- Problem is an opportunity for learning and self-development, therefore have patience, face it, and overcome it
- Happiness is in the heart, look within and discover it

OM MANI PADME HUM

This is going to be an energetic year for you and much is to be done in terms of developing Dharma understanding and then imparting it to others as well as you can! Do not worry too much about what this year is going to be. Do not allow difficulties to be obstacles to your spiritual progress. How this year is going to be will depend solely in your own ripening karma so that if you will continue to live as best as you can, as righteously as you can, there is nothing much to worry about. It is better to spend your time learning how to refrain from accumulating bad causes by controlling your own inherent weaknesses. Everyone can make his life positive and meaningful, even in the worst of times. It’s all a matter of mental attitude so all free time should be indulged in spiritual activities that lead to making each day wonderful.

What the future shall be troubles mainly those who are enveloped by ignorance and are living by the effects of the environment. The future is not as important as the day which is before them! Living in fear of the future is stupidity. It brings about unnecessary worries and despondency which in turn will cause the maturation of karmic seeds which have negative energy. Therefore one is always the cause of one’s own manifold problems and sufferings, by the way he thinks or acts! Discard then, all fearful and negative thoughts and bring forth a cheerful and positive mind to live the day with hope and determination and making it as bright as possible! With such an attitude towards life one lives each day beneficially and wisely. This is preventing the arising of a gloomy outlook towards life. Those who spend their precious time worrying what the future is going to be, have missed the point and purpose of living. Not being able to take care of the present, how can they ever take care of the future. No wonder they are worry-filled and confused. Such people cause others to be dissatisfied with life as well, they are harmful ones!

Whenever there is a problem, face it and learn to overcome it. Running away from it will not solve it at all! You will no doubt encounter quite a few in the course of the next few months. This is because they have not had opportunities to learn to face life’s difficulties and because of the current state of affairs that are being experienced lately, many who have not encountered such difficulties before, will find the pains hard to bear. This year, then offers you the opportunity to solve your problems with those who are wishing to solve their own! The process of learning is slow, will always be so! That is why patience must be practised. It is difficult to be where you are. Have to learn and then to teach. This is the best way of learning. It is filled with responsibilities and you are compelled to spend all your time fruitfully. It has to be so. You have a few years more to prepare yourself for the task ahead and also to meet those who will come prepared with knowledge!

Everyone has to learn from the pains of life otherwise they will not be able to understand the truths of life! It is the way to point them to the road of knowledge, to appreciate the Buddhadharma and then to learn to practise it. So pains are also a great boon towards helping beings to develop themselves. Many who are suffering and have suffered are searching for someone to give them the right information on how to understand the pains and problems of life. They shall be glad to hear and they will listen carefully because they are tired of suffering. Some shall find their way to you and therefore it is your duty to know enough to guide and to inspire them to this Path of Knowledge and Wisdom.

Many are ever searching for ‘happier’ conditions and environments and so the thought to migrate to another country where opportunities are better. Such kinds of thoughts often lead to a new set of pains and unhappiness and more sufferings may arise when the decision has proved to be wrong. Instead of spending time working up all kinds of emotions and causing loss of sleep and life-energy, why not spend time to think deeper and realise what happiness is really about?

In any case there can be no real lasting happiness in any country and even when one has found some happiness, one becomes more attached to life and unhappiness arises again, for life must come to an end and there is no place on earth where peace can be felt except within the heart! If there were lasting happiness to be found on the face of the earth, why is there the need to renounce samsaric life! Happiness is in the heart. Look within and discover it. Yearning for it, one misses it and seeking for it here and there will only lead to greater dissatisfaction and also losing the direction of life. With the arising of positive karma, anywhere in the world is wonderful so learn to develop the mind and act to bring about such good karma. Remember, the Bodhisattva chooses to be where suffering beings are, they have a point there!

Monday, 26th January 1987 (12th Moon 27th Day)