Buddhism as a Way of Life
When I lived in Southeast Asia for three years, I learned about Buddhism and its philosophy. I wasn’t looking for it—Buddhism didn’t call me. Yet, it taught me valuable lessons and gave me a path to live a fuller life. Today, I want to share what I learned with you.
To me, Buddhism is a way of living. What I mean is that it has the potential to teach us how to live a happier and more fulfilling life through understanding ourselves and our relationship to the world. It’s not only a philosophy or religion; it includes daily practices one can adopt to cultivate well-being in both body and mind.
One principle from Buddhism that I try to live by is to let go. Let go of all expectations—and thus, let go of all suffering. When you release everything that defines you—your identity, material things, labels—you become free from suffering because you're no longer tying your sense of self to things or people outside of you.
There is no good or bad. The world is about balance, and for balance to exist, there must be opposing forces. When I learned this, I understood that there is no such thing as a good or bad day, a good or bad feeling, a good or bad opportunity. I used to classify things as good or bad based on how they made me feel or my perception of them. But things aren’t inherently good or bad—they simply are.
However, there is karma. While people, things, or situations may not be inherently good or bad, everything we do produces a reaction that is balanced and just. That, to me, is karma.
I believe karma is based on the intention behind your actions—not just the action itself. Karma doesn’t always return immediately; it often comes back in unexpected ways, sometimes even affecting your future lives. If you act out of love, compassion, and abundance, you will receive it back. If you act out of selfishness, hatred, and greed, that too will return to you.
If you read my blog regularly, you know I love exploring the power of the mind.
Meditation is a pillar of Buddhism. From my perspective, meditation is a powerful tool to heal and train the mind. The root of our suffering as human beings begins in the mind. Yes, the body may suffer—but it’s the mind that understands and interprets pain. And just like the body, the mind needs to be cared for and healed through practices like meditation, especially from psychological wounds and blockages.
Meditation builds discipline in the mind. Discipline in the mind builds discipline in every other area of life.
All of the above brings me to my final point: Buddhism offers tools to balance the body and mind, which are deeply connected. This balance allows us to live in harmony with ourselves and the world around us. Existing in the physical world inevitably brings suffering. But Buddhism offers a way to live more mindfully, with intention and moderation, aligned with our higher selves.
This is my take on Buddhism as a 26-year-old Ecuadorian woman. It’s not comprehensive by any means, but it reflects what I’ve learned so far—wisdom that helps me be a little happier. I hope it offers something meaningful to you, too.
