Feel Good | Search deep inside! | Phone Photography-64

After a gap, I am participating in Phone Photography. This time I got some interesting shots to share in the Phonography contest. These shots are not recent, rather they were taken in Jan 2025 when I visited Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Perhaps this is the best shot I get for the reason that I have some good content or you can say mindful content that I can integrate with it.

The Four Noble Truths--

(1) Dukh(Suffering)- Suffering is inherent to our life and existence. Let's realize this truth.

(2) Samuday(Cause of suffering)- The cause of suffering is rooted in our desire, craving, and ignorance of reality.

(3) Nirodha (Cessation of Suffering)- Doing away from attachment/craving/desires will result in ending suffering and lead to the path of "Nirvana".

(4) Magga (Path to Cessation)- The eightfold path prescribed by Budha is the structured path or code to end suffering and achieve enlightenment.

These four noble truths are a kind of self-awareness and the first step to understanding the root cause of suffering. Here suffering is ascribed as a permanent thing of life and existence, so the best way get rid of it is to do away from any kind of attachment and mindfully remain aware of this fact.

The real catch is how we balance this with Human life and society where relationships, aspirations, and many other transactional, emotional, and physical relationships are at inter-play.

Eightfold Path--

• Right View: Understanding and realizing the Four Noble Truths.

• Right Intention: Compassion, non-harm, and renunciation.

• Right Speech: Speaking truthfully, being sober and constructive in speech.

• Right Action: Avoiding harm-- e.g., no killing, or stealing.

• Right Livelihood: Earning a living that does not harm others.

• Right Effort: Positive mental states.

• Right Mindfulness: Actively and spontaneously developing a sense of awareness of body, feelings, mind, and phenomena.

• Right Concentration: Meditation to achieve focused, tranquil states- Equanimity

The eightfold path definitely regulates discipline, conduct, and wisdom.

There are two extremes of human society and behaviors. One end is indulgence(materialism and seeking happiness from it) while the other end is asceticism(saintly life, monastic life, renunciation, etc).

In Buddhism, the eightfold path does not result in a rigid framework, which is why it can easily offer a middle path between indulgence and asceticism. Your conduct(informed by an eightfold path, and four noble truths) and mindful moments can explore that middle path.

Most of the things in our life are the by-product of our thought process. The eightfold path and four noble truths can give a whole new perspective on how we think and it intensifies our self-awareness.

In our society when we are asked to evoke emotional intelligence, it is pertinent to note that emotional intelligence begins from self-awareness. So Buddhism has a lot more to offer about how we regulate our emotions and spontaneous moments.

Simplicity, detachment, mental clarity, inner peace, etc-- all of these can be achieved through Buddhism. However, it must be noted that meditation is centrality to Buddhism. Without meditation, it can not be realized.

How relevant it is in our modern life-- mental illness is real, overthinking, stress, etc undermining inner peace. Mindful moments and meditation can improve mental health.

In a world of misinformation and ethical dilemmas, the right action, and right speech can help address this issue.

Similarly from consumerist tendency to minimalist tendency, choosing the right livelihood, etc. Buddism can be the beacon of light.

Corporate mindfulness programs also adopt Buddhism--e.g., Google’s “Search Inside Yourself”. I would go one step ahead, instead of making it a separate program, and integrate this concept in every action we do on a daily basis, which will not only search inside....deep, but also make it a habitual disposition.

To be continued........

Thank you.
🙏🙏🙏

Detailed Info	Description
Device	Redmi 7, Xiomi
Location	Sarnath, Varanasi, UP, India

This is my entry to Phonography Contest- 64 by @untilwelearn

Thank you.

Original Photography using my Smartphone