As traveling itself is one of the best ways to learn and become a better version of yourself, a Buddhist mentality can only add to the experience.

Here are 10 Buddhist beliefs that you can use while you’re traveling to feel calmer in the face of difficulties, immerse yourself in your journey and simply feel happier on the road.

1. Live fully in the now

It’s no surprise there’s so much fuss about mindfulness and meditation nowadays. In this high-tech age, our minds are constantly bombarded with flashes of information, social media updates and seemingly endless cat videos, making it almost impossible to stay anchored to the present moment. Buddhists believe that neither reminiscing about the past nor dreaming of the future will make you happy; the right way is to fully savor the present.

On the road: While traveling, take time to stop and try to remember smells, notice shapes and colors, and – perhaps most importantly – don’t scroll through your phone while eating. It’s a reminder to taste every bite of food and immerse yourself full in every moment while you’re traveling. By the way, this is something you could incorporate in your everyday life too.

2. Learn to let go

“You only lose what you cling to,” said the Buddha. If you don’t try to possess a thing, you cannot lose it and it makes it forever yours. To let go is an art that will improve your whole life, whether it be with relationships, friends, possessions or jobs.

On the road: Embrace minimalism and learn to pack only the basics (here’s how to do it). We don’t encourage you to voluntarily let go of your wallet, but if it happens to get stolen, it’s no use making a drama out of it – that won’t help you. Just move on and accept your new conditions.

3. Empty your mind of expectations

There’s a famous Zen story that explains this best:

A university professor once visited a Zen teacher in search of more information about Buddhism. The teacher offered him a cup of tea, which the professor willingly accepted. Then the teacher started pouring tea in the cup, continuing to pour even after the tea started overflowing. “Why don’t you stop when the tea is overflowing?” the professor asked, worried. The teacher answered: “Your mind is just like this cup – overflowing with your expectations and opinions. I can’t give you any new information until you don’t come with an empty cup.”

On the road: Don’t believe what others say about the Russians, the Chinese or the South Africans, for example. Go and see these places for yourself and make up your own mind. The moment you cross a border, forget all your preconceived notions about the country and enter with an empty cup.

4. Don’t label things as “good” or “bad”

One of the basic pillars of Buddhism is non-judgement. You usually tend to qualify events as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, but can you remember a moment when something that seemed like the end of the world turned out to be a great piece of luck? If you maintain a non-judgemental attitude, a potential disaster can turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

On the road: Every time you miss a flight or encounter some other traveler’s ‘misfortune’, just remind yourself that it might turn out to the best part of your trip. Encountering troubles on the road (and finding creative solutions to them) can often lead you to meet great people or regain faith in humanity.

5. Feel and express gratitude

There are hundred of books discussing all the advantages of gratefulness, and we’re going to add to that list by reminding you to take a moment to be grateful for what you have when you’re feeling low.

On the road: The very fact you can afford to travel is reason enough to feel thankful, because millions of people around the world can’t even dream of that luxury for various reasons (poverty, war, political restrictions etc.). Take a minute before going to sleep to feel gratitude for all the amazing things that happened to you during the day.

6. All that we are is the result of what we have thought

How is it possible that John hates Thailand, yet Jack considers it the best place in the world? Did they go to the same country? Of course they did, but John and Jack are different people absorbing different information according to their inner image of the world, and that affects their perceptions.

On the road: If you don’t like a place the first time you visit it, consider what conditions might have created that negative attitude – maybe it was raining or your travel companion was grumpy. Challenge yourself to visit the place again and see if your impression is more positive the second time around.

7. When you share your happiness, it doesn’t decrease

If your happiness is a candle and you share the light with others, your light doesn’t decrease.

On the road: Share happy moments on the road with the local people you meet along the way, as well as friends and family back home. Take the time to send news back home – your loved ones will be happy to know you’re safe and having fun.

8. Everything constantly changes

Impermanence is a core Buddhist concept, one that will help you feel at peace even during the most tense moments on the road. According to the belief, everything comes into being and dissolves – good and bad things alike.

On the road: Once you accept that nothing is eternal, it will be easier to appreciate what you have and to realize that all bad things pass eventually.

9. Get to know yourself

“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles.”

On the road: Even though traveling might seem like little more than a leisure activity, it actually changes you in a subtle way, no matter how you travel. Regardless of whether you go on short trips or year-long journeys, you will come back a changed – and in many ways better-rounded – person. We get to know ourselves when we face situations that take us out of our comfort zone.

