Questions about Buddhism?

Question

I'm on a spiritual path and I'm attempting to learn about Buddhism. I plan to visit a place soon to meditate and ask questions, but in the meantime, I'm carless and at home so I'm having to read about it instead. Anyway, I am reading the book "Awakening the Buddha Within" and I have a few questions about what I'm reading so far. Please answer any or all of them if you are able to.

1) What exactly is a "Bardo"?

2) Is Dharma Buddhist teachings?

3) One of the meditations in the book spoke of achieving "effortlessness" and to my Western mind, that seemed almost impossible, since all forms of being seem to require some form of effort. So how does one achieve "effortlessness"?

and this question hasn't come from the book, but I'm wondering about it anyway:

4) If Buddhism is about being content, how can I possibly be extremely happy, unless I am also able to be extremely sad? However, I want to be able to be as happy as I can, while being unable and unwilling to feel sadness. Do you understand what I mean by the question?

Anyway, thanks for your help and your time.

Answer 1

All I really know about is 4:

It is about being content, whether your life sucks or your life is good. It is not about being 100% happy all the time, it is about satisfied with what you have, and to deal with whatever comes your way in a balanced state of mind...

Content:

1. satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

Answer 2

Since the first 3 were answered above, I'll just tell you my take on number 4. Being "unable and unwilling to feel sadness" is a very Un-Buddhist idea. Maybe read some things by Thich Nhat Hanh. His book on anger is really good - if you replace "anger" with "sadness" you will get some very good ideas.

Thich Nhat Hanh says to acknowledge your emotions, and to treat anger like a little baby. Say hi to it, and try to find out what it needs. It is not the anger (or sadness, as you are asking about) that is "bad," but rather how we react to and deal with it that either advances our Buddha nature or not.

There is no reason to expect to be happy all the time. "Happiness" and "sadness" are just emotional states of being, and do not affect who we truly are. Detach yourself from your emotions, and just observe them. Then you will see that they are just facets of living in this world, and not really all that important.

Answer 3

Greetings,

I'm a Buddhist practitioner and I really like your questions, especially number four.  I'll answer these as best as possible:

Q1:  A bardo means "intermediate state" - whether the state is birth, life, death, etc.  You can read about them by Google search - they can be quite complicated.  The Tibetan Book of the Dead discusses the bardos in great detail.

Q2:  In the context of reading a Buddhist book, dharma is the teachings of the Buddha.  You can translate it as truth (I think that's easiest) - Buddhism is sometimes referred to as Buddha dharma.

Q3:  Effortlessness is achieved through exertion and effort.  To get from one side of the river to the other, it requires a boat or some sort of vessel.  You need effort to achieve effortlessness.

Q4:  You're right with what you say.  Content means being able to handle all situations, and not be swayed by emotions.  Meaning, it's better to be on the beach observing the waves than being thrown around by the waves.  Get it?

I hope this helped.  Take care.