How can I be a practical Buddhist?

Question

Buddhism appeals to me on many levels. But as a newcomer there is something I don't understand. If so much of it is detachment, non attachment to the result/success/outcome, then why bother to do anything? My family is very externally driven and worldly-attached and I have always felt like an outsider. Thoughts?

Answer 1

Unfortunately we live in a materialistic world and a person's worth is many times defined by what he/she has (money, status). We still have to do a lot of things whether or not we like it in order to live in this kind of world. Many times we also have to encounter a lot of ignorant behaviors from others. All these kind of situations that we experience a lot of times can unbalance our mind and we become frustrated, sad, angry, etc.
This is why Buddha teaches non-attachment, the middle path (balance), meditation, etc . It's a tool for us to handle the negative energy in our environments that can easily throw us off balance.
Once you are out of balance, you'll feel negative. If you are able to maintain the balance within no matter what happens, then you can remain at peace with yourself all times.
This really doesn't mean that you shouldn't do anything and not be motivated. It's more like using a different mind set to approach the things in life, in the things that you do. For example, if you are in a soccer team playing a game, instead of worrying too much about the outcome of the game, you can approach it differently by just doing the best that you can and just enjoy the experience. This way, whatever the outcome is, you will not loose your balance. Whether you win or not, you are still at peace with yourself.
We can't control a lot of things that happen, but we can approach things differently by changing our perception. Perception is our reality. What we perceive is what we believe.
I really recommend that you go to a Buddhism meditation center. http://www.dhamma.org/ They have meditation centers all over USA and the world. You'll be able to learn more about Buddhism.

Answer 2

To my understanding...

Non attachment, as it pertains to your question, isn't about not having a motivation to an outcome. It's about not being stubborn about the outcome.

An example is a painter who has an idea of what he wants to paint, but ends up modifying it, or changing it drastically during the process of painting. This painter was not attached.

Jazz musicians live by non attachment. In their practicing, they have to be attached to practicing scales, etc... After their mastering of the instrument through practice , they can just wail away in a non attached way, changing and improvising with the rhythm section.

I would not equate goals with attachment.
I would equate stubbornness with attachment.
I'm not sure if it pertains to your question, but I would also equate association of personal status (ego) to a predetermined outcome with attachment. Kind of like a "winner", "loser" mentality".

that's my best answer for now. Thanks for asking.

Answer 3

Attachment in this case refers to greed, or fear of loss. Have you seen Star Wars? George Lucas adopted plenty of eastern philosophy. The Jedi strove not to be attached: They would help their fellow man & seek peace. But Anakin Skywalker became attached to Amidala, resulting in his turn to the dark side. It was not love, but fear of losing the one he loved, that turned him. Jedi were not attached to material possesions because they knew attachment led to sufering, hence the sparse lifestyle of the Jedi. Yet they definitely led active & important lives. I suggest reading from cover to cover the Dhammapada, THE buddhist book on such questions. But remember, Buddhism is a guide, a way of life, where you must seek your own answers as well...

Answer 4

You need to make a choice.

Do you want peace or the chaos these ideas seen to bring?

Love and blessings Don

Answer 5

How can you be a practical Buddhist -
I quess just don't spend too much of your budget on those little belly statues, or you could buy them in Delaware, because there isn't any sales tax there.