Pragna Paramita- Energy

Energy is the fifth Pragna Paramita. According to the Buddha suffering arises in the mind
by holding on to and getting attached to unwholesome cravings called tannaha. When
Gautam became the Buddha he wanted to teach his wisdom to the people living in
Sarnath. As he was walking on his way to Sarnath, he met a young boy. The young boy
saw the radiance on the Buddha’s face. He asked the Buddha,”What are you? Are you
a man? Are you an angel? Are you a God? “ The Buddha said,” I am the Buddha-the
awakened one.”

When do we feel uplifting energy? When do we feel down grading energy? Awakening
is one of the ways of understanding our energy. When we are “sleeping” we take wrong
steps and hurt ourselves and others in our life. When we get stuck with and attached to
unwholesome desires and cravings, we suffer and drain our energy. When we forget the
first noble truth, anicca-impermanence and live under the delusion of permanence, we
get disappointed and depressed and we drain our energy.

The Buddha taught the Noble Eightfold Path to give for reducing and ending our
self-created suffering- physical, mental, emotional, and relational.

1. Right undersing-samma ditthi
2. Right thought-samma sankalpa
3. Right speech-samma vaca
4. Right action-samma kammanta
5. Right livelihood or right earning-samma ajiva
6. Right effort-samma vayama
7. Right mindfulness-samma sati
8. Right concentration-samma samadhi

Reflect on the wise teachings of the Buddha. Use them as a mirror to see yourself,
understand yourself.
Identify what causes suffering and drains your energy.
What reduces or ends your suffering?
What creates wholesome energy?
What restores your energy?
How do you bounce back?
What inspires you?
What supports you?

Keep a journal. Spend five minutes everyday to reflect on what blossoms your energy
and what hinders your energy. Keep on working on your journal to learn from yourself
the wise ways of enhancing and preserving your energy.

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