1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,984 And the topic for this evening's talk is nothing less than the 2 00:00:03,984 --> 00:00:09,162 meaning of life. And it sounds like a very kind 3 00:00:09,162 --> 00:00:13,020 of highfalutin title, but actually the reason I chose this 4 00:00:13,020 --> 00:00:17,640 title is because Buddhism has a lot to say about this question. 5 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,261 This question which philosophers have argued about over thousands 6 00:00:21,261 --> 00:00:24,879 of years, centuries, and nobody really seems to get a grasp on, 7 00:00:24,879 --> 00:00:27,580 which we all probably think about from time to time. 8 00:00:27,580 --> 00:00:30,172 And the beautiful thing about Buddhism, it actually has 9 00:00:30,172 --> 00:00:33,133 something to say about this profound, maybe most important 10 00:00:33,133 --> 00:00:35,940 question in many ways in all our lives. 11 00:00:36,580 --> 00:00:38,340 And that's why I want to talk about this. 12 00:00:38,380 --> 00:00:42,172 And we all know how when we're young, we often discuss the 13 00:00:42,172 --> 00:00:44,700 meaning of life between ourselves and our friends. 14 00:00:45,540 --> 00:00:48,804 And how often when you are in your late teens, maybe early 15 00:00:48,804 --> 00:00:50,160 twenties, you consider these things. 16 00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:52,406 It's very important. What could the meaning of life 17 00:00:52,406 --> 00:00:53,900 be? What am I here for? 18 00:00:54,460 --> 00:00:58,747 And then later on, as we become older, we get... trapped in all 19 00:00:58,747 --> 00:01:03,026 the daily duties we have, the work we have, family life, 20 00:01:03,026 --> 00:01:06,724 paying off the mortgage. All these other things become so 21 00:01:06,724 --> 00:01:10,136 important in our lives that these big questions, like what 22 00:01:10,136 --> 00:01:13,472 the meaning of life is, becomes lost because of all these daily 23 00:01:13,472 --> 00:01:16,735 activities that we have. But actually, when you think 24 00:01:16,735 --> 00:01:18,580 about it, it's actually a very important question. 25 00:01:18,580 --> 00:01:22,332 Because if you can come to some kind of understanding what the 26 00:01:22,332 --> 00:01:26,248 meaning of life is, then of course all the other things tend 27 00:01:26,248 --> 00:01:29,145 to fall into place. It gives you the overall 28 00:01:29,145 --> 00:01:31,644 picture. It gives you kind of the grand 29 00:01:31,644 --> 00:01:34,250 scheme of things. And everything else in life 30 00:01:34,250 --> 00:01:37,580 becomes quite obvious and clear what you should be doing. 31 00:01:37,580 --> 00:01:40,080 And when you're young, when you're just setting off on 32 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,580 life's journey, you have to decide what sort of schooling 33 00:01:42,580 --> 00:01:45,330 you want to do. You have to decide the kind of 34 00:01:45,330 --> 00:01:48,736 career you're going to have. You have to decide if and with 35 00:01:48,736 --> 00:01:51,758 whom you're going to get married, what sort of lifestyle 36 00:01:51,758 --> 00:01:55,286 you want to lead, what religion you're going to choose, if any 37 00:01:55,286 --> 00:01:56,580 religion. What you're going to do. 38 00:01:56,580 --> 00:01:58,580 What you're going to do. What you believe in, basically. 39 00:01:58,580 --> 00:02:02,080 What is this all about? And of course, when you're 40 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:03,580 young, these are important questions. 41 00:02:03,580 --> 00:02:05,580 Because you're just starting off. 42 00:02:05,580 --> 00:02:08,580 And it tends to set the course for the rest of your life. 43 00:02:08,580 --> 00:02:11,580 Those decisions you make at the very early point. 44 00:02:11,580 --> 00:02:15,480 And of course, if you then can have an answer, some idea what 45 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,672 the meaning of life is all about, then certainly all these 46 00:02:18,672 --> 00:02:20,580 other things tend to fall into place. 47 00:02:20,580 --> 00:02:24,816 And it becomes quite much more easy to decide on all these 48 00:02:24,816 --> 00:02:28,580 grand questions in your life. Because you have an overall 49 00:02:28,580 --> 00:02:32,580 understanding of what this existence of ours is all about. 50 00:02:32,580 --> 00:02:36,580 But as I said, usually we forget about this after a while. 51 00:02:36,580 --> 00:02:40,248 We forget asking this question. Because we think there's no 52 00:02:40,248 --> 00:02:43,794 answer to this question. We think that somehow this is 53 00:02:43,794 --> 00:02:48,212 beyond our ability to understand what the meaning of life is all 54 00:02:48,212 --> 00:02:50,469 about. And one of the reasons why we 55 00:02:50,469 --> 00:02:53,697 fail to find the answer to this question is simply because we 56 00:02:53,697 --> 00:02:57,698 look at it in the wrong way. And very often the way that 57 00:02:57,698 --> 00:03:01,580 people look at this question, what is the meaning of life, 58 00:03:01,580 --> 00:03:05,314 they tend to look at what is the kind of the purpose of our 59 00:03:05,314 --> 00:03:07,580 society. Where is the universe going? 60 00:03:07,580 --> 00:03:11,868 Are we going towards some kind of harmonious, ideal society 61 00:03:11,868 --> 00:03:15,182 sometime in the future? Where we're all going to be 62 00:03:15,182 --> 00:03:17,580 happy, all be sort of rejoicing together in harmony? 63 00:03:17,580 --> 00:03:20,739 And you can read many books about these kind of theories of 64 00:03:20,739 --> 00:03:22,580 how we're all sort of moving forward. 65 00:03:22,580 --> 00:03:24,580 We're all developing in a certain direction. 66 00:03:24,580 --> 00:03:27,915 And eventually we'll reach a certain point where things are 67 00:03:27,915 --> 00:03:32,081 just right or just wrong, or right for some people and wrong 68 00:03:32,081 --> 00:03:34,580 for others, or maybe right for everybody. 69 00:03:34,580 --> 00:03:39,268 And this is a kind of, we look at the kind of grand scheme of 70 00:03:39,268 --> 00:03:41,580 things. Where is this universe going? 71 00:03:41,580 --> 00:03:43,580 Where are we all going with this universe? 72 00:03:43,580 --> 00:03:47,580 Where is society developing? Are we going in the right way? 73 00:03:47,580 --> 00:03:50,830 And from a Buddhist point of view, that is the wrong way to 74 00:03:50,830 --> 00:03:52,581 look at it. If you look at it that way, 75 00:03:52,581 --> 00:03:53,580 you're never going to find an answer. 76 00:03:54,580 --> 00:03:56,580 You're never going to find an answer to the meaning of life. 77 00:03:56,580 --> 00:04:00,580 Is it the case that we're all moving in the right direction? 78 00:04:00,580 --> 00:04:04,120 That we're all going somewhere? That society is moving towards 79 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,580 some kind of ideal, some kind of harmony? 80 00:04:06,580 --> 00:04:10,509 Where we're all happy and all rejoicing and living in harmony 81 00:04:10,509 --> 00:04:13,580 with each other? Is that really the case? 82 00:04:13,580 --> 00:04:17,110 And from a Buddhist point of view, the reason why we even 83 00:04:17,110 --> 00:04:22,136 tend to think this way in terms of society as a whole going 84 00:04:22,136 --> 00:04:25,580 somewhere, the reason we think this way in the first place, 85 00:04:25,580 --> 00:04:29,580 there's two reasons I think, at least that I can think of. 86 00:04:29,580 --> 00:04:32,580 And one is the sense of self that we have. 87 00:04:32,580 --> 00:04:36,249 Because we have a sense of self, that I am somebody, there's 88 00:04:36,249 --> 00:04:40,295 something permanent in here which is me, I am this, I have a 89 00:04:40,295 --> 00:04:43,152 self. It gives us a sense of 90 00:04:43,152 --> 00:04:45,580 self-importance. We are somebody. 91 00:04:45,580 --> 00:04:49,480 We are something which lasts in this universe, which moves on 92 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:51,580 through all these changes in the universe. 93 00:04:52,580 --> 00:04:57,080 And because of that, because we are somebody, we are something 94 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:00,659 important, that means there must be a reason for this whole 95 00:05:00,659 --> 00:05:03,764 existence of ours. We must be like a small cog in 96 00:05:03,764 --> 00:05:06,866 this grand universe which moves towards the omega point, the 97 00:05:06,866 --> 00:05:10,580 final destination of all of us, which is so important. 98 00:05:10,580 --> 00:05:14,580 Otherwise, why do we exist? Why are we something special? 