The Spark That Fires Us Into Action

Episode 7, 7 December 2014, The Spark That Fires Us Into Action. Intro: Welcome to Buddhism Guide’s Audio blog. A contemporary look at Gautama Buddha’s Teachings, from Karma Yeshe Rabgye. Find out more, at http://www.buddhismguide.org A transcript of this episode is available at http://buddhismguide.org/audio-blog-archive/audio-blog-transcripts/episode-7-transcript-the-spark-that-fires-us-into-action This Episode: The Spark That Fires Us Into Action. [00:17] 1. Right Intention. [00:24] Right Intention is divided into three parts: Letting Go, Good Will and Harmlessness. 2. Letting Go. [00:47] What we are letting go of, is attachment to, or craving for, objects of desire. How much we let go is a personal thing, but the more we loosen our grip on objects of desire the less we suffer. Because Gautama Buddha stated that clinging to desire is one of the causes of our suffering. Until we are able to let go of this craving, we will never reach a place where there is no more suffering. So contemplating impermanence is one of the best ways of letting go of our clinging to objects of desire. It takes time to change our perceptions and it isn't going to be easy, but if we don't start we will never finish. A wise person is able to let go. To let go is actually to receive; to receive boundless happiness. 2. Good Will. [03:12] This is the opposite of ill will and is a mental state. When we have good will towards others, we wish them well, and do not want any harm to befall them. One of the best methods of building good will is to do the Meta Bhavana Meditation. 3. Harmlessness. [05:22] This is the intention to not harm anyone, either physically, mentally or verbally. We have to realise that we are not the only ones suffering; everyone wishes to be free of suffering but is still gripped by pain, despair, anguish, dissatisfaction, and other kinds of suffering. We must understand that we play our parts in other people's suffering, by not having compassion for them, not caring for their well-being, and not seeing that, like us, they want to be free of all kinds of suffering. Outro. [08:04] You can find more information about this subject in Karma Yeshe Rabgye’s books at http://www.buddhismguide.org/books/ The best way to catch a snake – A Practical Guide to the Buddha’s Teachings; Life’s meandering path – A Secular Approach to Gautama Buddha’s Guide to Living; Ripples in the stream – A Pragmatic Journey Through Gautama Buddha’s Teachings. They’re available now, from Amazon and Kindle. Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoyed this blog post.