01/7Buddha’s timeless teachings
Buddha Poornima, also called Buddha Jayanti or Vesak, is a day when devotees of Gautam Buddha celebrate his birth, enlightenment, and death. It is an important day for people who follow Buddhism to reflect upon Gautam Buddha’s teachings and follow his spiritual path to enlightenment. As we celebrate Buddha Poornima on May 23, 2024, here we list down six resolutions one can consider taking on this important day.
by TOI Lifestyle Deskreadmore
02/7Practice meditation and live mindfully
Inspired by Gautam Buddha’s teachings, one can practice incorporating meditation and mindfulness into their daily life. This would help them stay calm amidst the stress and chaos of day-to-day life. It would also help them be more connected with themselves and live in the present moment– both of which would ultimately lead to happiness and inner peace.
03/7 Practice compassion and be kind to everyone
It’s truly said, ‘Service to mankind, is service to God’. Practicing Buddha’s teachings of being more compassionate and kind to others would ultimately make one feel connected to others. Practicing selfless acts of kindness would also make one feel happy in return. Practicing compassion and kindness can be done by volunteering, helping people in need, or just by being more empathetic and understanding towards others.
04/7Adopt a Satvik diet
One can follow Buddha’s principle of Ahimsa and non-violence by following a vegetarian or vegan diet (also called the Satvik diet). Even if it is practiced for just one day on Buddha Poornima, one’s conscious choice of having a vegetarian diet can help reduce harm to animals and the environment– which Buddha actively advocated.
05/7 Become a student of life
In order to attain enlightenment just like Buddha and grow on the spiritual path, one can commit to lifelong learning and self-improvement. This can include reading more about Buddha’s teachings, attending spiritual workshops and Buddhism classes, and more.
06/7Practice gratitude and contentment
One can also consciously practice gratitude and contentment in their daily life, as taught by Buddha. To do this one needs to have a positive mindset and be thankful for what they have in life. One can also keep a gratitude journal and regularly reflect on the positive aspects of their life. Striving to be content with whatever one has instead of constantly seeking more can also help one lead a happy life.
07/7Give up on attachments and materialist life
In order to be happy, one can also try to practice Buddha’s teaching of living with detachment and not being too materialistic in life. Work towards reducing material possessions as this would lead to lower desires and more contentment in life. This can be done by decluttering one’s living space, living a simple life, and focusing more on experiences and deeper connections with others rather than material goods.
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