Buddhists insist on the idea that we can only be happy if we achieve inner peace. This can be achieved by following a few simple rules that have to do with knowing how to accept, love and give.
Last update: February 07, 2021
Buddhism is a peaceful philosophy in which human happiness takes center stage. However, unlike Westerners, Buddhists do not believe that happiness is a state of contentment or excitement. Quite the opposite. For there to be happiness, there must first be inner peace. And to achieve this, it is necessary to follow the five rules of well-being.
These are based on the so-called poisons of life, that is, feelings and situations that take over the human being, invade him and do not leave him alone. These poisons are hatred, distress, pride, selfishness and greed.
The welfare rules according to Buddhism are intended to expel these five poisons from life. As long as they are inside us, just as a poison would do, they intoxicate us with harmful emotions, which ultimately go against us. If we wish to achieve inner peace, then, we must observe these rules.
"Rejoice because every place is here and every moment is now."
-Buddha-
The rules of well-being according to Buddhism
1. Free the heart from hatred
Hate is a complex and intense feeling. It is composed of anger, rejection, resentment and aversion, among others. For this reason it is also a very invasive sensation that ends up permeating our way of seeing the world. We cannot be well as long as there is hatred in our heart.
It is therefore necessary to free the heart from hatred. Obviously that's easier said than done. To achieve this, a strong dose of empathy is required.
It is about looking at who we hate with compassion, trying to understand their flaws and limitations. This allows us to forgive and stop hating.
2. Free your mind from worries
Worries are an anxious anticipation of the future. In other words, we expect something unpleasant, painful, distressing to happen. It is not a rational perspective. If it were, we would simply look for the means to avert the looming risk.
The best way to free your mind from worries is to immerse yourself in the present. Instead of thinking about what might happen, we should rather focus on making the present moment the best it can be. This not only calms the distress, but also fuels a feeling of self-empowerment and self-control.
3. Avoid pride
One of the most paradoxical aspects of pride and arrogance is that they make those who feel them vulnerable. This happens because those who feel superior to others are more prone to feel frustration at any mistake they make. He is also a victim of flattery and feels humiliated by criticism.
Taking oneself too seriously only causes discomfort. This malaise can be avoided if we are humble enough to understand that our whole life will not be enough for us to learn everything we would like or to achieve all the goals we aspire to. Without pride, life is lighter.
4. Learning to give, one of the rules of well-being
According to Buddhism, one of the rules of well-being is to learn to act generously. This virtue is typical of those who have self-confidence and want to eliminate suffering from their own life and that of loved ones. Those who are generous enrich themselves, in whatever context they find themselves.
Giving is a form of personal power. Those who give themselves and their hearts feel stronger. It expands its being and is a generator of well-being. Eventually he will reap wealth for himself and those around him.
5. Accept more and expect less
One of the most important welfare rules for Tibetan Buddhism is learning to accept each of the experiences that come our way. Every person and every situation that enters our life brings with it a gift. However, we are not always able to recognize it.
If instead of denying or rejecting what happens to us, we take a learning attitude, our well-being will increase. Mostly, we will be able to reverse the negative events, turning them into a source of growth.
The rules of well-being according to Tibetan Buddhism are a catalog of life. Sometimes we complicate existence, without any need. These rules remind us that, after all, it is enough to live with simplicity, humility and a good attitude towards oneself and others.
