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Published Aug 10, 2022

Do You Want to Be Happier or Not? | Mushim Patricia Ikeda

Mushim Patricia Ikeda, a renowned teacher at East Bay Meditation Center, delves into the Buddhist principles of impermanence, no-self, and suffering, offering practical strategies for embracing change with gratitude and resilience, while illustrating the transformative power of non-discriminating love and compassion as pathways to true happiness and liberation.
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  • Practical Tips

    and discuss practical strategies for dealing with change. Mushim emphasizes the importance of the Bodhisattva vows and precepts, which guide her daily actions and help her prepare for impermanence. She also highlights the practice of expressing gratitude daily, which fosters resilience and positive change.

    I try to be of help and support to at least one person or one living being every day. And in an emergency situation that wouldn't be impermanent, I hope, is that I would show up and I would try to be of help to myself and to others.

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    These practices, she explains, are not just about helping others but also about creating a more resilient self in the face of inevitable change 1 2.

       

    Personal Reflections

    shares personal reflections on change, emphasizing the importance of preparation and acceptance. She recounts her experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquake preparedness, highlighting the need to be ready for sudden, significant changes. Mushim also discusses the concept of impermanence in Buddhist practice and how it helps in dealing with ruminative thoughts.

    Do I really believe in impermanence? And there might be part of us, if we're honest, that says, I don't want to. No, of course not. I don't want to believe that the person that I'm in love with today may leave me for another person two years from now.

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    By regularly contemplating impermanence, she aims to build resilience and better handle life's inevitable changes 3 4.

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