Philosophical Thoughts of Buddha for Happy and Healthy Life

Dr. N. Amareswaran*

Mrs. Namreta Panju**

  * Assistant Professor & UGC Research Awardee, Dept. of Education, North-Eastern Hill University,

        Shillong, Meghalaya-793022, Mobile: 9441910359, e-mail: amareswaran@gmail.com

    ** Assistant Professor, DAV College of Education, O/S Beri Gate, Amritsar, Punjab-143001,

         e-mail: namretapanju@gmail.com.

1. Introduction

            Life is beautiful. Everything is in the hands of an individual. Only thing is that to know the right way to see the self. Self awareness, self interest, self motivation, self realization, self appreciation, self actualization, self management, self assessment, and self reliance are very important for happy and healthy life. Many philosophers and spiritual leaders have showed good paths for all human beings to overcome their problems. Gautama Buddha was the prominent philosopher and spiritual leader during 6^th century BC. He had showed a right path for happy and healthy life. His single thought is more valuable than a result of Doctor of Philosophy in the present world. The investigators have tried their best to compile the philosophical thoughts of Gautama Buddha for happy and healthy life.

2. Philosophical Thoughts of Buddha for Happy and Healthy Life

            Buddhism is a way of life. It is not a religion. Anyone can choose this path to lead their life purposefully. All the philosophical thoughts of Buddha are very simple to understand. It really helps a lot for an individual to keep his/her day peacefully. These are the simple ways for happy and healthy life.

Two Things to Remember in Life

1)      Take care of your thoughts when you are alone, and

2)      Take care of your words, when you are with people.

Three Simple Rules in Life

1)      If you do not go after what you want, you will never have it.

2)      If you do not ask, the answer will always be no.

3)      If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place.

Three Things Cannot be Hidden

1)      The sun

2)      The moon, and

3)      The truth

   

Never Forget 3 People in Life

1)      Who helped in difficult times

2)      Who left you in difficult times

3)      Who put you in difficult times

The Four Noble Truths

1)      Ordinary life brings about suffering

2)      The origin of suffering is attachment

3)      The cessation of suffering is attainable

4)      Suffering can cease, by following the Eightfold Path

The Five Rules of Happiness

1)      Don’t Worry

2)      Don’t Hate

3)      Give More

4)      Expect Less

5)      Live Simply

Five Thins You Will Never Recover in Life

1)      A stone after it’s thrown.

2)      A word after it’s said.

3)      An occasion after it’s missed.

4)      Time after it’s gone.

5)      Trust after it’s lost.

The Six Rules of Life

1)      Before you pray…Believe

2)      Before you speak…Listen

3)      Before you spend…Earn

4)      Before you write…Think

5)      Before you quit…Try

6)      Before you die…Live

The Six Rules to be Happy in Life

1)      Never hate

2)      Don’t worry

3)      Live simple

4)      Expect a little

5)      Give a lot

6)      And always smile

The Six Best Doctors

1)      Sunshine

2)      Water

3)      Rest

4)      Air

5)      Exercise, and

6)      Diet

Seven Steps to Happiness

1)      Think Less, Feel More

2)      Frown Less, Smile More

3)      Talk Less, Listen More

4)      Judge Less, Accept More

5)      Watch Less, Do More

6)      Complain Less, Appreciate More

7)      Fear Less, Love More

Eight fold path for a happy life

1)      Right View

2)      Right Intention

3)      Right Speech

4)      Right Action

5)      Right Livelihood

6)      Right Effort

7)      Right Mindfulness

8)      Right Concentration

12 Steps for Self Care

1)      If it feels wrongs, don’t do it.

2)      Say “exactly” what you mean.

3)      Don’t be a people pleaser.

4)      Trust your instincts.

5)      Never speak badly about yourself.

6)      Never give up on your dreams.

7)      Don’t be afraid to say “no”

8)      Don’t be afraid to say “yes”

9)      Be kind to yourself.

