All
our lives since we were born we keep on relying on our senses to
analyze and interact with the outer world. The six senses skin,
eye-sight, smell, taste, sound and intellect. If these things
determine reality then reality is nothing but a combination of
electric signals sent up to our brains through the nerves. If thats
not reality then what is reality? What is the true meaning of
existence? What is the cause of suffering and what is the cure? Does
god exist? What is the truth? What is the purpose of life? What is
its meaning? I ventured to find out..
Nearly twenty five
hundred years ago a prince named Siddhartha Gautam, from Kapilbastu
now in the Teari region of Nepal, realized that everyone had the same
misery. Also with his keen observation of nature.. he also figured
out that there are no consequences without actions. Hence, one day he
left all his belongings, family and the castle itself and went forth
to look for the ultimate truth.. the solution to the common miseries
of mankind. For years he wandered, trying different kinds of
techniques of meditation and meeting with different spiritual
teachers seeking the answers to his questions. But none could satisfy
him fully, none could give his a complete solution, an answer that
seemed fit for all the mankind. Each method of liberation was tied to
this religion or the other.. each path was filled with assurance of
liberation and complete happiness but each associated with different
backgrounds and hence unappealing to people of other backgrounds.
What Siddhartha was really looking for was a complete solution to the
miseries that was applicable for all the people. Luckily he came
across an ancient technique of meditation called “Vipassana”
Vipassana means to see things in a special way. Special in a sense
that to see things as they are and not as we would want them to be.
The
whole universe is made up of tiny sub-atomic particles, these
sub-atomic particles are created and destroyed with such rapidity
that it creates an illusion of solidity. The universal truth is that
everything changes sooner or later. This fundamental truth of the
universe need not be seeked in libraries or laboratories the answer
lies within the framework of our own body.
I was fortunate to
come across this technique. Satya Narayan Goenkar, an Indian born in
Burma “the land of dhamma” came across this technique while
trying to free himself from morphine addiction which was the
consequence of his migraine (a severe type of recurring head ache).
After he got benefited from this technique this man who was born in a
rich business family wanted to let others too know about this
technique and hence started distributing “dhamma” for the benefit
of others as everyone has problems and everyone would like to have a
solution to it.
Damma
is a path. A road that leads to full liberation, enlightenment. It is
the only way to salvation and the only way real happiness can be
achieved. It is the only when a person is free from all miseries that
he can be said as truly happy. The path to liberation has eight main
folds and it isn't a rite or ritual.. what it is, is the art of
living.
-
Speak
no lies
Do
not kill
Avoid
use of drugs, alcohol
Avoid
sexual misconduct
Do
not steal
Sheel
Samadhi
Panna
that's
what I remember.. but I had to see wikipedia and here's what showed
up..
Right
View
Right
Intention
Right
Speech
Right
Action
Right
Livelihood
Right
effort
Right
mindfulness
Right
concentration
more
on this on the next post.. :)
