Lesson 1

The Mystery of
Living
The Mystery of Living
What do we all have in common?
No guarantee against failure and
disappointment.
• one day we have gain, fame,
praises and happiness
• the next day comes loss, defame,
blame and pain
The Mystery of Living
1. Can we find true security in the world?
We expect to find happiness through:

• Family and friends

e nt
• Business a n
m
er ese
p
f i nd h th
• Money w e ou g
c an t h r
t s
Bu pines
• Entertainment ha p
s N
? o ! !
ea n
• Beauty & youth m
The Mystery of Living
2. Where do we learn to solve our sorrows?
No school teaches us how to face these
problems.
t h e
Physical ailments associated e t o
c ur s
with success/failure: d a w a
f ou n
. He s
h a m s l em s,
• Peptic ulcers d l
ud prob t pro tion
e b
B a
The ersal abou frustr of
• High blood pressure univ rned our lings
n c e … f e e
c o u s n d
• Alcholism i n g s a
fac ering ess.
u f f s sn
• Hypertension s e l e
ho p
• Insomnia, etc, etc
The Mystery of Living
3. What did the Buddha find?
He discovered the following during the
night of His Enlightenment:
• Ignorance causes suffering

• Everything is impermanent

• Strong ego - “I”, “me” and “mine”

• Strong attachment
The Mystery of Living

Does man realise

that in reality
nothing belongs to
him? When he
dies, everything
will be passed to
others.
The Mystery of Living
4. Where do we find happiness?
Do we need to renounce all
material wealth to find
happiness?
Is there absolutely no happiness
in material possessions?

No, ownership and wealth are important

conditions for a good life, but in themselves,
there is no permanent happiness.
The Mystery of Living

Where then do we find true peace and

happiness?

Look within your ownself!!!

And the Buddha has
taught us a straight,
clear path how to
attain perfect peace.
The Mystery of Living
4. Where do we find happiness?

Addressing some monks the Buddha said:

Just as the mighty ocean is

of one flavour, the flavour
of salt, even so, this
Dhamma is of one flavour,
the flavour of Deliverance.
- Mahaparinibbana Sutta
The gift of Dhamma excels all gifts
the taste of Dhamma excels all taste,
the delight in dhamma excels all delights,
The Craving-Freed vanquishes all suffering.
- Dhammapada verse 354

End of Lesson 1