10)  Let go of what you can’t control.

11)  Stay away from drama & negativity.

12)  Love.

After self realization through meditation, Gautama Buddha had delivered public speeches for the benefits of common people. His only intention was to share a right knowledge for right purpose. The following philosophical thoughts straight away touches the hearts of all human beings to select their paths for happy and healthy life.

ü  A Good relationship is when someone accepts your past, supports your present, loves you and encourages your future.

ü  A man asked Gautama Buddha, “I want happiness”. Buddha said, first remove “I,” that’s EGO, then remove “WANT,” that’s DESIRE. See now you are left with only “HAPPINESS.”

ü  A positive mind finds opportunity in everything. A negative mind finds faults in everything.

ü  Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.

ü  Acceptance of yourself is far more important than acceptance from others.

ü  All human unhappiness comes from not facing reality squarely, exactly as it is.

ü  All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

ü  All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.

ü  Always be thankful for what you have, many people have nothing.

ü  An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast – a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

ü  Arguing with a fool only proves that there are two.

ü  At the end of the day, I’m at peace, because my intentions are good and my heart is pure.

ü  Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, nor forgotten.

ü  Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.

ü  Be happy. Be yourself. If others don’t like it, then let them be. Happiness is a choice. Life isn’t about pleasing everybody.

ü  Be happy. You don’t know how much time you have left.

ü  Be selective with your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right.

ü  Be strong but not rude. Be kind but not weak. Be bold but not a bully. Be humble but not timid, and be proud but not arrogant.

ü  Before you speak, let you words pass through three gates: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

ü  Begin each day with optimism and end each day with forgiveness. Happiness in life begins and ends within your heart.

ü  Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.

ü  Buddha was asked, what have you gained from meditation? He replied “Nothing! However, let me tell you what I have lost: Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insecurity, fear of old age and death.”

ü  Calm your mind. Life becomes much easier when you keep your mind at peace.

ü  Change is never painful. Only resistance to change is painful.

ü  Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

ü  Don’t blame people for disappointing you. Blame yourself for expecting too much from them.

ü  Don’t carry your mistakes around with you. Instead, place them under your feet and use them as stepping stones to rise above them.

ü  Don’t mix bad words with your bad mood. You will have many opportunities to change your mood, but you will never get the opportunity to replace the words you spoke.

ü  Don’t rush anything. When the time is right, it’ll happen.

ü  Don’t tell people your plans, show them your results.

ü  Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.

ü  Every experience, o matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it.

ü  Every time you resist acting on your emotions, you are rewiring your brain to be calmer.

ü  Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.

ü  Everything you need, your courage, strength, compassion and love; everything you need is already within you.

ü  Falling down is part of life. Getting backup is living.

ü  Family is not about blood. It’s about who is willing to hold your hand when you need it the most.

ü  Forget who hurt you yesterday, but don’t forget those who love you every day. Forget the past that makes you cry and focus on the present that makes you smile. Forget the pain, but never the lessons you gained.

ü  Forgiveness doesn’t excuse their behaviour. Forgiveness prevents their behaviour from destroying your heart.

ü  Give, even if you only have a little.

ü  Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think.

ü  Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. No person will make you happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come to you. It can only come from you.

ü  Happiness is not the absence of problems; it’s the ability to deal with them.

ü  Happiness or sorrow – Whatever falls on you? Walk on untouched, unattached.

ü  Happiness starts with you. Not with your relationships, not with your job, not with your money, but with you.

ü  Happy are those who take life day by day, complain very little, and are thankful for the little things in life.

ü  Happy people build their inner world. Unhappy people blame their outer world.

ü  Happy people focus on what they have. Unhappy people focus on what’s missing.

ü  Honestly, I don’t have time to hate people who hate me, because I’m too busy loin people who love me.

ü  Honesty is a very expensive gift. Don’t expect it from cheap people.

ü  I do not fix my problems. I fix my thinking. The problems fix themselves.

