Celebrating Vesak Day. Many consider Buddhism a practice not a religion. Mindfulness combines many components of psychology: cognitive restructuring, emotion identification and regulation, sensation and perception, and even an understanding of the unconscious mind to mention a few. The story of Buddha is an interesting one applicable to everyday life. Compassion, informed, active, and assertive, as the basis for our actions is desperately needed in this world. I do not consider myself a Buddhist but I have found the practice of mindfulness to be very helpful and have integrated it into classes. One of my favorite quotes attributed to him is:
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conductive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”