Talking Heart, Walking in Sunshine

Talking Heart, Walking in Sunshine - that is what is meant by the Chinese characters 总是(Zong Shi)meaning “always/continually”. It is a beautiful picture. This is what occurs when we live out a life of Pure Land Buddhism. It is not something that one practices when one is in the mood or when things go wrong. Sadly this happens with so many people. Pure Land Buddhism is a path to walk every day, every moment of the day. Pure Land Buddhism encompasses all areas of our life because all of our life is interrelated. It is holistic. Our spiritual life cannot be separated from our relational life. Our physical life cannot be separated from our mental (thinking) life. Yet our Western thinking is so dominated by the desire to place things into categories. This is fragmentation thinking!

Pure Land Buddhism and in deed all of Buddhism understands life to be interconnected and interdependent. If we try to maintain a spiritually whole life and at the same time emotionally bully another, tell “little white lies” or live up to less than our calling then this will have consequences not only in our spiritual life but also in other areas of our life. I like to speak of Five Foundations. Each pillar of the Five Foundations is interdependent upon the others.

The Five Foundations

Right Spirit:

• Refers to our spiritual being, our sense of Truth and ethics and Bodhi Mind.
• Common spirituality of all humans.
• Daily ritual - mantra, meditation, prayer, silence
• Connectedness to a whole greater than ourselves
• Sense of awe and wonder, beauty
• Our sense of awe and wonder can be interrupted by injustices to others or ourselves. These MUST be corrected before spiritual balance is gained.

Right Thinking:

• Thoughts need to be positive and empowering.
• Can be injured by harbouring resentment and anger.
• Emotions and logic need to be balanced
• Education and continued learning is important



Right Relationship:

• Must not be exploitive, emotionally violent or abusive, nor sexually illicit.
• Needs to evolve from compassion
• Refers to communal as well as interpersonal
• Needs commitment

Right Consumption:

• Consumption of alcohol - consumption of meat - junk food - all damaging.
• Include vegetables - fruits - herbal foods
• Proper and just distribution of food throughout the world.

Right Movement:

• Refers to the movement of body, blood, and breath.
• We are designed to move
• Exercise needs to be regular, rhythmic and moderate
• Include breathing exercises as part of daily maintenance.





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Right Spirit

It is important to have daily practice in our spiritual life. Jing Tu (Pure Land) Buddhism is perfectly situated for this. Take time each morning to practice the morning devotions and meditation. Be diligent in reading Dharma materials and sincere and compassionate in our dealings with those about us.

Right Thinking

One of the biggest myths of life which abounds is that it is the things that happen to us which make us what we are and what we feel. THIS IS A MYTH! It is no more than our thinking ABOUT what happens to us that make us feel or react the way we do. Once we understand this we are well on the way to a happier life. We may not be able to change events but we are able to change our thoughts and thinking patterns. Unfortunately rigid patterns of thinking have often developed over years. In our meditation we have the opportunity to re-examine these thought processes.
All our actions and behaviors evolve from our thoughts. If our thoughts are pure and focused then our actions and results will be successful, harmonious and growthful.

We also need to check the balance of Emotions and Logic. Sometime we are completely overruled by our emotions rather than looking at facts and rational thoughts. Other times we can ignore the colour of our emotions and the signals they give us upon which we can make rational decisions.
Anger and resentment can tear our life apart and are the causes of much hostility and violence. We must check our anger. Peace can only be attained in our world when it is first attained in our hearts and minds.

Right Relationship

Whole books have been written on right relationships. By relationships we are not just referring to male/female relationships but our relationship to the entire creation. Consumer living can erode our ties with the natural order as we forget our relationship with the cosmos, with our environment and all living creatures.
Many relationships can be exploitive getting what we can from them. Many relationships are one-sided with one partner giving more than the other. This can harm our mental and spiritual wellbeing. Relationships need quality time and the space to mutually give and receive in a totality of commitment.
We see in modern times families are so busy in making money that they have forgotten their parents placing them in nursing homes to be cared for by others. Buddhism places great emphasis on care of our parents and family.
Human beings are not isolated islands. We exist, learn, grow and become whole people in relationship with others.

Right Consumption

There is clear evidence of the relationship between diet and physical as well as mental well-being. Depression can, for example, often have its roots in poor or sugar loaded diets. To live a balanced life we must be considerate as to what we place into our bodies. Right Consumption also means the just distribution of food throughout the world. It is immoral that over 60% of the western world’s population is obese when millions go hungry.
As people of the Way we must sincerely avoid the consumption of alcohol meat and other intoxicants (cigarettes and illegal drugs).

Right Movement

Human beings were designed to move. Proper moderate exercise is vital to our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Walking, swimming, yoga, T’ai Chi, Qi Gong, tennis, badminton or many other sports are good for one’s health. Many sports like tennis and badminton or volley ball also enhance social relationships. In China in the early morning hours in town squares you can see many people gathered together to practise their favorite movement and enjoy social interaction at the beginning of the day.
When we take these Five Foundations into serious consideration we can begin to live a much healthier and happier life.
When our practice spans across all areas of our life on a continual basis sunshine comes into our heart. . . “zong shi”.