Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara Dhamma Message
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Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa!
Sakyamuni
Sambuddha Vihara
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Saturday, 4 July, 8:00 AM : Adult Retreat including ata-sil
(eight precepts), bhavana (meditation), chanting, sermons and discussions. All
are welcome. At Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara, 125 Homestead Road, Berwick. For
more information contact the temple on 03 9702 6275.
Sunday, 5 July, 9:00 AM : Youth Retreat including 8 precepts,
sutta analysis, guided meditations, Buddhist discussions. Lunch is provided and
all instructions are in English. All are welcome. At Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara,
125 Homestead Road, Berwick (Melway's : 130 J2). For more information contact
the temple on 03 9702 6275 or Saman on 0419 878
273.
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Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammâ
Sambuddhassa!
A BUDDHIST APPROACH TO HAPPINESS THROUGH
RENUNCIATION 1
© Dhamma
Group• Created: 1/07/09 • Modified: - • Email: dhammagr...@yahoo.com• Web: www.DhammaGroup.tk
What
the world thinks makes the human mind happy and what the Dhammathinks makes the mind happy are at odds with each other. The world (society)
thinks that material accumulation, working and being busy leads to happiness of
mind whereas the Dhammadefines the letting go and renunciation of material things and giving priority
to rest, meditation and Dhammapractice as the true path to happiness. Only the latter is correct and it is
because many do not realize this that they struggle and suffer through all their
lives never really finding the true happiness that they seek, even till the
moment of death. This how what the world believes truly brings happiness is at
odds with and is at the opposite end of the spectrum to what the Dhammabelieves truly brings
happiness.2
It is important to firstly understand what
truly gives happiness and do more of that while understanding what does not and
to do less of that. Money cannot and does not give one happiness. The idea of
the world that more money will give more happiness is a wrong idea. A certain
amount of money is required to pay bills, buy necessities such clothes, food,
transport, a house, etc and for emergencies. But after there is enough money for
those things, accumulation of extra wealth does not give rise to extra happiness
as it is wrongly believed in the world.
This
belief exists because money allows for the accumulation and consumption of
desirable material assets such as boats, sports cars, travel, large mansions,
expensive clothing, shoes and accessories, access to various entertainments,
etc. But what one will find is that all these things are empty and will not give
rise to any lasting happiness. After one struggles, works hard and has collected
enough money to purchase a material possession and then acquires it, one will
find that one gets sick of that material thing before too long. Then one will
have to struggle, strive and work hard again collecting enough money to get the
next best model of that possession thinking that is what will really give
happiness. Most humans of all nations, races and religions will go through this
cycle of searching for material happiness, struggling and collecting money,
acquiring the material possession, getting sick of it because it is empty and
then searching again for the next best material possession thinking that this will give happiness all their lives
till death (and also into the next life and so on and on in samsara), never finding true happiness. So it
becomes clear that the concept of collecting more giving rise to more happiness
is just a dangerous illusion that will only give rise to suffering and strife,
but to not really to any lasting happiness.
Many
have forgotten how to listen to the mind and understand what it really wants in
relation to happiness, so incorrectly think that an endless pursuit of material
accumulation and pleasing of the six
senses(eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind) with various sense pleasures along with
fame, recognition, wealth, status, etc will lead the mind to happiness. This is
not the case at all. For a lay person a certain amount of accumulation is
necessary to lead a comfortable life, but any more accumulation beyond this
would be in vain and will not lead to any
more happiness. The Dhammateaches that what really makes the mind happy is not accumulation, but rather
letting go and renunciation (nekkhamma),
the exact opposite of what the world blindly believes brings happiness. Of the
two opposing paths, the worldly path of accumulation and the Dhammapath of renunciation, the latter is the
one that truly gives rise to lasting happiness within the mind.
It may not be possible for a lay person to
give up everything all at once. So what they can do is to find a balance between
accumulation and renunciation. One should not get fooled by the illusion that
more material possessions will lead to more happiness, to the point that one
gets a large mortgages and other such large debts that require an excessive
amount of working to pay off. One should live within one’s financial means and
adopt a simple material life, acquiring material possessions in moderation. What
this means is buying a house that one can afford, is within one’s means and can
be easily paid off. The same applies to other material possessions such as cars,
clothing, food, etc. There is also no lasting happiness to be gained from these
or the constant enjoyment related to parties, trips, always meeting friends and
relatives, etc. These are empty things (no lasting happiness) and should be done
in moderation without excess. If one leads such a simple life, then one will
find that one will not have to work as much and will have more free time to rest
and actually enjoy life. More importantly one will gain the time to do what
really makes the mind happy; renunciation, rest and
meditation.
What
renunciation means for a lay person is that for at least one day in a week3 (preferably more) they renounce all their duties and commitments and spend that
whole day practicing the Dhamma.
