In my house we have a living stoic philosopher.
He is my father.
I think he is the most well made man in 21st century.
He has mastered anger management to the point where he very very rarely gets angry. He is only angry when necessary and when he wants to assert control. He never gives anger out wastefully. In other words, he never gets angry just to feel better, or out of lack of control.
All of those are learned. At his youth, he was full of anger until he learned how to manage his anger management. However, it caused him his depression. He told us it was because of work pressure, but I also think maybe holding anger contributed to it, too.
Other than his anger management, my father is definitely a thinker. He likes to have some alone time, which he said is his time to be with himself and contemplate. If you spare some time to have a talk with him, I’m sure it will be a great time for you. Although his prime time was probably around 5 years ago. Because it can’t be denied that age started to be unkind to him. I mean, he’s not as sharp.
Whenever I go to the temple (vihara,) I never feel any different. Basically all the bhantes teach us, I already know. To me, it is an easy common sense that everyone should have already known. Even worse, the things bhantes teach us, they tell us in slow motion. It bores the hell out of me (no offense, bhante, surely none taken if he is a true bhikkhu.)
And I do think we should treat bhantes just like a normal person. No need for ceremonial or acting too respectful to them. We should respect all people all the same, including them. No need to see and treat them as holy people. They are just the same as us, no wiser and holier than us, difference is, they chose to follow Buddha’s vinaya and spread his teachings. Please keep in mind that I’m not asking you to disrespect bhikkhus. The mindset that all bhikkhus are wiser and holier is one that has to be abolished. It all depends on each individuals.
In buddhism, I always practice Buddha’s teachings according to Buddha. I have a picture of how Buddha thinks and how Buddha behaves. And I always see Buddha as a stoic, very wise person, even I know deep down in my heart, Buddha doesn’t wish his followers (or Buddha would prefer, Dhamma followers) to be blinded by faith, by his own teachings. Buddha wanted his followers to not overly preach him, even, didn’t preach him at all. Buddha wanted his followers to find happiness, and the way to true happiness, he found, was through his teachings.
Goofythinker 