99 00:05:14,580 --> 00:05:18,438 Why do we have this unique existence of ours, unless there 100 00:05:18,438 --> 00:05:22,080 is a purpose for it? So the sense of self, this kind 101 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:25,580 of self, this kind of immediate feeling that we are somebody, 102 00:05:25,580 --> 00:05:28,581 gives us a sense of self-importance, which makes it 103 00:05:28,581 --> 00:05:31,980 natural to think that this universe is going somewhere, we 104 00:05:31,980 --> 00:05:35,380 are also going somewhere. And the other reason I think 105 00:05:35,380 --> 00:05:38,136 that people often believe that the universe must have some kind 106 00:05:38,136 --> 00:05:41,914 of purpose, that this whole big machinery is going somewhere, is 107 00:05:41,914 --> 00:05:45,580 because there is a sense that we were created by somebody. 108 00:05:45,580 --> 00:05:49,830 This universe has been created. And once you believe in the 109 00:05:49,830 --> 00:05:52,080 creative force which has started this whole universe, well then 110 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:55,330 again it is natural to think that it must have some kind of 111 00:05:55,330 --> 00:05:58,360 purpose. Because why would some creative 112 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:02,080 force create this universe? Why would that creative force 113 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:06,080 create each one of us? Well obviously because there is 114 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,580 somewhere to go, there is a reason for all of this. 115 00:06:09,580 --> 00:06:13,247 There is something, there is a grand plan behind this whole 116 00:06:13,247 --> 00:06:17,491 universe, a scheme, and we are all moving along together in 117 00:06:17,491 --> 00:06:20,580 this grand scheme. So these are the two main points 118 00:06:20,580 --> 00:06:24,248 and the two important reasons I can think of, why we tend to 119 00:06:24,248 --> 00:06:27,247 think in terms of the meaning of life, in terms of this whole 120 00:06:27,247 --> 00:06:31,580 universe, this society of ours, going in a certain direction, 121 00:06:31,580 --> 00:06:36,580 going towards some kind of destination in the future. 122 00:06:36,580 --> 00:06:41,580 But of course, the point is that from the Buddhist point of view, 123 00:06:41,580 --> 00:06:45,080 firstly, there is no, as we look at it, there is no permanent 124 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:48,152 self inside of us. You look inside of you, we all 125 00:06:48,152 --> 00:06:51,080 see that there are thoughts running all over the place all 126 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,580 the time, there are feelings running all over the place, 127 00:06:53,580 --> 00:06:55,580 perceptions, all kinds of things. 128 00:06:55,580 --> 00:06:59,296 And from a Buddhist point of view, there is no enduring 129 00:06:59,296 --> 00:07:02,580 entity within us that we can call a self. 130 00:07:02,580 --> 00:07:06,580 Neither is there a creator god according to Buddhism. 131 00:07:06,580 --> 00:07:10,580 This universe has not been created by some external force 132 00:07:10,580 --> 00:07:13,580 which put this whole thing into existence. 133 00:07:13,580 --> 00:07:18,010 And once you remove those two things, the two ideas of a 134 00:07:18,010 --> 00:07:23,580 permanent self or of a creator god or a creator outside of us, 135 00:07:23,580 --> 00:07:28,580 then you take away a lot of this idea that this universe has to 136 00:07:28,580 --> 00:07:32,736 have some kind of purpose. And indeed, if you look at the 137 00:07:32,736 --> 00:07:35,580 way Buddhism looks at these things, there isn't really any 138 00:07:35,580 --> 00:07:38,580 purpose to this universe. This universe just goes on 139 00:07:38,580 --> 00:07:42,580 according to causes and conditions, moves on from aeon 140 00:07:42,580 --> 00:07:46,580 to aeon, universe to universe, round and around. 141 00:07:46,580 --> 00:07:50,780 It's more like, if you want to put any name on how this 142 00:07:50,780 --> 00:07:55,247 universe evolves, it is more according to cycles, universe 143 00:07:55,247 --> 00:08:00,128 after universe, aeon after aeon. And the same thing is also true 144 00:08:00,128 --> 00:08:02,580 for our individual lives. From a Buddhist point of view, 145 00:08:02,580 --> 00:08:06,580 our individual lives also, birth, old age and death, 146 00:08:06,580 --> 00:08:11,580 followed one after the other, again and again and again. 147 00:08:11,580 --> 00:08:15,914 It's a cyclical existence, going round and round and round, often 148 00:08:15,914 --> 00:08:19,580 doing the same things again, life after life. 149 00:08:19,580 --> 00:08:22,330 And when we see this again, we realize that this is the way 150 00:08:22,330 --> 00:08:25,914 Buddhism looks at these things. Not that there is some kind of 151 00:08:25,914 --> 00:08:30,180 ultimate purpose, somewhere we are all going, but that there is 152 00:08:30,180 --> 00:08:32,580 a cyclical existence in this thing. 153 00:08:32,580 --> 00:08:36,580 So once we understand this, we can discard, or not discard, 154 00:08:36,580 --> 00:08:40,296 maybe we can put less faith in this idea that the universe is 155 00:08:40,296 --> 00:08:43,491 actually going somewhere, that we are all moving towards some 156 00:08:43,491 --> 00:08:46,580 kind of perfect society or anything like that. 157 00:08:46,580 --> 00:08:50,330 And we have to look for the purpose of life, the meaning of 158 00:08:50,330 --> 00:08:56,580 life, somewhere else. And the way that I would ask 159 00:08:56,580 --> 00:08:58,580 what is the purpose of life, instead of the meaning of life, 160 00:08:58,580 --> 00:09:03,152 let's say instead of the purpose of life, the way to look at it 161 00:09:03,152 --> 00:09:07,867 instead is to look inside ourselves and ask us, what is it 162 00:09:07,867 --> 00:09:12,580 that we all desire? What is it that we all want? 163 00:09:12,580 --> 00:09:16,009 Because if you can actually find out what you really want, what 164 00:09:16,009 --> 00:09:20,080 you really desire inside of yourself, then of course the 165 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:24,080 fulfillment of that desire, the fulfillment of that want, that 166 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,580 should really be the purpose of life. 167 00:09:27,580 --> 00:09:31,580 If you can fulfill the most profound yearning that you have, 168 00:09:31,580 --> 00:09:37,009 then you are also, in a way, finding the very purpose of this 169 00:09:37,009 --> 00:09:40,152 existence. So for a few moments, just try 170 00:09:40,152 --> 00:09:43,330 to think about your life. What is it that we all really 171 00:09:43,330 --> 00:09:45,330 desire? And take a kind of daily life 172 00:09:45,330 --> 00:09:47,880 situation, and it's not very difficult to understand, well 173 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,580 how do we make decisions in our daily life? 174 00:09:50,580 --> 00:09:52,580 Small little things in daily life. 175 00:09:52,580 --> 00:09:56,866 What do you choose to eat? What do you choose to wear when 176 00:09:56,866 --> 00:10:00,830 you get up in the morning? Which people do you choose to 177 00:10:00,830 --> 00:10:04,205 talk to? What articles do you read in a 178 00:10:04,205 --> 00:10:07,705 newspaper? What television programs do you 179 00:10:07,705 --> 00:10:11,010 want to watch? All these little decisions that 180 00:10:11,010 --> 00:10:14,580 we make throughout our day, how are those decisions taken? 181 00:10:14,580 --> 00:10:19,380 And then, they are taken on the basis of what, in one way or 182 00:10:19,380 --> 00:10:22,580 another, will make us happy? What is more pleasurable? 183 00:10:22,580 --> 00:10:26,295 What is beneficial for us? What will give us the right 184 00:10:26,295 --> 00:10:29,780 energy to endure throughout the day, to do all the duties that 185 00:10:29,780 --> 00:10:33,180 we have to do? All of these things, in one way 186 00:10:33,180 --> 00:10:37,580 or another, are made so that it will be for our benefit and for 187 00:10:37,580 --> 00:10:40,080 our happiness. This is how all our decisions 188 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:45,009 are made throughout the day. And you can ask yourself, not 189 00:10:45,009 --> 00:10:48,914 only about all the daily decisions, but ask yourself also 190 00:10:48,914 --> 00:10:51,580 about those long-term decisions in life. 191 00:10:51,580 --> 00:10:53,580 What education we're going to have? 192 00:10:53,580 --> 00:10:55,580 What sort of job we're going to have? 193 00:10:55,580 --> 00:10:59,580 Where we want to live? What religion, what philosophy 194 00:10:59,580 --> 00:11:04,080 of life you choose? What is the driving force 195 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:08,580 between, that is behind making these kinds of choices? 