Transcript Day to day decision making

2012 Ekoji Fall O-Higan Seminar
Buddhism
&
Day-to-Day Decision Making
Shoyo Taniguchi, Ph.D.
0------------------------35------------------------------80Siddhartha
Buddha
Enlightenment
“Supreme Happiness”
“Abundant Joy”
“No Anger/Hatred”
“No Attachment/Greed”
“No Confusion/Ignorance”
PERFECT DECISION MAKER
AUTONOMOUS DECISION MAKER
*We, common and ordinary people,
are able to improve their decision makings.
Buddha’s Mission Statement
“Go forth, O disciples, for the good
of the many, for the happiness of
the many, out of compassion for the
world, for the good, benefit, and
happiness of gods and people.”
Life is “Stressful”
Finance / Job / Marriage / Children /
Parents / Siblings / In-Laws /
Relatives / Friends / Boss / Report /
Relationship /
...
Dukkha
Stress / Anxiety / Worry / Fear / Tension
Depression / Confusion / Frustration /
Irritation / Disappointment …
Richard’s Decision Making
My wife says I yell at her too much. Today she
sent me en E-mail in which she was implying that
I had failed to do something important, and
where did I put the checks? Somewhat upset, I
sent back an E-mail TELLING HER THAT I HAD
DONE IT 2 DAYS AGO, AND THE CHECKS WERE
WHERE I TOLD HER LAST WEEKEND! My E-mail was
in ALL caps. She wrote back in an E-mail, and
her first sentence was: “You didn’t have to yell!”
General Formula of Causal Conditionality
When A is present, B is present;
From the arising of A, B arises;
When A is absent, B is absent;
On the cessation of A, B ceases.
Buddha’s Law (Dharma)
1. Discovery
2. Observation of reality (phenomenon)
as it is.
3. Replicable by us (others)
4. To be examined, tested & investigated
5. Enable us to do something new that
was impossible before (* Nirvana)
Buddha’s Law
1. Applicable to both the material and
mental worlds
2.
Four lines covers all (On and Off)
3. Completed 2500 years ago
4.
Leads to the “Supreme Happiness,”
“Abundant Joy,” Reduction/Elimination
of Dukkha, Highest Wisdom and
Compassion
Six Characteristics of Dharma:
(The Law of Causal Conditionality)
1.
well-taught or well spoken
2.
can be seen in this life itself
3.
Timeless
4.
inviting investigation (or falsifiable)
5.
leading onward
6.
to be verified by the wise by and for
him/herself
D. II. 217: D. III. 5; D. III. 227; S. I. 9; S. IV. 41; S. IV. 272; V. 343; A. I. 156; A. II. 198.
Dharma
(The Law of Causal Conditionality)
Buddha-Dharma
* Simsapa Forest
Buddha applied the Law
solely to solve the problem of
suffering & pain
Buddha’s Great Vow
“Happiness of all living beings”
Oak Tree
Water (H2O)
Lung Cancer
...
Always, Necessarily, Without Exception
True?
SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING:
“Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease
and Emphysema.”
True?
Causal Conditionality of Behavior
“When Ego is present, Dukkha is present;
From the arising of Ego, Dukkha arises;
When Ego is absent, Dukkha is absent;
On the cessation of Ego, Dukkha ceases.”
Law (Dharma):
Always, Necessarily, Without Exception
We are invited to test and see it!
Buddha’s Analysis of Cognition
my sense organ
sense object
my consciousness
my eye <-------------> form ----------> my visual consciousness
my ear <------------> sound ------> my auditory consciousness
my nose <----------> smell -------> my olfactory consciousness
my tongue <--------> taste ------> my gustatory consciousness
my skin <----------> tangible --------> my tactile consciousness
my brain <---------> concept -----------------> my consciousness
“World”
Only 18 factors
Self-centeredness
(I, My, Me, Mine)
Is
Caused & Conditioned
by a contact
of My sense organ &
a sense object.
