The three step method

Let me explain in detail what the "three step method" is all about.

Of course, when the Guatama Buddha was alive he said this in a different way. He talked about the "Middle Path". I think most of you know that he lived on what is now known as the Indian subcontinent. In the olden days it was called "Mijima Desa" or in English "the middle region".

He called his path the "Mijima Padipada". Literally it means "the middle path".

Now why is it called "the middle path". Buddha said that we need to avoid the two extremes and follow the middle path.

One extreme was self mortification and following extreme austerities. Torturing one's body or not eating enough or not sleeping enough. Buddha followed this extreme path for six years and he became a living skeleton. It did not get him anywhere. In the end he left this path.

The other extreme was the path of seeking excessive sensual pleasures. What is known as "the way of the world". When we become too attached to the sensual pleasures that human existence offers, we lose our balance and become unable to concentrate and get any knowledge or wisdom.

The fist step is what I will call "conduct".

By conduct I do not mean that you need to live like a saint. We are not saints, we all know that. But of course that does not mean that saints do not exist. They may be doing meditation deep in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas. Who knows?

The "conduct" that I am talking about is the basic concept of living as a good person.

- not to kill
- not to steal
- not to tell lies
- not to take drugs and intoxicating drinks
- not to engage in sexual misconduct.

Well, you might ask me, "what if I don't follow the above rules".

All I can say is that it is necessary to follow these simple rules if you wish to walk the path of "spiritual development".

Of course you can choose another path. That is your choice.

Life is full of choices anyway. Right.

What you choose to do or not do will determine your future. That much I can tell you and I think you will agree with me on that point.

How to change the way you live and think!

Spiritual development is a long journey but begins with a single step. You have to make that decision. No one else can do it for you. It is YOUR life and you have to make this important decision.

Let me make one thing clear right from the beginning.

I am not here to convert you to become a Buddhist or make you think the way I do, or believe the things I believe. It does not matter what you believe or what religious tradition you believe in or follow.

I have seen in my lifetime many types of people who have benefited from a meditation practice while keeping their faiths. They may be jews, hindus, christians or animists. It does not matter. The practice of meditation can benefit anyone.

Why do I say this. I say this because when we are on the path of spiritual development, we are trying to improve the way we think, the way we speak and the way we do things. We are trying to learn more about ourselves and the people around us.

So the first step in the spiritual development path is to make the important decision to do meditation, not just because it sounds "cool" or "fashionable" but really because it is a very cost effective method of changing our lives from the very core of our being.

Unless we understand ourselves, we cannot change our life for the better.

Many people have benefited in the past by making this important decision to make the first step.

You can make that decision today and you are well on your path.

There are many who can help you and you need to find the right teacher and the right support system.

It is up to you. You can change your life for the better.

The three step method

How do we begin, this spiritual journey that can transform our life and those that we love. It begins with the following three little steps.

1. Change your life style - improve your conduct, reinvent yourself.
2. Change the way you think - think positive and vibrate loving-kindness as much as possible. Learn to focus. Weed out the negative thoughts.
2. Seek wisdom - we have too much information. What we need is wisdom. Wisdom comes from practice not from book learning or repeating what others have said. Seek out the true spiritual teachers - those who exude humility, compassion and loving-kindness in thought, word and deed.

We are human computers writing our own programs every second

Think about this. "We are human computers writing our own programs every second".

Or what about this: "we are living our own favorite movie. The only thing to note is that we are the main actor or actress, the director, the script director and the principal stake holder whether this movie become a box office hit or a flop".

What is the most important time for you. It is the present "moment". As some wise man said, "the past is history, the present is reality and the future is yet to come", or something to that effect.

The spiritual development path that I have chosen was given to me by my parents. They lived in Burma/Myanmar and therefore followed the Theravada Buddhist tradition. This is not to say that this is the only path. In fact, many paths lead to the summit of a mountain and we have the right and the opportunity to choose the path that suits us most.

So the technique is very simple when you come to think of it.

Think good, do good and speak good.

"We are based on our thoughts, we are founded on our thoughts and our words and deeds follow from our thoughts." (some insights from the Buddhist book of Abhidhamma - detailed lectures on the mind-body connection).

Throughout history, mankind has asked many profund questions regarding the nature of God, spiritual beings, the nature of the universe, the nature of time and the mind-body connection.

I believe that the spiritual development path is up to the individual and should not be imposed on any man or woman by society, family even parents and teacher. It is a matter of individual choice.

I believe in the concept that "we reap what we sow" or that "the results of our good and bad deeds or words or thoughts wherever we go and no matter where we might be".

I believe that the great spiritual teachers of all ages and all traditions speak to us of universal principles and universal truths that can be verified and tested by each one of us as we move along the path of spiritual development.

I believe that we are responsible for our own thoughts, words or deeds and we should never for a moment shirk away from this responsibility.

I believe that although we can get guidance from higher spiritual powers seen or unseen, it is up to us to make the first step.

I believe that the present moment is the ultimate reality and that if we take care of the present moment, the future will certainly take care of itself.

Kyaw Myaing

What is spiritual development? This is something that transcends all religions and all belief systems. Spiritual development is something that anyone can start, right here, right now.

You are not competing against anyone. You are going on this journey on your own. You set your own goal and your own parameters. You are your own monitor, you are your own boss, what you do beginning from today will influence your well-being and your life as a human being. In short, you are Master of your ship and captain of your soul. If you plant good seeds that have a positive impact on your spiritual development path, you are sure to reap them soon.