ü  If an egg is broken by outside force, life ends. If broken by inside force, life begins. Great things always begin from inside.

ü  If you are a patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.

ü  If you don’t like where you are, move. You are not a tree.

ü  If you focus on the hurt, you will continue to suffer. If you focus on the lesson, you will continue to grow.

ü  If you truly love yourself, you could never hurt another.

ü  If you want to be strong, learn to enjoy being alone.

ü  If you’re still looking for that one person who will change your life, take a look in the mirror.

ü  It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.

ü  Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.

ü  Learn to work alone. It will make you stronger.

ü  Life is so much simpler when you stop explaining yourself to people and just do what works for you.

ü  Life is the most difficult exam. Many people fail because they try to copy others. Not realizing that everyone has a different question paper.

ü  Love all, trust few. Everything is real, but not everyone is true.

ü  Maturity is learning to walk away from people and situations that threaten your peace of mind, self respect, values, morals and self worth.

ü  Never blame anyone in your life. Good people give you happiness. Bad people give you experience. Worst people give you a lesson and best people give you memories.

ü  Never change your originality for the sake of others. Because no one can play your role better than you. So be yourself. You are the best.

ü  Never explain yourself, your real friends don’t need it, and your enemies won’t believe it.

ü  Never leave a true relation for few faults. Nobody is perfect. Nobody is correct at the end. Affection is always greater than perfection.

ü  Never lost faith in yourself; you can do anything in the universe.

ü  Never regret being a good person to the wrong people. Your behaviour says everything about you, and their behaviour says enough about them.

ü  Never reply when you are angry. Never make a promise when you are happy. Never make a decision when you are sad.

ü  Never search your happiness in others; it will make you feel alone. Search it in yourself; you will feel happy even when you are left alone.

ü  Never stop trying. Never stop believing. Never give up. Your day will come.

ü  No anger inside means no enemy outside.

ü  No one in this world is pure and perfect. If you avoid people for their little mistakes you will always be alone. So judge less and love more.

ü  No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.

ü  Nothing is in control…relax.

ü  Nothing is permanent. Don’t stress yourself too much, because no matter how the bad situation is…..it will change.

ü  Nothing will bring you greater peace than minding your own business.

ü  One day you’ll look back and realize too much about things that don’t really matter.

ü  One of the best lessons you can learn in life is to master how to remain calm.

ü  Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

ü  Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.

ü  People fear what they do not understand.

ü  Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.

ü  Real love is when nothing is expected in return.

ü  Relationship never dies a natural death. They are murdered by Ego, Attitude and Ignorance.

ü  Remembering a wrong is carrying a burden in the mind.

ü  Rule your mind or it will rule you.

ü  Satisfied life is better than successful life. Because our success is measured by others. But our satisfaction is measured by our own soul, mind and heart.

ü  Set your heart just on doing good. Do good over and over again and you will be filled with joy.

ü  Silence is a place of great power and healing.

ü  Silence is better than unnecessary drama.

ü  Silence is not empty. It is full of answer.

ü  Silence is the best answer to someone who doesn’t value your words.

ü  Speak only when you feel that your words are better than your silence.

ü  Speak only when you feel your words are better than the silence.

ü  Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution.

ü  Stop trying to calm the storm. Calm yourself, the storm will pass.

ü  Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success! If you love what you are doing you will be successful.

ü  Sun is alone too, but it still shines.

ü  Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. Break the habit. Talk about your joys.

ü  Thank you, to all the people who walked into my life and made it better. And thanks to those who left my life and made it amazing.

ü  The best apology is changed behavior.

ü  The best revenge is to move on, get over it, and continue to succeed. Never give someone the satisfaction of watching you suffer.

ü  The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

ü  The mind is everything. What you think you become.

ü  The only things making you unhappy are your own thoughts. Change them!

ü  The problem is not the problem. The problem is the incredible amount of over-thinking you are doing with the problem. Let it go and be free.