196 00:11:08,580 --> 00:11:11,580 And again, it is what you think is going to give you contentment 197 00:11:11,580 --> 00:11:13,580 and satisfaction in the long run. 198 00:11:13,580 --> 00:11:17,867 What is going to give you a sense of peace and harmony with 199 00:11:17,867 --> 00:11:21,295 the society around you? What is going to give you 200 00:11:21,295 --> 00:11:23,580 pleasure and happiness in your life? 201 00:11:23,580 --> 00:11:26,580 Why do you come to the Buddhist society here? 202 00:11:26,580 --> 00:11:29,780 Again, it's because you think that this is going to give 203 00:11:29,780 --> 00:11:33,080 something to your life. If you didn't think that 204 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,247 Buddhism had anything to offer you in your life, nothing at 205 00:11:36,247 --> 00:11:39,580 all, there would be no point in coming to the Buddhist society. 206 00:11:39,580 --> 00:11:43,780 You wouldn't be here. And I also like to say, why do I 207 00:11:43,780 --> 00:11:45,580 come here? Why do I bother coming here, 208 00:11:45,580 --> 00:11:49,295 sitting, giving a talk? And again, the reason is the 209 00:11:49,295 --> 00:11:51,580 same. I believe that in the long run, 210 00:11:51,580 --> 00:11:55,455 it's going to be beneficial for me and also maybe beneficial for 211 00:11:55,455 --> 00:11:58,580 some other people who come to these talks. 212 00:11:58,580 --> 00:12:01,580 And that's why I do it, because I think there's going to be a 213 00:12:01,580 --> 00:12:05,152 benefit out of that. So again, we can see how 214 00:12:05,152 --> 00:12:08,080 happiness, the underlying, all these various things that we're 215 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:11,380 searching for can be classified as happiness in one way or 216 00:12:11,380 --> 00:12:13,248 another. We're all searching for that 217 00:12:13,248 --> 00:12:16,866 happiness in our lives. And we can even take it down to 218 00:12:16,866 --> 00:12:19,414 very small things in your life, like when you're sitting there 219 00:12:19,414 --> 00:12:22,580 now, you will be moving a little bit, twitching a little bit, 220 00:12:22,580 --> 00:12:27,830 stretching a bit here and there. And of course, again, it's the 221 00:12:27,830 --> 00:12:29,854 same thing. We're trying to get away from a 222 00:12:29,854 --> 00:12:33,438 little bit of pain, a little bit of irritation, trying to find 223 00:12:33,438 --> 00:12:36,580 comfort in this body, which is so difficult to find comfort in 224 00:12:36,580 --> 00:12:41,580 over long periods of time. And again, it's trying to move 225 00:12:41,580 --> 00:12:45,580 towards pleasure, towards contentment, towards happiness. 226 00:12:45,580 --> 00:12:49,804 And everything which drives us in life is basically a movement 227 00:12:49,804 --> 00:12:54,080 towards finding happiness in life, finding contentment in 228 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:57,580 life, finding something which satisfies us. 229 00:12:57,580 --> 00:13:00,580 And in brief, I will call that thing that we're searching for, 230 00:13:00,580 --> 00:13:04,180 I'll just call it happiness to make it easy, just to find one 231 00:13:04,180 --> 00:13:09,080 word which maybe can summarize all that, all those things that 232 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,580 we're trying to have in our lives. 233 00:13:11,580 --> 00:13:15,830 It's called happiness. So this then becomes the purpose 234 00:13:15,830 --> 00:13:19,152 of life. The purpose of life becomes to 235 00:13:19,152 --> 00:13:22,580 satisfy that happiness that we are all yearning for. 236 00:13:22,580 --> 00:13:25,780 This is what life is all about. And it becomes very obvious when 237 00:13:25,780 --> 00:13:29,152 you think about it. This actually is the purpose of 238 00:13:29,152 --> 00:13:31,295 life. The reason that we often forget 239 00:13:31,295 --> 00:13:34,582 about the fact that this is the purpose of life is because this 240 00:13:34,582 --> 00:13:36,580 idea of happiness seems so elusive. 241 00:13:36,580 --> 00:13:39,980 It's so hard to get to. It's so hard to really know what 242 00:13:39,980 --> 00:13:42,580 this happiness is. And even if you know what it is, 243 00:13:42,580 --> 00:13:44,580 it's very hard to actually get a hold of it. 244 00:13:44,580 --> 00:13:47,248 And that is why often we forget about the fact that this 245 00:13:47,248 --> 00:13:50,580 actually is the purpose. But by looking inside your mind, 246 00:13:50,580 --> 00:13:53,914 looking at what you really want in your life, it's not that hard 247 00:13:53,914 --> 00:13:57,580 to see that this is where we all want to go. 248 00:13:57,580 --> 00:14:01,915 And the problem that arises at this point, once we realize that 249 00:14:01,915 --> 00:14:06,580 we want to be happy, is, well, what actually is that happiness 250 00:14:06,580 --> 00:14:09,580 that we really desire? It can be so hard to understand. 251 00:14:09,580 --> 00:14:12,580 Because there are different types of happiness. 252 00:14:12,580 --> 00:14:16,867 Sometimes there are the pleasures of life, going to the 253 00:14:16,867 --> 00:14:20,180 movies, eating nice food, relationships and all these 254 00:14:20,180 --> 00:14:22,830 things. And then there are other types 255 00:14:22,830 --> 00:14:26,330 of happiness, the happiness of being peaceful, of being 256 00:14:26,330 --> 00:14:29,945 tranquil, of a sense of contentment, of the joy in the 257 00:14:29,945 --> 00:14:33,680 mind that we can sometimes have. And this is, in a sense, another 258 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,830 type of happiness. So where should we actually seek 259 00:14:36,830 --> 00:14:39,080 for happiness? We know we want to be happy, but 260 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:43,295 what really is this happiness? And even though, because we know 261 00:14:43,295 --> 00:14:46,581 that, even though everybody out there, in one way or another, is 262 00:14:46,581 --> 00:14:50,580 pursuing that happiness, very few people actually ever really 263 00:14:50,580 --> 00:14:52,580 get it. People are still depressed, 264 00:14:52,580 --> 00:14:56,580 people are still down, they're still grieving over lost friends 265 00:14:56,580 --> 00:15:00,248 and relatives. And very often they don't find 266 00:15:00,248 --> 00:15:04,867 that really peaceful, contented, joyful happiness, which is on 267 00:15:04,867 --> 00:15:08,010 offer in this life. And the reason is because 268 00:15:08,010 --> 00:15:10,580 they're looking in the wrong place. 269 00:15:10,580 --> 00:15:15,867 And I will illustrate for you two, one important distinction 270 00:15:15,867 --> 00:15:20,580 that the Buddha made in these types of happinesses. 271 00:15:20,580 --> 00:15:23,009 He made a distinction between what you might call worldly 272 00:15:23,009 --> 00:15:27,580 happiness and, on the other hand, spiritual happiness. 273 00:15:27,580 --> 00:15:30,248 These are the two main distinctions, maybe, that the 274 00:15:30,248 --> 00:15:35,152 Buddha can be said to have made. And I've talked about this here 275 00:15:35,152 --> 00:15:38,580 before, but I find it such an interesting topic that I want to 276 00:15:38,580 --> 00:15:40,692 talk about it again. So what is the difference 277 00:15:40,692 --> 00:15:44,580 between the worldly happiness and the spiritual happiness? 278 00:15:44,580 --> 00:15:48,914 And the worldly happiness is all the happiness of the senses, the 279 00:15:48,914 --> 00:15:51,580 five senses, that we get from seeing things, hearing things, 280 00:15:51,580 --> 00:15:55,136 touching things, etc. It is a kind of happiness that 281 00:15:55,136 --> 00:15:59,247 we get when we get a promotion at work, when we get a salary 282 00:15:59,247 --> 00:16:04,080 increase, when we get maybe into a powerful position, when we get 283 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:08,308 famous, or when a good report spreads around, about this 284 00:16:08,308 --> 00:16:11,580 person, he or she is a very nice person. 285 00:16:11,580 --> 00:16:15,580 All of these things are like worldly happinesses. 