How to live a worry-free life
áąááŹáááášá¸áąáḠáąááááŻáášáąáá¸
Happiness belongs to your internal world
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ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáááᏠááášáˇáá˝ááśáŻá¸áĄááášááááŹáá˛áá˝áŹáᏠááášáá˝áááŤáááš"
It is true that we have to face some problems throughout our lives and there is no way to avoid them. We cannot avoid old age, disease, and death, for example. However, some problems are man-made, created by people according to their worldly understanding of life. Some problems are mind- made resulting from delusion, ignorance, suspicions and fear.
áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááᏠáááá ášáąááşáŹáášááśáŻá¸ áťááááŹáĄááşááłááá˛á ááášáááŻáášáááášáááŻááŹáá˛á áááŻáťááááŹáąááźááᯠáąáá˝áŹáášáááŻáášáá˛áˇ ááášá¸ááášá¸ááá˝ááá°á¸áááŻááŹáᏠáĄáá˝áášááŤáá˛á áĽáááŹáĄáŹá¸áťááášáˇ áĄááŻááá ááŹááá áąááááąááźááᯠáá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻá ááąáá˝áŹáášáá˝áŹá¸áááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á ááŤáąáááášáˇ áťááááŹáĄááşááłááᏠáąááŹááŽáááĄáąáá áá°ááŹá¸áąááź ááááŹá¸ááášáááá˛ááĄáᎠááášááŽá¸áááŻáášáá˛áˇ áá°áąážááŹáášáˇáťáá ášáá˛áˇ áťááááŹáąááźááŤá áĄááşááłáááąááŹáˇ áá˝áášáˇá áŹá¸ááśááťááášá¸á áááááŹá¸áááášáťááášá¸á ááźáááťáá ášáťááášá¸á á ááŻá¸áááášáąážááŹáášááźáśááťááášá¸áąááźáá˛á áĄááşááłá¸ááášáťáá ášáá˛áˇ á ááášáąážááŹáášáˇ áąáááąááŤáášááŹááŹáąááź áťáá ášááŤááášá
Mental imbalances, which we regard as madness, is another big problem. By violating an ethical way of life man disturbs his own peace and happiness and that of others. Then by allowing internal and external stimuli to affect the mind, more unsatisfactoriness, misery, excitement, fear and insecurity are created.
áá°á¸ááźáášáťááášá¸áááŻá áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááąáááá˛áˇ á ááášáá˛áá˝áŹ áá ášááášáąá áŹáášá¸ááášá¸áťáá ášáááąááźáᏠáĄáťááŹá¸ážááŽá¸ááŹá¸áá˛áˇ áťááááŹáťáá ášááŤááášá áá°áᏠáááá˝áŹáá˝áááášáˇáá˛áˇ áááŻáášááşáášáˇááááĄáŹáááŻáášáᏠáĄááşáášáˇá áááŻáášááᯠááşáłáá¸áąááŹáášáťááášá¸áťááášáˇ áááŻáášáááŻáášáá˛áá ááášáąááťáááášá¸ááşáášá¸ááá á ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáááąááź áĄáąáá˝áŹáášáˇáá˝áášáťáá ášááá˛áˇáĄáťáááš áĄáťááŹá¸áá°áąááźáá˛á á ááášáąááťáááášá¸ááşáášá¸áá á ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáááąááźáááŻá፠áĄáąáá˝áŹáášáˇáá˝áášáąáá¸ááŤááášá ááŽáˇáąááŹááš á ááášááᯠáááááŻáášáąá áá˛áˇ áááŻáášáááśáŹáĄááźáášá¸ áĄáťááášá áááśááąááŹášáąáá¸ááášáˇ áĄááŹáąááźááᯠááźáášáˇáťááłáťááášá¸áťááášáˇ áááŻáááŻááşáŹá¸áťááŹá¸áá˛áˇ ááąááşááášááá á ááášááşáášááá á ááášáááášáá˝áŹá¸ááá á ááŻá¸áááášááá áááááááŻáášáááá áĄááśáŻážááášááášá¸áááąááźááᯠááášááŽá¸ááŤááášá
The world is full of disappointment. Things do not happen as we wish them to so we must train ourselves to face any situation with fortitude. We may not be able to change them but certainly we can change ourselves. If a thing is unalterable then there is no alternative but to submit to it or maintain a happy sense of resignation at the inevitable. But this is not fatalistic.
