“….If we still take on worldly responsibilities, such as working for our livelihood, the mind will have to think about matters related to work and will have to solve those problems all the time, so there isn’t any time to stop the proliferation of thought. If we cannot stop the proliferation of thought, we will not be able to calm our mind. Without a calm mind, we will not be able to obtain a much greater happiness. Without peace and happiness within, we will have to depend on the happiness that comes from things money can buy.
However, such happiness is harmful because it is only temporary, and must be constantly maintained and ‘topped-up’. No matter how much you fill your life with pleasures, it can never be full enough. When the time comes when we are not able to fill it up, we will end up sad, lonely, neglected, and generally unhappy.
These are matters that we should be concerned about because they are the way that the Buddha taught to us to build our own true happiness, a happiness that is much better than the everyday type, a happiness that lies within our mind. But we have to find the time to build it up.
Whenever possible we should stay away from sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile sensations, and all activities and responsibilities, so as to be able to control our thinking and allow our mind to be calm and stable. For instance, we can use ‘Buddho’. If we keep up the parikamma, ‘Buddho,’ continuously, we will not be able to think about anything else, because the mind can only think of one thing at a time.
If our thinking stays with ‘Buddho’, then our mind will not be able to think about other things, about this or that person. Thus our various emotions calm down, and all of our various thoughts will gradually decrease until finally the mind becomes calm. This is how to build up the happiness that replaces the type of happiness that comes from using the body. Having obtained happiness that does not need to use the body, we will be able to let go of the body.
We will not have any issue with old age, sickness, or death, because we do not need to use the body. This is like if we don’t need to use a car, then we don’t need to be concerned about maintaining it or buying a new car if it breaks down.
We don’t even need to leave the house to seek happiness since we have a better and greater happiness right inside our own home. Why would we want to seek an outer happiness that is inferior? So there is no need for us to use a car to go various places, so having a car loses its significance….”
By Ajaan Suchart Abhijāto
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