286 00:16:15,580 --> 00:16:18,580 And this is the happiness on the one side. 287 00:16:18,580 --> 00:16:22,180 And the Buddha specifically said that these are worldly 288 00:16:22,180 --> 00:16:24,980 happinesses. And then, on the other hand, you 289 00:16:24,980 --> 00:16:27,724 have the spiritual happinesses. And the spiritual happinesses 290 00:16:27,724 --> 00:16:31,580 are the happinesses which come from a spiritual lifestyle, 291 00:16:31,580 --> 00:16:35,581 happinesses which come from being moral, from doing good, 292 00:16:35,581 --> 00:16:39,580 from being kind, from being generous, from being peaceful, 293 00:16:39,580 --> 00:16:43,080 having loving kindness and compassion in your life, from 294 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:47,580 doing meditation practice. All of those positive qualities 295 00:16:47,580 --> 00:16:50,580 that we develop inside of our mind. 296 00:16:50,580 --> 00:16:55,980 Well, that happiness which comes from that, that is the spiritual 297 00:16:55,980 --> 00:16:58,914 happiness. And this is one of the most 298 00:16:58,914 --> 00:17:02,580 important distinctions that the Buddha made about happiness. 299 00:17:02,580 --> 00:17:08,579 And why is it that one of these happinesses is to be sought for, 300 00:17:08,579 --> 00:17:11,780 whereas the other one is not so important according to the 301 00:17:11,780 --> 00:17:14,579 Buddha's teachings? And the reason is as follows, 302 00:17:14,579 --> 00:17:18,579 and I will quote something again which I have quoted here before. 303 00:17:18,579 --> 00:17:23,079 And this was an experiment that was done in the United States a 304 00:17:23,079 --> 00:17:28,380 long time ago, which showed what happens when people enjoy 305 00:17:28,380 --> 00:17:32,980 sensual pleasures. How does it affect the mind when 306 00:17:32,980 --> 00:17:36,010 we enjoy sensual pleasures? And this experiment, if I 307 00:17:36,010 --> 00:17:39,247 remember correctly, was done at Harvard University back in the 308 00:17:39,247 --> 00:17:42,580 1970s, so it's the kind of highest pedigree of experiments. 309 00:17:42,580 --> 00:17:46,580 This is not just some kind of random thing at all. 310 00:17:46,580 --> 00:17:50,438 And what they found, which was very interesting, was that we 311 00:17:50,438 --> 00:17:54,280 all, in a sense, start off with a certain level of happiness in 312 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,491 life. We are like, in a sense, here, 313 00:17:56,491 --> 00:17:58,580 or something like that. This is where we start off. 314 00:17:58,580 --> 00:18:01,880 Some people start off higher, some people start off lower, but 315 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,580 we sort of start off at a certain level. 316 00:18:04,580 --> 00:18:09,580 And then, when we have an experience of some kind of 317 00:18:09,580 --> 00:18:14,280 sensual pleasure, say a meal, or we go to see a nice movie or 318 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:18,330 something, then there is like a little peak experience up from 319 00:18:18,330 --> 00:18:20,580 that plateau where we're normally at. 320 00:18:20,580 --> 00:18:24,580 Peak experience comes. And soon after we had that meal, 321 00:18:24,580 --> 00:18:28,580 soon after we've seen that movie, it comes down again. 322 00:18:28,580 --> 00:18:30,580 And this is what happens with sensual pleasures. 323 00:18:30,580 --> 00:18:34,980 And then when it comes down again, it comes down exactly to 324 00:18:34,980 --> 00:18:39,580 where it was before. This is the extraordinary thing. 325 00:18:39,580 --> 00:18:42,180 We're searching for these pleasures, but always, when it's 326 00:18:42,180 --> 00:18:46,580 over, it comes back down again to exactly where it was before. 327 00:18:46,580 --> 00:18:49,980 Or take a larger thing in life. Take, you get a new house, you 328 00:18:49,980 --> 00:18:53,180 get a new car, something which may be much more important in 329 00:18:53,180 --> 00:18:56,580 your life, and the happiness you get lasts a little bit longer. 330 00:18:56,580 --> 00:18:59,330 You start off again where you were before, the happiness goes 331 00:18:59,330 --> 00:19:02,747 up, it lasts for a while, but slowly but surely, the 332 00:19:02,747 --> 00:19:05,580 excitement of that new house, that new car, comes down again. 333 00:19:05,580 --> 00:19:08,330 Down, down, down. After a few weeks, after a few 334 00:19:08,330 --> 00:19:11,580 months, you come down again, all the way down to where you were 335 00:19:11,580 --> 00:19:13,580 when you were where you were before. 336 00:19:13,580 --> 00:19:15,580 And this is the way it goes on and on. 337 00:19:15,580 --> 00:19:19,080 Happiness after happiness, sensual happiness after 338 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,580 happiness. You get a promotion in your job. 339 00:19:21,580 --> 00:19:24,914 You feel really excited, because when you get a promotion, you 340 00:19:24,914 --> 00:19:28,580 feel valued by your boss or by your peers in your job. 341 00:19:28,580 --> 00:19:30,580 So it feels wonderful to get that promotion. 342 00:19:30,580 --> 00:19:33,330 And then you get a new car, and you get a new car, and you feel 343 00:19:33,330 --> 00:19:35,580 wonderful to get that promotion. But the same problem again, 344 00:19:35,580 --> 00:19:38,580 slowly but truly, it comes down, down, down, down. 345 00:19:38,580 --> 00:19:41,580 And it comes down to the same level it was before. 346 00:19:41,580 --> 00:19:44,330 And down there. And you can see what's going on 347 00:19:44,330 --> 00:19:46,580 here. You always find this happiness, 348 00:19:46,580 --> 00:19:48,580 but it's ephemeral. It disappears. 349 00:19:48,580 --> 00:19:52,580 It doesn't actually remain. And of course, when something 350 00:19:52,580 --> 00:19:56,295 doesn't remain, what happens? Well, you look back at the 351 00:19:56,295 --> 00:19:59,580 happiness, and you think, oh, I wish I had that happiness again. 352 00:19:59,580 --> 00:20:04,205 Then craving and desire arises within you to do the same thing 353 00:20:04,205 --> 00:20:06,580 again, again and again and again. 354 00:20:06,580 --> 00:20:09,580 And each time you do it, the same thing happens. 355 00:20:09,580 --> 00:20:12,580 It goes up, and then it goes down again. 356 00:20:12,580 --> 00:20:16,830 It goes up, and it goes down. Always leading to 357 00:20:16,830 --> 00:20:18,580 disappointment. And because it's disappointing, 358 00:20:18,580 --> 00:20:20,580 you try it again and again and again. 359 00:20:20,580 --> 00:20:25,414 And this is how most people live their lives, from one end to the 360 00:20:25,414 --> 00:20:28,247 other. Up and down, up and down, up and 361 00:20:28,247 --> 00:20:30,010 down. And not really getting anywhere 362 00:20:30,010 --> 00:20:33,438 at all. And of course, one of the 363 00:20:33,438 --> 00:20:36,580 biggest happinesses in life, I have to talk about this as well, 364 00:20:36,580 --> 00:20:39,580 because this is what we maybe seek more than anything else. 365 00:20:39,580 --> 00:20:43,152 And this is the happiness of a good relationship, the happiness 366 00:20:43,152 --> 00:20:46,724 of falling in love initially, and then having a good 367 00:20:46,724 --> 00:20:50,205 relationship afterwards. But even this idea of falling in 368 00:20:50,205 --> 00:20:53,380 love, it is something which is maybe some of the highest 369 00:20:53,380 --> 00:20:55,580 happiness that some people experience. 370 00:20:55,580 --> 00:20:58,580 And yet even that comes down again after a while. 371 00:20:58,580 --> 00:21:02,180 It lasts maybe for a year, I think a year or two, a year and 372 00:21:02,180 --> 00:21:06,914 a half, sometimes it's quoted, how long these feelings can 373 00:21:06,914 --> 00:21:09,330 last. But sure enough, it comes down 374 00:21:09,330 --> 00:21:13,830 again, that as well. You cannot be in love forever 375 00:21:13,830 --> 00:21:17,580 and ever. It's going to disappear. 376 00:21:17,580 --> 00:21:22,180 So again, there is no permanent satisfaction in falling in love 377 00:21:22,180 --> 00:21:23,438 either. And then there is a reverse 378 00:21:23,438 --> 00:21:25,580 thing, and the reverse thing is also important. 379 00:21:25,580 --> 00:21:29,080 And that sometimes we have sensual disappointment instead 380 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,580 of sensual happiness. We get a demotion in our job, 381 00:21:32,580 --> 00:21:36,980 and we go down, bam, and we get depressed, we grieve, and we 382 00:21:36,980 --> 00:21:42,580 feel really unhappy. We feel unappreciated by our 383 00:21:42,580 --> 00:21:46,747 boss or by our fellow workers because they have demoted us, or 384 00:21:46,747 --> 00:21:49,010 we get a salary reduction because the company isn't doing 385 00:21:49,010 --> 00:21:52,580 so well, and again we feel down. But even on these occasions, 386 00:21:52,580 --> 00:21:56,914 when something happens which is unpleasant, even if it's just 387 00:21:56,914 --> 00:22:00,780 food maybe which doesn't quite agree with you, again it comes 388 00:22:00,780 --> 00:22:04,248 up again, slowly but surely. And after a while, you have 389 00:22:04,248 --> 00:22:07,380 forgotten about that experience, and again you go up to almost 390 00:22:07,380 --> 00:22:10,580 exactly the level you were before. 