What are the characteristics of human life?
áá°ááááá˛á áá°á¸áťááŹá¸áá˛áˇ áááĄááŹáąááźá ááŹáąááźáá˛
How to live a worry-free life
áąááŹáááášá¸áąáḠáąááááŻáášáąáá¸
It is important for us to understand the true nature of existence so that we may be able to live in harmony with universal laws that govern all phenomena and lives. People do not live up to their full human potential. They waste their human lives in search of trivial ends. There can never be peace and happiness in this world if mankind continues to act this way. Humanity must change its way of life and develop its capacity for goodness.
áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááᏠáááŹááťáá ášá áĽášáąááźá ááášáá˝ááąááźááᯠáááášá¸ááŻáá¸áááášá¸ááşáłáášááŹá¸áá˛áˇ áąááŹááĽááąáááąááźáá˛á ááááŹááťáá ášáąáĄáŹááš áąááááŻáášááášáááš áááá˛á áĄá á ášáĄáá˝áášááąááŹááᯠááááŹá¸ááášáááŻá áĄáąáá¸ážááŽá¸ááŤááášá áá°ááŹá¸áąááźáᏠáťááášáˇááá˛áˇ áá°áá áźáášá¸ááášáá˛á áąááşáŹášááŽáąáĄáŹááš ááąáážáááŤáá°á¸á áá°áááŻááᏠáááášáĄáąáá¸áááŤáá˛áˇ ááášáá˝áášá¸ááşáášááášá¸áááŻáášáąááźááᯠáá˝áŹááášá¸áąááźááášá¸ áá°ááĄááášáąááźááᯠáĄááááĄáťáá ášááśážáááŤááášá áááášáááŻá áá°ááŹá¸áąááź ááŽááášá¸áĄáááŻáášá¸ ááášááŻáášáąááááš ááááŹáááŽá¸áá˛áá˝áŹ áżáááášá¸ááşáášá¸áááá˛á áąááşáŹášáááášááşáášá¸áąáťáááá ááášááá˝ááááŻáášáąááŹáˇááŤáá°á¸á áá°ááŹá¸áąááźáᏠáááąáááśáŻáááŻáášááśáŻááᯠáąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛áťááŽá¸ áąááŹáášá¸áťááášáá˛áˇ áá°ááĄá áźáášá¸áĄá ááᯠááźáśááťáááłá¸áąáĄáŹááš ááŻáášáąááŹáášážááááŤááášá
People are misled by ignorance. They seek to enjoy themselves by thinking since life is uncertain they may die and miss the chance of enjoyment if they do not take it while it lasts. While there is certainly nothing wrong in harmless enjoyments for a happy lay life, one should not only indulge in sensual pleasures and neglect to develop the higher qualities. Otherwise, one will depart from this world feeling unsatisfied and frustrated.
áá°áąááźááᯠáąááŹáá áá˝áášáˇá áŹá¸ááŹá¸ááŹáťáá ášááŤááášá áá°áááŻááᏠááá á ááášáááşááᲠáąáááśáŻá¸áááŻáášááŹáąážááŹáášáˇ áááášáááŻá áĄááášáá˝áášááášá áĽášáá˝áŹ áąááşáŹášáááášážááášáá°á¸áá áĄááźáášáˇáĄáąáá¸ááᯠáĄáááĄáááá°áááš ááášáááášááśáŻá¸ááśáá¸ááźáŹá¸áááŻáášááášáááŻá áąááźá¸áżááŽá¸ á ááášáá˝áááąááŹááš áĄáąááşáŹášáá˝áŹáąáážáááŹááŤá áąááşáŹášáááášááźááš áá°ááášáąážááŹáášáááá˝áŹ áĄáá˛ááŹáášááášá¸áá˛áˇ áĄáąááşáŹášáĄááŤá¸áááŻáášá áŹá¸ááááᯠáá˝áŹá¸ááźáášá¸ááášáááŻá áąáááşáŹááąáťááŹáááŻáášáąáááášáˇ áá°áá ášáąááŹáášáᏠááŹáááŻáášáĄáŹááśáŻáąááźáááŻáᲠáááŻáášá áŹá¸áťááŽá¸ áĄááášáˇáťááášáˇáá˛áˇ áá°ááĄááášáĄááşáášá¸áąááź ááźáśááżáááłá¸áááŻá¸ááášáąáá¸ááᯠáá ášááášáááŹá¸ááášáˇááŤáá°á¸á áá ášááášáááŻáášáááš áĄá˛ááŽáá°áᏠááąááşáááášáááá˝áášáˇ áĄáŹááŹááąáťáááááśá áŹá¸ááᏠááŽáąááŹááá˛ááąá ááźáášááźáŤááźáŹá¸áááŤááášá
Too many people suffer in terror at the moment of death because they still have so many unsatisfied wants and desires. They believe that there is much they had to do or undo, and even during their dying moments they are filled with regret because many of their desires are still unsatisfied. Buddhism teaches us how to maintain contentment in our daily life and overcome this fear at the moment of death. An understanding of the facts of life and worldly conditions can restrain us from pandering to our senses and maintaining superstitious beliefs. It also provides us with a clear purpose in life, without aimlessly wandering in life like the dry leaves drifting in the wind.
