From: lyeh@alleg.edu (Hun Lye)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Talking about Suffering
Keywords: Buddhism
Date: 10 Jan 93 03:13:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: qiclab.1993Jan12.210619.8054
Organization: Allegheny College

The following passages are taken from teachings given by a Buddhist monk  
following the Thai Forest Tradition.  Hope they are relevant and useful to  
some of us.


_Depression is a Guest_

This feeling of depression has just come for a visit; soon it will leave.   
Having gone it will come again.  If we don't attach to it, it won't stay.   
So we don't delight in following our moods.  When guests come, if we drive  
them away they'll be angry; but we musn't be too welcoming either, or they  
will settle down to stay!  Just let them be and they will leave of their  
own accord.  They're only visitors, they are not residents.  If they come,  
we know thus: `Oh, they've come.'  We note it and leave them be.  We  
establish our mind in equanimity.  Centre your mind, not delighting, not  
despising, not being frightened; neither taking not rejecting, just keep  
knowing.  The goal is non-suffering:  a mind that is calm, clean and  
clear.


_We Suffer Because We Cling_

We experience suffering and depression only because of clinging and  
attachment.  We must lift our minds to do the work of enquiry using  
patience and forbearance.  If we closely observe the impermanent nature of  
these feelings, in due course we will see they *do* change.  When we see  
this, we will know what is meant by *sabbe dhamma anatta* - all things are  
not-self.  Then we will see clearly.


_Don't Think that It's You that is Suffering_

Suffering is not you.; you are not suffering.  Suffering doen't abide  
within you, and you do not abide in suffering.  Suffering arises, exists  
and ceases.  We have the task of simply knowing that suffering arises,  
knowing that suffering exists, and knowing that suffering ceases.   
Regardless of however much suffering there may be, if we can observe in  
this way we will be able to bear with it; we must endure.  A wise person  
can endure suffering.


_If you are still suffering, you must Look even closer_

Contemplate the 4 Noble Truths regularly.  If we are still suffering it  
means we still don't have Right View.  When suffering arises, we look  
inward, not outwards and we don't blame others.  We just look at our own  
body and mind.  Look and see how desire and attachment sre the cause of  
suffering.  They are Mara; our most bitter enemies.  Tackle those thoughts  
with persistence.  Know those thoughts.  When we know them for what they  
are, we will be untroubled.  We won't become upset.  We will no longer be  
deceived by these things and won't cling to them.  Instead, there will be  
established the One Who Knows, the Awakened One, the Radiant One.  There!   
That's the Buddha.  You don't have to search elsewere.  Even if you have  
to pay for this with your life, it's worth it.


_*Sabbe dhamma nalam abhinivesaya*:  All things are not worthy of clinging  
to.  *Sabbe dhamma anatta*:  All things are not-self_

Whatever arises must in time cease.  If we can leave things be, let  
suffering go, neither delighting nor despising, there will be no  
suffering, or if there is, it will be just as if there isn't.


________________________________________________________________________
Note that the above teachings were offerred to a group of Buddhists when  
they were visiting that particular monk.  As such, the teachings were  
given very informally and were NOT meant to be philosophical formulations.



Mangalam,

Hun Lye
lyeh@alleg.edu

"Be well, Be happy"