Following the theme of the movie, the Last Holiday, i read that a similar drama took place during the time of the Buddha. As the story goes one day the King of the Devas was very unhappy as he had only 7 days to live. So he went to the Buddha to ask how to overcome his unhappiness. He asked "All living beings always want to get happiness but there are not free from danger and suffering. Why is that?" And the Buddha replied "They do not get happiness because they bear envy and selfishness in their minds'. And the King asked "What is the cause of envy and selfishness?' And the Buddha replied "Envy and selfishness are caused by love and hatred. If they have no love or hatred they will not fall into the error of envy and selfishness. Love and hatred are in turn dependent on craving. And craving depends on discursive thinking about sense objects".
In the movie the Last Holiday, Georgia Byrd gave up envy and selfishness. It was easy to do as she was dying anyway - she had only 3 weeks to live. She had only loving kindness, compassion, sympathy and joy to share. Amazing truths are revealed when we just let go. When she did let go, she discovered happiness.
The Buddha mentions the words 'depend' and 'dependent'. It brings to mind his teachings on dependent origination. It is worthwhile learning this teaching by heart as it clears the way for liberation from the self when practiced diligently. It is no easy task though unless maybe when we are dying..
Briefly, it goes like this:- Ignorance causes karma formations/habits which causes consciousness which causes mind, body, matter which causes the 6 senses which causes contact which causes feeling which causes craving which causes clinging/attachment which causes becoming which causes birth which causes decay, sorrow, pain and death. If we go backwards, each is dependent on the other condition and we end up with ignorance- the root of all evil and suffering in the world. Birth does not have to mean physical birth but it encompasses all kinds of birth- thoughts, feelings, emotions within us. A mindful awareness of this process in our lives daily will reveal a self evident truth- that all things change, that there is no self- that selflessness, egolessness is the way to lasting happiness and peace in the world. Every school in the country should ensure that every student learn this teaching on dependent originiation. This will deal with the problem of ignorance -THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL AND SUFFERING- which education is supposed to eradicate anyway. The aim is to produce citizens who are selfless, egoless, high moral standing, for only such citizens can bring real change, benefit, success and happiness to the country. But is our present Education Minister, sultans or King even aware or realise the importance of dependent origination?
2 comments:
Mr Dass the Buddha was right. You are right as well in that we should live each day as if it was the last. Hmm. I should learn to do that. I worry too much about the future.
cheers,
M V Nathan
Bodhi with the government we have, i dont blame you worrying about the future..
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