The Art of Living

The Art of Living talks about living a peaceful life through meditation and gratitude, especially by using the Vipassana meditation technique and the philosophy behind Buddhism, which promotes developing a clearer vision of life and seeing things as they truly are.

Everybody has heard about Buddha, the spiritual leader who became world-renowned for his enlightening way of living and for laying the foundation of Buddhism.

To the world’s surprise, it seems that the religious figure has uncovered a few key facts about the human mind and body, long before they were discovered and proved by conventional, modern scientists.

As such, he found that the body was made of tiny, subatomic particles with a space between them. Moreover, they are constantly moving around, appearing and disappearing. In other words, our body is not a solid, fixed form, as we normally perceive it, but rather an ever-changing structure that flows throughout time. The mind is also in flux and undergoing four continuous processes.

Consciousness, perception, sensation, and reaction are all part of our brain’s activity. The first process is responsible for the simple acknowledgment of the things happening around us. It is not judging, nor dwelling on anything it encounters.

Then, the perception decides if whatever we saw is positive or negative to us. Sensation makes us feel pleased and comfortable with something or the opposite. Lastly, we use a reaction to avoid something unpleasant or search for more pleasant and comfortable.

Sila, or morality, is a way of living. Throughout his life, Buddha advised that Sila can help anyone achieve a happier, more peaceful state of mind. Practicing it implies being a moral person that avoids any actions that harm other human beings, disengages from the unethical, and lives in peace with every being around them. By doing so, we become more peaceful and content with ourselves, knowing that we are in perfect harmony with the world. Essentially, that’s just how we’re naturally programmed to function. If we take care of those around us, the planet, help when someone’s in need, and avoid gossip, harmful actions, and negativity, we’ll connect better with our inner selves and everything around us. Practicing Sila is meant to calm an agitated mind and bring peace and serenity within. Living a simple, minimalist life can also help you become more content and peaceful. Then, it’s important to avoid harmful words, and replace them with positive speech. Include truth and kindness in your words, and eliminate lies, harsh talk, and gossip. Follow up your words with actions. Don’t kill, injure, hurt, or harm living beings in any way. Instead, look to cure, treat, help, and bring peace to those around you. Carry these principles with you at…