This is great ! Reminder Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche says in the book not for happiness.. that the dharma is not meant to be a path to happiness. Sorry… I know most western practitioners think they sit on the cushion to achieve happiness, but that is a misinterpretation of the Buddha’s awakening. Cessation of suffering does not equal happiness. Cessation of suffering equals freedom from the incessant human pursuit of pleasure and unending flight from pain. Hope and fear rule our lives and are deeply woven throughout the fabric of all our thoughts, emotions, and actions. This is the main cause of all our suffering. And the Buddha was clear, dharma is the only path to directly know that cause and free the psyche from its tyranny. In light of that truth, chasing after dharma teachings is different from striving for objects of happiness, because when we truly pursue the dharma as a path to cessation, we are required to embrace one big truth and three difficult principles. The big truth is, none of this is permanent or ultimately real and all egoic perception is deluded and false. It is our duty to clear the doors of perception of all obscurations and recognize unbounded awareness, our true nature. The three principles are discipline (in life and in meditation), selflessness, and wisdom—all of which are hard to apply because they require mindful attentiveness to the continual presence of habitual approach and avoidance. Buddhism is not easy. Well, I take that back, there are forms of easy Buddhism in the East and the West. Pray at a certain temple for health, wealth, and good rebirth, then toss some coins, ring a bell, and salvation is yours! Or go to a meditation group or sangha once a week and then live in whatever way suits you the rest of the week. Practicing the dharma takes courage and a commitment to something greater than personal or even collective happiness. Freedom is not happiness; it is equanimity and contentment. And equanimity and contentment include all experiences; good and bad. Freedom from suffering means the psyche views all phenomena as just phenomena, including the illusory self that once clung to hope and fear as real and true. So gather as much dharma teachings as possible, and pursue your dharma practice for the true freedom of all beings everywhere. ****Buddha Dharma****
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 08:12:14 +0000
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