What this equates to is going to the local temple if possible and if not at home
or at another location, taking higher precepts such as eight or ten preceptsand them spending the whole day practicing and studying the Dhamma.
Do not take the higher preceptsand then waste the day talking with others. Let the whole day be a day of
complete verbal silence (unless one absolutely needs to speak, but not
otherwise) and physical seclusion from others and even one’s loved ones. It is
much better to understand the ‘inner Dhamma’
of the mind and body through constant mindfulness and meditation (e.g. through anapanasati- awareness of breath) than the ‘outer Dhamma’ contained in the books/discourses;4 so give preference to the former where possible. Dong this one will
realize that renunciation and not accumulation is the true path to happiness.
Then one will start giving more importance and preference to renunciation over
accumulation and become much happier as a result.
May
you realize the true path to happiness and gain the lasting happiness of Nibbanain this very
life!
WHY YOU ARE SO
TIRED
Do you know why you get so
tired?
It’s because you work too
hard,
you are too
active,
it’s as simple as
that.
Give enough rest to your mind and
body,
don't work too
hard,
or try to
work,
when you are already
tired.
But if you have to
work,
take it easy,
don't push yourself too
hard,
give the mind and body enough
rest,
or you'll find you
become,
very miserable
indeed!5
Notes
1. The latest version of this document can be found in HTML format here http://tinyurl.com/n377eo(or http://sites.google.com/site/dhammagroupweb/pubs/renun) and in PDF format here http://tinyurl.com/mvmuu7(or http://sites.google.com/site/dhammagroupweb/pubs/renun/print.pdf).
2. The Lord Buddha has described the Dhammaas having a nature of going against the grain, stream or the norm of the world
(patisotagami). This point highlights
this quality of the Dhammavery well. Refer to the Appendix A: Against the Flow below for
more on this.
3. In the olden days of Sri
Lanka, people used to widely retreat and take higher preceptsfor the hathara-poya (four moon
phases), essentially once a week or once every
weekend. This is a practice that can and should be re-adopted today, even at an
individual level, for greater happiness.
4. Many thanks to Acarya
S. N. Goenkafor this valuable insight. This may be easier for advanced practioners who
already have some understanding of the Dhammateachings than absolute beginners. However the ‘inner Dhamma’ of the mind and body is the same for all
alike and can be equally observed and understood.
5. Sometimes people can get
addicted/hooked on the ‘high’ they get from work. Like most addictions, this
ends up causing suffering - the only difference being that over work without enough rest causes
suffering (this applies mainly to lay people). Retreating is the best form of
mental and physical rest.
* See the previous
instalment here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dhamma/message/1531
Appendix A: Against the
Flow
Source:http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.4.100-112.than.htm...
§ 109. {Iti 4.10; Iti 114}
[Alternate
translation: Ireland]
This was said by the Blessed One, said by
the Arahant, so I have heard: "Suppose a man was being carried along by the flow
of a river, lovely & alluring. And then another man with good eyesight,
standing on the bank, on seeing him would say: 'My good man, even though you are
being carried along by the flow of a river, lovely & alluring, further down
from here is a pool with waves & whirlpools, with monsters & demons. On
reaching that pool you will suffer death or death-like pain.' Then the first man, on hearing the words of
the second man, would make an effort with his hands & feet to go against the
flow.
"I have given you this simile to illustrate
a meaning. The meaning is this: the flow of the river stands for craving. Lovely
& alluring stands for the six internal sense-media. The pool further down
stands for the five lower fetters.1 The waves stand for anger &
distress. The whirlpools stand for the five strings of sensuality. The monsters
& demons stand for the opposite sex. Against the flow stands for
renunciation. Making an effort with hands & feet stands for the arousing
of persistence. The man with good eyesight standing on the bank stands for the
Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened."
Even if it's with pain, you should abandon
sensual desires if you aspire to future safety from bondage. Alert, with a mind
well-released, touch release now here, now there. An attainer-of-wisdom, having
fulfilled the holy life, is said to have gone to the end of the world, gone
beyond.
Note
1. The five lower fetters are self-identity
view, uncertainty, attachment to practices & precepts, sensual passion,
& resistance.
