Asides

When I write this small book about ‘Buddhist philosophy on married life’, there are two reasons for this book. First of all, I love the Buddha’s philosophy on married life. Second, many people who are interested in Buddhism and who are far away from Buddhist society know that Buddhism is a kind of meditation or may be a deep philosophy. It was not wrong but also not entirely correct because there are a number of discourses that were particularly instructed for married life or family life not in religious way to perform but in philosophical way to practice in life.

Actually I try to share my knowledge on Buddhism with those who would like to learn Buddhism as a way of life or as a kind of philosophy. I explained most of discourses that focused on the family life given by the Buddha in his time. In my opinion, Buddhism is much easier to practice as a lay person if you understand it correctly and properly because there are not many rules and regulations for Buddhist people to practice Buddhism. Nowadays you can also learn meditation technique anywhere in the world if you are willing and prepared to do so.

However, in this small book I quoted the discourses that focused on married life to share with those who want to live in family life and love Buddhist philosophy and who want to practice it in daily life. This book is not intended for meditation technique but I explained a bit of meditation technique that you can start at home if you really want to try. I hope you will get it. If you get it as you learn, I would be happy. May all of you who touch this book be touched with my heart and my love.

People are afraid of people and the world in which they live. They don’t trust the world and friends around them. It shows me how terrible the physical development is.

Our physical world has become developed unbelievably but spiritual world has remained undeveloped for centuries. Distrust, doubt, uncertainty, worry, fear, anxiety and so on slowly become apparent. Therefore, people become more closed and find a very narrow way to walk. This is exactly the result of physical development of the world.

People become knowledgeable, of course but not wise generally. The knowledgeable will belittle the unknowledgeable. The unknowledgeable will feel awkward to be with the knowledgeable. We need more wisdom and wiser people to lead our future world peacefully and happily.

In this book I try to share my wisdom with those who love it. If you receive it, I will be happy.

Actually, I want to help suffering people who are even rich but lonely, bored, tense, stressful and depressed and so forth. And I have already felt this way and I have already met those who get suffered from such psychological problems. I’m hopeful that the book I’m going to publish will help people in some way. I’m happy to contribute my heart to humanity and to serve the world the best I can.

I thank all, from my chief abbot to the listeners and foreign students and my special thanks to the donors from South Korea and from California, United States. Without those generous donors, this book would not such soon be published.

I wish you would get spiritual benefit from this book. May all the beings be happy and peaceful forever.

I have met so many westerners who are interested in Buddhist philosophy in my Mahagandhayon monastery for over 18 years as I was appointed to be in charge of foreigners who want to learn Buddhist philosophy and meditation. I have also guided some foreigners who want to learn Buddhist philosophy and meditation. I have also guided some foreigners who want to practice mediation in my monastery so far.

Then, I think you will be interested in the book, ‘Buddhism and Democracy’ I wrote. The reason why I wrote this book is that I found Buddhism is like democracy in the way it instructed. I have said a number of times that Buddhism is not like a religion that guides people how to believe in a certain God but Buddhism is more like philosophy that guides how to understand real life and how to live in real world. It is also a kind of lesson to learn how to apply in daily life. It can also go with democratic system harmoniously and peacefully. This is the reason why I wrote this book.

Why does Buddhism come with democracy? I strongly believe that Buddhism embraces democratic values and scientific philosophy after I have studied and practiced for many years. Buddhism is even like a sort of medicine that can kill stresses and strains of public life. This is the reason why I love Buddhism so much and practice it as good as possible. I also try to share my understanding and knowledge on Buddhism with people. I even try to share rich Buddhist philosophy with world by writing books, including this one ‘Buddhism and Democracy’.

2014 is, for me, a year of special experience because I was invited by Ricardo and Carlos who has worked with Sadhana Yoga in Italy and Spain.

When they came to Burma in 2013, they visited my monastery, Mahagandhayon in which I have studied and been taught and taught for more than two decades. They did Vipassana mediation just for a few days in my room. However, they loved it so much. This is the reason why they wanted to invite me and how my trip to the west began.

Actually, Buddhism is directly linked to those who believe in it but Dhamma is quite universal and linked to the entire living structure. Therefore, I have very often said that though Dhamma is included in Buddhism, Dhamma should not be restricted within the frame of Buddhism because Dhamma is acceptable, practicable, experiential and understandable to all walks of life. When practiced, it will make everyone equally happy and beneficial. Dhamma has no bias towards anything and anyone.