áá°áąááŤáášá¸ááşáŹá¸á áźáŹáᏠáąáááśáŻá¸ááŤááŽá¸áá˝áŹ áááášááášááąážááŹáášááźáśááá ááśá áŹá¸ážááááášá áĄáąážááŹáášá¸ááąááŹáˇ áĄáŹááŹááąáťááá˛áˇ áąááŹáášáˇááááąááźá áááŻáĄáášáááľáąááź ááşáŹá¸á áźáŹ áá˝ááąááąáá¸ááŹáąážááŹáášáˇáťáá ášááŤááášá áá°áááŻááá˝áŹ ááŻáášá ááŹáąááźá áááŻáášááąáá¸ááŹáąááź ááşáŹá¸á áźáŹááşáášáąááąáá¸ááášáááŻá ááśáŻážááášáąáážááťááŽá¸ áąáááŤááŽá¸ áĄááşááášáááąáĄáŹááš áááŻáĄáášáááľáąááź ááťááášáˇááŹáąážááŹáášáˇ á ááášááąááŹáášá¸ážááŽá¸á áźáŹ ááśá áŹá¸áááŹáťáá ášááŤááášá áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááá˛á áąááá áĽášáááá˝áŹ ááášá¸áááášáąááŹáášáˇáá˛ááááᯠáááášá¸áááášá¸ááášá¸áá˝áášáˇ áąáááŤááŽá¸áá˝áŹ ááśá áŹá¸áááášáˇ á ááŻá¸áááášáąážááŹáášááášáááááᯠáąááşáŹášáááŹá¸ááášá¸ ááŻááśááŹááŹá ááášá¸áŤááášáąáá¸ááŤááášá áááá˛áááášááášáá˛áˇ áĄáá˝áášáááŹá¸áá˛á áąááŹááĄáąáťááĄáąáááᯠááááŹá¸ááášáťááášá¸áᏠáĄáŹááśáŻáąááźáąážááŹáášáˇ áťáá ášáąáááá˛áˇ áááľáááŻáášá¸ááᯠáĄáááŻáťááášáˇáťááášá¸áá˝áášáˇ áĄáá°ááŽá¸áá˛áˇ ááśáŻážááášáááąááźááᯠááşáłáášááášá¸áááŻáášáąá ááŤááášá ááášá¸áᏠáąááá˛áá˝áŹ ááźáášáˇááŤáąááá˛áˇ áá ášááźáášáąáťááŹáášáąáá¸áąááźááᯠááááášááźáášááşáášááá˝á áááŻáąááŹáášáąááŹááš ááášáąááŹáášáąááŹááš ááźáŹá¸ááŹáąááťááášá¸ááşááłá¸áááŻáášáᲠáá˝áášá¸ááášá¸áá˛áˇ ááááášáá˝áášá¸ááşáášááŹá¸áá˝ááąá ááŤááášá
For our lives to have a sense of perspective, it is important to understandâ the characteristics and nature of life. One âcharacteristic of life is impermanency. No matter how perfect or strong a life, system and object may seem to be, it is not secure or free from changes.âTherefore, it cannot be completely satisfactory.â We face the danger of changes every moment of our lives. This impermanency is linked to unsatisfactoriness, which is the second characteristic of life.
áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááááá˝áŹ áĄááŹáááłáłáąááźááᯠáĄáá˝ááĄáááŻáášá¸ áťááášááášáááš áááá˛á áá°á¸áťááŹá¸áááĄááŹáá˛á ááášáááŻáášááąááŹááᯠááŹá¸ááášáááŻááĄáąáá¸ážááŽá¸ááŤááášá áááá˛á áá°á¸áťááŹá¸áá˛áˇ áááĄááŹáá ášááášááąááŹáˇ ááżáá˛áťááášá¸áťáá ášááŤááášáááášáąááŹáášáᲠáťááášáˇá áśáŻáżááŽá¸ áááŻáášááŹáá˛áˇ ááá áááśáŹáááŻááš áĄááąáąááŹáá˛á áĄááŹáááłáłáááŻá ááášáááŤáąá ááááŻáášáżáá˛ááŤáá°á¸á ááŤáá˝áááŻááš áąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛áťááášá¸ááąááŹáá˝ áááźáášáąáťááŹáášááŤáá°á¸á ááŤáąážááŹáášáˇ áááᏠáĄáťááášáˇá áĄáŹá¸ááąááşááášááźááš ááá˝ááááŻáášááŹáťáá ášááŤááášá áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááᏠáááá˛á áĄáááŻáášááášááááŻáášá¸áá˝áŹ áąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛áťááášá¸áááŻáá˛áˇ áĄáá˛ááŹáášáá˛á ááášáááŻáášáááŤááášá ááŽááżáá˛áťááášá¸ááąááŹáᏠááŻááá áááááĄááŹáťáá ášáá˛áˇ áąááşááášááźáášááá˝ááááá˛á ááášá áášáąáááŤááášá
One of the changes we have to come to terms with is an aspect which is part and parcel of life -Death. We have to learn how to face death which comes to all eventually. Every moment brings us closer to the graveyard. Birth and death are really two ends of the same string. We cannot have life without having death as well. Neither can we remove death in order to maintain perpetual life. If we can understand that life and death are part of the same process, and life carries on after death, there is really nothing to fear. Guru Nanak once said: The world is afraid of death. To me, it brings bliss.'
áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻá áĄáááŻáášáĄáááŻááš áąáááášáąáĄáŹáášáąááááášáˇ áąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛ááááąááŹáˇ ááááŹáášáááášá¸áťááášá¸áá˛á áĄááááĄááşáášáťáá ášáá˛áˇ ááááááĄááŹáťáá ášááŤááášá áá°áááŻáášá¸ááś áĄááśáŻá¸áá˝áŹ áąááŹáášáá˝áááŹáááš áąááťááášá¸áááŹá¸ááᯠááášáááŻáášááášá¸ áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻá áąááˇááŹááŹá¸áááŤááášá áĄááşááášáááŻáášá¸áᏠáá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻáááᯠááŻááŹáášáá˛á áááŻááŽá¸áąáĄáŹááš áááŻááąááŹáášáąááᏠáťáá ášááŤááášá áąááźá¸ááźáŹá¸áťááášá¸áá˛á áąáááśáŻá¸áťááášá¸áᏠážáááłá¸áá ášáąááşáŹáášá¸áá˛á áááášáˇ áĄá áźáášá¸áá˝á ášááášáťáá ášááŤááášá áąáááśáŻá¸ááááᯠááááŻááŹá¸áᲠááááᯠáááŻáášáááŻáášááźáášáˇááááŤáá°á¸á ááŹáá ááášáżáá˛áá˛áˇ ááááᯠáááášá¸áááášá¸ááŹá¸áááŻá áąááťááášá¸áááŹá¸ááᯠááášáá˝áŹá¸áááŻáááášá¸ áááááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á áááá˛á áąááťááášá¸áááŹá¸áᏠááźá˛áťááŹá¸áááá˛áˇ áááŹááťáá ášá áĽášáá˛á áĄá ááášáĄáááŻáášá¸áá ášááášáťáá ášááášáááŻááŹáá˛á áąáááśáŻá¸áżááŽá¸áąááŹááš áááá ášáá ášáááš áťááášáťáá ášááášáááŻááŹááᯠááąááŹáąááŤáášáááš á ááŻá¸áááášáąážááŹáášááášáá áᏠááŹáá˝ ááá˝áááŤáá°á¸á "áąááŹááá°ááŹá¸áąááźá áąááťááášá¸áááŹá¸ááᯠáąážááŹáášááźáśáážáááášá áá˝áźáášáŻáášááŽáááŻáąááŹáˇ áąááťááášá¸áááŹá¸á áĄááááŻá áąááŹáášáá°ááŹáąáá¸áááš" Guru Nanak áá ášááŤá áąáťááŹáá°á¸ááŤááášá
Life is not created or ready-made. It did not come into existence accidentally without causes nor did it come into being in one single moment of creation. It is the effect of a multitude of causes. This life has arisen because of causes in previous life and it will in turn create causes for further effects that will bring forth the continuation of the life process so long as craving is not eradicated from the mind. Until the appearance of the Buddha there had been no correct method for its complete eradication. There was no explanation why life's processes flow on continuously without cessation in the wheel of existence.