Related Suttas(Discourses) &
Resources
1. Itivuttaka109 see http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.4.100-112.than.htm...
2. Itivuttaka109, The River Currentsee http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.4.106-112x.irel.ht...
Related Buddhsim
(Dhamma) Articles
1. Daily
Dana- On giving and generosity, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=dailydana
2. Five
Precepts- Developing virtue
through the five precepts, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=pansil
3. Work
Stress- An analysis of stress
in the work-place, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=workstress
4. Sensual
Pleasure & Pain- An analysis of sensual
pleasure and pain, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=plespain
5. A
Buddhist Approach to Disillusionment- A Buddhist approach to
seeing past the trickery and into reality, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=disill
6. A
Buddhist Approach to Disenchantment- A Buddhist approach to
becoming disenchanted with all that gives rise to stress, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=disench
7. Metta
Meditation- Easy to follow
instructions for doing the meditation on loving-kindness, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=mettamed
8. An
Introduction to Buddhist Meditation- Basic instructions for
doing the mediations of loving kindness (metta), awareness of breath
(ana-pana-sati) and foulness of the body
(asubha), see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=intromed
9. A
Buddhist Approach to the Awareness of In-and-Out Breath Meditation -
Anapanasati- A Buddhist approach to
the awareness of breath meditation (anapanasati), see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=anapanasati
10. A
Buddhist Approach to the Contemplation on Body Parts -
Asubha- A Buddhist approach to
bodily revulsion (asubha) through the detailed
contemplation of the body parts, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=asubhaparts
11. Four
Noble Truths- The essence of
Buddhism, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=fourtruths
12. Noble
Eightfold Path- The path for ending
stress and suffering, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=noblepath
Online
Resources
1. AccessToInsight.orghere http://www.accesstoinsight.org
2. What-Buddha-Said.nethere http://what-buddha-said.net
3. What-Buddha-Taught.nethere http://what-buddha-taught.net
4. Buddhanet.nethere http://www.buddhanet.net
5. Vihara.org.auhere http://www.vihara.org.au
6. DhammaGroup.tkhere http://www.dhammagroup.tk
________________________________
Dhamma (Buddhism) Articles A Buddhist
Approach to the Awareness of In-and-Out Breath Meditation - Anapanasati - A Buddhist approach to the awareness of breath meditation (anapanasati),
see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=anapanasati
A Buddhist Approach
to Disenchantment - A Buddhist approach to becoming disenchanted with
all that gives rise to stress, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=disench
A Buddhist Approach
to Disillusionment - A Buddhist approach to seeing past the trickery and
into reality, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=disill
A Buddhist
Approach to Mental Health - A Buddhist perspective and approach to
mental health, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=mentalhealth
A Buddhist Approach
to Problem Solving - A Buddhist approach to problem solving through the
development of wisdom (panna), see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=probsolv
A Buddhist Approach to
Revulsion - Asubha - A Buddhist approach to bodily revulsion (asubha), see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=revul
A Buddhist
Approach to the Contemplation on Body Parts - Asubha - A Buddhist
approach to bodily revulsion (asubha) through the detailed contemplation of the body
parts, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=asubhaparts
updated!A Buddhist Approach to the Meaning of Life - A Buddhist
approach to the meaning of life, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=life
A Buddhist Approach
to Time Management - A Buddhist approach to effective time management,
see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=timeman
An Introduction to
Buddhist Meditation - Basic instructions for doing the mediations of
loving kindness (metta), awareness of breath (ana-pana-sati) and foulness of the body (asubha), see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=intromed
Arahants and
Suicide - An analysis on whether Arahants (Worthy Ones) can commit
suicide, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=arahsuic
Attachment - An analysis of how attachment leads to
unsatisfactoriness, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=attachment
Buddhist Positive
Thinking - Positive thinking from a Buddhist perspective, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=posthink
Consequences - About being responsible for our actions (kamma) and their consequences (vipaka), see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=conseq
Daily Dâna - On giving and generosity, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=dailydana
Equanimity - Dealing with the eight characteristics of
life, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=equanimity
Fault Finding
& Resentment - Dealing with fault finding and resentment, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=faultfind
Five Precepts - Developing virtue through the five precepts, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=pansil
Four Noble
Truths - The essence of Buddhism, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=fourtruths
Make Haste -
About the dangers of samsara (endless round of birth and death) and a call
to attain Nibbana (release) at the earliest opportunity, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=urgency
Mental
Purity - Five ways prescribed by the Buddha for subduing mental defilements, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=vitakkasantana
Metta
Meditation - Easy to follow instructions for doing the meditation on
loving-kindness, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=mettamed
Noble Eightfold
Path - The path for ending unsatisfactoriness, stress and suffering, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=noblepath
Offerings - On making offering to the Lord Buddha's supreme qualities, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=offerings
One Hour of
Unsatisfactoriness - The unsatisfactoriness that can be felt within the
space of an hour, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=onehour
Reverence - On revering those worthy of reverence, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=reverence
Sensual Pleasure
& Pain - An analysis of sensual pleasure and pain, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=plespain
Work
Stress - An analysis of stress in the work-place, see http://www.vihara.org.au/go?to=workstress
See
these articles here http://sites.google.com/site/dhammagroupweb/pubs and here http://sites.google.com/site/dhammagroupweb/pubs/youth
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