ááááŹážááŽá¸áᏠá ááášááşáášá ááŹáąááźáá˛á áťááášáˇáąáááŹááŤá áĄááŹááŹáᏠáá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻá ááąááŹáááľáĄáááŻáášá¸ ááťáá ášááŤáá°á¸á ááŤáąážááŹáášáˇ ááášáááŻáĄáąáťááąááááŻáááᯠááźá˛áá˝ááá˝ááá˛á ááášáááŻáášáááŻáášáąáĄáŹááš áąááˇááşáášáˇááŹá¸áááŤááášá áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻá áááŻáĄááŹáąááźááᯠáąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛áááŻáášá áźáášá¸ áá˝áááşáášáá˝ áá˝áááŤááášá ááŤáąáááášáˇ áááŻáášáˇáááŻáášáááŻáąááŹáˇ áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛áááŻáášáᏠáąáááşáŹááŤááášá áááášáááŻá áá ášááŻááŻáᏠáąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛áááŻá áááááŻáášáááš áąááźá¸ááşáášá ááŹááá˝áááŤáá°á¸á áĄááśáˇááśáááŻáášááśáŻáá˛áá˝áááŤááášá ááŤáááŻáášááášááášá¸ áťáá ášááášáąááŹááąááŹááᯠááááášááá˝áášááášá¸ááśáťááášá¸áááŻáá˛áˇ ááŽáąááşáŹášááášáˇ ááŹá¸ááášááśá áŹá¸ááááᯠááśáá°áááŤááášá ááŤáᏠááśá áŽááśááŹááᯠááášááśááŹááşááłá¸ áááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á
We accept unsatisfactory experiences because we understand the nature of life, that things cannot always work in our favour. This creates serenity in our minds. This does not mean that we should simply bow to all the adversities that come our way. As long as there is a chance that we can change a situation in our favour let us try; but when common sense tells us that we are up against something that is the way it is, and cannot be otherwise, then let us not be worried about it.
áąááşááášááźáášááąááŹáášá¸áá˛áˇ áĄáąááźááĄážááśáłáąááźááᯠáá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻá ááášááśáááŤááášá áĄáąážááŹáášá¸ááąááŹáˇ ááá áťáá ášááášáá˛áˇááąááŹáá˛á áĄááŹááŹáᏠáááŻáášáˇááášáááŻáášáťááŽá¸ áááŻáášáąááŹáášáąáá¸áááŻáášáá°á¸áááŻáá˛áˇ ááąááŹááᯠáá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻá áááąáááŹáąážááŹáášáˇááŤá ááŤáᏠáááááŽá¸áá˝áŹ áąááźáážááśáłááá˛áˇ áĄááášáĄáá˛áĄáŹá¸ááśáŻá¸ááᯠááźáášááźáášáá˛á áĄáąáá˝áşáŹáˇáąáá¸ááášáˇááášáááŻá áááŻáááŻááŹáááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á áĄáąáťááąááá ášáááš áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááááš áąáťááŹáášá¸ááŹáąáĄáŹááš ááŻáášáąááŹáášáááŻáášáá˛áˇ áĄááźáášáˇáĄáąáḠáá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááá˝áŹ áá˝ááąáááá˝áş ážáááłá¸á áŹá¸áááŤááášá ááŤáąáááášáˇ áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááᏠáá°áááąááŹáĄáááŻáášá¸áťáá ášáąááá˛áˇ áťááááŹáá ášááŻááŻáá˛á ááášááŻááášáąááááášá áĄáťááŹá¸áąááźá¸ááşáášá áᏠááášá¸ááášá¸ááá˝ááá°á¸áááŻá áááąáá¸áĄááá áąáťááŹááŹáťááŽáááŻáááš áĄá˛ááŽáĄááźááš á ááášáąááŹáááąááŹáášáááŻááááŻááŤááášá
A modern poet puts it very nicely when he says:-
For every ailment under the sun,
There is a remedy, or there is none;
If there be one, try to find it,
If there be none, never mind it.'