áááááŻáᏠááášááŽá¸ááŹá¸ááŹáááŻááš ááŤáá˝áááŻááš áĄááášáˇáťááłááŻáášááŹá¸ááŹáááŻáášááŤá ááášá¸áᏠáĄáąážááŹáášá¸ááášá¸áťááŽá¸ áĄáá˝áášááá˛áˇ áąáááąááŤáášááŹáá˛áˇáᏠáááŻáášáááᯠáá ášážááááš ááášááášá¸áááŻáášáá˛áˇ áĄáááŻáášáá˝áŹ áťáá ášááášááŹááŹááášá¸ áááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á áĄáąážááŹáášá¸áááŹá¸ááşáŹá¸á áźáŹáá˛á áĄááşááłá¸ááášáťáá ášááŤááášá ááŽáááᏠáĄáááášááá áĄáąážááŹáášá¸áááŹá¸áąááźáąážááŹáášáˇ áťáá ášáąááááŹááŹááŤá áĄáťááášáĄáá˝áášáĄáŹá¸áťááášáˇ á ááášáá˛á ááźáášááŹááááá˝áŹ áĄáťáá ášááťááášáááşáášá¸ áááťáá ášá áĽáš áĄááášááťáááš áąáááąááŤáášáąá ááášáˇ áĄááŹáááš áĄááşááłá¸ááášáá˛á áĄáąážááŹáášá¸áááŹá¸áąááźááᯠááášááŽá¸áąáááŤáááášáˇááášá áťááášááŻááś áááźáášáˇáąááááášá ááźáášááŹááááá˝áŹááᯠáĄáżááŽá¸áááŻááš áĄáťáá ášáťááášáąá ááášáˇ áá˝áášáá˝áášááášáááš ááášá¸ááášá¸ááá˝ááá˛áˇááŤáá°á¸á ááśáááŹáá ášáąááşáŹáášááśáŻá¸áá˝áŹ áááťáá ášá áĽášáąááź áááášáááŹá¸ ááášááášáąáááąááŤáášáťááášá¸áá˛á áĄáąážááŹáášá¸áááŻááášá¸ áá˝áášá¸áťáááŹá¸áᏠááá˝áááŤáá°á¸á
The human mind is constantly creating the illusion of a permanent life. But how can life be permanent if it is housed in an impermanent physical body? In fact, what we really need to be happy about is not an immortal life, but freedom from the desire for immortality. Life is in a constant state of flux: it is never static. Life is constantly subject to fluctuating worldly conditions which blow us to and fro, moment by moment. Once a person realizes the changing circumstances inherent in all forms of existence, he will be less frustrated when things do not develop the way he wishes them to be.
