Modern society needs an improved form of communication. Our obsession with the lives of celebrities and the rich will never lead to the inner peace and freedom from suffering we are all seeking. If one’s concern lies with keeping up with daily gossip, this is no different to continuously rolling an old record. It is very unlikely that one does anything but harm to oneself and others by absorbing oneself in gossip and the private affairs of others, not to mention obsessing over harsh or divisive language and speech that is motivated by ignorance, lust, hatred or anger. When inuendo about our politicians is printed in the public arena, much damage is caused in the minds of others by misinformation that is circulated by the press. What I particularly object to is comments made that are untrue, harsh or divisive, not to mention the constant media speculation and inquiry into private concerns, which is not the business of others. To find peace, one must focus upon creating positive, wholesome deeds and not get entangled in the net of attachment, hatred and ignorance which binds sentient beings to cyclic existance.
What everyone wants to conquer is birth, aging, sickness and death. The only way to do this is to follow the advice of highly realized beings, the Buddha and his disciples. If you think you can achieve these sorts of accomplishments without guidance from someone who has freed themselves from the cycle of rebirth, you are really deluding yourself. The path to true, lasting, happiness is the path to the cessation of all suffering. You will not find lasting peace and comfort via any other means.
When is everyone going to wake up to this basic fact, the Four Noble Truths?
Practice love and compassion and stop judging others. Ignorance about the basic nature of reality, the way self and phenomena exist is the root cause of all suffering. If you do not understand the way in which the self and other phenomena exist, you have no hope of achieving your aims of freedom and peace. Grasping at a self is the root of all delusions. Saying I, I, I all the time, is the path to unending failure and misery.
Everyone needs to accept personal responsibility for achieving freedom from suffering and this can only be achieved by taking responsibility for one’s own actions and refraining from blaming others when things don’t go our way. We are the creators of our own peace and freedom. Adopting the right motivation is the key to overcome all suffering. Cherish the happiness of others, respect the rights of others to live a happy life and do your best to stop harming others with actions of body, speech and mind. This kind of advice has a long and very well established, practiced and proven history and was not invented in the New Age. By taking on board this kind of advice, one secures for oneself the opportunity for improving ones inner happiness and experience of inner peace, contentment and sense of satisfaction. The nature of reality is what it is. Ignorance has the nature of suffering and wisdom has the nature of peace, bliss and freedom. By practicing the path of love and compassion, working for the benefit of others, one can unlock the keys to liberation and enlightenment, and close the door to the lower realms and endless suffering.
Do yourself and others a favour and abandon hatred, anger, jealousy, pride and attachment. Understand what it means when one says the self lacks inherent existence.
Playing with your apple computer won’t act as the answer to all your problems. In fact, it is highly likely that they will increase with the continual pace of development.
One must meditate in order to understand the deeper nature of reality, the fact that love and not desire brings happiness and inner contentment.
Copyright © Vanessa Anne Walsh 2011
