The Buddhist perspective:

Towards a contented life

By Lionel Wijesiri

The late Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda Thera, in his book Leading a Buddhist Life, says : “Man is the highest fruit on the tree of evolution. It is for man to realize his position in nature and understand the true meaning of his life. To know the purpose of life, you will first have to study the subject through your experience and insight. Then, you will discover for yourself the true meaning of life.

“Guidelines can be given, but you must create the necessary conditions for the arising of realization yourself. There are several prerequisites to the discovery of the purpose of life. First, you must understand the nature of man and the nature of life. Next, you keep your mind calm and peaceful through the adoption of a religion. When these conditions are met, the answer you seek will come like the gentle rain from the sky.”

Nature of man

Let us go a little deep into Ven. Dhammananda Thera’s important point.

Humans can be seen as highly favoured, in that they have an immediate reason to seek out the Dhamma and yet also have the means to read and listen to it and follow it. Among the lower realms, Pretas and dwellers in the Narakas [Buddhist hell(s)] are gripped by pain and fear, and can only endure their lot, but cannot better themselves.

Animals are intellectually unable to understand the Dhamma in full. Most of the Brahmas and Devas simply enjoy reaping the fruits of their past actions and think that they are immortal and forever to be happy and so they don’t try to practise the Dhamma. When their past positive karmas become exhausted, these Devas will fall into lower worlds and suffer again.

For this reason, life in the world of humans is known as “The precious human rebirth”. Born close to the pivot point of happiness and suffering, humans have a unique capacity for moral choices with long-term significance.

But, are we always making the right moral choices? For instance, take a particular day; yesterday or any day, for that matter. How many times have you uttered phrases like “My thoughts are driving me mad! My mind will not be quiet! I can’t relax!”?

The mind is notoriously resistant to being quiet, so as soon as you sit still, it seems to do everything it can to distract you. Habitual thinking kicks in, and within a few minutes, an internal dialogue takes over, the body starts to fidget and trivial things that need to be done suddenly appear vitally important. This is happening to most of us, every day of the year.

The mind has often been compared to a “drunken monkey bitten by a scorpion.” Just as a monkey leaps from tree to tree, so the mind leaps from one drama to another, constantly distracted.

Anapanasati

Our minds are always filled with preoccupations, and we do not even realise it. However, we can just let them go and bring the mind back to something we do want to focus on. This is a beginning, calming, waking-up step. However, more important is to choose positive thoughts to focus on.

Anapanasati, the meditation on in-and-out breathing, is the first subject of meditation expounded by the Buddha in the Maha Satipattana Sutta. The Buddha laid special stress on this meditation, for it is the gateway to enlightenment and Nibbana adopted by all the Buddhas of the past as the very basis for their attainment of Buddhahood.

The term Anapanasati does not mean mindfulness established only on ‘in and out breathing’. It actually means mindfulness established on an object all the time with each ‘in and out breath’. Initially, one establishes mindfulness on the breathing itself, then on different kinds of feelings, different states of mind, then the characteristic of impermanence... and finally on relinquishment, which is the ultimate objective of the practice.

The method of practising Anapanasati, as explained in the Anapanasati Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya, is complete in itself. One can understand and practise this method comparatively easily than the methods found in other suttas.

Way out

Anapanasati meditation can change your life. It will help you to deal with the madness and chaos that occur daily. It will deal with the challenges of your life. It will shift your priorities, enable you to make friends with yourselves, and to find answers to your problems.

Lighten the load

In a stressed state, it is easy to lose touch with inner peace, compassion and kindness; in a relaxed state, your mind is clear and you can connect with a deeper sense of purpose and altruism. A time of quiet calmness in meditation is, therefore, the most effective remedy for a busy and overworked mind. Anytime you feel stress rising, heart closing, mind becoming overwhelmed, just bring your focus to your breathing and quietly repeat with each in- and out-breath: Breathing in, calm the body and mind; breathing out, smile.

Let go

Stillness is always there between the thoughts, behind the story, beneath the noise. What keeps us from experiencing our natural state of being is the habitual and ego-dominated mind. Meditation enables us to see clearly, to witness our thoughts and behaviour and reduce self-involvement. Without such a practice of self-reflection, there is no way of putting brakes on the ego’s demands. From being self-centred, we can become other-centred, concerned about the welfare of all.

Dissolve anger and fear

We do not accept or release our negative feelings so easily; we are more likely to repress or disown them. However, when denied, they cause shame, depression, anger and anxiety. Meditation invites you to openly meet them, and to see how selfishness, aversion and ignorance create endless dramas and fears.

Beneath these is a quiet stillness where you can get to know yourself; this is a wonderful experience. Whether you practise for just 10 minutes a day or longer does not matter. You are releasing your limitations, while opening to self-acceptance and awareness.

Awaken forgiveness

Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself and others. As you sit in meditation and watch your thoughts and feelings moving through you, so you can observe that who you are now is not who you were just a moment ago, let alone a day, a week or a month ago. Who you, or someone else, was when pain was caused is not who you are now. When you experience your essential inter-connectedness, you see how the ignorance of this creates separation and suffering, so that forgiveness for such ignorance arises spontaneously.

Be aware

Awareness is the key to spiritual awakening. Through awareness, you can see your dazed mind and all its mischief. Almost everything we do is to achieve something: If we do this, then we will get that; if we do that, then this will happen. However, in meditation you just do it. There is no ulterior purpose other than to be here, in the present moment, without trying to get anywhere or achieve anything. You are just aware of whatever is happening, whether pleasant or unpleasant. No judgement, no right or wrong, it’s simply being aware.