1. 2012 Ekoji Fall O-Higan Seminar Buddhism & Day-to-Day Decision Making Shoyo Taniguchi, Ph.D.

2. 0 ------------------------ 35 ------------------------------80- Siddhartha Buddha Enlightenment “Supreme Happiness” “Abundant Joy” “No Anger/Hatred” “No Attachment/Greed” “No Confusion/Ignorance” PERFECT DECISION MAKER AUTONOMOUS DECISION MAKER *We, common and ordinary people, are able to improve their decision makings.

3. Buddha’s Mission Statement “Go forth, O disciples, for the good of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, benefit, and happiness of gods and people.”

5. Life is “Stressful” Finance / Job / Marriage / Children / Parents / Siblings / In-Laws / Relatives / Friends / Boss / Report / Relationship /...

6. Dukkha Stress / Anxiety / Worry / Fear / Tension Depression / Confusion / Frustration / Irritation / Disappointment …

7. Richard’s Decision Making My wife says I yell at her too much. Today she sent me en E-mail in which she was implying that I had failed to do something important, and where did I put the checks? Somewhat upset, I sent back an E-mail TELLING HER THAT I HAD DONE IT 2 DAYS AGO, AND THE CHECKS WERE WHERE I TOLD HER LAST WEEKEND! My E-mail was in ALL caps. She wrote back in an E-mail, and her first sentence was: “You didn’t have to yell!”

8. General Formula of Causal Conditionality When A is present, B is present; From the arising of A, B arises; When A is absent, B is absent; On the cessation of A, B ceases.

9. Buddha’s Law (Dharma) 1. Discovery 2. Observation of reality (phenomenon) as it is. 3. Replicable by us (others) 4. To be examined, tested & investigated 5. Enable us to do something new that was impossible before (* Nirvana)

10. Buddha’s Law 1. Applicable to both the material and mental worlds 2. Four lines covers all (On and Off) 3. Completed 2500 years ago 4. Leads to the “Supreme Happiness,” “Abundant Joy,” Reduction/Elimination of Dukkha, Highest Wisdom and Compassion

11. Six Characteristics of Dharma: (The Law of Causal Conditionality) 1. well-taught or well spoken 2. can be seen in this life itself 3.Timeless 4.inviting investigation (or falsifiable) 5.leading onward 6.to be verified by the wise by and for him/herself D. II. 217: D. III. 5; D. III. 227; S. I. 9; S. IV. 41; S. IV. 272; V. 343; A. I. 156; A. II. 198.

12. D harma (The Law of Causal Conditionality) Buddha-Dharma * Simsapa Forest

13. Buddha applied the Law solely to solve the problem of suffering & pain Buddha’s Great Vow “Happiness of all living beings”

14. Oak Tree Water (H 2 O) Lung Cancer... Always, Necessarily, Without Exception True? SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease and Emphysema.” True?

15. Causal Conditionality of Behavior “When Ego is present, Dukkha is present; From the arising of Ego, Dukkha arises; When Ego is absent, Dukkha is absent; On the cessation of Ego, Dukkha ceases.” Law (Dharma): Always, Necessarily, Without Exception We are invited to test and see it!

17. Buddha’s Analysis of Cognition my sense organ sense object my consciousness my eye form ----------> my visual consciousness my ear sound ------> my auditory consciousness my nose smell -------> my olfactory consciousness my tongue taste ------> my gustatory consciousness my skin tangible --------> my tactile consciousness my brain concept -----------------> my consciousness “World” Only 18 factors

18. Self-centeredness (I, My, Me, Mine) Is Caused & Conditioned by a contact of My sense organ & a sense object.

19. Buddhist Analysis of Mechanism of Decision-Making Negative Residue (Stress, Worry, Fear, Regret, Guilt, Anxiety, Sadness, Frustration.. ) Harmful Action to Self / Others / Both (Argue, Fight, Steal, Kill... ) Decision Making Holding Onto One ’ s Own Idea, Thought, View, Belief, Opinion, Judgment … Association With One ’ s Own Accumulated Data (Memories, Thinking Pattern, etc) New Data by the Contact Sense Organ ---- Sense Object (Eye, Ear…) ------ (Form, Sound…) Sensation Pleasant or Unpleasant Comfortable or Uncomfortable Like or Dislike “ I ” （ Ego ） Interprets & Conceptualizes One ’ s Own Sensation 3 Poor D.M. Factors Attachment / Greed Anger / Hatred Ignorance / Confusion Rationalization Thinking Justification Reasoning

20. Our Action Is Not an Action It is Reaction STREAM OF ACTIONS (DECISION MAKINGS)

21. SENSATION → → → EMOTION 1. Pleasant Sensation: “I” feel it good → → “I” Like it → → “I” am ATTACHED to it / GREEDY of it → → 2. Unpleasant Sensation: “I” feel it unpleasant → → “I” Dislike it → → “I” feel ANGER / HATRED to it → → 3. Neither Pleasant nor Unpleasant Sensation: “I” feel neither pleasant nor unpleasant → → “I” feel Neither Like Nor Dislike → → “I” am COMFUSED /IGNORE it → →

22. Self-centeredness (I, Me, Mine, My) *group photo dangerous & unbeneficial to oneself, to others, to both It results in Dukkha.

23. “All phenomenon that arose being caused and conditioned is by nature withering away, passing away, fading away, coming to an end.” (S. II. 26.) “Whatever is of the nature to arise, all that is of the nature to stop.” (Vinaya. IV.) Ego is caused and conditioned. It can be reduced and destroyed.

