Applying Buddhist principles practically in the daily life

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

MASTER’S OF APPLIED BUDDHISM

A Term Paper

Submitted to

Lotus Research Center

Affiliated to

Lumbini Buddhist University

Lumbini

By

Name: Pragya Shrestha

LBU Reg.No.

June 2020
Applying Buddhist principles practically in the daily life

Abstract: Applying Buddhist principles in the everyday life is following the teachings of
Buddha in daily life. It includes performing the wholesome activities mentioned by Buddha
to make life peaceful, harmonious and happy. The main teachings are practicing ten
meritorious deeds, ten perfection, eight fold noble truth or middle path, etc. As a result many
people get influenced to learn the teachings of Buddha in the world. One does not have to be
Buddhist monk or academicians of Buddhist studies to apply the teachings of Buddha in day
to day life. The Buddhist principles is so practical that we can use in our daily life. This paper
tries to explore about why it is important to apply Buddhism in the daily life, what are the
main teachings of Buddhist, and how it can be applied every day.

Keywords: Daily life, Buddhist, academicians, eightfold path, and ten perfection.

Introduction:
Daily life involves following a daily schedule. It begins in the morning and ends at night. In
between morning to night, people feed themselves, dress up, work (household chores or work
other than household chores), and spend leisure time. The Buddhists follow the teachings of
Buddha in their daily life. The teachings was founded by Siddhartha Gautama after his
enlightenment. It is believed that there are 535 million Buddhists who practice Buddhism.1
Buddhists believe in reincarnation, the cycle of life, death and rebirth, and one can stop this
cycle from attaining enlightenment or Nirvana. Being born, aged, sickness, being elderly and
finally to death is Dukkha (suffering). So, people around the world are motivated to search
for inner peace and feel happy by learning the teachings of Buddha in the university or
institutions or by searching in website. It is good that academician of Buddhist studies or
social science are interested to learn about Buddhism. However, the learning gives fruit only
when people apply practically in their daily life. Buddhism is a very practical religion or
philosophy that helps people to live their lives peacefully. The more one practices the
Buddhist teachings in daily life, the better one’s deep understanding is developed. Therefore,

1
https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/buddhist-countries/ (Retrieved on date May 31, 2020)
the main objectives of this paper is to explore how one, who are not from the Buddhist
background can apply the teachings of Buddha in day to day life. The limitation of this paper
is that it addresses only three Buddhist principles (Catu Arya Satya, Arya astangik marga
and Dasa paramita) among many other teachings. For this, the secondary data such as e-
books, websites and notes from the teachers are used.

The motives to apply Buddhist principles in daily life are to help individual to liberate from
Dukkha (suffering) and aim for peaceful, happy, wholesome deeds (Kusala Karma), make
harmonious interpersonal relationship by understanding self and others. Buddha himself was
Samyaksambuddha (Perfectly and fully awakened one) which means he not only focused on
self but also other. After the enlightenment of Buddha, his first teaching ‘Dhamma Cakka
Pavattana’ (turning the wheel of Dharma) was to his five disciples with an aim of ‘Bahujana
hitaya bahujana sukhaya’ meaning “for the happiness of the many, for the welfare of the
many”2 Therefore, the merit of applying Buddhism is for the happiness, harmony and peace
for self and other.

Among all the teachings, the two main teachings are Catu aryastya (the Four Noble truths),
and Arya astangik marga (the eightfold path or middle path). The four noble truths are
Dukkha (Suffering), Samudaya (Origin of suffering), Nirodha (Cessation of suffering and the
origin of suffering) and Marga (the path that leads to the cessation of suffering and the origin
of suffering). Here, Dukkha refers to the pain, suffering, and dissatisfaction during the entire
life cycle. Dukkha arises as there is cause or origin, namely craving, desire and attachment.
However, there is also cessation of suffering through the Marga and it is the eightfold path.

