Shadowing Practice: Buddhist Wisdom For Inner Peace - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Buddhism has evolved into one of the world’s major religions, with many schools and branches.
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But if we go back to the source, Gautama Buddha, who was born as a prince that later became enlightened and known as the Buddha, we find a collection of teachings named the Dhammapada.
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The Dhammapada contains some profound wisdom for those who seek a tranquil mind.
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So, after Stoicism and Taoism, a video about Buddhist wisdom for inner peace certainly cannot be missed.
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(1) Attachment leads to suffering.
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This is one of the basic teachings in Buddhism: we suffer because we attach ourselves to external things, which, in essence, are beyond our control.
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By doing this, we actually resist the fundamental truth about existence: change is the only constant.
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Our youth and looks fade with time, the people we love will disappear, our success - well on YouTube for example - will end one day.
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The key is to have a deep appreciation for what’s happening ‘in the moment’ while acknowledging its impermanence and willingness to let it go.
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I quote the Buddha: The good renounce attachment for everything.
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The virtuous do not prattle with a yearning for pleasures.
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The wise show no elation or depression when touched by happiness or sorrow.
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(2) Desiring the right things.
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Another basic Buddhist teaching is that deep desire, also known as craving and lust, poisons the mind and makes us restless and even sick.
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However, this doesn’t mean that we should aim to destroy desire completely.
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Even Buddhist monks desire; which is a deep desire for enlightenment.
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And you might be interested in Buddhism because you desire relief from pain.
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So, there’s nothing wrong with desire in itself.
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The key is to desire the right things and to arm ourselves against the wrong things that lead us astray.
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In Buddhism, this means: training the mind.
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I quote the Buddha: Just as rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, so passion penetrates an undeveloped mind.
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Just as rain does not break through a well-thatched house, so passion never penetrates a well-developed mind.
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(3) Pursuing sensual pleasures leads to suffering.
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What we shouldn’t crave for according to Buddhism are sensual pleasures.
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Sensual pleasures aren’t wrong in itself, but one’s indulgence in them can become a source of evil.
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Things like greed, gluttony, and addiction stem from cravings to fulfill sensual pleasures.
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When the pursuit of sensual pleasures controls our lives, we will become easily seduced by a demon called Mara, who leads us into committing evil and, basically, keeps us in misery.
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Because of the fear, dissatisfaction, and cravings generated by chasing sensuality, it’s not uncommon that we degrade, exploit, attack and even kill, not only other human beings, animals and our environment but ourselves as well.
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I quote: Just as a storm throws down a week tree, so does Mara overpower the man who lives for the pursuit of pleasures, who is uncontrolled in his senses, immoderate in eating, indolent, and dissipated.
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(4) From misery grows beauty.
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Suffering is an inherent part of life.
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Even though Buddhism is directed towards ending that suffering, discarding the darker sides of life completely is like throwing away the baby with the bathwater.
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It was deep suffering that led the Buddha to the path of enlightenment, and it’s often our suffering that we can use as fertilizer for a better life.
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In my own experience, the insights we get because of our pain is an opportunity to be more compassionate, and also more creative.
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For example, I wouldn’t be able to make these videos if I didn’t experience deep suffering in the past.
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I quote: Upon a heap of rubbish in the roadside ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
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(5) Good company is important.
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Comparable to the Stoics, the Buddha advises us to hang out with wise and positive people.
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Preferably, people that also follow the path to enlightenment.
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For those that are serious about Buddhism, this means seeking the company of a Buddhist community or even becoming a monk or nun.
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Now, the last isn’t for everyone of course.
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The Buddha goes as far as saying that we’re better off in solitude than to be in the company of foolish people, or those that have a bad influence on us.
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And I personally think that’s sound advice.
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I quote: Better it is to live alone; there is no fellowship with a fool.
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Live alone and do no evil; be carefree like an elephant in the elephant forest.
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(6) A trained mind leads to happiness The cornerstone of Buddhism is the practice of meditation.
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The goal of meditation is achieving freedom from the mind that has, generally, grown out of control.
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We are not our thoughts.
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However, we tend to identify ourselves with our thoughts, no matter how destructive they have become.
