THE BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF HAPPINESS (PART 2) | 30 JAN 2021

< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享    

Time : Saturday 2pm-4.15pm
Platform : ZOOM Cloud Meeting
Topic of Discussion : THE BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF HAPPINESS (PART 2)

 

On 30 January 2021, Guan Yin Citta, Singapore held another online English Group Study, touching on the concept of Happiness from a Buddhism standpoint in continuation of the previous session.

It was an enlightening session where seven key ingredients to achieve the state of real Happiness were unveiled.

 

🪷 Food for thought

Master Lu once said, “Happiness is not defined by our wealth or status, but by how we choose to live our lives? Only when we are not entangled in the pursuit of fame and wealth, will we truly be liberated. A liberated life is a life truly worth living.”

 

❤️ The session started off by re-emphasising that Happiness lies in forsaking our self-interests to bring joy to others. This first ingredient to Happiness is something we tend to throw to the back of our mind in our craze for worldly Happiness. Metaphorically, saving a person’s life is more meritorious than building a seven-floor pagoda.

Man’s greatest source of Happiness can also be found in contentment. In the eyes of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, only contentment is deemed the most wholesome and outstanding. The participants were taught to repeat “I’m content” three times whenever they get what they wish for.

The third secret to Happiness is compassion, which is the only weapon that helps prevent the formation of all karmic obstacles. In a truly compassionate heart, there is no room for greed, resentment, ignorance and arrogance. Thirteen benefits of being compassion were highlighted in the session.

The participants also learned that abandoning the notion of self helps one achieve Happiness. Master Lu once said, “Have less feelings of self-importance and do not take yourself too seriously.”

⚖️ Unbeknown to many, equanimity is another key to Happiness. Treat the disadvantages in life as a blessing in disguise.

The participants were taught that gratitude boosts Happiness. As Buddhist practitioners, we must learn to be grateful as this is how compassion arises. A couple of touching short stories were presented in the session and they served as strong reminder about the importance of learning to cherish what we have in life.

The facilitator summed up the session with the last and yet equally critical source of happiness, and that is, Happiness comes when our six organs – known as the six thieves – are in check. Master Lu once said, “The reason for humans to go through the cycle of rebirth is their bewilderment by the various organs of their body which leads them to create karma.”

 

The session ended with an impactful message from Master Lu, reminding us to tap into our inherent nature. We will then realise that our prayers will always be answered and the perfection in this human realm is thus attained.

In the upcoming session – scheduled on 6 February – you will get to find out ways to address potential clashes with Tai Sui Bodhisattva and Zodiac year of birth, and to welcome the Bodhisattva of Wealth.

 

🌷Let us now look at some comments from participants:

This wonderful session is likened to an “awakening time” to me.

The stories and examples quoted in the session managed to convey the messages from Master’s teachings in a more impactful way.

 

🪷 Join us in our next session 

Please contact Loh SX (96978356) / Woan Yi SX (82182248) for more information

 

 ⏰ Date and time:
Saturday 6 Feb 2021 (2.oopm – 4.00pm)

 

Please click here to download the Summary Slides shared during the Group Study:

   Summary Slides_THE BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF HAPPINESS (PART 2)

 

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WHAT ARE WE LEARNING TODAY?

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< The Secret to Happiness is Compassion >

 

Master Jun Long Lu’s Discourse (Question 203) – 22 Jan 2018 

Question: Master Lu has mentioned in Buddhism in Plain Terms that every passion and desire within the Seven Emotions and Six Sensory Pleasures (七情六欲) has the effect of creating karmic obstacles and it is only through gratitude one is able to exterminate them (断绝业障). I’d like to understand why gratitude is the only tool that can help prevent karmic obstacles from forming.

Answer: I covered this in my earlier chapters of Buddhism in Plain Terms. Our original aspirations begin with a heart of gratitude (感恩心是最初始的心). This positive emotion is the foundation of compassion that is in one’s innate nature (慈悲心是我们的本性). 

Compassion is derived from a heart that knows gratitude and correspondingly, gratitude stems from a heart of compassion which in turn helps unleash the Buddha nature within us (把佛性带出来).

Hence, compassion is the only way that helps prevent the formation of all karmic obstacles, regardless of the type. In a truly compassionate heart, there’s no room for greed (贪心), resentment (瞋恨), ignorance (愚痴) and arrogance (贡高我慢). With this, do you think this person will commit a sinful act.

And would you now agree that compassion is the only effective weapon that can exterminate all karmic obstacles (断除一切的唯一方法)? This is how this concept works. 