áá°áá ááášáᏠááŹááááášáżáá˛ááášáˇ áááááŻáá˛áˇ áĄáąááźá¸áá˝áŹá¸ááᯠáĄááášááťáááš ááášááŽá¸áąáááŤááášá ááŤáąáááášáˇ ááżáá˛áá˛áˇ áĄááášáťáááš áááŻáášáááśáŹáąáááá˝áŹ áąáááŹáá°ááŹá¸ááášáˇ áááᏠááášáááŻááášá¸áá˛á ááŹáá ááášáżáá˛áááŻáášáá˝áŹáá˛á áááášáąááŹáˇ áááá˛á ááášááášáťááŽá¸ á ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáááŻá áĄáá˝áášááááš áááŻáĄáášááŹá ááąááá˛áˇ áááááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á ááąáááášá áĄáťáá ášááᯠáąááŹáášáˇááá˛áˇ áĄáŹááŹáááľáá˝ ááźáášáąáťááŹáášáááᲠáááŻáĄáášááŹááŤá áááááŻáᏠáĄááášááťáááš áąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛áąááá˛áˇ áĄáąáťááąááá ášááášááŤá ááášá¸áᏠááášáąááŹáˇáá˝ ááášáżáááášáąááá˝áŹ áááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á ááášá¸áᏠáá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻáááᯠáąááŤáášááŻáśááąááŤáášáťáááš áĄááşáášáĄáťáááš áąááŹáášá¸áá˝áášáąááá˛áˇ áááášáżáááášááášáˇ áąááŹááĄáąáťááĄáąááąááźááᯠáĄáżáᲠááŹááśáąááááŹááŤá áá°áá ášáąááŹáášáᏠáá˝ááąááá˛áˇ áĄááŹáĄáŹá¸ááśáŻá¸áá˛á ááášáááŻáášáááŹá áąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛áąááá˛áˇ áĄáąáťááĄáąááąááźááᯠááąááŹáąááŤáášáááš áĄááŹáᏠáááŻáášáťáá ášáąá ááşáášáá˛áˇ ááášá¸áĄáááŻáášá¸ ááťáá ášááŹáá˛áˇáĄá፠áááşáášáˇááá˛ááśá áŹá¸ááá ááášááŹááŤááášá
Many people believe that there is an eternal substance in the human life that remains forever. In the Buddha's teaching, anatta or non-substantiality is the third characteristic of life. Everything is subject to the universal law of impermanence. Therefore, Buddhism does not accommodate the belief in a permanent and indissoluble soul. The belief in a permanent soul is similar to the belief of the 'indivisible' unbreakable atom which was maintained since the time of Plato up to the 20th century. But the atom was split finally. Like the concept of the so-called indivisible atom, the belief in a permanent soul is imaginary without a concrete basis.
áá°áĄááşáŹá¸áťááŹá¸áᏠáá°ááááá˝áŹ ááŹááááášááśáˇáąáááášáˇ áĄááśáŻá¸áĄá ááá˝ááá˛áˇáĄáᏠáá˝áááášáááŻá ááśáŻážááášážáááŤááášá áťááášááŻááśáąááŹážááŹá¸áąááŹášáá°áá˛áˇ áááŹá¸áąááŹášáá˝áŹ áĄáááą áááŻááááŻááš áĄáá˝á ášááŹáááá˝ááááᏠáááá áááááĄááŹáťáá ášááŤááášá áĄááŹáĄáŹá¸ááśáŻá¸áᏠááżáá˛áá˛áˇ áąááŹááĽááąááááᯠááŹááśáááŹááŤááášá ááŤáąážááŹáášáˇ ááŻááśááŹááŹá áżáá˛ááášá ááŹáááááşáášá áŽá¸áá°á¸áááŻáá˛áˇ ááááŹáĽášáĄáąáá ááśáŻážááášááááᯠááášáˇááźáášá¸á áĽášá¸á áŹá¸áťááášá¸ ááťááłááŹáťáá ášááŤááášá ááŹáááżáá˛ááášáááŻáá˛áˇ ááááŹáĽášáĄáąáá ááśáŻážááášáááᏠPlato áąááášááąá áá˝á ášááášááŹá áŻáĄáá ááśáá°ááŹá¸áá˛áˇ ááźá˛áťááŹá¸áááááŻáášááášáˇ áĄáášááášáĄáąáá ááśáŻážááášáááá˛á áĄááŹá¸áá°ááŤááášá áąááŹáášááśáŻá¸áąááŹáˇ áĄáášááášááᯠááźá˛áááŻáááá˛áˇááŹááŤáá˛á ááźá˛áťááŹá¸áááááŻáášááášáˇ áĄáášááášáááŻááąáááá˛áˇ áĄáá°áĄááááŻááŤáᲠááŹáááżáá˛ááášáááŻáá˛áˇ ááááŹáĽášáĄáąáá ááśáŻážááášááááŹááášá¸ áááŻáášááśáŻááášáˇ áĄáąáťáááś áĄáąážááŹáášá¸ááášá¸ááá˝ááá˛áˇ á ááášáá°á¸ááášááášááŹáťáá ášááŤááášá
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