Author: Web Admin

“Happy indeed we live, unafflicted amidst those afflicted by craving!

Amidst afflicted people we dwell free from affliction”.

This is the remarkable and profound statement of the Buddha.

Happiness is the most articulate and expressive word in the globe today.

The pursuit of happiness is the purpose of multitude of individuals.

But many voices reveal and affirm that what is contrary to true happiness.

Aspirations and dreams of many individuals clearly disclose what people are pursuit of.

Acquisition of wealth, accumulation of many material items, becoming a very influential person, and winning or acquiring honorary titles or felicitations are some of the ambitions and aspirations in many hearts.

But still they are not HAPPY.

Secret of the failure and the disappointment has been discovered, expounded, and entrusted the true way to approach and technique to pursue HAPPINESS by the great Master, the Buddha.

Twenty-six centuries ago, the Buddha set in motion of unique research himself as an aspirant of the Fully Enlightened One to achieve innermost happiness and peace by concluding his spiritual aspiration.

Unhappiness, Cause of Unhappiness, Happiness, and the Path to Happiness are named as Four Noble Truth in the teaching of the Buddha.

The Buddha clearly explicated and elucidated the breakthrough or realization in his first and foremost discourse after his Full Enlightenment called Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta – Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion.

Craving or an insatiable desire is the paramount cause of UNHAPPINESS.

In order to eradicate craving and to accomplish lasting happiness we all should be introspective.

We all should deeply and intensely concentrate on thoughts, ideas and brain waves.  Try not to be a slave of your own thoughts but to be a Master of your thoughts.

This is the science and unprecedented technique the Buddha taught us and encouraged multitude of people to practice it diligently.

One day, the middle of the night one of the deities visited the Buddha and recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Those who dwell deep in the forest,

Peaceful, leading the holy life,

Eating but a single meal a day:

Why is their complexion so serene?

The Blessed One replied thus:

“They do not sorrow over the past,

Nor do they hanker for the future.

They maintain themselves with what is present.

Hence their complexion is so serene.

“Through hankering for the future,

Through sorrowing over the past,

Fools dry up and wither away

Like a green reed cut down.”

May all beings be well and happy!

By: Ven. Horowpothane Sathindriya Thero

“Mother is a kind-hearted friend at your own premises”

 “Just as a mother would protect her son, her only child, with her own life, so one should develop towards all beings a state of mind without boundaries.”

Above mentioned remarkable statements of the Buddha profoundly characterize the inner personality of a mother.

It marks the Mother’s Day and millions of individuals celebrate it with gratitude in the globe today, the 10th of May 2020.

I thought to put into words in brief with respect to this special personality and a character although it is beyond words and terms.

Hundreds of mothers have articulated and disclosed their own stories, aspirations, wishes, purpose, dreams and objectives. All of them are relevant to their children. Every single mother wants to see her child as a shining star and a brilliant character in the world.

The pain, agony, discomfort, distress, and indescribable emotional afflictions and tribulations are unimaginable but kind- hearted mother has tolerated and endured all for the sake of her children. Still she does experience them

Unconditional love, compassion, appreciative – joy and equanimity are full in her heart.

We rarely hear some unacceptable reports which contrary to abovementioned fact.

Song writers, poets and other scholars have written thousands of assessments, appreciations, and accounts of gratitude of mothers.

Words are not enough and limited to clearly explicate the innermost qualities of a mother.

Their dedication, sacrifice, determination, commitment, devotion, love, affection, attachment, generosity, and friendliness are beyond reason and exposition.

Challenges, difficulties, pains, hardships, worries, complexities, and burdens are indescribable but, because of children they tolerate and endure multitudes of distressing matters and issues.

We all should understand the magnitude and the enormity of mother’s responsibilities and commitments.

When we were very young, all of us were very powerless and helpless.

We were incapable and unable.

Mother was there for us like a never departing shadow till we become capable and able.

Once late president John F Kennedy said:

“Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don’t want them to become politicians in the process.”

“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers” (Rudyard Kipling)

May mothers be well, healthy, happy, safe and peaceful!  

By: Ven. Horowpothane Sathindriya Thero

“Monks, there is one person arising in the world who is unique, without a peer, without counterpart, incomparable, unequalled, matchless, unrivalled, the best of humans.

Who is that person? It is the Tathagata, the Arahant, the Fully Enlightened One. This is that one person….”

 It marks the Full Moon Day of Vesak (May) today.

Today is the 2564^th anniversary of Vesak.

Therefore, I thought to elaborate some profound characteristics of the great Master, the Buddha in brief on this special day.

Present day global atmosphere is inconceivable and unprecedented which the whole human society is drastically changed by COVID-19 deadly virus.

This is the precise time to reflect upon the inner qualities of the Buddha and what he compassionately encouraged us to do.

The Uniqueness of the Buddha is beyond comparison. A paragon of virtue, model of perfection, an embodiment of morality, a paradigm of impeccable personality, and incomparable immaculate spiritual leader who compassionately taught, guided and encouraged humanity towards innermost peace and happiness.

Inconceivable challenges and ineffable difficulties were enormous and excessively inundated in his life, but he patiently overcame and assiduously conquered them with courage and perseverance. With his unique dedication and paramount persistency, he conquered the battle of defilements and impurities; ultimately by treading the Noble Eightfold Path or Path of Purification which he attained by his spiritual accomplishment, the bliss of Nibbana.

After an extensive and amicable discussion with the Buddha one of the eminent and dedicated devotees of Nigantanataputta called Upali impressively extolled and glorified the Buddha in front of his devoted teacher thus:

 He is the wise one who has cast off delusion

Abandoned the heart’s wilderness,

Victor  in battle, he knows no anguish, is perfectly even-minded,

Mature in virtue, of excellent wisdom,

Beyond all temptations, he is without stain,

The Blessed One is he, and I am his disciple.  

May all being be well, happy and safe!

Ven, Horowpothane Sathindriya Thero.

“The world is led around by mind, by mind it’s dragged here and there. Mind is the one thing that has all under its control.”

This is a sagacious and brilliant statement made by the Buddha.

Nature of the mind is wondering. Above mentioned profound expression clearly explicate it well.

Mind should be disciplined, trained and tamed. Practicing mindfulness immensely helps us to meet our prospect if we truly and honestly practice it in a manner of consistency.

Mindfulness of breathing and other techniques which the Buddha compassionately prescribed and recommended for us to cultivate and to train our mind definitely will pave the way to innermost happiness and inner peace.

Specially, during this challenging period we should be very wise and compassionate to ourselves.

We all must look after our both physical and mental health.

There are many medications and therapies for physical pains and ailments, but it is very complex to find remedies for mental disorders and afflictions.

Kindly schedule your time to practice meditation daily.

Once the Buddha said thus:

“Those disciples of Gotama ever awaken happily whose minds by day and night delight in the practice of meditation.”

May all be well, happy, free from danger, and safe!

Ven. Horowpothane Sathindriya Thera