The Warm Hearted Family : หน้า 154/207 Exploring the inevitability of suffering in life and how to prepare for it with a steady mind as taught by Buddha.
This text discusses the duality of suffering and happiness in life. It emphasizes the natural forms of suffering such as aging, sickness, and death that everyone faces. Many people distract themselves from this reality by pursuing desires like marriage and family, which can add further burdens and worries. Even with relationships, separation from loved ones in death brings grief. By preparing oneself mentally and embracing teachings of the Buddha, one can learn to accept and cope with life's hardships, ultimately seeking a higher purpose and achieving inner peace through self-realization. The essence of life is not just enjoyment, but the journey towards overcoming these sufferings and striving for Nibbana.
หัวข้อประเด็น
-Understanding suffering -Role of attachment in family life -Importance of self-realization -Buddha's teachings on life and suffering -Strategies for coping with hardships
ข้อความต้นฉบับในหน้า
"Even though we may dislike difficulties and welcome
happiness, there is no way to avoid suffering in our lives
because life is a mixture of suffering and happiness. Instead,
we should prepare for the inevitable suffering with a steady
mind.
"Human beings were born with inherent forms of
suffering which include aging, sickness and death. Everyday
these forms of suffering have adverse effects on our lives to
various degrees.
"Instead of realizing and being aware of this suffering,
humans blind themselves even further with other trivial things.
A person will trouble himself more to fulfill his desires, for
example, to have a spouse and children, expecting that these
will bring him happiness.
"Other individuals associated with the person having these
desires are burdened with the same inherent sufferings (aging,
sickness, and death). Thus, once he marries, instead of being
happy, he is burdening himself with the natural sufferings of
his loved ones, including the suffering that may be caused by
having to be separated from them at the end.
"If you are married or have your own children, there is
no need to explain the hardships that will come with your
responsibilities. Even by remaining single, having to make a
living, taking care of one's parents, a person barely has enough
time left for oneself. After being married, one must play the
role of spouse and parent of the children. Each role surely has
a tremendous amount of work involved. Thus, everyday, the
family life is filled with worry and attachment.
"If you are tactful and articulate, you may be able to find
some happiness in a marriage. Yet, one still cannot break free
from suffering when death arrives. Being separated from loved
ones is inevitable and renders great grief. If one wants to live
a happy life, one must learn to be tolerant and to not
burden oneself with unnecessary suffering.
"Some people may think that this teaching is based on a
pessimistic view. But, in truth, it is a realistic teaching which
tells you how to deal with life situations.
"The Lord Buddha was able to conquer all these
sufferings. He taught that one can cope with unexpected
suffering by mindfully preparing oneself to confront aging,
sickness and death, habitually reflecting on the following
aspects:
1. Knowing the purpose of life: Knowing that we were
not born to live only for enjoyment. In fact, we were born to
pursue perfections, to cultivate merit in order to break free
from the sufferings of the samsara (cycle of life and death) by
following in the footsteps of Lord Buddha to reach Nibbana.
2. Self-realization: Habitually reflect on the fact that it is
natural for us to die. We have not yet gone beyond dying. We
The Warm Hearted Family
306
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The Warm Hearted Family
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