick appreciation of the Buddhist monks ability toshirk the outside world and focus on his inner self. When I had meditated beforein my dojo, it was as a group and in silence. This greatly helped the exerciseand I can divulge why this i s the modus operandi at most temples.     The second place I attempted to meditate was in the basement of ReidHall. I hoped that the familiar surroundings would calm the mind easier andallow me to concentrate on clearing my mind. While not an ideal setting, it wasbetter than outside. As I concentrated on my breathing and felt myself unwind, Iwas able to tune into the sound... ...lp guide and direct the cultivationof the monks. They offer subtle forms of encouragement, often disguised inhardship, that aid the monks in their struggle toward understanding. This is aboon, allowing enlightenment to occur quicker than in the solitary(a) meditation Iexperienced.     A Buddhist way of life is a lot harder than one may suspect, for whilethey are released from the worries of everyday life, the amiable tasks assignedto them are far greater than worrying about what to fake for dinner tonight orpaying ones electricity bill. Furthermore, a Buddhist lif estyle is not veryconducive to an American lifestyle. I realize a lot of credit to the founders ofthe Zen Mountain Center in San Francisco, creating a microcosm which can supportthe solitude necessary for personal increment is a daunting task. From my limitedventure into the life of a Buddhist, I learned that controlling ones mind andthen harnessing this power to delve out truths and desires from oneself is afeat almost inconceivable by the normal mind. Those who pass on this task aretruly Buddhas, masters of the world and therefore outside the grasp of time,free at last.