ü  The problem with closed minded people, is that their mouth is always open.

ü  The root of suffering is attachment.

ü  The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

ü  The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.

ü  The size of your problem is nothing compared with your ability to solve them. Don’t overestimate your problems and underestimate yourself.

ü  The thought manifests as the word; the word manifests as the deed; the deed develops into habit; and habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.

ü  The trouble is, you think you have time.

ü  The way to happiness is: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, give much. Fill your life with love. Do as you would be done by.

ü  There are four important words in life: Love, Honesty, Truth, and Respect. Without these in your life, you have nothing.

ü  There are three solutions to every problem: accept it, change it, or leave it. If you can’t accept it, change it. If you can’t change it, leave it.

ü  There are two ways to be happy: Change your situation, or change your mindset towards it.

ü  There is no path to happiness; happiness is the path.

ü  Time decides who you meet in life, your heart decides who you want in your life, and your behavior decides who stays in your life.

ü  To find peace, sometimes you have to be willing to lose your connection with people, places, and things that create all the noise in your life.

ü  Train your mind to be calm in every situation.

ü  Train your mind to see the good in every situation.

ü  Two things prevent us from happiness, living in the past and observing others.

ü  Understand that your own nothing, everything that surrounds you is temporary, only the love in your heart will last forever.

ü  Use your smile to change the world; don’t let the world change your smile.

ü  What is difference between “I like you” and “I love you”? Beautifully answered by Buddha….when you like a flower, you just pluck it. But when you love a flower, you water it daily. One, who understands this, understands life.

ü  What people think about you is not important. What you think about yourself means everything.

ü  What we think we become.

ü  What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.

ü  When come to a point where you have no need to impress anybody, your freedom will begin.

ü  When mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.

ü  When the ego dies, the soul awakes.

ü  When wrong people leave your life the right things start to happen.

ü  When you focus on problems, you get more problems. When you focus on possibilities, you have more opportunities.

ü  When you let go, you create space for better things to enter your life.

ü  When you wish good for others, good things come back to you. This is the LAW OF NATURE.

ü  Without communication, there is no relationship. Without respect, there is no love. Without trust, there is no reason to continue.

ü  Without rain nothing grows, learn to embrace the storms of your life.

ü  Workout your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

ü  Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace.

ü  You are the first victim of your own anger.

ü  You cannot change the people around you, but you can change the people you choose to be around.

ü  You cannot change the truth, but truth can change you.

ü  You cannot change your future; you can change your habits. And surely your habit will change your future.

ü  You don’t meet people by accident. There’s always a reason. A lesson or a blessing.

ü  You don’t need someone to complete you, you only need someone to accept you completely.

ü  You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.

ü  Your mind is a magnet: If you always think of blessings, you attract more blessings. If you always think of problems, you attract more problems. Always keep good thoughts and always stay positive.

ü  Your problem is not the problem. Your reaction is the problem.

ü  Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.

3. Conclusion

            There are three important things to understand the philosophical thoughts of Gautama Buddha. They are; Self, Thought and Love. Continuous watch of thoughts with love of self is very important for happy and healthy life. Everything is with you only. Nothing is impossible. These philosophical thoughts are very useful for common public in general and students in particular. Simple life is an answer for all types of problems. Try to live simply for happy and healthy life. It is our duty to follow the philosophical thoughts of Buddha for happy and healthy life I the preset highly stressful world.

References

Amareswaran, N. (2012). Buddism and education- The two faces of wisdom. Buddhism and its impact on major religions, social & political institutions (pp. 64-75). Hyderabad: MGNIRSA.

Amareswaran, N. (2013). Moral values in buddhism. Rise, fall and revival of buddhism in India (pp. 82-92). Hyderabad: MGNIRSA.

Buddha. (2018, May 9). Philosophcal thoughts of Buddha for happy and healthy life. Retrieved May 9, 2018, from Printerest: https://in.printerest.com