Q: Ashin, How can you live happily in such a modern sophisticated world? Please, could you kindly answer this question form most of us to guide us on how we should live our poor life in a stressful world particularly in the United States and western world?
A: Well, It is a very good question and a fundamental need for the human quest. I can feel that the entire humanity is very stressful in daily life across the world because coronavirus outbreak which has been happening all over the world since the beginning of 2020. America would be the worst at the moment because there is not only a coronavirus issue but also the racism issue in America. I’m sorry for all of what is happening all over the world including my poor country, Myanmar.
Actually, you are your own master according to Buddhism. You can mindfully create what kind of person you want to be or what kind of community you want to live in. Whether you want to live a happy life or an unhappy life/ whether you want to live in a happy community or an unhappy community totally depends upon you.
You have to manage your own life as you are your own master. According to Buddhism, you can also do it and create Which kind of person you want to be or in which kind of community you want to live. It is very inspiring to me and to humanity too. When I knew this teaching of the Buddha, I felt very confident, encouraged, and of course, inspired too concerning how I should lead my life, manage and deal with everything serious or light/ small or big by myself. I have done it too so far. How your life now is closely connected with how you volitionally behaved and did in the past.
How you will be in the future is also closely connected with how you are right now and right here. It is a natural law but people are not aware of such a simple law of cause and effect and also you have a wonderful opportunity to manage your life according to Buddhist philosophy. What you are volitionally doing right here and right now will make you what kind of being you will become in the next or in the next life if you are a believer in such a life after death.
You are living in the law of cause and effect. Above this natural law, there is no external power that can make you good or evil according to the Buddha’s Teaching but your mind and your volition closely connected with your actions right here and right now are the only power that can make good and evil every moment in the near and far future.
Therefore the Buddha said, “PLEASE, be mindful of what you are thinking, what you are speaking, and what you are acting to live perfectly and happily” Appamādena sampādetha in Pāli language. It is also called “Mindfulness Meditation” very well-known even in these days of ours. Nowadays, it is practiced by all walks of life across the world. Of course, when you are mindful of everything you are doing, you can imagine how hard you will do mistakes in whatever you.
It is a very practical approach to our very life here and now. Of course, when you can lessen your mistakes or do no mistakes in your actions by doing everything mindfully, you can imagine how you will be happy every moment. This is the reason why Buddhism becomes popular across the world without converting anyone to become Buddhist as done in other religions in the world. It is very significant and remarkably throughout world religious history. I love it.
Q: Great answer, Venerable Ashin. I love it too. I hope Buddhism is growing faster in the western world because of its powerful and mind-blowing enlightening messages to humanity. For now, Bye, Ashin, Thank you so much for your answer.
A: You are always welcome.
