What is The Nature of Reality in Buddhist Teachings?

Buddhism promotes compassion and altruism, and the nature of reality in Buddhism is that there is no separateness of things. Reality is caused by the way people think and by their actions. It is not possible to be truly happy and free of suffering if we think and act in ways that will cause those around us to be harmed. Because there is no separateness, our negative thoughts and actions toward others adversely affect ourselves as well.

Buddhists believe that everything is constantly evolving, and that our actions as well as our thoughts can have an impact on the world around us. Therefore, it is important to first gain an understanding of the world, so we can behave and think in ways that create positive change.

Siddhartha’s quest for enlightenment involved gaining an understanding of suffering. His thoughts did actually become things - his “awakening” and the subsequent influence he has had on others who wish to live a peaceful and contented life.

As an example: if we think positive thoughts, we are generally happier, and therefore it becomes easier to make a new friend. Our positive thoughts cause us to be motivated to work harder or to study more, so we can become what we desire to be-better in some way. That same motivation could lead to a field of study that allows us to help other people, such as a doctor, a teacher, or even to become a better parent. I think this is how our actions and thoughts can become things, and how those things affect those around us in a positive way. Although my analogy may be simplistic, the basic concept is the same.

Looking within is the first step to living a better life. Buddhists strive to gain an understanding of the world, but that could not be possible unless they have an understanding of themselves first. This rule applies to everyone. Understanding yourself provides a clearer picture of everything around you and it is the very thing that helps to shape your worldview. The way things are perceived has a lot to do with what we think of ourselves, as well as the ways we relate to each other.

Much of our understanding about ‘things’ in general comes with age and maturity. You may have noticed yourself, that the older you get, the more comfortable you are with yourself, and that you no longer worry about trivial matters that once seemed like monumental problems. We need to constantly examine our thoughts so we can see the changes we are making, or how we are evolving in ourselves. These things are often clear to us when we think back to our teens or twenties, but not so obvious if we think about last year, or even the last month. Significant changes can occur in a short space of time if you look back at changes in your life and see them for what they are.

At the time changes take place, the impact they might have in your future can be underestimated. How have your interests changed over the past year, month, or weeks? Have these interests led you to lifestyle changes that may not have otherwise occurred, and were those changes positive?