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Brisbane, Australia – 20 March 2016

Why is there suffering in this world? Suffering happens when the light in one’s inner heart starts to diminish – with a heart of darkness, you trust no one, not even yourself.

How do we, as a Buddhist practitioner, let our inner hearts be filled with brightness and light? Most importantly, we need to nourish our compassion to overcome the sufferings in the human realm.

Think about this: When resentment (恨) arises in your heart, don’t you think it’s because you have lost the compassion that used to dwell within your innate nature?

Hence, we must be capable of great compassion as when you are filled with light and love, you will never live in distress. 

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse at Guan Yin Hall – 27 May 2011
The Benefit of being Compassionate 

First, a compassionate person will grow to be more beautiful. They will neither have a fierce nor angry looking face.

Second, a compassionate person will always have good fortune wherever they go (福气常随身). The more compassionate you are, the more blessings (福气) you have. That said, a person who refuses to practise compassion lacks blessings.

Third, a compassionate person will have peaceful sleep every night; they are never sad and have no fear.

Fourth, a compassionate person will always feel at peace (觉安). It is only with compassion that one feels peaceful. For example, if you mistreat someone today, you will not feel peaceful because you know he will strike back sooner or later. If you have scolded this person at your workplace today, you will immediately think, “Will he complain to the manager about me?” You will immediately lose your sense of peace, feel uncomfortable and cannot be at ease.

 

Fifth, a compassionate person will not have nightmares (做恶梦). Only those who have a lot of anger and hatred (嗔恨) will experience a lot of nightmares.

Sixth, a compassionate person is able to gain the protection and blessings (保护) from the Bodhisattva and the Dharma protectors while those who have yet to practise compassion will not be able to gain such blessings and protection. There are not many compassionate people around now. To be compassionate is not an easy endeavour as a magnanimous heart (度量) is the prerequisite.

 

Seventh, a compassionate person will have a universal appeal (人见人爱). People tend to like you when they see you. They are willing to make friends with you as they think that you are kind and compassionate.

Eighth, a compassionate person will not die from consuming poisonous substances.

Ninth, a compassionate person will not be harmed by weapons, soldiers or in situations of war.

Tenth, a compassionate person will not die from drowning.

Eleventh, a compassionate person will not die in a fire.

Twelfth, a compassionate person is assured of their best interest in all their endeavours (所做的一切都会得到利益). A person who doesn’t have the quality of compassion, will gain nothing in the end, no matter how much they try to resort to trickery (动坏脑筋) or try to fool others.

Thirteenth, a compassionate person will ascend to the heavenly realm (升梵天).

 

 

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< Happiness is when we DO NOT cling to the notion of Self >

 

Buddhism in Plain Terms – Vol. 5 Chapter 6 (An Excerpt) 

I’d like to talk about the concept of staying unperturbed (淡定自我). It is a state that can be achieved by gradually forgetting about oneself (把自我慢慢忘掉). Those who are caught up in the perception of self will be assaulted by anger, unhappiness and sorrow. 

Every time I deliver a speech, there are bound to be members of the audience who have the impression that I am talking about them.

For example, some ladies may ponder on my speech and say in their hearts: “I, too, have put in a lot of effort.” The same goes with some of the elderly men in the audience, they may think likewise and hence, they think it is not fair.

What’s interesting is, how can you be so sure that I am referring to you in my speech? Do you think I am trying to imply that you still fall short of expectation whenever I speak well of others?

The crux of the matter lies in your attachment to the notion of self which makes you think that everything that happens is about yourself. This is a sign that you have not been cultivating well.
(就是没学好)

How does one achieve a state of‘imperturbability’ (淡定)?

It is achieved when you do not take yourself too seriously, when there is calmness within you, when there is less feelings of self-importance and when you are devoid of the concept of self (无我).

By doing so, you will be able to see through the reality of things and learn to let go, opening upyour heart to embrace the virtue of equanimity(平等心).

Upon which, you will naturally put yourself in others’ shoes whenever deliberating over an issue. You will probably start to think, “Others have truly gone through a lot of pain to get the job done through their tangible efforts, something I may not be capable of.”

Let me tell you this: When you perform virtuous deeds in the spirit of Bodhisattva, it will help you ward off illnesses and extend your lifespan.

Instead, if you only think of yourself and get buried in the busyness of fending for your family needs, you will only become more and more foolish. You will be drowned in the ocean of desires and fail to come back up (欲海中翻腾出不来) as your mind is only filled with thoughts of fending for your daughter and son, which points to a long and arduous road ahead.

