Lesson 1

The Mystery of Living

The Mystery of Living

What do we all have in common?No guarantee against failure and disappointment.

• one day we have gain, fame, praises and happiness

• the next day comes loss, defame, blame and pain

The Mystery of Living

1. Can we find true security in the world?

We expect to find happiness through:

• Family and friends

• Business

• Money

• Entertainment

• Beauty & youth

But can we find permanent

happiness through these

means? No!!

The Mystery of Living2. Where do we learn to solve our sorrows?

No school teaches us how to face these problems.

Physical ailments associated with success/failure:

• Peptic ulcers

• High blood pressure

• Alcholism

• Hypertension

• Insomnia, etc, etc

The Buddha found a cure to the

universal problems. He was

concerned about problems

facing us …our frustrations,

sufferings and feelings of

hopelessness.

The Mystery of Living3. What did the Buddha find?

• Ignorance causes suffering

He discovered the following during the night of His Enlightenment:

• Everything is impermanent

• Strong ego - “I”, “me” and “mine”

• Strong attachment

The Mystery of Living

Does man realise that in reality nothing belongs to him? When he dies, everything will be passed to others.

The Mystery of Living4. Where do we find happiness?

Do we need to renounce all material wealth to find happiness?

Is there absolutely no happiness in material possessions?

No, ownership and wealth are important conditions for a good life, but in themselves, there is no permanent happiness.

The Mystery of Living

Where then do we find true peace and happiness?

Look within your ownself!!!

And the Buddha has taught us a straight, clear path how to attain perfect peace.

The Mystery of Living4. Where do we find happiness?

Addressing some monks the Buddha said:

Just as the mighty ocean is of one flavour, the flavour of salt, even so, this Dhamma is of one flavour, the flavour of Deliverance.

- Mahaparinibbana Sutta

The gift of Dhamma excels all gifts the taste of Dhamma excels all taste, the delight in dhamma excels all delights, The Craving-Freed vanquishes all suffering.

- Dhammapada verse 354

End of Lesson 1