áąááášáá
ášáááşáŹáááŹáá
ášáąááŹáášá áá°ááááşáŹáá˛áá˝áŹ ááŽááąááŹááᯠáááŻáášáááŻáášáááŻáášáááŻááš ááášáˇáąáá¸ááŹá¸ááŤááášá
ááááŹážááŽá¸áá˛áá˝áŹ áĄááááááşáŹá¸ááŹáááĄááźááš
ááŻáá
ááŹáąáá¸áá˝ááááŹá¸á ááá˝ááá°á¸ááŹá¸á
áá˝áááášáááŻáááš ážáááłá¸á
áŹá¸ááŽá¸ááąáĄáŹáášáá˝áŹááŤá
ááá˝ááá°á¸áááŻáááš áĄá˛ááŽáĄááźááš á
ááášáá°ááąááá˛áá
Thereâ are many who keep their balance when everythingâ goes well. But when disappointments come, business failure, sickness, death in the family, they lose their balance. They become depressed or elated.â The wise man controls his own reactions in moments of success. This does not mean that we should be gloomy fellows who do not laugh or smile. Far from it. When control has been acquired in times of success, it becomes possible to exercise it in times of distress as well.
áĄá á áĄááŹáᏠáĄáąáťááąááąááŹáášá¸áąááá˛áˇáĄá፠á ááášááášáťáááášááááᯠáááášá¸áááŻáášáá°áąááź ááşáŹá¸á áźáŹáá˝áááŤááášá ááŤáąáááášáˇ á ááášáááááŻáášá ááŹáąááź áąááááŹáá˛áˇáĄááŤá á áŽá¸ááźáŹá¸áąáá¸ááŻáášááŻáášááŹáá˛áˇáĄááŤá áąááááŻáášááąááŹáášá¸áťáá ášáá˛áˇáĄááŤá ááááŹá¸á áŻááášáá ášáĽáŽá¸ ááźáášááźáášáá˛áˇáĄááŤáá˝áŹáááŻááášáąááŹáˇ áá°áááŻááá˛á á ááášááášáťáááášáááᏠááşáášáťááŹá¸ááźáŹá¸áťááŽá¸ á ááášáááşáášá¸ááᏠááśá áŹá¸ááᏠááŤáá˝áááŻááš áááášáááŻáášááŹáąááź áťáá ášááźáŹá¸ááŤááášá áááŹááŹáášáá˝ááá°ááąááŹáˇ áąáĄáŹáášáťááášááááá˛áˇ ááŹááąááźáá˝áŹ áááášá¸áááášá¸áááášá¸áááášá¸ ááŻáášááťááášááŤááášá ááŤáᏠááááš ááťááśáłá¸áá˛á ááŻáášáááášáąáááášáˇááášáááŻá áááŻáááŻááŹáááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á áĄá˛ááŽáááá¸áŤáášáá˛á áá ášáťááŹá¸á áŽááŤá áąáĄáŹáášáťááášáá˛áˇáĄáááŻáášáá˝áŹ á ááášááᯠáááášá¸ááşáłáášáááŻáášáááᯠá ááášáąááŹááąááŹáášááşááášáá˝áŹááášá¸ á ááášááᯠáąááˇááşáášáˇáąáá¸áááŻá áťáá ášáááŻáášáąááşáá˝áááŤááášá
In times of distress one must bear in mind that he is not the only person involved. There are many others who face similar problems. It may even be that one's troubles are nothing when compared to those of others. The fact that others are in the same position as one is may not solve problems, but one can gain a sense of relief from the fellowship in adversity. There cannot be true happiness in a changing world. We have only to look around to be convinced of this truth.