24. Self Check List of Decision Making 1.Roots of Action:More Selfish? Less Selfish? Anger / Greed / Ignorance 2.Nature of Action:More Harmful? Less Harmful? 3.Residue of Action:Negative? (regret, fear... ) Positive? (joy, happiness... )

25. Buddhism is all about how to deal with this Ego. Ego is NOT sin. Ego is NOT evil. Ego is NOT bad. How to be a good friend of Ego.

26. Relationship between Self-centeredness & Stress Self-centeredness ⇆ Stress 50% Down50% Down 50% up50% up Simultaneous & Relational

27. 8 Worldly Conditions Success --- Failure Pleasure --- Pain Gain --- Loss Praise --- Blame

28. Stress Caused and Conditioned: Can be reduced and destroyed. Less stressful, happier and more joyful life is possible.

29. Key of Decision-making LEAST HARMFUL (available)

30. What Harms Me Most? My Own Ego Anger/Hatred Greed/Attachment Ignorance/Confusion

31. Three Kinds of Information 1. External Information Information of the subject matter 2.Internal Information Information of the decision-maker’s mental state 3. Causal Information Information of relationship between decision & its end-result

32. See Your Mind at the Moment of Decision-making Na--Man--Da--Bu--

33. Get Internal Information of your Mind. Be your own psychoanalyst & Be your own psychotherapist Na--Man--Da--Bu--

34. Don’t let ANGER Hijack your brain. Don’t let ANGER make you decision. Don’t let STRESS Hijack your brain. Don’t let STRESS make a decision. Be Autonomous Don’t make a decision when you are angry. Wait for a second.

35. Mechanism of MINDFULNESS Stream of Consciousness ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒

36. DON’T JUDGE OR/AND PUNISH YOURSELF: JUST SEE YOURSELF AS YOU ARE １. Don’t be upset with your anger. ２.Don’t give you a minus when you are angry. ３.Tell yourself, “It is O.K. that I don’t feel O.K.” ４.Forgive yourself. ５.Have more realistic ideal: “How soon I can recover from anger.” ６.Realize: “Whatever arises passes away.” ７.Tell anger, “Don’t leave me. Stay with me.” Anger will not stay and go away. ８.When you don’t have negative feelings, see that you don’t have them.

38. Mindfulness Nenbutsu Anytime & Anywhere Driving, Dish-Washing, Eating, Making Coffee, Vacuuming, Bathroom, Showering, Walking...

40. Shinran Shonin 「智慧の念仏」 『正像末和讃』 “Awakening Nenbutsu” “Nenbutsu of Wisdom” “Nenbutsu that is Wisdom”

41. SYLVIA’S DECISION-MAKING I was driving down the street, needing to get to an appointment. I noticed this lady in my rear-vision mirror driving in this big suv weaving in and out of traffic. I was in the left hand lane and I needed to get into this right -hand lane to turn right. I turned my blinker on to merge into the middle lane. This lady, instead of letting me in, sped up and blocked the middle lane. I initially became upset @ her lack of consideration, even muttering out low What is the problem w/this lady that couldn’t let me in? Then, I remembered what I learned in the class that perhaps this lady was off to the hospital for her child or her husband. I then related, slowed m/ car down, and let her drive by. My focus turned to concern for her and the welfare of her family, rather than my focus on not being able to get into the right hand lane. In the end, instead of being mad at this lady for a long time, was able to change my emotional to caring for her.

42. Seeing at a “NOW” mind makes a more harmless decision Na--Man--Da--Bu--

43. Relationship of Ego, Wisdom and Happiness Less Ego ---> Less Anger ---> More Options I can See ---> More Wisdom ---> More Compassion ---> Less Harmless Decision ---> More Happiness

44. SYLVIA’S DECISION-MAKING I was driving down the street, needing to get to an appointment. I noticed this lady in my rear-vision mirror driving in this big suv weaving in and out of traffic. I was in the left hand lane and I needed to get into this right -hand lane to turn right. I turned my blinker on to merge into the middle lane. This lady, instead of letting me in, sped up and blocked the middle lane. I initially became upset @ her lack of consideration, even muttering out low What is the problem w/this lady that couldn’t let me in? Then, I remembered what I learned in the class that perhaps this lady was off to the hospital for her child or her husband. I then related, slowed m/ car down, and let her drive by. My focus turned to concern for her and the welfare of her family, rather than my focus on not being able to get into the right hand lane. In the end, instead of being mad at this lady for a long time, was able to change my emotional to caring for her.

45. Buddhist Analysis of Mechanism of Decision-Making More Positive Residue (Joy, Happiness, Calmness, Sense of Security, Peacefulness, Serenity, Relaxedness.. ) Less Harmful Action to Self / Others / Both (Argue, Fight, Steal, Kill... ) Decision Making Less Holding Onto One ’ s Own Idea, Thought, View, Belief, Opinion, Judgment … Association With One ’ s Own Accumulated Data (Memories, Thinking Pattern, etc) New Data by the Contact Sense Organ ---- Sense Object (Eye, Ear…) ------ (Form, Sound…) Sensation Pleasant or Unpleasant Comfortable or Uncomfortable Like or Dislike Small “ I ” （ Ego ） Interprets & Conceptualizes One ’ s Own Sensation Smaller Attachment / Greed Anger / Hatred Ignorance / Confusion Rationalization Thinking Justification Reasoning

46. HANGAN 半 眼