Bite-sized Dharma on the go!
Happiness … it’s a habit!
Sorrow … it’s a habit!
Joy … it’s a habit!
Anger … it’s a habit!
Love … it’s a habit!
Contentment … it’s a habit!
What kind of mental habits do you want to cultivate today?
Photo Source:
I received an email from someone asking for advice. Agatha (not the real name!) ask why she is never content with what she has and keep looking for more. She further asks what happiness is. She feels weak and tired in the mind and heart.
I wrote her:
Congratulations ###! You have observed that you are discontent with what you have and keep looking for more! ^_^
Further, you rightly observe how this leads the mind and heart to be weak and tired. Well done!
As to why you do that? We all know the answer deep within. It is that we don’t know any better. As in, we don’t know any other way to be happy or to pursue happines (if happiness can be pursued externally at all!).
If your heart-mind is tired, let it rest for a while. When it leaps outward at the world, know that it is leaping, but try to just watch it but not go with it. Kinda like when you are in a movie and your phone goes buzzing silently and you know it is buzzing but don’t go check it.
Do this first and let me know what happens.
Suki hontu!
So dear friends, why don’t you try this today? Try watching your mind* and see if you can observe but not follow the impulses that arises. Try and see if you can do it like you know the phone buzz without necessarily checking the phone. See if you can watch the mind bouncing without going along with it.
Pre-requisite:
The Dharma is described as the Truth, not because we want to stake claim to be the Truth bearers or wish to disclaim others. The Dharma is described as the Truth because its principles were observed directly by the Buddha and applies whether you believe it or not. Just as the Law of Gravity applies whether you subscribe to it or even know it or not, you are accelerating at a rate of 9.8m/s2 (g ~ 9.80665 m/s2 ).
In a similar way, the Buddha’s teaching describes the Truth of our existence. So, come and see for yourself. Ehi passiko.
* For a more thorough discourse on observing and being mindful of the mind, see Digha-nikaya 22: Maha-satipatthana Sutta: The Great Frames of Reference.
** This is not a rationalisation for Buddhists to stop being Buddhists and pretending to practise. :p If you already subscribe to the teachings internally, why not commit to it externally as well?
Reference
Every moment in our lives is like a new year, a start, a new beginning for us to change.
To change and overcome the mental habituations. 🙂
I’m trying.
For your own sake, I hope you try too.
Dharma Talk by Venerable Faxun
5 June, Saturday, 7.30pm =96 9.30pm
(438 Dunearn Road Singapore 289613)
Would you like to be happy, the Buddha’ way? Do you have burning questions on balancing material and spiritual needs? Find your answers and take home practical tips on happiness that you can apply on a daily and lifelong basis.
Venerable Faxun graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic in 1989 and was ordained in Taiwan in 1992 by Venerable Wu Yin at Luminary of Bhikkhuni Sangha. She received a five years basic monastic training in Luminary Buddhist Institute. Upon completion of the monastic training, Venerable returned to Singapore in 1997 and served in the Sagaramudra Buddhist Society. In 2001, Venerable continued to pursue her Bachelor of Arts and Education in a University in Western Australia and in 2009, Venerable completed her Honours Degree.
Tickets available from SISTIC at S$38 or S$132 for a group of 4, from 1 July onwards
*Programme and speakers are subject to changes in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Visit www.BuddhistConference.sg for more information and Fringe Programme Listing