The Eight Worldly Conditions
We all want to become successful in our lives and it’s natural. We strive hard to make our wants happen. In the process, it is inevitable that we experience some form of gain and loss, fame and disgrace, praise and blame, and pleasure and pain. Just take a look at your own lives. You may have faced one or more of these situations in the past. Four of these conditions are favorable and we all like to have them while the other four are unfavorable and we don’t want to think about them at all coming our way. These [...]
Buddha’s explanation about the Karma(Kamma)
Most of us have heard the word Kamma or Karma. Generally, its usage points to a somewhat unfavourable or sad situation. Understanding of the word itself varies to a great extent because people tend to interpret the meaning based on their understanding and experience. Only a fully enlightened Buddha is capable of interpreting what kamma is, its diversity and its results. Therefore the interpretation of kamma should not be taken lightly as even the enlightened monks (Arahath’s) too didn’t possess the capability to interpret the complete spectrum of kamma. A simple search on the internet will show us the interest [...]
Buddha’s Way to Embracing Grief Thoughtfully
Grief occurs in many ways in our lives. It could be when we are young, middle-aged, or old. Grief strikes us in many forms too. Sometimes it’s due to the loss of a loved one. At other times it could be due to a loss of a treasured possession. Whichever way it happens the loss is tangible to most. We feel it deeply and profoundly because of the attachment we have. Most of us give in to grief, and don't know how to deal with such unpleasant and painful situations in an intelligent manner. The Supreme Buddha says, being [...]
Buddha’s Solution to Removing Obstacles to End Suffering
Most of the time we are led to believe that what meets the eye is real. It is not. The true nature of things is concealed in this world. Our eyes cannot see them even though we tend to think most of the time that we know the truth. This is because we have human urges such as lust, anger, and ignorance. These are destructive traits that cause suffering. The Supreme Buddha says that there are five hindrances that conceal our ability to develop our minds to see things as they are. The obstacles are as follows: Sensual Desire The [...]
Keep anger at Bay – Buddha’s way
Anger is part of day-to-day life. Do you not get angry if someone cuts you off while you are standing in line at the store? You do. We all become angry over things that happen against our wishes or words spoken by someone that we don’t like to hear. This is a common occurrence in our daily lives. Feelings of anger arise due to how we interpret and react to situations. Our interpretation may not be correct most of the time. We become emotional over the actions of another person and if we are not skillful in handling anger, it [...]
Sensual Pleasure
Sensual Pleasure: The world is filled with what we perceive to be sensual pleasure. However, most of us never attempt to understand the reason for things to be pleasurable to us. The Supreme Buddha understood sensual pleasure and explained to us the importance of understanding sensual pleasure, the reason for sensual pleasure, the various types of sensual pleasure, the cessation of sensual pleasure and the path to the cessation of sensual pleasure. How is sensual pleasure stimulated? The Supreme Buddha teaches that there are five ways sensual pleasure is stimulated. What are the five kinds of sensual stimulation? There [...]
The Noble Eightfold Path
The one and only path that leads to the realization of the Four Noble Truths, the one and only path that assures the eradication of passion, hatred and delusion, and the one and only path that ends suffering forever is the Noble Eightfold Path. The Supreme Buddha and all Arahants attained the Arahant-hood by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold path is practiced at two different levels: the path practiced by the disciples of the Buddha to become stream-entrants, and the path practiced by the noble disciples of the Buddha who are stream-entrants, once returners and non-returners. Listed below are the [...]
The Four Noble Truths
The core of the teachings of the Supreme Buddha is the “Four Noble Truths”. They are referred to as “Nobel Truths” because they are the absolute truths that nobody can deny. What that means is they are true at all times, in the past, in the future and at present. They are true to every man and woman irrespective of the nationality, ethnicity, faith, color and any other difference of human beings that one would recognize. They are true during the times of a Buddha’s dispensation as well as in the absence of a Buddha’s dispensation. The Four Noble [...]
The Dangers of Engaging in Evil Acts
NAMO BUDDHAYA! The Supreme Buddha taught us four dangers of engaging in evil (unwholesome) acts by body, speech and mind. They are the danger of self-accusation, the danger of accusation by others, the danger of punishment, and the danger of being born in a bad destination. 01. One accusing one’s own-self is a serious consequence of engaging in evil acts by body, speech and mind. One may think that none in this world knows the evil acts one has done, thus, may wish no dire consequences; despite that, one’s own-self accuses him or her day [...]
The Four Divine Abodes (Satara Brahma Viharanha)
Loving-kindness meditation (Mettā Bhāvanā) The way to cultivate the mind with loving-kindness… Mettā (Maitri) or loving-kindness is the true friendship that one exercises toward oneself and others. If one is friendly to oneself, that person will not harm himself/herself. If a person is friendly to others, that person would not harm others’ lives. Therefore, the friendship that brings good to oneself and others is called Mettā. Two ways of cultivating the loving-kindness meditation are mentioned in Anuruddha Sutta in Majjima Nikāya. Arahant Anuruddha Thero has explained those two ways of cultivating the loving-kindness meditation. These [...]