Your Buttons

I recently read a book by a Buddhist nun, Thubten Chodron. I disagree with Buddhist metaphyical teachings, such as reincarnation, nirvana, and the non-existence of God. But I have found Buddhist teachings on how to be a compassionate person very helpful for someone who wants to follow the Biblical command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

This book, Working with Anger, gives helpful guidance for those who want to recognize the destructive nature of anger--and want to decrease its destructive power.

Here are some principles:

>>>In order to keep people from 'pushing your buttons,' do internal research...learn what your inner sensitivities are and why they are there...learn to reduce your emotional attachments to certain beliefs about how people should act... and allow the buttons to shrink in size. Some people can become so spiritually skillful that their buttons disappear; they can no longer be offended by what other people say.

>>>Close the 'internal courtroom'... Inside of us is a prosecutor, judge, and jury. The more they work, the more anxious we are. Shut down the courtroom! Fire the judge, the jury, and the prosecutor. Give up your need to prove yourself right. If you don't need to prove anything, anger doesn't raise its head.

>>>Deal with false criticism calmly. Millions of people are falsely criticized everyday. It happens. It doesn't matter. Let it go.

>>>View your enemy/critic as your teacher. Our enemies give us the opportunity to practice patience, kindness, and calmness.

>>>Repay hostility with kindness. Easier said than done. But doing so is a form of taking power into your own hands and using it for good.

All of the above are actually Biblical principles. They sound very Jesus-ish. With the help of the Holy Spirit we can put these Buddhist principles into action and become more Christ-like.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for Buddhist guidelines for becoming a more compassionate person. As we follow you and allow you to live through us, keep us from being self-centered and self-righteous. You said: blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. May we be blessed. Amen.