Treat as if you have no offspring whenever your child treats you badly. Likewise, treat as if your spouse is non-existent whenever he or she is unkind to you.

Only then, would you be happy and learn to let go, paving the way for the mind to reach an equilibrium (平衡). This is the only way for us to achieve a sense of balance in life. 

 

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< Equanimity is the KEY to Happiness >

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Melbourne, Australia – 20 Nov 2016 
THE OLD MAN LOST HIS HORSE, BUT IT ALL TURNED OUT FOR THE BEST.  “塞翁失马，焉知非福” 

Once, there was an old man who lived in a small village with his horse. Because he had a horse, this old man was one of the wealthiest inthe village. His neighbours would tell him how lucky he was to have that horse.

They’d say, “Now you can plow a much larger field, have a much larger income, and take much better care of your family”. But this old man was a wise man. He didn’t say anything; he just nodded his head.

One day the horse ran away. His neighbours told him how unlucky he was that his horse had run away. The old man said nothing and nodded his head.

A few months later, the horse returned, followed by a second horse. The old man’s neighboursthen told him how lucky he was that his horse had run away because now he had two horses. Again, he said nothing and simply nodded his head, acknowledging the state of things.

One day, as the old man’s son was plowing the field with the second horse, he fell off and broke his leg. The neighbours then told the old manhow unlucky he was to have that second horse as his son could no longer help him in the fields.

Then a war broke out in the province and the lords conscripted all the young men to fight forthe country. But the old man’s son was sparedbecause of his broken leg. The neighbours thentold the old man just how lucky he was that his son had broken his leg.

And so it goes. This story tells us that the disadvantage in our life can be a blessing in disguise. When we find ourselves to be at a disadvantage, good fortune might be just around the corner.

We have so many ideas about how things should or could be. The truth is that we never know how things will turn out.

Holding too much sadness and distress in your heart, will only lead you to losing your wisdom. True freedom is being able to let go and make the best of things as they are.

 

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< GRATITUDE BOOSTS HAPPINESS > 

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, New York – 14 October 2018 

A man once asked an elderly man: “Which is more important, the sun or the moon?” The old gentleman thought for a long time and replied, “The moon is more important.” The man asked him why. The old gentleman said, “It’s because the moon shines at night when it is needed the most; while the sun shines in the day when it is least needed.”

We might laugh at the elderly man for being muddle-headed, but don‘t you think that many of us are just like him? We never appreciate those around us every day taking care of us. However, if a stranger suddenly shows us kindness, we would be immensely grateful to them. We take for granted from our family members have been making sacrifices for us and even think that they are very annoying. Don’t you think we are just as silly as “thanking the moon and denying the sun”? 

 

A TRUE STORY ON GRATITUDE

One day, a young girl had a big argument with her mother. She was so angry that she slammed the door and walked out of the house, and was determined never to return to this loathsome home again. 

She went wandering around till late at night. Her stomach started to growl, she was famished. She had left home without her purse, and she couldn’t set aside her ego to go home for dinner.

As nightfall, she stumbled upon a noodle stall. Her hunger was amplified by the aroma of the delicious noodle that filled the air. She needed to eat very badly and was salivating but she didn’t have any money.

Suddenly, the friendly noodle stall owner asked her: “Young lady, would you like to have a bowl of noodles?” She awkwardly replied: “I’d love to, but I don’t have any money with me.”

The stall owner said, “Don’t worry about it. Have some, it’s on me.”

The girl couldn’t believe her ears; she settled herself down at the table. After a while, the noodles came, she ate eagerly and said: “Boss, you are such a nice person!”

The boss said: “What’s so great about what I did?” The girl replied: “You hardly know me but yet you are so kind to me. Unlike my mother. She doesn’t understand my needs nor my thoughts. It’s driving me crazy! How can I live with such a person?”

The boss then smiled and said, “Young lady, I have only given you a bowl of noodles and here you are thanking me profusely. What about your mother who has cooked for you for more than 20 years? Shouldn’t you be more grateful to her?”

These words of the boss, had as if jolted the girl out of her dream. Her eyes misted over with tears. She ran home immediately despite the half-finished bowl of noodle. Just right there at the alley in front of the house, she saw her anxious mother from a distance.

A wave of guilt washed over her. She wanted to repeat this word to her mother a thousand or even ten thousand times and that is “I am sorry”.

