In the original or pre-sectarian Buddhism, monks and lay followers don’t pray to any god. It is therefore not a religion but a philosophy. Buddhists are not theists. The Buddha teaches us to attain Enlightenment or Nibbana by abandoning attachment to four things: 1) sensual desire, 2) self identification, 3) rules and rituals, 4) views.
Learned Buddhists can find peace easily. There are three things which we contemplate: 1) sufferings, 2) impermanence, 3) non-self. If we accept reality as it really is, instead of what we wish it to be, nothing should inadvertently surprise us. The reality is: no one live without suffering. You are not special, so do I, and he/she, and everybody. Everybody has suffering; no one can escape that. Sufferings include: 1) birth, 2) aging, 3) sickness, 4) death, 5) association with the disliked, 6) separation from beloved ones, 7) not getting what one wants. All sufferings are due to desire (but the Buddha didn’t say all desires lead to suffering). Sufferings cease when one stop having desire. Everybody can learn to do it by walking on the Noble Eightfold Path.
Everything is impermanent. Everything arises due to conditions; everything ceases when the conditions change. Good time is not permanent; so is bad time. When we experience good time, we contemplate that it will end later; therefore, we don’t become overjoy and we don’t feel sad for its eventual end. When we experience bad time, we contemplate that it will end later; therefore, we don’t lament about it since it is just temporary and good time will follow.
The real self is not the body and it is also not inside the body. The body is just an Avatar remotely controlled by the real self. Whatever happens to the body does not bring gain nor lost to the real self. Nothing really belong to us; wealth, material, fame, foods, and relationships don’t really belong to us. All these are like game points which we score. When the game is over, we can’t take these away with us. Enjoy the game but don’t be too calculative about a gain or lost in each battle.
When you are able to let go of everything, including your body, you will feel truly liberated. No fear, obligation, and guilt (FOG). You will have true freedom with no fetters binding you to worldly things. You can constantly abide peacefully and pleasantly until the game ends naturally.
RESILIENT KID 