Buddhist Analysis of Mechanism of Decision-Making
Negative Residue
(Stress, Worry, Fear,
Regret, Guilt, Anxiety,
Sadness, Frustration. . )
New Data by the Contact
Sense Organ ---- Sense Object
(Eye, Ear…) ------ (Form, Sound…)
Sensation
Harmful Action
to
Self / Others / Both
Pleasant or Unpleasant
Comfortable or Uncomfortable
Like or Dislike
(Argue, Fight, Steal, Kill. . . )
“I” （Ego）
Decision Making
Holding Onto One’s Own
Idea, Thought, View, Belief,
Opinion, Judgment …
Association
With One’s Own
Accumulated Data
(Memories, Thinking Pattern, etc)
Interprets &
Conceptualizes
One’s Own Sensation
3 Poor D.M. Factors
Attachment / Greed
Anger / Hatred
Ignorance / Confusion
Rationalization
Thinking
Justification
Reasoning
Our Action Is Not an Action
It is Reaction
STREAM OF ACTIONS
(DECISION MAKINGS)
SENSATION → → → EMOTION
1. Pleasant Sensation:
“I” feel it good → → “I” Like it → → “I” am
ATTACHED to it / GREEDY of it → →
2. Unpleasant Sensation:
“I” feel it unpleasant → → “I” Dislike it → →
“I” feel ANGER / HATRED to it → →
3. Neither Pleasant nor Unpleasant Sensation:
“I” feel neither pleasant nor unpleasant → → “I”
feel Neither Like Nor Dislike → → “I” am
COMFUSED /IGNORE it → →
Self-centeredness
(I, Me, Mine, My)
*group photo
dangerous & unbeneficial
to oneself, to others, to both
It results in Dukkha.
“All phenomenon that arose being caused
and conditioned is by nature withering away,
passing away, fading away,
coming to an end.” (S. II. 26.)
“Whatever is of the nature to arise,
all that is of the nature to stop.” (Vinaya. IV.)
Ego is caused and conditioned.
It can be reduced and destroyed.
Self Check List of Decision Making
1. Roots of Action:
More Selfish?
Less Selfish?
Anger / Greed / Ignorance
2. Nature of Action:
More Harmful?
Less Harmful?
3. Residue of Action:
Negative?(regret, fear. . . )
Positive? (joy, happiness. . . )
Buddhism is all about
how to deal with this Ego.
Ego is NOT sin.
Ego is NOT evil.
Ego is NOT bad.
How to be a good friend of Ego.
Relationship between
Self-centeredness & Stress
Self-centeredness
50% Down
50% up
⇆ Stress
50% Down
50% up
Simultaneous & Relational
8 Worldly Conditions
Success
Pleasure
Gain
Praise
--- Failure
--- Pain
--- Loss
--- Blame
Stress
Caused and Conditioned:
Can be reduced and destroyed.
Less stressful, happier
and more joyful life is
possible.
Key of Decision-making
LEAST HARMFUL
(available)
What Harms Me Most?
My Own Ego
Anger/Hatred
Greed/Attachment
Ignorance/Confusion
Three Kinds of Information
1. External Information
Information of the subject matter
2. Internal Information
Information of the decision-maker’s mental
state
3. Causal Information
Information of relationship between
decision & its end-result
See Your Mind
at the Moment of Decision-making
Na--Man--Da--Bu--
Get Internal Information
of your Mind.
Be your own psychoanalyst
&
Be your own psychotherapist
Na--Man--Da--Bu--
Don’t let ANGER Hijack your brain.
Don’t let ANGER make you decision.
Don’t let STRESS Hijack your brain.
Don’t let STRESS make a decision.
Be Autonomous
Don’t make a decision when you are angry.
Wait for a second.
Mechanism of MINDFULNESS
Stream of Consciousness
⇒
⇒
ANGERmindfulness
怒り
気づき
⇒
⇒
ANGER mindfulness
怒り
気づき
ANGER
怒り
DON’T JUDGE OR/AND PUNISH YOURSELF:
JUST SEE YOURSELF AS YOU ARE
１.
２.
３.
４.
５.
６.
７.
８.
Don’t be upset with your anger.
Don’t give you a minus when you are angry.
Tell yourself, “It is O.K. that I don’t feel O.K.”
Forgive yourself.
Have more realistic ideal: “How soon I can
recover from anger.”
