Man, then builds his world on ego concepts
which he calls "I", "me" and "mine". He will say,
"These are my wealth, my property, my children,
my youth and beauty, my knowledge." "Look
here," he shouts, "You are hurting my feelings.
Don't you know who I am?" He clings to things
and tries to own them.
Does he realize that in reality none of these
things belongs to him? No. When he dies, all his
wealth and property pass on to others. There is
nothing he can bring beyond the grave - not
even his own body.
"Sons have I, wealth have I"
Thus is the fool worried.
But even he himself is not his own,
What to speak of sons and wealth?
(Dhammapada 62)Poor man! The threat of frustration constantly
looms above his head for his desires cannot
always be fulfilled. When he gets what he
doesn't want, and doesn't get what he wants,
he suffers the greater his desires, the greater
the pain. That is his price for desiring what is
changeable and should not be clung to.
4.Where do youfind happiness?If peace and happiness cannot be found in
material possessions, does it mean that we
renounce all we have? No, not if we are not
ready to. Does it mean that thereis absolutely
no happiness in material possessions? No,
ownershipand wealth are important conditions
for a good life, but in themselves there is no
permanent happiness.Where then can we find true peace and
happiness? Do not seek far -look within! Each
of us has within ourselves the vast potential for
peace and happiness if we only know how to
tap it. And the Buddha taught us a straight,
clear path how to attain perfect peace.
Addressing some monks, the Buddha said:Just as the mighty ocean is of one flavor, the
flavorof salt, even so, this Dhamma is of one
flavor, theflavorof Deliverance.
(Mahaparinibbana Sutta)The sublime teachings, the Dhamma, is not
something· apart from ourselves. It is to be
realized by ourselves each for himself. Before
we canpracticeand realize the teachings, we
must first study it.