Monday, October 28, 2013

FOOD FOR THE THINKING MIND Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda

Unhappiness is due to our wanting the wrong things
Buddhism teaches us that all of man's unhappiness comes from his greed for things
such as pleasure that money can buy, power over other men, and, most important of all,
the inherent desire to go on "living for ever" even after one is dead. The desire of these
things makes people selfish, so much so, they come to think only of themselves, to want
things only for themselves, and do not, for a moment, mind what happens to other
people. And since invariable they do not get all that they wish for, they become restless
and discontented.

The only way to avoid this restlessness is to get rid of the selfish desires that actually
cause them. This is very difficult; but when a man achieves it, he reaches a state of
mind, which is the end of suffering.

Buddhism teaches us not to worry about circumstances here or hereafter, but to be 
concerned with our mental state, here and now. If we look after the present state of the 
mind, the future will look after itself. 

Buddhism says, the worries and suffering that we experience are nothing but a clash 
between our selfish desire and changing worldly conditions. One who develops one's 
mind to understand this can overcome worries and suffering. 

It is not your position that makes you happy or unhappy; it is your disposition. 

The world is like a mirror 
If we look at it with a smiling face, 
We see the face smiling back at us 
But if we look at it with a face of anger. 
We will see an ugly face reflected back. 
In the same way, if we act with 
kindness and compassion, 
We will reap the same good qualities,

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