á ááášáąááŹááąááŹáášááşááášáá˝áŹáááŻáááš ááŽáááŻááśá áŹá¸ááᏠáááŻáášáá ášáąááŹáášááášá¸áááŻáášá áĄááŹá¸áá° áťááááŹááşááłá¸áąááźáá˛á ááášáááŻáášáąáááá°áąááź ááŻáá˛ááąáá¸áá˝áááášáááŻáťááŽá¸ ááášá¸ááśáááŤááášá áĄáťááŹá¸áá°áąááź ááášáááŻáášááá˛áˇ áťááááŹáąááźáá˛á ááááášá¸áá˝áĽášážááášáˇáááš áá°áá ášáąááŹáášáá˛ááťááááŹá ááŹáá˝ áááŻááá°á¸ááŤáá°á¸á áá°áá ášáąááŹáášá áá°ááťááááŹáąááźááᯠááąáťááá˝áášá¸áááŻáášáááᯠáĄáťááŹá¸áá°áąááźááášá¸ áĄááŹá¸áá° áĄáąáááŹá¸ááŤáá˛á ááŤáąáááášáˇ áá°áᏠááášá¸áá˛ááŻááĄáá˛á áąááŹáášá¸ááášá¸áĄáťáá ášááąááᲠá ááášááášááŹáá˛áˇ ááśá áŹá¸ááááᯠááąáĄáŹáášááŻáášáááŻáášááŤááášá áąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛áąááá˛áˇ ááááŹážááŽá¸áá˛áá˝áŹ áĄá á ášáĄáá˝ááš á ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáááááŻáᏠááá˝ááááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á ááŽáĄáá˝áášáááŹá¸ááᯠááášááśááśáŻážááášáááŻáášáąáĄáŹááš áĄááŽá¸ááášá¸ááşáášááᯠážááášáˇááááášáááŻááᲠáááŻááŤááášá
Which is the home that has not mourned the death of a near and dear one?
Is there any person who is free from old age and sickness? There may be some at this moment who are free from any great trouble of both mind and body. But very soon the law of impermanence will lay its cruel hands on them. And then all youth will end in old age, all health in sickness, all strength in impotence, all beauty in ugliness, and all life in death. Nothing can stop this - not even regal power, knowledge or wealth.
ááşá ášááášáá° ááááŹá¸á áŻáąááźáá˛á áąáááźá˛ááźá˛ááá˛áˇáĄáąáá ááášá¸ááášá¸ áá°áąááźá¸áááááśá áŹá¸áááášáˇ áĄááášáááŻáᏠáá˝áááŤáááŹá¸á áĄááŻáá ááŹááá ááźáášáá˛áˇáá°áááŻáᏠáá˝áááŤáááŹá¸á áĄáťááášá¸áĄáááš á ááášááášá¸áá˛áťááášá¸á áááŻáášááášá¸áá˛áťááášá¸ ááŻááĄááąá áá ášááᤠááźáášáąáťááŹáášáá°áĄááşááłáąááŹáˇ áá˝ááááŻáášááŤááášá ááŤáąáááášáˇ áážááŹááášáá˝áŹáᲠáĄááá áĽááąááŹá áá°áá˛á ááášá áášáá˝áá˛áˇ áááŻáášáááŻáášáá˝áźáášá¸ááşáášááášáˇ á áŽááśááášááá˛áźááááᯠáááŻáá°áąááźááś áťááášááąáá¸ááŤáááášáˇááášá ááŽáĄááŤáá˝áŹáąááŹáˇ ááŻááşááłáááĄáŹá¸ááśáŻá¸áᏠáĄááŻááášáˇááášáˇáąááŹášáááá˝áŹ áĄááśáŻá¸ááášááŤááášá ááşáášá¸ááŹáááĄáŹá¸ááśáŻá¸áᏠááŹáááşáášá¸áťáá ášáááá˝áŹ áĄááśáŻá¸ááášááŤááášá áĄáŹá¸áĄáášáťááášáˇáťáááłá¸áááĄáŹá¸ááśáŻá¸áᏠáááášáá áźáášá¸áťáá ášáááá˝áŹ áĄááśáŻá¸ááášááŤááášá ááŻáášááášá¸áá˝ááááĄáŹá¸ááśáŻá¸áᏠáĄážááášá¸ááášááŻáášáááŻá¸áááá˝áŹ áĄááśáŻá¸ááášááŤááášá áá˝áášááášáąááá˛áˇ áĄááášáĄáŹá¸ááśáŻá¸áᏠáąáááśáŻá¸áááá˝áŹ áĄááśáŻá¸ááášááŤááášá ááŽááąááŹááᯠááŹááá˝ áááŹá¸áťáá ášáááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á ááŻááášáˇáĄáŹááŹáá˛áááášá¸ ááŹá¸ááááŤáá°á¸á ážááŽá¸ááŹá¸áá˛áˇ ááŹáášáááŹáá˛á ááŤáá˝áááŻááš ááşáŹá¸áťááŹá¸áá˛áˇ áĽá áĽáŹáááąááźáá˛áááášá¸ áááŹááźáášáááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á
What then should be our attitude to this changing world? Weeping is in vain. That will make matters worse. Understanding the true nature of the world let us face life bravely. Let us remember the advice given by the Buddha to Nakulapita. Nakulapita, in his old age, broken down and sick, visits the Buddha, and the Buddha tells him, 'Though sick of body, mind shall be healthy. Thus should you train yourself Happiness is a state of the mind.'