391 00:22:10,580 --> 00:22:13,438 So this is what life is like. You start off at a certain 392 00:22:13,438 --> 00:22:16,580 level, and it goes up and down, up a bit more, down a bit more. 393 00:22:16,580 --> 00:22:19,580 You have some deep downs and some high ups. 394 00:22:19,580 --> 00:22:23,080 But then on your deathbed, you are roughly where you were when 395 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:27,580 you started off. It's terrible, isn't it? 396 00:22:27,580 --> 00:22:31,414 It's sort of that, it looks so pointless when you see it that 397 00:22:31,414 --> 00:22:32,914 way. You wonder what was, and that's 398 00:22:32,914 --> 00:22:35,866 why so many people come to the end of their life and think, 399 00:22:35,866 --> 00:22:38,295 what was this all about? What was the purpose of all 400 00:22:38,295 --> 00:22:39,780 this? Yes, I had a few happinesses, I 401 00:22:39,780 --> 00:22:42,380 had a few sorrows, but at the end of the day, I'm exactly 402 00:22:42,380 --> 00:22:46,380 where I started. And I leave the world exactly in 403 00:22:46,380 --> 00:22:48,580 the same way as I came into this world. 404 00:22:48,580 --> 00:22:49,580 I didn't have anything when I came in. 405 00:22:49,580 --> 00:22:52,580 I leave everything behind again when I go. 406 00:22:52,580 --> 00:22:55,580 What was this all about? And it's a good question. 407 00:22:55,580 --> 00:22:57,580 It's a good question to ask, what was it all about? 408 00:22:57,580 --> 00:23:01,010 Because this is where it leads us, of course, over to the 409 00:23:01,010 --> 00:23:03,680 spiritual happiness. And this is the other way of 410 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:05,580 looking at it. The other type of happiness 411 00:23:05,580 --> 00:23:10,180 which the Buddha praised. This is the real happiness, the 412 00:23:10,180 --> 00:23:15,080 happiness which really matters. And the difference between this 413 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:19,914 happiness and the worldly happiness can again be found in 414 00:23:19,914 --> 00:23:22,914 certain experiments. And many of you may have read 415 00:23:22,914 --> 00:23:26,180 about them, which have been done recently also in the United 416 00:23:26,180 --> 00:23:28,247 States. They seem to be called the human 417 00:23:28,247 --> 00:23:29,580 brain. They seem to be at the forefront 418 00:23:29,580 --> 00:23:33,830 of this sort of research. And what they did there, they 419 00:23:33,830 --> 00:23:37,180 actually found out that in the human brain, there is like 420 00:23:37,180 --> 00:23:41,009 certain areas which have a tendency to become active when 421 00:23:41,009 --> 00:23:45,080 we experience certain types of happiness or happiness in 422 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,010 general. And because they have figured 423 00:23:47,010 --> 00:23:50,580 this out, they were actually able to find out how happy 424 00:23:50,580 --> 00:23:54,010 various people can be. And they measured various types 425 00:23:54,010 --> 00:23:56,295 of people. And some of the people they 426 00:23:56,295 --> 00:23:59,580 measured were people who actively led a spiritual life. 427 00:23:59,580 --> 00:24:03,724 People who were good people, who meditated, who did good things 428 00:24:03,724 --> 00:24:06,830 in their lives. And they found that the more 429 00:24:06,830 --> 00:24:10,296 spiritual practice you were doing, and particularly this was 430 00:24:10,296 --> 00:24:13,581 about meditation practice, the more you did of it, and the more 431 00:24:13,581 --> 00:24:17,780 success you had in your meditation practice, the more 432 00:24:17,780 --> 00:24:24,080 happiness you scored on this particular scale that they had 433 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:25,580 devised. And that was an amazing result. 434 00:24:25,580 --> 00:24:28,914 It was an amazing result that this, the real happiness, and 435 00:24:28,914 --> 00:24:32,295 the point about this happiness is not a happiness which fades 436 00:24:32,295 --> 00:24:34,248 away. This was, remember, they were 437 00:24:34,248 --> 00:24:39,380 actually put under certain brain scanning machines, all kinds of 438 00:24:39,380 --> 00:24:42,080 electronic equipment. This was happiness that was 439 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,248 almost like imprinted in them. Because the longer you had 440 00:24:45,248 --> 00:24:48,580 practiced the spiritual life, the more happy you were. 441 00:24:48,580 --> 00:24:51,580 In other words, it was a result of a long term of practice. 442 00:24:51,580 --> 00:24:55,080 It wasn't a result of some kind of gratification, or something 443 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:56,438 like that. It was a result of the 444 00:24:56,438 --> 00:24:58,580 realization that we were having just on that particular day. 445 00:24:58,580 --> 00:25:02,581 And this was an amazing result. And this fits perfectly with how 446 00:25:02,581 --> 00:25:06,830 the Buddha taught. Because the real, important, and 447 00:25:06,830 --> 00:25:10,380 interesting happiness to be had in life is precisely the 448 00:25:10,380 --> 00:25:13,880 spiritual happiness. And the way to look at this, to 449 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:18,248 go back to this idea of levels of happiness, you start off on a 450 00:25:18,248 --> 00:25:21,080 certain level in life. But then when you lead a 451 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,280 spiritual life, I'm going to give maybe one easy example to 452 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,080 understand. Suddenly you want to do 453 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:29,582 something good in your life. You get this sense, this urge of 454 00:25:29,582 --> 00:25:32,247 doing something spontaneously nice to somebody, say something 455 00:25:32,247 --> 00:25:34,580 nice, because you really feel like it in your heart. 456 00:25:34,580 --> 00:25:37,380 This is not a superficial kind of kindness, this is a real 457 00:25:37,380 --> 00:25:39,247 kindness. You feel like doing something 458 00:25:39,247 --> 00:25:42,455 nice, you help somebody, you give somebody something when 459 00:25:42,455 --> 00:25:46,499 they need something. And how do you feel after doing 460 00:25:46,499 --> 00:25:48,580 something spontaneously nice towards somebody? 461 00:25:48,580 --> 00:25:52,248 You feel good inside of you. There's a happiness which arises 462 00:25:52,248 --> 00:25:55,580 from doing something kind. Doing something generous. 463 00:25:55,580 --> 00:25:59,580 And we all know what that feels like when we think about it. 464 00:25:59,580 --> 00:26:02,330 And that is a kind of, it's a little bit like the sensual 465 00:26:02,330 --> 00:26:04,580 happiness. There's a peak experience there. 466 00:26:04,580 --> 00:26:06,580 It's a different type of happiness. 467 00:26:06,580 --> 00:26:10,400 But there's a happiness nonetheless, a kind of peak 468 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,580 experience which comes with that kind action. 469 00:26:13,580 --> 00:26:15,580 And then afterwards it comes down again. 470 00:26:15,580 --> 00:26:19,582 But when it comes down again, it doesn't come down precisely to 471 00:26:19,582 --> 00:26:24,360 the same level it was before. It leads, it leaves a little 472 00:26:24,360 --> 00:26:28,580 residue inside of the mind. And that is the important 473 00:26:28,580 --> 00:26:32,080 difference between the spiritual happiness and the worldly 474 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:34,248 happiness. The spiritual happiness leaves a 475 00:26:34,248 --> 00:26:38,580 residue in the mind, so the mind is lifted up a small stage. 