Modern Buddhism is perfectly suited for inspiring those seeking solutions within Buddhism to problems of everyday life, as well as for encouraging practitioners of all faiths to deepen their understanding and practice of the spiritual path. This book reveals how to build a foundation for the spiritual path, how to progress on that path and how to complete it. With compassion and wisdom we can solve all our daily problems and accomplish the real meaning of our human life, and like two wings of a bird they will enable us to reach enlightenment quickly.
Beginning with a general explanation of Buddhism, the author presents meditations such as the preciousness of our human life, our death, and karma (our actions and their effects) that make us look beyond our immediate needs and wishes. The ‘four noble truths’ of Buddhism are explained in a way that encourages us to look at the causes of suffering within ourselves and by removing them experience lasting freedom from suffering, known in Buddhism as ‘nirvana’.
Through presenting meditations on developing love and compassion the author shows us how to develop a heartfelt concern for the happiness of others, and how we apply this practically in our daily lives. By doing this we experience immediate benefit in our own lives: ‘If we cherish others, we shall always have good relationships and live in harmony with others, and our daily life will be peaceful and happy. We can begin this practice with our family, friends and those around us, and then gradually we shall develop and maintain cherishing love for all living beings without exception.’
‘…The immediate effect of cherishing others will be that many of our daily problems, such as those that arise from anger, jealousy and selfish behaviour, will disappear, and our mind will become calm and peaceful.’ However, to uproot the underlying causes of our problems, and to increase our capacity to benefit others, we also need wisdom that sees the way things actually exist. Developing this wisdom means looking behind the way things ordinarily appear: ‘Like a mirage that appears to be water but is not in fact water, things appear in a deceptive way. Not understanding their real nature we are fooled by appearances, and grasp at books and tables, bodies and worlds as truly existent. The result of grasping at phenomena in this way is that we develop self-cherishing, attachment, hatred, jealousy and other delusions, our mind becomes agitated and unbalanced, and our peace of mind is destroyed. We are like travellers in a desert who exhaust themselves running after mirages.’ Even an initial understanding of the way things exist will bring immediate benefit to our lives, and by improving this wisdom we shall destroy the ignorance that lies at the root of all our suffering and confusion.
A clear explanation of Buddhist Tantra is also given, showing its importance and connection with basic Buddhist ideas, and how even profound Tantric practices can be applied in everyday life. In this way Modern Buddhism reveals how all aspects of Buddhism – from the most basic to the most profound – can be applied practically to solve our daily problems and experience deeper inner peace and happiness