Right that moment, before she could speak, her mother rushed to her and said, “Gosh! Where did you go all day? I am so anxious. Go home, wash your hands and have dinner.” That night, she could deeply feel the love her mother has for her.

 

Moral of the story:

In life, we should learn to cherish. Many people do not know what they have until it’s gone, including their loved ones. You fail to cherish the other party when you were dating; neither did you take them seriously in the past when he/she treated you well.

It’s like the beautiful necklace we bought. After wearing it for a long time, we tend to forget its existence. However, the day we realised it’s gone, we will feel that it’s a pity. We must learn to cherish the love of the people around us and do not abandon them easily (不要轻易去抛弃).

When the sun is there, we tend not to appreciate the light it brings; when our loved ones are there taking care of us, we tend not to appreciate the warmth they brought to our lives.

When we are being cared for in all possible ways, we fail to be grateful, because we thought “since our days are bright enough, the sun serves no useful purpose”. 

 

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< Gratitude boosts Happiness >

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Melbourne, Australia – 20 November 2016 

We must learn to be grateful in our quest for peace and safety. In this world, no man is an island, that is no one can thrive in isolation without help from others. Sadly, even towards those who once extended a helping hand to us, we only remember their demerits (缺点) and oblivious of their merits (忘记别人对自己帮助的优点).

We must be grateful to our parents, teachers, doctors, good friends and former lovers for having walked with us in certain stretches of our life journey.

As Buddhist practitioners, we must learn to be grateful as this is how compassion (慈悲)arises. 

A child who is grateful will be appreciative of things that others do for him; cherishing all the things that he has, feeling happy and blessed.

Three years ago, there was an overseas student by the name of Wang Jia Jin. Hereturned home after spending five years studying in Japan, never worked a single daybefore and had solely relied on his mother’s meagre monthly wage of RMB7,000 to pay for his education fees and living expenses.

To make ends meet, his mother had to seek financial assistance from various sources and ended up broke and heavily indebted. When his mother failed to pull in the funds, he flew into a rage and stabbed her nine times the day she was at the Pudong Airport to welcome his homecoming. 

A 24-year old should have learned to be independent and worked to defray his living expenses. Instead, he had a strong sense of entitlement and was relishing life overseas at the expense of his mother, who had to toil to make ends meet. His sense of entitlement turned into hatred when his mother failed to fork out the funds he wanted. Overwhelmed by hatred, he stabbed his own mother nine times.

This case serves as a stern warning to all parents that it’s pertinent to inculcate the virtue of responsibility in their children.

We must not underestimate the importance of gratitude; a grateful child will be appreciative of things that others do for him, cherishing all things that he is blessed with.

A contented child is a happy child. Never allow a sense of entitlement (有受之无愧的感觉) to dwell within a child’s heart, thinking that it is parents’ duties to serve their offspring.

Teaching children an attitude of gratitude (懂得感恩) starts from the parents having this quality of being grateful. And a filial child (孝顺) is a manifestation of a parent with this noble quality.

 

wenda20161014  01:09:35 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
KARMIC RETRIBUTION OF AN UNGRATEFUL PERSON

Caller: Master, you taught us that as a Buddhist practitioner, we must be compassionate and grateful. Master has placed great emphasis on the importance of having a heart of gratitude. I’d like to know of the karmic retribution of an ungrateful person. 

Master Jun Hong Lu: An ungrateful person (忘恩负义) may end up becoming an animal or even a spirit in the underworld. Tiger is one good example, as it lacks the sense of gratitude. Look at the animal kingdom, no animal has the slightest understanding of gratitude. Irrespective of how kind you are to an animal, you run the risk of being devoured by it one of these days. You can fend for their needs for one or two years or even their entire lifetimes, they will immediately bite you, the moment you stop feeding them.

Caller: Master, do you mean that tigers are generally the reincarnation of people who lack gratitude?

Master Jun Hong Lu: All animals are the same and hence the name ‘brute’ (畜生). This explains why ‘brute’ is used to label a cold-blooded person with cruel and savage characteristics mimicking that of an animal (根本没有人性).

There are people who would serve anyone for material benefits without having any regards for moral values. The world has changed, and credibility is indeed lacking these days. 

 

wenda20160429  20:40 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
ERADICATE ARROGANCE WITH A HEART OF GRATITUDE

Caller: Master has said that the great virtue of someone who wholeheartedly propagates Buddhism with a noble intention of wanting to benefit all sentient beings (弘法的人一心利益众生), will result in the increase in his worldly blessings (人天福报). I’d like to ask Master as to how we should handle such blessings so that we do not end up indulging in worldly enjoyments such as fame and wealth? (名闻利养).