10. It is better to travel well than to arrive

What matters the most is not the final destination but the journey itself. We’re sure you’ve heard this thousands of times before, and you’ll hear it many more times throughout your travels because it’s true.

On the road: Enjoy every step of the journey. Don’t spend all your time on board a bus or a plane just waiting to arrive. Instead, use the time to talk to people, read with ravenous anticipation about your destination or listen to some local music from the place you’re visiting (which you have downloaded in advance because you already know this music habit will change your trips).

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While he wondered how to tackle the issue back in 1972, the Bhutanese king Jigme Singye Wangchuck decided to start a development project in his country (which at the time was still somewhat medieval) in a more gentle way, preserving as much as possible of the ancient traditions of Bhutan. He introduced a batch of measures, including famously focusing on the Gross Domestic Happiness of the nation rather than using economic indicators to measure the country’s success.

How is Bhutan’s Gross Domestic Happiness measured?

Measuring the happiness of a nation is a subjective matter and is highly debatable, according to many economists. In Bhutan, they calculate it using indicators such as sustainable development, environmental protection, effective government, social justice and the preservation of traditions.

Still sound vague? Here are a few specific measures introduced in Bhutan over the past 40 years to help paint a picture of this small but bold Himalayan kingdom.

Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn)/Flickr

1. Every Thursday is a traffic-free day, promoting a lower reliance on cars and less pollution.

2. Until 1999, television was forbidden in Bhutan out of a concern it would be a channel for negative Western influence.

3. Bhutan has a Minister of Happiness.

4. Bhutanese people are asked “Are you happy?” during every census. At the last one, 45.2% answered “Very happy”, while 51.6% said they were “Happy” and merely 3.3% defined themselves as “Not very happy”.

5. There used to be a strict etiquette system requiring, for example, people to bow low to the ground when they meet the king or a high-ranking official. Most of these rules have been abolished.

6. The streets are clean, with flowers in bloom everywhere.

7. Buddhism, the main religion in Bhutan, is one of the major reasons why Bhutanese people feel happy and balanced. After it was discovered that people are meditating less and less, the government introduced obligatory meditation in schools, for 10 minutes every day.

Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn)/Flickr

8. In Buddhist monasteries, they take special care of elderly people.

9. English classes are obligatory for all, with foreign volunteers teaching across the country.

10. More than 50% of Bhutan’s territory is protected as a national park.

11. Hunting is forbidden and most people are vegetarians.

12. Many Bhutanese people still wear their national costume.

13. In 2012, Bhutan announced its desire to become the first country in the world to achieve 100% bio agriculture.

14. Visiting Bhutan is not among the easiest feats in the world. Every visitor should pay a daily fee ($200 in low season, $250 in high season) and the number of tourists per year is limited.

The post The Gross Domestic Happiness of Bhutan – 14 inspiring examples appeared first on 203Challenges.

Buddhism is an essential part of what Thailand is and you can’t get to know the country without knowing Buddhism. You can read books or articles on the internet (like this one) but still, the best way is to go to the source.

If you want to talk to a Buddhist monk, you should learn Thai. There is an easier way, though. Just find a friendly English-speaking monk. Here is our guide how to do it.  

Monks chanting in Wat Phra Singh Temple, Chiang Mai © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Monk chats in Chiang Mai and Bangkok

Some temples in Thailand offer foreigners the chance to join monk chats where monks will willingly answer all your questions. Usually, these are young students from a Buddhist school who practice their English while giving you an insight to their life.

One of the most popular places to join a monk chat is in Chiang Mai. Go to Wat Chedi Luang Temple (from 9 to 18) or Wat Suan Dok (from 17 to 19) and look for the benches with monks waiting to talk to foreigners. You can ask them anything – from the basics of Buddhism to general questions about life in Thailand. Your satisfaction from the conversation will depend on the monk’s level of English (and yours, too). Even though monks are not allowed to touch or approach women, gender is not an issue if you want to speak with them. 

As of 2017, there are no monk chats in Bangkok.

Monk chat at Wat Chedi Luang Temple, Chiang Mai © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Friendly monks

Many of the Thai Buddhist monks know a little English (often very basic, though) and most of them will be happy to talk to you.