It is not what happens but our reactions to what happens that determines our degree of happiness or misery.
ááŽáááŻááᯠáąáťááŹáášá¸áá˛áąááá˛áˇ ááááŹážááŽá¸áĄáąáááá˝áŹ áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻá ááąááŹááŹá¸á ááášáááŻáťáá ášááášáˇááŤááá˛á áááŻáąááááŻáááąááŹáˇ áĄááşáášá¸áá˝áŽá¸ááŤáá˛á áááŻáąážááźá¸áťááášá¸áᏠáĄáąáťááĄáąááąááźááᯠáááŻáááŻá¸áąá ááŤáááášáˇááášá áąááŹááá˛á áĄá á ášáĄáá˝áášáááŹáááᯠááŹá¸ááášááąááŹáąááŤáášáťááášá¸áťááášáˇ ááááᯠáá˛áá˛ááášáˇááášáˇ ááášáááŻáášážáááŤá ááŻáá áťááášááŻááśá áááŻáááááŹáĄáŹá¸ áĄážááśáťááłááášá¸áááášááŹá¸ááŹááᯠááááážáááŤá ááŻáá áĄááŻááášá¸áťááŽá¸ áĄááŻááŹááşáłáá¸ááášá¸áťáá ášáᏠááşáŹá¸ááŹáąááá˛áˇ áááŻáááááŹáᏠáťááášááŻááśááś ááşáĽášá¸ááášááŤááášá áťááášááŻááśá "áááŻáášáááśáŹáá˛á á ááášá ááşáŹá¸ááŹáąááąáááášáˇ áťááášááášáąááááášá á¤áááŻá á ááášáĄáąáťááąááá ášááášáťáá ášáá˛áˇ á ááášááşáášá¸ááŹááááᯠáąááˇááşáášáˇáá°ááášáˇááášá ááŤáᏠá ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáá ááŤáá˝áááŻááš á ááášááášá¸áá˛áá áťáá ášáąáááá˛áˇáĄááŹááᯠáąááˇááşáášáˇáá°ááᏠáááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á á ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáá ááŤáá˝áááŻááš á ááášááášá¸áá˛áá áĄáááŻáášá¸áĄááŹááᯠáĄááśáŻá¸áĄáťááášáąáá¸áá˛áˇáĄááŹáąáá áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááá˛á ááŻáášááťááášááśáŻáąááźááᯠáąááˇááşáášáˇáá°áááŹáťáá ášááŤááášá
Circumstances have the power to disrupt our peace of mind only as we let them. Events are things of the external world. Happiness belongs to the internal world.
áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻáá ááášááśááźáášáˇáťááłáá˝áᏠáá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻáá ááášáá˛á ááášáťáááášáąáĄá¸ááşáášá¸ááááᯠáĄáąáá˝áŹáášáˇáá˝áášáąáá¸áááŻáášáá˛áˇ á áźáášá¸áĄáŹá¸áĄáąáťááąááąááź áťáá ášáąááááŹá፠á áĄáťáá ášáĄááşáášáąááźáááŻáᏠáĄáťááášáąááŹáááŹáá˛áˇ áĄááŹáąááźáťáá ášááŤááášá á ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáááᏠáááááá˛á áá˝ááśáŻá¸áĄááášááááŹáá˛áá˝áŹáᏠááášáá˝áááŤááášá
It is easy enough to be pleasant
When life flows along like singing a song;
But the man worthwhile,
Is the man who can smile
When life goes dead wrong.
áááááŽá¸á ááŽááşáášá¸áááŻáááᯠáĄááášáąááşáŹáąáááşááášáá˝áŹ
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