Master Jun Hong Lu: For all the blessings, first and foremost one should be grateful; the second is to view that they are not your own, but a gift from Bodhisattva. Just as how everyone reveres me, I have never viewed this as a function of my personal charm. Instead, I attribute it to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for her blessings and this keeps me grounded. All of you should apply the same approach.

For instance, after a sumptuous meal, you should say, “My deepest gratitude to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for bestowing upon me the blessings such that I have the opportunity to have this marvellous meal”.

Another example is when you can happily afford to purchase a house, you should say, “My deepest gratitude to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for granting me this house”. Acknowledge that nothing is your own achievement, but everything is a gift from Bodhisattva. By doing so, you will not deplete your blessings and life (不会消福消寿了). 

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Melbourne, Australia – 10 November 2018
ADOPT A HEART OF GRATITUDE IN BOTH THE TRIALS AND BLESSINGS OF LIFE

As a Buddhist practitioner, in order to lead a life full of positivity, we must always be thankful (感恩) in all circumstances and no matter what happens. 

Give thanks to those who have helped us and for those who have caused us harm, we thank them for sharpening our resolve (磨炼了你的意志). Similarly, to those who have deceived us, we must be thankful to them for enriching our life experiences.

To those who despise and are unkind to us, we must also be thankful as they are the ones who help us find self-respect (自尊), learn to bounce back from our setbacks and become stronger. 

Last but not least, be grateful to our destiny (命运) and to everyone, who has steepened our learning curve in making us more matured. We need to understand that there is nothing in this world that is everlasting, or we can claim eternal possession of.

Though so, we should cultivate an eternal heart of gratitude, a quality which can only be attained through our practice of Buddhism and effort in cultivating our mind (学佛修心). 

 

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< Happiness is when the six sense organs are in check >

 

Wenda20151018A 41:49 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller: Master Lu mentioned in the Buddhism in Plain Terms, “Humans are bewildered by the various organs of their body that led them to create karma (造业). This, undoubtedly, is the reason for their going through the cycle of rebirth (轮回). If you do not wish to go through this cycle, you need to  gradually detach (脱离)your six sensory organs (六根) from your mental consciousness (意识), that is to eliminate them (去除).” May I ask, what does it mean by  “detaching one’s six sensory organs from one’s mental consciousness (六根慢慢脱离意识) and eliminating them”?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It means, when your eyes see something attractive, you have to gradually detach yourself from the impression that it is attractive.

When your nose smells the scent of meat, do not think that it is fragrant. When your ears hear someone say something, whether it is good or not, do not take it seriously. “To detach your mouth from your mental consciousness” means you should not speak or scold others no matter how tempted you are to do so.

When you are gradually detached from the mental consciousness, you will then eliminate your six senses. You should not take whatever happens in this world as real, neither should you take this world too seriously, as nothing in it is for real. 

 

BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS (Vol. 11 Chapter 35)  (An excerpt)

“Six Thieves in our mind (六个“贼”): Eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and consciousness.  

 

When Bodhisattva mentioned about the ‘outflows of the body’ (身体有漏), the outflows are from the six sense organs: Eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and consciousness. When the eyes see, nose smells, mouth speaks, there are outflows of energy. The same goes with the ears. What about our mind? How does outflow happen in this sense organ? The outflow is in the form of energy (气场).

Just like the numerous pores on our body, if we are not careful in safeguarding these six aspects, there may be energy outflow. We need to chase away the “six thieves”. Only then, we will not be affected by form, sound, smell, taste, touch nor reasoning.

When our consciousness is not affected, we do not give rise to any emotions towards material things in the human realm  (不会产生感情). Hence, it is important that we guard against these “six thieves” so that they are not able to steal anything from us. 

 

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HAPPINESS

• Happiness is when we HELP OTHERS

• Happiness comes from CONTENTMENT

• The Secret to Happiness is COMPASSION

• Happiness is when we DO NOT cling on to the NOTION OF SELF

• EQUANIMITY is the key to Happiness

• GRATITUDE boosts Happiness 

• Happiness is when our SIX SENSE ORGANS ARE IN CHECK 

 

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No Need to Seek Afar, the ‘SPIRITUAL MOUNTAIN’ is in our Heart 

佛在灵山莫远求 , 灵山就在汝心头 

 

< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享