Realize: “Whatever arises passes away.”
Tell anger, “Don’t leave me. Stay with me.”
Anger will not stay and go away.
When you don’t have negative feelings, see
that you don’t have them.
Nen ( 念): Now ( 今）＋ Mind ( 心）
Nembutsu Makes Me See How I Am Becoming
Mindfulness Makes Me See How I Am Becoming
Nembutsu is Mindfulness
Mindfulness is Nembutsu
Nembutsu Mindfulness Makes Me See Dharma Power
Mindfulness Nenbutsu
Anytime & Anywhere
Driving, Dish-Washing, Eating, Making
Coffee, Vacuuming, Bathroom,
Showering, Walking. . .
Mechanism of
Nembutsu
of Wisdom
Stream of Consciousness
⇒ ANGER
怒り
NAMANDAA
ナ
マ
ン
ダ
ー
⇒ ⇒
ANGER
怒り
NAMANDAA
ナ
マ
ン
ダ
ー
ANGER
怒り
Shinran Shonin
「智慧の念仏」
『正像末和讃』
“Awakening Nenbutsu”
“Nenbutsu of Wisdom”
“Nenbutsu that is Wisdom”
SYLVIA’S DECISION-MAKING
I was driving down the street, needing to get to an appointment. I
noticed this lady in my rear-vision mirror driving in this big suv
weaving in and out of traffic. I was in the left hand lane and I
needed to get into this right -hand lane to turn right. I turned my
blinker on to merge into the middle lane. This lady, instead of
letting me in, sped up and blocked the middle lane. I initially
became upset @ her lack of consideration, even muttering out low
What is the problem w/this lady that couldn’t let me in? Then, I
remembered what I learned in the class that perhaps this lady was
off to the hospital for her child or her husband. I then related,
slowed m/ car down, and let her drive by. My focus turned to
concern for her and the welfare of her family, rather than my focus
on not being able to get into the right hand lane. In the end,
instead of being mad at this lady for a long time, was able to
change my emotional to caring for her.
Seeing at a “NOW” mind
makes a more harmless decision
Na--Man--Da--Bu--
Relationship of
Ego, Wisdom and Happiness
Less Ego
--->
Less Anger
--->
More Options I can See
--->
More Wisdom
--->
More Compassion
--->
Less Harmless Decision
--->
More Happiness
SYLVIA’S DECISION-MAKING
I was driving down the street, needing to get to an
appointment. I noticed this lady in my rear-vision mirror
driving in this big suv weaving in and out of traffic. I was in
the left hand lane and I needed to get into this right -hand
lane to turn right. I turned my blinker on to merge into the
middle lane. This lady, instead of letting me in, sped up and
blocked the middle lane. I initially became upset @ her lack
of consideration, even muttering out low What is the
problem w/this lady that couldn’t let me in? Then, I
remembered what I learned in the class that perhaps this
lady was off to the hospital for her child or her husband. I
then related, slowed m/ car down, and let her drive by. My
focus turned to concern for her and the welfare of her family,
rather than my focus on not being able to get into the right
hand lane. In the end, instead of being mad at this lady for a
long time, was able to change my emotional to caring for
Buddhist Analysis of Mechanism of Decision-Making
More Positive Residue
(Joy, Happiness, Calmness,
Sense of Security,
Peacefulness, Serenity,
Relaxedness. . )
Less Harmful Action
to
Self / Others / Both
New Data by the Contact
Sense Organ ---- Sense Object
(Eye, Ear…) ------ (Form, Sound…)
Sensation
Pleasant or Unpleasant
Comfortable or Uncomfortable
Like or Dislike
(Argue, Fight, Steal, Kill. . . )
Small “I” （Ego）
Decision Making
Less Holding Onto One’s Own
Interprets &
Conceptualizes
One’s Own Sensation
Smaller
Idea, Thought, View, Belief,
Opinion, Judgment …
Attachment / Greed
Anger / Hatred
Ignorance / Confusion
Association
Rationalization
Thinking
Justification
Reasoning
With One’s Own
Accumulated Data
(Memories, Thinking Pattern, etc)
HANGAN
半眼