I saw an elderly Buddhist monk taking photos in the Chiang Mai Wat Pra That Doi Suthep temple (or simply Doi Suthep) and I approached him wanting to show him a beautiful angle to shoot the building. He smiled at me and asked me in broken English where I was from. That’s how we started chatting and he tried to squeeze the essence of Buddhism in three sentences for me. We are calm inside, he said, but distractions coming through our eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and mind sabotage our innate serenity. That’s where suffering comes from. So we should always follow the middle way – neither too much positivity, nor too much negativity.

“But you seem really happy,” my Western mind insisted. “Yes, yes, true. Sometimes it is possible to be happy,” he answered.

In the end, we took a selfie together and he gave me his email address to send him the photo (in case you are curious, he did reply to my email a few weeks later).

As there are no designated monk chats in Bangkok, finding an English-speaking monk at a temple is your only chance to get answers to your questions.

To make it easier, here is a list of the 5 best temples to visit in Bangkok (especially if you are short of time).

Detail from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Live with monks in a Buddhist temple

One of the main obstacles preventing you from staying at any temple or monastery in Thailand is the language barrier. Not the rules, as Buddhism is open to every religion. Since more and more foreigners are interested in getting a deeper knowledge of Buddhism, there are now some temples that organize retreats and meditation sessions in English. When choosing one make sure it is a temple with monks, not a retreat wellness center so that you have an authentic experience.

Your stay could vary from a few hours (meditation only) to months. A nice two-week stay is offered by Wat Sriboonruang Temple in Chiang Mai (website here).

Read more: Unusual and amazing places to stay in Thailand.

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– What connects you with the Buddhist stupa near Sofia?

– We’ve been practicing Tibet Buddhism of the Diamond Way within the Karma Kagyu lineage for many years and this was one of the main reasons to shoot the movie The Jewel. It’s rare to have access with a camera so close to the building process. It’s important to clarify that the stupa is not a place of worship; it is a place of enlightenment and represents much more than its visible shape from stone and concrete. It is an embodiment of our inner striving to realize the full potential of the mind.

Photo courtesy of The Jewel

– How is the Buddhist philosophy perceived in Bulgaria?

– As a whole, Bulgarians are open to Buddhism. We often organize open lectures in Betahaus in Sofia where we see new people who want to learn more about it. However, we feel that the whole Western world has perplexed and sometimes exotic ideas about Buddhism. Most people consider all Eastern teachings as the same thing – be it Hinduism, Buddhism, etc., mainly due to the many new age trends that mix different philosophies, skillfully or not. Another common misconception is that Buddhism is a religion. In fact, it’s a teaching that is closer to a philosophy or a way of life. If we call it a religion, then it’s a religion focused on experience instead of faith because we check everything without blindly believing.

– What have you discovered about ancient Tibetian traditions during the shooting of the movie?

– This movie has taken us for the first time to India and Nepal, where the roots of Buddhism can be found. It was an exciting experience for both of us; a deeper insight into our practice and the history of Buddhist teachings. We have learned a lot about the symbolism of the stupa from Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, the spiritual leader of the project, a respected Tibetan Buddhist lama who spent two months with us during the construction. It’s amazing to see so many people working for free in the name of a common goal.

Photo courtesy of The Jewel

Photo courtesy of The Jewel

– What are the most emotional moments in the movie?

– It’s always exciting to see the result of your efforts – both after the stupa was built and the movie was finished. Still, we want the audience to judge which moments in the movie touch them the most.

– What are some fun facts about the stupa?

– Maybe the most impressive fact is that people from all over the world took part in the building process, both with money and work. In our commercial world, it’s pleasant to see that idealism still exists.

About the movie team:

Ralitsa Golemanova is a journalist but has also done a bunch of other things, like European studies, online marketing and making documentaries.

Nikolay Stefanov has been a cameraman and a photographer for the past 15 years. There’s a dormant movie director in every cameraman, they say, and this movie seems to have awakened the director in Nikolay, this documentary being the first where he is both a director and a cameraman.

When and where to see the movie:

October 5, Dom na Kinoto (Cinema House), Sofia, 7 pm

October 10, G8 Cultural Center, Sofia, 7 pm

Read more about the stupa on its official website here. Read news about The Jewel here.

See the trailer of the movie:

Map of the Buddhist stupa near the village of Plana, Sofia (it’s easier to reach it by car, but you can also take bus 70):

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