We have been born in to this world as humans. Within this short period of time, you may have many hopes, expectations & goals in your lives regarding education, job, marriage, family, children, etc. Have you ever been able to fulfill all of them as you wish or do you come across any obstacles or difficulties in reaching them?

Definitely all of you may have experienced so many unexpected situations or incidents when fulfilling your hopes. It may have changed your life in a different way. When people meet with such problems, most of them say, “It is better to die than live”, “I’m fed up with all these things”, “When these problems will come to an end?”, Why all these happen to me?”. Some might think “When I finish my education, when I get a job, when I get married, or when I have children these problems will be over”. But a life without problems is unobtainable. Therefore when people can’t bear up their day today problems they commit suicide, weep & lament or engage in misconducts such as killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech or taking liquor. None of these things help you to solve your problems.

The type of the problem may differ from one person to another. But…… Do you know there is a common problem in our lives that cannot be solved with education, money or beauty? All of us have been roaming & wandering through a very long journey called ‘samsara’. Some of you might think this is the first time that you have been born in the human world. That’s not the truth. We have been born in human world, heavenly world, as well as in hell, ghost world & animal world within this samsara. We have shed tears more than the amount of the water in the four great oceans in this samsara. The person who is wandering through this samsara has to be reborn again & again. The one, who has been born, definitely has to face aging, illness & death. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, educated or not, beautiful or ugly, you have to face this reality. Already you must be suffering from these things. But you can’t escape….

Who revealed this ultimate truth to the world? The most compassionate person in this world, who has eradicated all the defilements & became an arahant without the help of a teacher, the knower of every world, and the teacher of the humans & devas….The supreme Buddha.The blessed one realized the four noble truths existing in this world. The suffering (Birth, aging, illness, death, union with what is displeasing, separation from what is pleasing), the origin of suffering (craving), the cessation of suffering (Nibbana) & the path leading to the cessation of suffering (The noble eight fold path).

Even if you have many loved ones, your parents, brothers & sisters, husband/wife, children & relations, they can’t avoid you or you can’t avoid them from aging, illness & death. That’s why the blessed one has proclaimed when the son is growing old, the mother can’t fulfill her wish: “let me grow old, but may my son not grow old.”when the mother is growing old, the son can’t fulfill his wish:”let me grow old, but may my mother not grow old”. When the son/mother has fallen ill, they can’t fulfill their wish:” let me fall ill, but may my son/mother not fall ill”. When the son/mother is dying , they can’t fulfill their wish:”Let me die, but may my son/mother not die”. Therefore according to the supreme buddha’s teachings, there are 5 situations that are unobtainable by an ascetic or a brahmin, by a deva, Mara, Brahma or by anyone in the world. 1.May what is subject to old age not grow old! 2. May what is subject to illness not fall ill !. 3. May what is subject to death not die ! 4.May what is subject to destruction not be destroyed ! 5. May what is subject to loss not be lost!. This is the reality in our lives….the real problem in our lives.So if you cry, lament or weep, beating your breast as much as you can, you’ll never find the solution. Then where is it?
This human life is very rear & precious. It has become much worthy, since we have been born as humans in a time, in which a supreme buddha’s dispensation still exists. A supreme Buddha arises in this world to show the path to get rid from this dangerous samsara.At the moment even if we can’t see our great teacher Gautama supreme Buddha alive, the pure noble dhamma that has been proclaimed by the blessed one still exists. Therefore if a person listens to this dhamma, retain in mind, recite verbally, investigate with mind & penetrate by view, then definitely he would be able to escape from this samsara & avoid aging, illness & death forever. This is the only protection for us.

You may have collected many things in your lives, money, buildings, vehicles, land & properties, etc…Not only that but also you might have parents, relations, husbands, wives, children who love & care about you very much. But ….you have to leave all these things when you die. Then if you haven’t listened to the dhamma & lead a good life according to the dhamma, what would be the result? Your next life will be in hell, ghost world or animal world, where you’ll have to suffer with unlimited pains.The supreme Buddha has stated if a person once has been born in these bad destination, it is really difficult to be born in a good destination again.

Already you might have heap of problems & difficulties regarding your education, job or regarding your parents, husband, wife or children. You might think you are the one who suffer most & the only solution is to commit suicide, weep or engage in misconducts by body, speech & mind. That’s not the truth. You are very fortunate to gain a rare human life & you are even more fortunate to go for refuge to the noble triple gem, Buddha, dhamma & sangha.The one who has been reborn in hell, ghost world or animal world never get a chance to understand this dhamma. So if you have an unshakable confidence in noble triple gem, if you are virtuous, have a good knowledge in dhamma, practice generosity & investigate your life with wisdom, then you’ll be able to be born in a good destination. This Noble dhamma is well expounded by the blessed one, directly visible, immediate, you can invite anyone to come & see this dhamma, it is applicable & to be personally experienced by the wise.

Then it’s up to you. As a noble disciple of the supreme Buddha if you lead a righteous life, use your wisdom & investigate the reality of life according to the dhamma, definitely you would be able to follow the path leading to the nibbana, the end of all these sufferings. May you be able to understand the noble dhamma & experience the supreme bliss of nibbana in Gautama Buddha’s dispensation!.

MAHAMEGHA 2015  Esala Issue
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Mahamevnawa Anagarika Monastery