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Living Arts
Share the Way
“However many holy words you read,
However many you speak,
What good will they do you
If you do not act upon them?
Give up the old ways—passion, enmity, folly.
Know the truth and find peace. Share the way.”
– Dhammapada: Sayings of the Buddha
Buddha said, “Share the way.” What does this mean? In the context that Buddha spoke the words, it is usually understood to signify “share the Path” or “teach.” However, we can interpret this statement more broadly and find that this recommendation is quite relevant for us all.
What “share the way” does not mean is to become some kind of zealous missionary. Some time ago, I ran into an old acquaintance who looked happy and smiled as we approached each other on the street. It was clear that she was fairly bursting to tell me something and I encouraged her by asking how she was doing and by commenting on how happy she looked. “Well,” she said, “I joined this group.” She proceeded to tell me about a spiritual organization she had joined, and how it had changed her life. “That’s excellent news,” I responded sincerely. “Congratulations.” Then she began to explain how she knew now that anyone who was not involved in this particular organization was not living the life they could or should be. She expressed to me that everyone on Earth should eventually follow the specific life methodology she had discovered, or they would never find success or happiness.
It was a shame that her enthusiasm shined under the cloud of this belief. Obviously, her idea of “sharing the way,” was to tell everyone that the path she had chosen to follow was the only path anyone should pursue if they were halfway intelligent. This is called egotism. A particular spiritual path appeared to work wonderfully for this woman, but that does not mean it is the appropriate approach for another. Thinking that what works for you is what must work for others reflects, quite simply, a lack of compassion. It is the absence of appreciation for another person’s unique circumstances, needs and desires. It is the inability to see life from another’s perspective. With this attitude, everyone else’s suffering becomes merely a reflection of one’s own, seen through a mirror, rather than a lens.
This is truly the opposite of what Buddha was suggesting through his teaching to “share the way.” In fact, the teaching is an instruction to share your heart—not your particular life choices. He was encouraging his disciples to share what they had each gained from the way, but not necessarily the exact steps they took to achieve their goals, which might be specific to their own individual needs.
There’s an old proverb that says, “There are many paths up the mountain. And they all have the same view of the noonday sun.”
It is monumentally important not to assume that the specific path your feet followed will be in another’s best interests. It is also important not to be so egotistical as to believe that the methodology you discovered is the only way to achieve a particular goal.
No, what Buddha’s teaching suggests is that we should share not just our efforts, but the fruits of our efforts.
For example, if you are feeling especially happy and fulfilled one day as you are paying for your groceries, why not compliment the cashier? Look her in the eye, smile at her and say, “thank you” genuinely as she hands you your change. How many people do you think have shared such kindness with her throughout her day? Answer: probably not enough.
Sharing joy doesn’t even need words. To succeed at this exercise we don’t need to convince anyone of anything. We can just be one less selfish, greedy, moody person in a particular place and time.
If you have discovered a spiritual path, a teacher, or even a restaurant, movie, or book that really rocked your world, it is fine to recommend it to another. But more importantly, if an experience made you happier, wiser or stronger, then what you should endeavor to do is share your happiness, wisdom, and strength with others. You can do this just by putting your hand on a friend’s shoulder at the right time. Or stopping, when you happen to be in a rush, to help a frustrated associate pick up a stack of papers that went flying after he tripped on his way down the hall.
Now, if you decide to teach spiritual exercises that worked for you, that’s fine. You just need to be very clear that you are offering one route “up the mountain” (out of a potentially infinite number of other kinds) that you know to be successful at producing a particular set of results.
This is the essence of humility, another of Buddha’s—and many other great prophets’—classic teachings. You see, if we believe an experience we have had is somehow superior to experiences others have had, then by associating ourselves with the source of this experience, we can begin to believe that we are superior to others as individuals. This sets up an inherent “us and them” duality that is the antithesis of any pursuit of spiritual attainment or personal growth.
Extreme Buddhism is a Way, one of many wonderful Ways an individual can follow to attain Enlightenment. It is founded in the principles of advanced tantric Buddhist mysticism and it is for those unusual seekers who wish to become liberated in a single incarnation. Attaining freedom in one lifetime, when it might normally require thousands of lifetimes of dedicated spiritual discipline, obviously requires an extreme level of focus and will. We say this path is “harder, faster and more outrageous” because you might find yourself doing things you never would have imagined as you strive to peel away layers of ego and attachment so quickly and ruthlessly.
There are always concerns—usually from those who only see the name Extreme Buddhism but have not explored its teachings—that one cannot be extreme and still follow Buddha’s Middle Way. In fact, the Middle Way refers to moderation in practices, not depth or intensity of the journey. For example, as Buddha discovered, fasting until you are too weak to meditate doesn’t lead to enlightenment. It only allows an immature seeker to prove to others how “devout” he is. Instead, it is useful to eat enough for strength, but at the same time, not to overeat so that it becomes an exercise in indulgence. The “Extreme” practitioner would go deeply into the act of eating, seeing the food as a manifestation of the Divine, experiencing waves of God consciousness from the taste and sensation of every morsel that passes his lips. This is the meaning of Extreme—not too much or too little, but rather, deep and rich. It is the razor’s edge, experienced in high-definition 3D surround sound.
Extreme Buddhism is like going out on high seas in a sailboat in rushing wind, sails tight and full, boat keeling on edge, a fine point between sailing and sinking, while you cut clean and fast across the water.
How fast can you go? How far can you go? It all depends upon how tightly you can hold those sails, how surgically you can balance the weight of the boat on its edge, and how long you can hang on like that, gripping the sides, wind-whipped and wet. Is it exhilarating and terrifyingly joyful, or cold, miserable and pressure-filled? That’s up to the sailor and crew. It’s not for everyone and there are other ways to get to the far side of the world. It’s a choice. But if it is the choice for you, one thing is certain: Your journey will be rapid, a bit wild, and never, ever dull.
Will this practice work for everyone? Of course not. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to. In fact, it is both exciting and enriching to celebrate the many colorful, fascinating pathways to higher consciousness we have the privilege to know about and pursue, even though we may have chosen to travel only one.
Most importantly, any seeker in any discipline—but without question in Extreme Buddhism—must cultivate a hearty sense of humor. It is generally when you start to take yourself too seriously that you begin to look critically upon other people and other Ways.
People who are interested in evolution and self-discovery are generally seeking to recognize Eternity within themselves, and of course, to then experience the wisdom, peace and bliss that this realization brings. There is no such thing in a true seeker’s mind as “my way” and “their way,” with one superior and one inferior. There is only The Way, the one Way: Life. What difference does it make how we experience Life, as long as we allow Life to teach us? What difference does it make how these teachings guide us, as long as they lead us to the profound Truths we are seeking? It is the Truths we have realized that Buddha encourages us to share. How? By offering the best of ourselves and the fruit of our best efforts to whomever crosses our path—quietly, simply, sincerely, and with great humility.
“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” - H. Jackson Browne
Experience Extreme Buddhism : The Shortest Path for the Darkest Age - Harder, Faster, More Outrageous at JW Marriott San Francisco December 11 and 12. For more information on Extreme Buddhism, visit extremebuddhism.org or view their page on Facebook.