476 00:26:38,580 --> 00:26:43,205 Each time you do something good, the mind is lifted up a tiny 477 00:26:43,205 --> 00:26:45,890 fraction. And this is exactly the same 478 00:26:45,890 --> 00:26:49,580 thing which happens if we are virtuous, if we are kind and 479 00:26:49,580 --> 00:26:52,580 good people who do the right thing in the world, every time 480 00:26:52,580 --> 00:26:57,352 we do something good, every time we decide that we are going to 481 00:26:57,352 --> 00:27:03,580 be nice and kind, we are slowly but surely lifting up our mind, 482 00:27:03,580 --> 00:27:09,205 step by step, stage by stage. Each time we do a meditation on 483 00:27:09,205 --> 00:27:13,180 compassion, on loving kindness, we become more peaceful, and we 484 00:27:13,180 --> 00:27:16,914 have a general good feeling for the world, we are lifting our 485 00:27:16,914 --> 00:27:19,580 minds up, stage by stage by stage. 486 00:27:19,580 --> 00:27:23,724 And of course, you can see what happens here, if you keep doing 487 00:27:23,724 --> 00:27:26,847 this over time, instead of getting this flat curve, which 488 00:27:26,847 --> 00:27:30,580 starts off here and ends up over here at the end of your life, 489 00:27:30,580 --> 00:27:34,580 you get an inclination going upwards, lifting yourself up, 490 00:27:34,580 --> 00:27:37,580 going higher and higher and higher. 491 00:27:37,580 --> 00:27:41,504 Of course, sometimes we are going to fail, we are not always 492 00:27:41,504 --> 00:27:44,580 going to be able to be kind and generous and do the right thing, 493 00:27:44,580 --> 00:27:47,580 sometimes it is going to go wrong, and of course then, 494 00:27:47,580 --> 00:27:49,580 instead of pointing up, we are pointing a little bit down. 495 00:27:49,580 --> 00:27:52,380 So it also goes a little bit down, but then we catch 496 00:27:52,380 --> 00:27:54,580 ourselves, and we start to go up again. 497 00:27:54,580 --> 00:27:58,580 So the difference then, between the sensual happiness and the 498 00:27:58,580 --> 00:28:01,915 spiritual happiness, is that if we practice the spiritual 499 00:28:01,915 --> 00:28:05,830 happiness in a successful way, we are going to actually lift 500 00:28:05,830 --> 00:28:11,580 ourselves up, lift our mind up, stage by stage, going upwards, 501 00:28:11,580 --> 00:28:16,724 and upwards, and upwards. And of course, when you come to 502 00:28:16,724 --> 00:28:20,330 your final days, when your time comes to lay down, lay down your 503 00:28:20,330 --> 00:28:24,247 body, and say goodbye to this world, you are on a different 504 00:28:24,247 --> 00:28:28,580 level from where you started off when you came into this world. 505 00:28:28,580 --> 00:28:32,580 And that is the beautiful thing about the spiritual happiness, 506 00:28:32,580 --> 00:28:35,580 it takes you somewhere. When you look back, you say, 507 00:28:35,580 --> 00:28:38,180 wow, this life was really worthwhile, because I have 508 00:28:38,180 --> 00:28:43,247 gotten somewhere, I have changed myself for a better person, I am 509 00:28:43,247 --> 00:28:46,914 happier, more content, more satisfied with my life now than 510 00:28:46,914 --> 00:28:48,580 I was when I came into this world. 511 00:28:48,580 --> 00:28:52,867 I have gone somewhere. And on the way, because I have 512 00:28:52,867 --> 00:28:57,914 been kind and good and a generous person, on the way, I 513 00:28:57,914 --> 00:29:01,914 have also helped other people, done good in this world, and 514 00:29:01,914 --> 00:29:05,180 brought other people with me on this beautiful spiritual 515 00:29:05,180 --> 00:29:07,580 journey, which actually takes us somewhere. 516 00:29:07,580 --> 00:29:12,580 So now you can start to see here what this life is all about. 517 00:29:12,580 --> 00:29:16,580 This life is all about to find this true kind of happiness, 518 00:29:16,580 --> 00:29:20,581 this real happiness, this real satisfaction, which can be 519 00:29:20,581 --> 00:29:24,080 gained by practicing a spiritual life, practicing good, doing 520 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:27,358 what is right, so we can actually go somewhere in our 521 00:29:27,358 --> 00:29:31,438 life, we can actually take ourselves somewhere and end up 522 00:29:31,438 --> 00:29:34,580 in a different place from where we started off. 523 00:29:34,580 --> 00:29:39,205 That becomes the purpose, that becomes what life is really all 524 00:29:39,205 --> 00:29:43,080 about, ultimately. This is the Buddhist answer to 525 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:45,580 this question, what is the meaning of life? 526 00:29:45,580 --> 00:29:50,580 What is the purpose? What is the purpose of life? 527 00:29:50,580 --> 00:29:53,580 So why is it then, one of the things I want to ask also is, 528 00:29:53,580 --> 00:29:56,914 why is it then that so many people, they may hear the 529 00:29:56,914 --> 00:29:59,980 Buddhist teachings, they may hear the sort of things that I 530 00:29:59,980 --> 00:30:03,580 am saying tonight, and I am certainly personally convinced 531 00:30:03,580 --> 00:30:07,914 that this is a very valid way of looking at the world, and you 532 00:30:07,914 --> 00:30:10,380 may agree with me that this is a valid way of looking at the 533 00:30:10,380 --> 00:30:14,780 world, and yet, why is it that many people, they hear the 534 00:30:14,780 --> 00:30:18,580 Buddhist teachings, they hear other good spiritual teachings, 535 00:30:18,580 --> 00:30:22,380 and yet, they turn their back to these things, they don't 536 00:30:22,380 --> 00:30:25,980 actually understand it. And why is it that even if we 537 00:30:25,980 --> 00:30:30,010 are Buddhist, why is it that sometimes we don't maybe put in 538 00:30:30,010 --> 00:30:33,580 that effort that we really would like to put into our practice? 539 00:30:33,580 --> 00:30:37,080 Why is it that sometimes we fail, we don't make as much 540 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:40,330 progress as we would like? Why is it that even in monastic 541 00:30:40,330 --> 00:30:43,308 life, sometimes I sit in my kuti, and I wonder, why am I not 542 00:30:43,308 --> 00:30:44,580 putting in more effort into my practice? 543 00:30:45,580 --> 00:30:49,180 Because sometimes it happens with all of us that we could put 544 00:30:49,180 --> 00:30:51,580 in more effort into our practice. 545 00:30:51,580 --> 00:30:57,248 And I think one of the answers to this is, again, like I 546 00:30:57,248 --> 00:31:01,247 started off talking about, is this idea of a self inside of 547 00:31:01,247 --> 00:31:03,915 us. And the problem with the idea of 548 00:31:03,915 --> 00:31:07,764 a self inside of us is that we have a sense of permanence 549 00:31:07,764 --> 00:31:10,580 inside of us, we have a sense of who we are. 550 00:31:10,580 --> 00:31:13,980 And because we have this sense of permanence inside of us, it 551 00:31:13,980 --> 00:31:18,438 is often very difficult, very difficult to understand that it 552 00:31:18,438 --> 00:31:22,581 is possible to change around, to become very different from what 553 00:31:22,581 --> 00:31:26,205 we already are. Because we are not able to see 554 00:31:26,205 --> 00:31:30,080 fully that potential for change, potential for transformation 555 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:35,914 inside of us, that is often the reason why we maybe neglect and 556 00:31:35,914 --> 00:31:40,080 don't put in sufficient effort in our life to actually 557 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:43,830 transform ourselves. And the way to understand this 558 00:31:43,830 --> 00:31:48,830 is that, if you look inside of yourself, you see, well, this is 559 00:31:48,830 --> 00:31:50,580 who I am. This is me. 560 00:31:50,580 --> 00:31:53,914 And the way you feel about yourself, the way you think 561 00:31:53,914 --> 00:31:56,580 about yourself, this is you, right? 562 00:31:56,580 --> 00:32:02,580 This is how we think we are. And one easy way of seeing this, 563 00:32:02,580 --> 00:32:06,438 for example, if a person gets very depressed, what happens if 564 00:32:06,438 --> 00:32:09,830 people get very depressed? Or they grieve a lot because 565 00:32:09,830 --> 00:32:11,580 they have lost somebody close to them? 566 00:32:11,580 --> 00:32:14,580 Sometimes people commit suicide because of that. 567 00:32:14,580 --> 00:32:18,580 We see this all the time. Why do people commit suicide? 568 00:32:18,580 --> 00:32:22,580 Because they think that this is like a permanent condition. 569 00:32:22,580 --> 00:32:26,180 They are not able to see here that this is temporary, that one 570 00:32:26,180 --> 00:32:29,724 day they will get out of this problem, out of this suffering 571 00:32:29,724 --> 00:32:32,330 in their lives. And this is a problem that we 572 00:32:32,330 --> 00:32:36,692 often have in our lives. We tend to see our present state 573 00:32:36,692 --> 00:32:39,580 as permanent, as something which is there. 574 00:32:39,580 --> 00:32:42,380 And of course, if you are depressed and you think it's 575 00:32:42,380 --> 00:32:43,580 permanent, you get into a very kind of a state of depression. 