260-Buddhism is like riding a bicycle- Buddhism in daily life

Buddhism is like riding a bicycle


To reach enlightenment you just have to keep riding!


Albert Einstein, whom I admire very much, said: "Life is like
riding a bicycle - to keep your balance you have to keep moving"!
An almost Buddhist saying, which is why his sentence inspired me
to write today's article.


Whoever follows the teachings of Buddha can only have one goal:
"Enlightenment"!


The legacy of the great man was his awakening, his message to us
is that enlightenment is in everyone and can be achieved by all.


What do I mean by "Buddhism is like riding a bicycle?" Well, a
Buddhist cannot follow the teachings of the historical model in
'part-time', either you are a Buddhist, or you are not.


Thus, the philosophy of Buddha penetrates into all areas of our
lives, such as the way we treat other people, what and how we
eat, how we earn our living, how we look at things, even our
political attitude, but also general views on life, as in the
great religions (charity, decency, honor), are influenced.


In this context, it is not so easy to "stop the bike", to pause
the ride. A big problem for outsiders are the confusing "rules"
of the different Buddhist communities, depending on the various
Buddhist branches, the guidelines differ partly very much, quite
different traditions developed in the different Asian countries.


I follow the Buddhist lineage of Shaolin Temple, which was
founded by Bodhidharma around 500 AD. This philosophy of
introspection, derived from Mahayana Buddhism, is called "Chan
Buddhism" in China, while in the West its teachings became known
as "Zen Buddhism".


Characteristic of Chan (Zen) is meditation (mindfulness or
concentration exercises) as a spiritual practice that expands
consciousness. The goal is the experience of enlightenment (as
exemplified by the historical Buddha). It is important for all
Buddhists to always continue the journey (with the imaginary
bicycle), not to stop the aspirations, not to interrupt the
journey to enlightenment.


Joachim Ringelnatz wrote the following in 1933: In Hamburg lived
two ants who wanted to travel to Australia. Near Altona on the
Chaussee, there their legs hurt, and there they wisely then
renounced the last part of the journey.


The journey to "enlightenment", there can also sometimes 'hurt
our legs', there can be setbacks, self-doubt, perhaps lack of
understanding in the environment, why am I doing this, is this
really the right thing for me, can I also achieve awakening?


Yes, we can, the historical Buddha has left us his message, his
legacy, everyone can awaken, enlightenment is already within us,
we have to bring it out from under the many broken pieces of our
lives, sweep the dust from our souls, find our true being again
under all the rubble of our history.


No one said the journey would be easy, that our legs wouldn't
hurt along the way. But the journey is worth it. Promise! Just
keep going!


Listen to the article as a podcast click


To travel with a guide is a blessing, to travel without one is
the opposite


- Mark Twain - American writer - 1835 to 1910


It is not the destination, it is the journey


- Ralph Waldo Emerson - American philosopher and writer - 1803 to
1882


Only through regular exercise could one move forward


- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - German poet - 1749 to 1832


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