Ashin, how can we do to live happily and peacefully in the present

Ashin, how can we do to live happily and peacefully in the present and in the future ahead without worries, fears, anxieties, insecurities, all kinds of wars, bloodshed around the world? Could you please kindly give us some advice from your Buddhist perspective?

Well, I’m my opinion, the way to be happy and peaceful is not complicated but we, human being, are really complicated creatures. If you ask anyone “Do you want to live happily and peacefully?”, everybody will answer “Oh, yes, definitely” in no hesitation. It means that we all want to live happily and peacefully; there is no doubt at all. Then, why are we so hard to live that way? It is because of human ego and selfishness beset by a number of defilements such as greed, attachment, hatred, and so on.

To live happily and peacefully in the present, we have to learn the lessons from the past, have to ceasefire all the combats, have to stop all the conflicts, arguments, disputes, have to let go of everything that has made us all the parties suffer, painful, and hurt for a long time and have to start talking for a real peace by truly loving each other and shaking each other’s hands not just in physical behaviors but in their deep hearts. This is the only way to live happily and peacefully in the present and in the future ahead too.

As you know, life is too short. We should not waste our precious time by arguing and fighting for no possible solution on the particular issues around the world. We must learn how to be wise by thinking to cooperate for peaceful living instead of being stupid by thinking to defeat others.

Now, in 2017, we have a new lesson to learn; it is given by the issues between the United States and North Korea. If we learn from the issues, we will find that both parties are conceited, egoistic and very much childish in thoughts and behaviors. If they go by war, the world will Deeply be suffered. They really need a wise talk on the issue instead of threatening each other. I hope you get it.

Note: it is a question by email from an American journalist, who has visited me for interview.

Author:

Ashin Kekasa is a graduate in Mathematics. He finished his both public and monastic educations. His major interest was Mindfulness-Based Vipassana Meditation instructed in Buddhism. He took six months long retreat course in Mahasi Meditation Center when he was a layman. After his six months long meditation practice, he became a Buddhist ordained in Mahasi Tradition. However, he wanted to know much more about Buddhist philosophy so he moved to Mahagandhayon monastery to study Pali scriptures seriously. He has spent teaching and practicing in Mahagandhayon monastery. He did it well. Then, he moved to the forest for his serious meditation practice. He founded his own forest meditation center 15 years ago. He has been conducting Vipassana retreat for laypeople twice a year. He has also been used to travelling to abroad since 2004 because he is invited by people to teach them meditation. It is just a brief biography of Ashin Kelasa.