576 00:32:43,580 --> 00:32:46,580 You get into a very kind of hopeless situation. 577 00:32:46,580 --> 00:32:49,152 So one of the most important things, therefore, always to 578 00:32:49,152 --> 00:32:52,830 tell somebody who is sad, who is depressed, who is unhappy, is 579 00:32:52,830 --> 00:32:55,580 always to say, well, remember, this is impermanent. 580 00:32:55,580 --> 00:32:59,580 This too will pass, as Ajahn Brahm would always say. 581 00:32:59,580 --> 00:33:02,580 And that is one of the most important things to remember. 582 00:33:02,580 --> 00:33:07,980 And this is also important to remember on the spiritual path 583 00:33:07,980 --> 00:33:12,580 itself, that this, the way I am now, is not permanent. 584 00:33:12,580 --> 00:33:15,580 I don't have to be this way I am now. 585 00:33:15,580 --> 00:33:19,580 I can change. If you take the idea of self 586 00:33:19,580 --> 00:33:24,580 completely out of the equation and you realize that we are 587 00:33:24,580 --> 00:33:29,009 conditioned beings, external condition work on us, then 588 00:33:29,009 --> 00:33:33,580 suddenly you take away the limits of potential for change. 589 00:33:33,580 --> 00:33:36,580 Suddenly there is no limit anymore for how much happiness, 590 00:33:36,580 --> 00:33:40,470 how much contentment, how much peace, how much satisfaction you 591 00:33:40,470 --> 00:33:44,580 can find in your life. That limit is taken off. 592 00:33:44,580 --> 00:33:48,080 And suddenly you start to understand the potential of the 593 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:52,580 spiritual life is enormous. It is very likely to be beyond 594 00:33:52,580 --> 00:33:56,914 every one of us here's wildest dreams what is possible to 595 00:33:56,914 --> 00:33:58,580 actually attain in this spiritual life. 596 00:33:58,580 --> 00:34:02,580 That is what is at stake. It's something truly marvelous. 597 00:34:02,580 --> 00:34:06,980 The end of all suffering, the highest possible happiness, 598 00:34:06,980 --> 00:34:09,580 Nibbana. That is what really is at stake 599 00:34:09,580 --> 00:34:15,152 with this spiritual life. So be careful in believing too 600 00:34:15,152 --> 00:34:19,580 much in the way that who you are now, this person you are now, 601 00:34:19,580 --> 00:34:23,179 this is going to last. There is enormous potential 602 00:34:23,179 --> 00:34:25,830 there. And when you read what the 603 00:34:25,830 --> 00:34:29,152 Buddha taught, when you see maybe other people who have 604 00:34:29,152 --> 00:34:32,080 practiced for a long time, you can sometimes infer that there 605 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:34,914 is something there which is available, something much 606 00:34:34,914 --> 00:34:39,724 higher, something which we all can attain if we put in the 607 00:34:39,724 --> 00:34:41,580 right effort. And that is... 608 00:34:41,580 --> 00:34:45,295 So don't allow this illusion that we call in Buddhism this 609 00:34:45,295 --> 00:34:47,580 illusion of a permanent self inside. 610 00:34:47,580 --> 00:34:51,580 Don't allow that to stop you from attaining your potential, 611 00:34:51,580 --> 00:34:54,246 from moving on. Remember that the potential for 612 00:34:54,246 --> 00:35:02,580 change is almost unlimited. So that is essentially my talk 613 00:35:02,580 --> 00:35:05,580 this evening. It's about the purpose of life. 614 00:35:05,580 --> 00:35:10,080 And the purpose of life is to find that satisfaction, that 615 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:13,980 happiness, that wealth, that we're all yearning for, that 616 00:35:13,980 --> 00:35:17,330 we're all seeking for, that which so many people find so 617 00:35:17,330 --> 00:35:19,580 difficult and so hard to really understand. 618 00:35:19,580 --> 00:35:22,080 That is what we have to look. And if we look towards the 619 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:26,180 Buddhist teachings, that is, in my opinion, the best place to 620 00:35:26,180 --> 00:35:30,580 look if you want to find that sort of complete and final 621 00:35:30,580 --> 00:35:34,580 satisfaction in your life. That is the talk. 622 00:35:38,580 --> 00:35:44,780 Okay, so are there any... questions or comments or 623 00:35:44,780 --> 00:35:49,580 complaints or anything else? This is the chance you have. 624 00:35:51,580 --> 00:36:17,580 Yes, at the back there. Yes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 625 00:36:17,580 --> 00:36:27,580 . . . . Right. . 626 00:36:27,580 --> 00:36:30,414 Yes. . Yeah, I think that's probably 627 00:36:30,414 --> 00:36:32,980 true because what you can say is that that expanding of energy to 628 00:36:32,980 --> 00:36:36,580 actually do the practice, that is a kind of suffering in life. 629 00:36:36,580 --> 00:36:39,295 It's a kind of a suffering. And because we don't want to 630 00:36:39,295 --> 00:36:42,602 suffer, we tend to steer away away from those sort of things 631 00:36:42,602 --> 00:36:45,964 which is too much ardor and takes too much energy. 632 00:36:45,964 --> 00:36:48,580 That is true. And of course there it is 633 00:36:48,580 --> 00:36:50,284 important just to have that faith. 634 00:36:50,284 --> 00:36:54,812 The faith and understand that if I put in this energy I will 635 00:36:54,812 --> 00:36:57,820 actually overcome much more suffering in the future. 636 00:36:57,820 --> 00:37:00,350 That is where the faith comes in and the understanding of the 637 00:37:00,350 --> 00:37:01,735 Dhamma, understanding of the Buddha's teachings. 638 00:37:01,735 --> 00:37:06,090 And then you will accept, okay, a little bit of suffering now is 639 00:37:06,090 --> 00:37:09,373 worth it in the long run. It is like keeping the five 640 00:37:09,373 --> 00:37:11,200 precepts. If you are a committed Buddhist 641 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:14,034 and you decide that you want to keep the five precepts which is 642 00:37:14,034 --> 00:37:17,024 like the basic moral code of Buddhism, well there is a little 643 00:37:17,024 --> 00:37:19,740 bit initially, a little bit of suffering involved in keeping 644 00:37:19,740 --> 00:37:23,892 the five precepts. There are certain things you 645 00:37:23,892 --> 00:37:27,520 can't do. If previously you enjoyed lying 646 00:37:27,520 --> 00:37:31,224 to people or drinking alcohol or whatever it is or maybe even, I 647 00:37:31,224 --> 00:37:33,897 don't know what, but if you enjoyed previously something 648 00:37:33,897 --> 00:37:36,714 which was against the five precepts, then you have to keep 649 00:37:36,714 --> 00:37:38,085 it. You have to stop that. 650 00:37:38,085 --> 00:37:40,732 And that very stopping involves a little bit of suffering. 651 00:37:40,732 --> 00:37:44,879 But of course in the long run you get much more happiness in 652 00:37:44,879 --> 00:37:47,180 return by actually keeping those five precepts. 653 00:37:47,180 --> 00:37:50,456 And it is the same thing with the entire path of Buddhism. 654 00:37:50,456 --> 00:37:53,310 People often go on meditation retreats and some of those 655 00:37:53,310 --> 00:37:55,389 retreats sometimes can be suffering for people. 656 00:37:55,389 --> 00:37:58,370 Maybe not all the time but certainly part of the time 657 00:37:58,370 --> 00:38:01,650 because you are doing things which you are not used to do. 658 00:38:01,650 --> 00:38:05,324 But then if you persevere, if you do it correctly, then 659 00:38:05,324 --> 00:38:09,540 eventually you also get those wonderful results that come from 660 00:38:09,540 --> 00:38:13,066 that meditation practice. So yes it's true, there is the 661 00:38:13,066 --> 00:38:14,852 suffering of leading the spiritual life. 662 00:38:14,852 --> 00:38:18,027 It is true. But so you have to, in a sense, 663 00:38:18,027 --> 00:38:21,140 if you want to evaluate your spiritual life, never look in 664 00:38:21,140 --> 00:38:24,648 the short term. The short term can be very 665 00:38:24,648 --> 00:38:27,371 deceptive. Always look in the long term. 666 00:38:27,371 --> 00:38:30,715 So look at yourself today compared to what you were six 667 00:38:30,715 --> 00:38:33,974 months ago or a year ago. That's the kind of time span you 668 00:38:33,974 --> 00:38:36,963 need to look at to really see whether there is a change in the 669 00:38:36,963 --> 00:38:40,187 positive. And then you will make the right 670 00:38:40,187 --> 00:38:43,203 decision whether the spiritual life works or not. 671 00:38:43,203 --> 00:38:47,116 If you just look from one week to the next, well because the 672 00:38:47,116 --> 00:38:51,435 mind is so changeable, it is impossible to really see an 673 00:38:51,435 --> 00:38:56,374 improvement and to have any kind of proper perspective just from 674 00:38:56,374 --> 00:39:01,974 one week to the next one. Are you happy with that answer? 