| estern world has taken a great interest in Eastern | | | | A drop melting into the sea, everyone can see. |
| philosophy. Whether your interest was sparked by | | | | But the sea absorbed into a drop — only a |
| trying to escape the rat race or from watching a | | | | rare one can follow! |
| “Kung Fu” rerun, there is much to | | | | Gautama Siddhartha (Buddha) was a spiritual |
| learn from an alternate tradition. While there are | | | | teacher from ancient India on whose teachings |
| many great teachers to learn from, here is a | | | | Buddhism was founded. In Buddhist tradition, he is |
| small selection to start your journey. | | | | regarded as the Supreme Buddha of our age. |
| Sheikh Farid (or Farīduddīn | | | | "Buddha" means "the enlightened one." Most early |
| Mas'ūd) was a Sufi poet from Punjab. His | | | | 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 |
| writings were so popular in that region that they | | | | BCE to 483 BCE. Meditate on the following |
| became an important part of the Sikh religion | | | | thoughts from the Buddha to give you some |
| which developed there later. Below is a mythical | | | | perspective on learning: |
| conversation from the Sikh Guru Nanak to Baba | | | | Do not believe in anything simply because you |
| Farid. Notice that reflecting his master's words | | | | have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply |
| enhances both the student and the teacher. | | | | because many say it. Do not believe in anything |
| Farid: Separated from God, my body burns like an | | | | simply because it is found written in your religious |
| oven, My bones burn like firewood. To meet the | | | | books. |
| Beloved I would walk until my feet were tired, | | | | Do not believe in anything simply on the authority |
| Then I would walk on my head. [Guru Nanak | | | | of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in |
| comments:] You need not burn yourself like an | | | | traditions because they have been handed down |
| oven, need not inflame your bones. Why torture | | | | for many generations. But after observation and |
| your poor limbs? Behold the spirit in yourself. | | | | analysis, when you find that anything agrees with |
| Nanak says, I search for my Friend, but my | | | | reason and is for the good and benefit of one and |
| Friend is already with me. | | | | all, then accept it and live up to it. |
| Another great teacher is Kabir, a highly respected | | | | This is only a beginning point for the many |
| Benares (today: Varanasi) spiritualist whose | | | | thoughts and philosophies in this world for you to |
| inspiring couplets promoted both Sufi and Bhakti | | | | reflect on and to learn from. Open your mind to |
| philosophies. He promoted meditation and thought | | | | the teachings of Eastern spiritual leaders and |
| instead of rituals and idol worship. His poems are | | | | visionaries and you will be rewarded as you |
| known for their clever analogies, even daring to | | | | compare them to those of the Western world. |
| use irony or satire to promote moral pacifism and | | | | These teachings are only guidance though |
| purity. Consider this quote from Kabir where he | | | | – you must do the thinking for yourself. |
| encourages you to reverse a common metaphor: | | | | |