In samsara, we all have a very strong desire for happiness and strive day and night to achieve it. Even the little insects we find around have the sense of wishing to attain happiness and avoid suffering. But being ignorant about the genuine way of knowing the truth of the path, we engage ourselves in committing non-virtuous deeds. Due to this, we end up making ourselves the victim of endless suffering in samsara. In this regard, the great Shantideva states:
Even having the intention to discard suffering,
[One] runs only after suffering itself.
Due to ignorance, even with the intention of being happy,
One destroys happiness like an enemy.
This is the problem or misunderstanding that we have in the name of getting happiness. We tend to be helpful and kind to others with an expectation of getting something in return and when we do not get it, we suffer a lot. Wise beings like buddhas and bodhisattvas act skilfully. They strive for others’ happiness and get for themselves a sigh of satisfaction when their intention and aspiration to fulfil others’ desires is accomplished.
Most of the people of this era define happiness as having wealth in their life like having a large house, bank balance, and so on. Even Western authors and scholars of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century talked about the ‘Science of Wealth’ which deals with the phenomenon of wealth, including the nature, cause and creation of wealth by individuals and nations. At that time, they did not talk about the real happiness or inner peace that we cannot get through wealth. They did not realize that happiness does not come from worldly things but inside of us.
According to the experience that I have had in the past two decades, approximately 95% of people think that if we are rich in wealth then we have everything. Because of this, mostly people sacrifice their precious time in earning money. Some people even take the lives of their father or mother, who are the kindest persons in their life, just for wealth. And some of them engage in killing, hunting, robbery and various other non-virtuous activities just for the sake of money. In this regard, we can conclude that however much we strive for wealth or materialistic happiness we will never experience real happiness. Instead, our desire to gain more and more will increase rapidly when we possess more wealth. About this, Gyalsey Ngulchu Thogmed says:
Worldly pleasures are like salty water:
The more we drink the more thirst increases.
[Hence] as far as the things that we get attached to,
Abandoning them immediately is the practice of bodhisattvas.
There is no limit to desire. This is the reality or nature of it. It is better for us to be satisfied with what we have, who we are and where we are. Regarding this, the Buddha says, “When we free ourselves of desire, we will know serenity and freedom.” Having contentment will give us a happy, healthy and wealthy life as well as inner peace. Do not compare yourself with others, otherwise the jealousy will increase and lead to sleepless nights.
Karma Chophel
1st Year, NNI