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When we can find relief of overthinking and be absent of any form of intellectual activity, we become present in the moment, unburdened are unencumbered by cravings and by the past or future.
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This is where happiness lies.
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I quote: He who delights in subduing evil thoughts, who meditates on the impurities and is ever mindful - it is he who will make an end of craving and rend asunder Mara’s fetter.
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(7) Short term evil has long term consequences.
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Many things we do don’t bring about pain instantly.
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Indulging the senses, for example, may give us short-term pleasure without the immediate punishment of pain.
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Also, lies, deceit, manipulation, and even theft can lead to immediate pleasure or avoidance of pain.
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But in the long run, the consequences of evil will catch up to us.
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We may have become addicted, so our lives are dictated by uncontrolled cravings.
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Or because of our lies and deceit, we have become untrustworthy; not only for the environment but also for ourselves.
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The Buddhists believe in karma, which is the spiritual principle of cause and effect, and also in reincarnation.
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So, if we don’t face the consequences of our evil deeds in this life; it will happen in one of the next lives, which might manifest itself as a bad rebirth.
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I quote: It may be well with the evil-doer as long as the evil ripens not.
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But when it does ripen, then the evil-doer sees (the painful results of) his evil deeds.
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End quote. All in all, according to Buddhism you reap what you sow.
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So, to wrap it up, let summarize the Buddhist wisdom for inner peace as explained in this video: attachment leads to suffering, desiring the right things, pursuing sensual pleasures leads to suffering, from misery grows beauty, good company is important, a trained mind leads to happiness and short term evil has long term consequences.
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Please mind that the presented quotes come directly from the Dhammapada, and are backed up by my own interpretations and what I’ve learned by studying Buddhism.
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There are many Buddhist scriptures to study besides the Dhammapada if you’re interested.
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That’s it. If you know more Buddhist wisdom that you want to share, please put it in the comment section.
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Thank you for watching.
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Woordenschat en spreektips bij deze les
Deze spreekles op niveau C1 is gebaseerd op de video “Buddhist Wisdom For Inner Peace”. Deze woorden komen het vaakst terug: evil, Buddhism, pleasure, quote, suffering. Deze video bevat 69 zinnen en 1175 woorden om na te spreken. Het gesproken deel duurt 7:44. De spreker praat in een natuurlijk tempo van ongeveer 152 woorden per minuut, dicht bij een alledaags gesprek. Slechts 77% van de woorden hoort bij de 3.000 meest gebruikte Engelse woorden, dus de woordenschat is pittig.
Belangrijke woorden in deze video
De 15 moeilijkste woorden uit de video, met uitspraak en betekenis:
| Woord | Uitspraak | Betekenis |
|---|---|---|
| consequence zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈkɑn.sɪ.kwəns/ | gevolg, consequentie |
| enlightenment zelfstandig naamwoord | /ɪnˈlaɪtənmənt/ | verlichting |
| attachment zelfstandig naamwoord | /əˈtæt͡ʃmənt/ | gehechtheid |
| misery zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈmɪz(ə)ɹi/ | ellende |
| deceit zelfstandig naamwoord | /dɪˈsiːt/ | bedrog, bedriegerij |
| ripen werkwoord | /ˈɹaɪpən/ | rijpen |
| uncontrolled bijvoeglijk naamwoord | ongecontroleerd | |
| penetrate werkwoord | /ˈpɛnɪtɹeɪt/ | indringen, penetreren |
| deed zelfstandig naamwoord | /diːd/ | daad |
| monk zelfstandig naamwoord | /mʌŋk/ | monnik |
| meditation zelfstandig naamwoord | /mɛdɪˈteɪʃn̩/ | meditatie, overpeinzing |
| elephant zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈɛlɪfənt/ | olifant, elpendier |
| astray bijwoord | /əˈstɹeɪ/ | op een dwaalspoor |
| bathwater zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈbæθwɔtɚ/ | badwater |
| carefree bijvoeglijk naamwoord | /ˈkɛɚfɹi/ | onbekommerd, onverschillig |
Phrasal verbs die je zult horen
| Woord | Betekenis |
|---|---|
| back up werkwoord | teruggaan |
| throw away werkwoord | weggooien |
Grammatica in deze video
De structuren die de spreker het meest gebruikt, met de exacte woorden uit de video:
| Structuur | In de video |
|---|---|
| Lijdende vorm be + voltooid deelwoord — het gaat om wat er gebeurt, niet om wie het doet | was born · cannot be missed · is uncontrolled |
| Present perfect have/has + voltooid deelwoord — iets uit het verleden dat nu nog telt | has evolved · have become · I've learned |
| Betrekkelijke bijzinnen who / which + zin — extra informatie over een persoon of ding | those who seek · man who lives · karma, which is |
Uitspraak om op te letten
De spreker gebruikt 11 samentrekkingen en verkorte vormen, zoals don't, aren't, didn't. Spreek ze kort uit, zoals je ze hoort.
