There is something that I feel has been largely misunderstood
and I wish to clarify. Our forum name is ~ Buddhism: Wisdom Bliss
~... understandably, since this is a Buddhist forum, there is
'Buddhism', and since we wish to attain Buddha's enlightenment and
wisdom, there is the word 'Wisdom', but why 'Bliss'?
Bringing Bliss to Humanity was what the Tathagathas told my
master to do! But what has bliss got to do with Buddhism?
People question this because they are stuck to worldly point of
view and they think that hapiness is money, material possessions, a
great partner, etc etc... you know better.
We want all these things due to our ego and cravings. But ego and
craving are never extinguished by the fulfilment of desires. It
just gets greedier and greedier. You will know this by observing a
baby grow towards adulthood. As he grows older he is less easily
satisfied and demands more. It becomes a habit. (note: habits can
be brought over to the next life!) This is not bliss but suffering.
Dukkha. Unfortunately we are not even aware. (note: Not aware =
ignorance. Awareness is the nature of the Buddha.)
Actually Dukkha in Buddhism is very wide. Much wider than most of
us would have imagined. When Buddhism says 'suffering is an
inevitable part of life', people may only think of physical pain,
but the nature of Dukkha is much more than that. The state of
mental afflictions is itself dukkha. If we attach to something
impermanent it is dukkha. We feel anxious, despairing, frustrated, irritated,
upset, disappointed, discomfort, anguish, painful and
disgusted, all these are dukkha.
Sometimes we have a success and
feel very satisfied with our own performance. However, this
satisfaction itself is again Dukkha , simply because it does not
stay forever. In a higher stage of meditation practice,
you do not feel any mental annoyance at all. It is very calm and
peaceful. It is called Sukha - happiness. Again, this happiness is
Dukkha, not because it
causes unhappiness or suffering at that moment but because it does
not stay forever. It changes. It starts and finishes. So it is
Dukkha. You see Dukkha does not cover only the negative side
of life but the positive one as well.
When we understand this, we will know why even the heavens in the
six realms cannot escape this (dukkha), and it is only by the
honest cultivation of the Dharma will we be able to be freed from
sufferings and attain the Highest Bliss. After all, all the
tripitaka and twelve divisions (teachings Buddha
expounded) all point humanity towards true Bliss. Therefore I say
Dukkha is perhaps one of the most misunderstood concept - the
reason why Buddhism is sometimes seen as pessimistic. But
the concept of Dukkha is not pessimistic.
see: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/buddhism/page4.htm
(concept of Dukkha)
The following conversation took place when my Master came to
Singapore for a great dharma discussion session in 1989.
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/buddhism.htm#dharmatalk
Question: The title of
your Dharma talk is Human Bliss Culture; why then when you answer
questions from the audience you did not mention Human Bliss Culture
at all? Many of my friends here and I would like to know what is
Human Bliss Culture.
The culture of Buddhism is Bliss Culture
Answer: It is because the bliss
culture that you have in mind and what I have in mind are
different. The bliss culture that you have in mind may be how to
prosper with great wealth and fortune, or how to have a good wife
in order for the family to have bliss. In this manner, the
definition of bliss is too narrow! We need to know that the culture
of Buddhism is the real bliss culture. If everybody is able to
attain the ultimate Nirvana, then this is indeed the real bliss
culture.
Nibbana is the highest Bliss. - Dhammapada
The purpose of our learning
Buddhism is to distance from suffering and attain happiness. Many
people think that to distance from suffering and attain happiness
means going to the Western Pure Land. In fact, it is not only this.
When we distance from suffering and attain happiness, we have to
instantaneously distance from suffering, instantaneously attain
happiness and liberation. Some people may be suspicious; how can
liberation be attained so easily? In fact, it is very simple. If
someone scolds you, and you apologize to him, then that is a small
liberation. If someone hits you, and you retaliate; an eye for an
eye, then isnt that very miserable? What happen if that results in
loss of life? Even though you are rude to me, I will still
apologise very politely to you. Isnt that being liberated? This is
Jen Chen Buddhisms teaching of liberation. If whilst alive, we
cannot even attain small liberations like this, then what more to
say of liberation after death? In the course of our daily lives, if
we are liberated at every moment, then in time to come we will be
able to attain the great liberation. Please think it over, isnt
this a very blissful? This is but to use a small matter to
illustrate the path of liberation. If we are able to understand
more of the Buddha-Dharma and apply them in our life, family,
society, country, and to the extent of the entire humanity of the
world, then isnt this a great bliss culture? Therefore, we say
that the culture of Buddhism is Bliss Culture.