675 00:39:01,974 --> 00:39:07,560 Yes? Yes. 676 00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:16,824 Okay. Well, I mean, first of all, you 677 00:39:16,824 --> 00:39:29,560 know, being happy is not so bad in itself, you know. 678 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:32,800 It's pretty good. You know, when you think about 679 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:35,710 sometimes we get depressed, people get into very difficult 680 00:39:35,710 --> 00:39:38,093 situations. You know, and you can't wait to 681 00:39:38,093 --> 00:39:40,062 get out of it. And of course, happiness is 682 00:39:40,062 --> 00:39:42,272 something wonderful and something that becomes very 683 00:39:42,272 --> 00:39:44,589 beautiful. And the happier you get, you 684 00:39:44,589 --> 00:39:47,276 look back at your previous life, you think, oh, that was terrible 685 00:39:47,276 --> 00:39:49,472 what I had before. I didn't actually realize at the 686 00:39:49,472 --> 00:39:51,979 time how bad it was. But now I understand that there 687 00:39:51,979 --> 00:39:55,415 was a lot more suffering in that life than I could really see. 688 00:39:55,415 --> 00:39:58,540 And the reason is because the suffering is so close to you, 689 00:39:58,540 --> 00:40:01,180 that life is so close to you, you don't really fully 690 00:40:01,180 --> 00:40:03,628 understand it. So the higher up you get, the 691 00:40:03,628 --> 00:40:05,560 more higher you still want to go. 692 00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:08,390 Okay. And eventually, you go from life 693 00:40:08,390 --> 00:40:11,440 to life, maybe you feel happy in your future life. 694 00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:14,284 Sometimes happiness is the wrong word because sometimes what 695 00:40:14,284 --> 00:40:16,748 we're seeking is really contentment and peace because 696 00:40:16,748 --> 00:40:19,705 these are actually more profound and deeper senses of happiness 697 00:40:19,705 --> 00:40:22,128 than just pure kind of excitement or whatever. 698 00:40:22,128 --> 00:40:25,727 But each life, you can build on what you did in the previous 699 00:40:25,727 --> 00:40:27,428 life. You can even end it in this life 700 00:40:27,428 --> 00:40:30,930 if you really work really hard. But if you have to, you go on in 701 00:40:30,930 --> 00:40:34,560 the future life, from life to life, going higher and higher. 702 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:37,576 Okay. And this is nibbana or nirvana. 703 00:40:37,576 --> 00:40:40,600 And this is the highest happiness according to Buddhism. 704 00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:44,340 And I think anybody, almost everybody I think would agree, 705 00:40:44,340 --> 00:40:46,959 why shouldn't we have the highest happiness? 706 00:40:46,959 --> 00:40:51,126 If the highest happiness is there for the, to be attained, 707 00:40:51,126 --> 00:40:55,936 surely that makes sense to actually go for that goal of the 708 00:40:55,936 --> 00:40:59,218 highest possible happiness. That is what it's all about 709 00:40:59,218 --> 00:41:00,648 basically. Please ask beginners questions. 710 00:41:00,648 --> 00:41:03,460 There's no shame in that. There are many people here, I'm 711 00:41:03,460 --> 00:41:04,160 sure, who come for the first time. 712 00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:05,560 So don't be afraid. Yes? 713 00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:11,740 Okay. The fear of change. 714 00:41:11,740 --> 00:41:21,620 Yeah, okay. Well, it depends, you know, what 715 00:41:21,620 --> 00:41:27,668 you mean, I suppose, by fear of change. 716 00:41:27,668 --> 00:41:30,432 But usually you start in the small things, you know. 717 00:41:30,432 --> 00:41:32,597 You start with the things which are easy to change. 718 00:41:32,597 --> 00:41:34,120 You ask yourself, well, how can I improve? 719 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:36,050 Well, you know, how can I improve my life a little bit? 720 00:41:36,050 --> 00:41:39,426 How can I do a little better? How can I be a kinder and more 721 00:41:39,426 --> 00:41:42,730 gentle and more generous and more compassionate person in my 722 00:41:42,730 --> 00:41:44,750 life? And most people don't fear that 723 00:41:44,750 --> 00:41:46,717 kind of change. Usually it comes quite 724 00:41:46,717 --> 00:41:48,328 naturally. And then you build on that. 725 00:41:48,328 --> 00:41:50,238 You become more compassionate. And you ask yourself the next 726 00:41:50,238 --> 00:41:52,452 step, well, how can I become even more compassionate and 727 00:41:52,452 --> 00:41:54,512 kinder? How can I do this step by step 728 00:41:54,512 --> 00:41:58,600 going upwards, moving ahead? And then you will see that what 729 00:41:58,600 --> 00:42:02,260 you may have seemed fearful on an earlier occasion actually 730 00:42:02,260 --> 00:42:04,500 becomes something very natural inside of you. 731 00:42:04,500 --> 00:42:07,721 You may change in ways that you never expected. 732 00:42:07,721 --> 00:42:10,938 And it becomes beautiful. So don't actually look, don't 733 00:42:10,938 --> 00:42:14,886 think about your change. Just do what is right and see 734 00:42:14,886 --> 00:42:17,514 what happens. And what you will see is that 735 00:42:17,514 --> 00:42:20,362 your mind changed in a very positive and very nice way. 736 00:42:20,362 --> 00:42:23,040 And I can almost assure you, you're going to be very happy 737 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:24,639 with that. It's not something you're going 738 00:42:24,639 --> 00:42:26,871 to regret. But don't worry about the mind. 739 00:42:26,871 --> 00:42:29,380 Just do what is right and see what happens. 740 00:42:29,380 --> 00:42:32,592 If you have big problems, you can always go and ask Ajahn 741 00:42:32,592 --> 00:42:33,660 Brahm. Don't ask me. 742 00:42:34,500 --> 00:42:39,000 See how it goes. Anybody else want to ask 743 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,500 anything? Yes, at the back. 744 00:42:41,500 --> 00:42:46,292 So if the meaning of what would be the Shri Mahagama's talk, and 745 00:42:46,292 --> 00:42:53,900 then after a while I achieve that, then go to Nibbana, then 746 00:42:53,900 --> 00:42:59,642 it will be Nibbana. Yeah, well, I mean, the point is 747 00:42:59,642 --> 00:43:01,475 that Nibbana is the meaning, right? 748 00:43:01,475 --> 00:43:04,000 That is the end point. So you can't really... 749 00:43:04,500 --> 00:43:09,000 You can't really go beyond that. But yeah, it is the highest 750 00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:11,226 possible happiness. I think that's good enough. 751 00:43:11,226 --> 00:43:13,397 If you reach the highest possible happiness, there's no 752 00:43:13,397 --> 00:43:16,196 point in asking for meaning anymore because you have 753 00:43:16,196 --> 00:43:18,960 achieved the highest possible. You reached the end. 754 00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:22,510 It's like saying, what is the purpose of achieving the highest 755 00:43:22,510 --> 00:43:23,798 happiness? Well, that's it. 756 00:43:23,798 --> 00:43:26,260 You got it. You reached it. 757 00:43:26,260 --> 00:43:30,160 It's a bit like you're an Olympic athlete because the 758 00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:34,215 Olympics are coming up soon. And your goal is to win the 759 00:43:34,215 --> 00:43:35,226 particular... The event. 760 00:43:35,226 --> 00:43:38,850 Well, then you win. That's really the goal in its 761 00:43:38,850 --> 00:43:41,371 own right, isn't it? There's nothing more beyond 762 00:43:41,371 --> 00:43:43,028 that. You have won, you've made it. 763 00:43:43,028 --> 00:43:44,973 That's it. And the same thing, once you 764 00:43:44,973 --> 00:43:47,903 achieve the highest happiness, well, you have achieved the best 765 00:43:47,903 --> 00:43:49,945 thing that anybody can achieve in this universe. 766 00:43:49,945 --> 00:43:52,500 Why, on earth, would you go on seeking for anything more? 767 00:43:52,500 --> 00:43:56,000 There's no point. You have reached the highest. 768 00:43:56,000 --> 00:43:59,112 Okay. So let's pay our respects to the 769 00:43:59,112 --> 00:44:03,000 Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha. If you wish, you can take part. 770 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:03,500 If you don't want to, that's okay. 771 00:44:04,500 --> 00:45:04,480 Thank you. Thank you.