The eightfold path (Astangik Marga) are right view, right thought, right speech, right action,
right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration. These factors are
grouped as Sila (right speech, right action, right livelihood, and right effort), Samadhi (right
mindfulness and right concentration) and Prajna (Right view, right thought). Generally, right

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahujana_sukhaya_bahujana_hitaya_cha#:~:text=Gautama%20Buddha%20in%
20the%20fifth,Bahujana%20sukhaya%20bahujana%20hitaya%20cha.
view is viewing the things as it is. Here viewing or observing is not only by eyes but by six
doors senses (eye, ear, nose, tongue, skin, and mind). Right thought is to change negative
thought to positive one. Right speech is to tell truth, reconcile the group, speak sweet and talk
meaningful. Right action is do wholesome deeds from body, speech and mind. Right
livelihood is to engage in earning income in practicing right livelihood that do not hamper
the life of self and others. Right effort is to purify physically and mentally not by letting an
unwholesome thought arise or continue, but by making a wholesome thought arise and
continuing it. Right concentration and Right mindfulness are to cultivate mind for purifying.

Keeping these two Buddhist principles in mind, one can apply Dasa paramita (ten
perfection) in daily life. In general, paramita combine words of para (to cross) and mita (to
arrive). So, it indicates to cross the life cycle of suffering and arrive on the path of
Buddhahood. Practicing paramita one can understand not only from surface, but also in-
depth knowledge. It includes Dana (Generosity), Sila (morality), Naiskramya (letting go),
Prajna (wisdom), Virya (energy), Ksanti (patience), Satya (Truthfulness), Adhisthana
(determination), Maitri (kindness), and Upekchhya (equanimity).3 Dana is offering certain
things for the welfare of other. Offering certain things to other is taken as the foundation of
achieving prosperous life in future. In Buddhist sense, developing generosity is to eliminate
craving. Simply, one can give food, clothes, medicine and other to monks and needy people.
Sila is development of morality by observing precepts.4 As per Aryabuddhiphongs, V., &
Jaiwong, D. (2010), the observance of Panchasila (Five precepts) leads to subjective wealth,
and happiness. The five precepts are abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct,
telling lie, and liquor or intoxicants. Similarly, on special occasion like ‘Uposatha Day’ 5, the
lay people can practice to observe ‘eight precepts’ (astasila)6 and practice meditation. The
Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for the cleansing of the defiled (craving, hatred,

3
I have adapted this from the Class Notes of Ten perfection (dasa paramita) from Ms. Urmila Tamrakar,
teacher in Lotus College and Research center, Patan.
4
This is taken from the PowerPoint developed by Dr. Triratna Manandhar, teacher in Lotus College and
Research Center, Patan.
5
It is a day of fasting for a lay people, who may observe by taking eight precepts and worship the Buddha.
6
It includes five precepts and addition three precepts abstaining from taking food at late hour or a meal once
in a day, involving in the entertaining activities or use cosmetics, and using luxurious bed or luxurious life
anger, attachment) mind to have inner calm and joy. 7 In general, ‘not to do any evil; to
cultivate good; to purify one’s heart – this is the teaching of all the Buddha.’ 8 According to
Ian Johnson (2002) the practice of meditation (right concentration and right mindfulness of
eightfold path) is a tool for understanding, personal growth, and change. One can practice
samatha (concentration) by observing incoming and outgoing breathing. Likewise, vipassana
(mindfulness) can be applied by observing body, mind, sensation and phenomena.

Conclusion
In this modern age, any individual who applies Buddhist principles in daily life can bring
peace, happiness, compassion and harmony to self and his/her surroundings. The teachings of
Buddha are very practical that all human beings can practice regardless of being different
religions or different academic degree or no academic knowledge in Buddhism. It helps to
free self and others from anger, craving, and attachment. The Buddhist teachings involves the
Four Noble truths and the eightfold path or middle path to address suffering. The concept of
four noble truths can be applied when one suffers from any kind of problem to find solutions.
Likewise, the practice of meditation every morning, observing five precepts, and eight
precepts can lead us to self-cultivate physically and mentally that result to calm, understand
self and others. This paper has attempted to give only three aspects of Buddhist principles
that can be applied practically in daily life. There are many other Buddhist principles that
could have explored more to be applied every day.

7
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uposatha (Retrieved on date June 5, 2020)
8
https://www.thebuddhistsociety.org/page/fundamental-teachings (Retrieved on date May 31, 2020)
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