What's the source of human grief, lamentation, pain and agony? Is it not to be found in the worldly attachments that people possess?
People cling obstinately to lives of wealth and honor, comfort and pleasure, excitement and self-indulgence; ignorant of the fact that the desire for these very things is the source of human suffering.
From its very beginning, the world has been filled with a succession of calamities. Over and above these calamities are the unavoidable hardships of illness, old age and death. In such circumstances, it is natural that pain and suffering should exist.
But if one carefully considers all of these, it will become clear that the basis of all suffering lies in the principle of desire for physical objects. If the ties of worldly attachments can be severed then human suffering will disappear without trace.
Day 13
The concept of universal oneness - that all things in their essential nature have no distinguishing characteristics - is called Śūnyatā. Śūnyatā means non-substantiality, the un-born, having no self-nature, no duality. It is because things in themselves have no form or characteristics that we can speak of them as neither being born or being destroyed. There is nothing about the essential nature of all things that can be described in terms of discrimination; that is why things are called non-substantial.
All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing can ever exist entirely alone; rather, all things exist in relation to everything else.
Whenever there is a light, there is shadow; whenever there is length, there is shortness; whenever there is white, there is a black. Just like these examples, the essential nature of the things cannot exist alone and is hence non-substantial.
Day 14
Behind the desires and worldly passions which the mind entertains, there abides clear and undefiled, the fundamental and true essence of mind.
Water is round in a round receptacle and square in a square one, but water of itself has no particular shape. Most people remain unaware of this fact.
People are caught in the entanglements of discriminating between good and bad; choosing between things they like and dislike; find agreeable and disagreeable; and thinking whether things exist or do no exist. People become attached with this way of thinking and as a result, suffer.
If it were only possible for them to serve the attachments to these imaginary and false discrimination and restore the original purity of their minds, then their minds and bodies would become free of suffering and they would know the peacefulness that comes with that freedom.
Day 18
Those who follow the path to Enlightenment must remove all self-pride and be humbly willing to accept the light of the Buddha's teachings. No amount of treasures of gemstones and precious metals can compare with the gifts of wisdom and virtue.
The enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family and to bring peace to all, one must first discipline one's own mind. Wisdom and virtue will naturally come to those who have the desire to follow the path and the ability to discipline their minds.
Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds and wisdom is through the board maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom to illuminate the correct path, and the guidance of virtue to help point the way.
The Buddha's teaching which tells us how to eliminate the three poisons of greed, anger and foolishness is a good teaching; and those who follow it will attain the happiness of joyful life.
Day 25
There are three methods of practice that must be followed by all those who seek Enlightenment:
Precepts for behavior
Correct concentration of mind
wisdom
What are the precepts for behavior? As a man and as a follower of the path, one should follow the precepts for good behavior controlling both mind and body and guarding the gates of the five senses. One should be afraid of committing even the slightest evil and always endeavor to practice good deeds.
What is meant by correct concentration of mind? It means to develop the ability to quickly overcome and eliminate greedy and evil desires as they arise and to keep the mind pure and tranquil.
What is wisdom? It is the ability to perfectly understand what constitutes the end of suffering; and to know of and follow the Noble Path that leads to the end of suffering.
Those who follow these three methods of practice can be truly called disciples of the Buddha.
Day 26
The element of the Noble Eightfold Path are :
Right View: to thoroughly understand the Four Holy Truths of Suffering, to believe in the Law of Cause and Effect and not to be misled by appearances and desires.
Right Thought: the resolution not to cherish desires; not to be greedy; not to be angry; and not to do any harmful deed.
Right Speech: to avoid lying, idle talk, abuse and hypocrisy.
Right Behavior: not to destroy any life; not to steal; and not to commit adultery.
Right livelihood: to avoid any way of life that would bring shame
Right Effort: to make diligent and unending efforts in the right direction
Right Mindfulness: to maintain a pure and deeply thoughtful mind
Right Concentration: to train the mind to remain tranquil in its search for wisdom, seeking to realize the mind's true essence.
Day 28
"He abused me; he laughed at me; he struck me." As long as one thinks in this way, one's anger will continue.
Anger can never be stilled by more angry thoughts. Only when anger and resentment are forgotten will that anger be stilled.
Rain will leak into the house if the roof of a house is improperly made. or is in disrepair. In such a way, greed enters a mind that is improperly trained or uncontrolled.
Idleness is the road to death; true diligence is the road of life. Those who are foolish are idle, those wise are diligent.
As an arrow-maker makes all effort to produce straight arrows, wise men seek to keep their minds on a undeviating course.
The mind that is forever active and easily disturbed is hard to control, but by controlling the mind one can find true peace.
It is a man's own mind, rather than his enemy or foe that lures him into evil ways.
The person who protects his mind from greed, anger and all evil ways is the one who will enjoy real and everlasting peace.
Day 30
The avoid all evil; to perform good; and to keep the mind pure; this is the essence of the Buddha's teaching.
Endurance is one of the most difficult of disciplines, but it is to one who endures that the final victory comes.
One must banish resentment when feeling resentful; banish sorrow when in the midst of sorrow; banish greed when steeped in greed. To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance.
To be healthy is the greatest advantage; to be contented with what one has is the greatest wealth; to be considered reliable is the greatest mark of friendship; and to attain Enlightenment is the greatest happiness.
When one dislikes evil, feels tranquility, and finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; and when one finds appreciation in these aspects, it is at that time that one is free from fear.
Do not become attached to things you like; nor maintain aversion toward things you dislike. It is from these likes and dislikes that sorrow, fear and bondage arise.
Day 31
Wisdom is the best guide; faith is the best companion. One must try to escape from the darkness of ignorance and seek the light of wisdom and Enlightenment.
Those those minds and bodies are disciplined in accordance with the teachings will gain freedom and peace. Faith will then be their wealth, sincerity will give their lives sweet savor, and to accumulate virtues will be their sacred task.
During the journey of life, faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is light by day, and correct thoughts are protection at night. if a man lives a pure life nothing can destroy him; if he has conquered greed nothing can limit his freedom.
One should forget one's self for the sake of one's family; forget one's family for the sake of one's village; forget one's village for the same of one's nation; and forget everything for the sake of Enlightenment.
All is in transition, everything that appears proceeds inevitably towards extinction. There can be no blissful peace until one transcends the repeating agony of life and death.
