It is the last month of the rainy season and is called the Katina Masaya – the month of “Katina Robe” which will be donated to the monks. It was stated that the future Buddha to be-Maitriya Bodhisattva entered the Order. The appointment of Sariputta Maha Thera as the Chief Disciple of the Buddha took place on this important day of Vap Poya. The King Devanampiyatissa officially sent Prince Aritta as a delegation to meet the Great Emperor Asoka and requested Arahath Sanghamitta to come to Sri Lanka to ordain Queen Anula, and establish the Bhikkhuni Sangha in Sri Lanka. Emperor Asoka decided to send a sapling of the Jayashrimaha Bodhi Tree to Sri Lanka. It was on Vap Poya Day, that this Bo-sapling was placed on a Golden Bowl and dispatched to Sri Lanka.
eople suffer due to various reasons. Most often than not, it is believed that the cause for most of our suffering is what others do or say; which are beyond our control. In other words, we believe that, we could have been happier and more joyful if others behave in the manner that we do expect from them. Let us briefly examine the validity of the said belief and the main cause of our suffering, in light of the teachings of Supreme Buddha. We tend to expect a certain kind of behavior from people (our friends, partner, elders, politicians, professionals or children) or things (weather and nature) based on our own beliefs and values. Most of our time is spent on striving to control the people or environment around us in the manner we prefer. But, when things happen in a way that we did not expect, in most cases, the result is either anger or sorrow of which the ultimate result is suffering. It is our desire to control which ultimately makes us suffer. When our desire is to control someone or something, we also suffer from the element of fear that whether we will be successful. This is why the Supreme Buddha said ‘Tanhaya Jayati Soko – Tanhaya Jayati Bhayam’ i.e. from desire arises sorrow – from desire arises fear. But, do we really need to let other people or things to control our happiness; do we allow external factors to make our lives miserable?
The desire to control arises from our misunderstanding or ignorance of reality i.e. the belief that we have the ability to control the world around us. Elders teach the youngsters; teachers teach the students; religious leaders preach the followers; parents teach the children; employers order employees – how to think and behave. But in reality, no one will think or behave in a specific manner just on advice or request by someone, unless he or she feels it will result in best interest to him or her. Without realizing this reality, most of us have entered into everlasting battles of controlling people and things around us. As per teachings of the Supreme Buddha, and also as per behavioral psychologists, we can only influence behavior of others either by being an example or by persuading that it will be in their interest. In some instances we don’t attempt to control, knowing for sure that someone or something is not under our control. Take weather for an example: when will it rain, how much will rain, where will it rain, wind, humidity, temperature, etc. We know for sure that we have no ownership or influence over weather. Hence, we don’t battle with it or argue with it. We just accept it ‘as it is’ and try to adjust or take precautions to suit its behavior.
The Supreme Buddha said ‘Tanhaya Vippamuttassa – Natti Soko Khuto Bhayam’ i.e. for him who is free from desire, there is no sorrow and no fear. Happiness is not a ‘cause’ - it is an ‘effect’. It has not been and will not be under anyone’s control. Happiness can be achieved only by letting go the desire to be happy. May be that’s why it is being said that: if we are in pursuit of happiness, we need to remove “I” and “want” from the sentence “I want happiness”. Then we will be left with “happiness”. May all of us have the rare fortune of finding real happiness by letting go the desire to control!
- the most important tool that helps in making big choices in life teve Jobs was the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of ‘Apple Computers’a company which pioneered a series of revolutionary technologies including the iPhone and iPad. Given below is an extract from his speech delivered at Stanford University in America in year 2005, where he revealed his perception on ‘death’ and how it has helped him in achieving his dreams. “… when I was 17, I read a quote that went something like ‘if you live each day as it was your last, someday you are most certainly be right’. It made an impression on me. And since then for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror on every morning and asked myself ‘if today were the last day of my life, what I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘no’ for too many days in a row; I know I need to change something. Remembering that all be dead soon is the most important tool that I ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything: all external
expectations, all pride and all fear & embracement of failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die, is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking that you have something to loose…” (full speech can be found at - http://www.ted.com/talks/ steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die)
It is clear from above, how one of the great technological inventers in our time has been persuaded to chase his dreams and become successful, from a simple quote on death which is in line with the teachings of Supreme Buddha. As per teachings of our Supreme Buddha, Marananussati i.e. remembrance of that we are going to die; would help us in not getting late to follow our meritorious dreams and to fulfill requirements to achieve the Nibbana – the ultimate purification. Let us also use this wonderful tool in planning our lives in the fear-free path to Nibbana.