- De “th”-klanken: thatch /θæt͡ʃ/, bathwater /ˈbæθwɔtɚ/, rebirth /ɹiːˈbɜːθ/, untrustworthy /ˌʌnˈtɹʌstˌwɜː(ɹ)ði/
- De klanken “sh” en “zh”: sensual /ˈsɛn.ʃu.əl/, meditation /mɛdɪˈteɪʃn̩/, dissatisfaction /dɪsˌsætɪsˈfækʃən/, elation /ɪˈleɪʃən/, reincarnation /ˌɹiːɪŋkɑː(ɹ)ˈneɪʃən/
- Lange woorden — let op de klemtoon: enlightenment /ɪnˈlaɪtənmənt/, dissatisfaction /dɪsˌsætɪsˈfækʃən/, overpower /oʊ.vɚˈpaʊ̯.ɚ/, reincarnation /ˌɹiːɪŋkɑː(ɹ)ˈneɪʃən/, sensuality /ˌsɛn.ʃuːˈal.ɪ.tiː/
Klanken die Nederlandstaligen lastig vinden:
- Stemhebbende eindmedeklinker — /b/, /d/, /g/, /z/, /v/ niet verscherpen: deed /diːd/, degrade /dɪˈɡɹeɪd/, discard /dɪsˈkɑɹd/, roadside /ˈɹoʊdsaɪd/, solitude /ˈsɑlɪˌtud/
- /æ/ — opener dan de Nederlandse “e”: attachment /əˈtæt͡ʃmənt/, thatch /θæt͡ʃ/, bathwater /ˈbæθwɔtɚ/, dissatisfaction /dɪsˌsætɪsˈfækʃən/, prattle /ˈpɹætəl/
- /g/ — een harde plofklank, geen Nederlandse “g”: degrade /dɪˈɡɹeɪd/, fragrant /ˈfɹeɪ.ɡɹənt/, gluttony /ˈɡlʌ.tən.i/, greed /ɡɹiːd/
Zo oefen je met deze video
- Luister de hele video één keer zonder te spreken en noteer de woorden die je niet kent.
- Begin op 0,75× snelheid, spreek zin voor zin na en ga terug naar normale snelheid zodra het makkelijk gaat.
- Neem jezelf op en vergelijk met het origineel; let daarbij op woorden als consequence, enlightenment, attachment.
Wat is de Shadowing-techniek?
Shadowing is een wetenschappelijk onderbouwde taalleermethode die oorspronkelijk is ontwikkeld voor professionele tolkentraining en gepopulariseerd door polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. De methode is eenvoudig maar krachtig: je luistert naar native Engelse audio en herhaalt het onmiddellijk hardop — als een schaduw die de spreker volgt met slechts 1–2 seconden vertraging. In tegenstelling tot passief luisteren of grammaticadrills, dwingt shadowing je hersenen en mondspieren om echte spraakpatronen tegelijkertijd te verwerken en te reproduceren. Onderzoek toont aan dat het de uitspraaknauwkeurigheid, intonatie, ritme, verbonden spraak, luisterbegrip en spreekvaardigheid aanzienlijk verbetert — waardoor het een van de meest effectieve methoden is voor IELTS Speaking-voorbereiding en echte Engelse communicatie.