What is Human Life?
()
About this ebook
Human life is the most wonderful creation of the universe. There is nothing better than human life. We may come across great inventions but there is nothing superior to human life in the three worlds. As we are not aware of the value of human life we use this supreme creation to invent suffering, sadness, loneliness, monotony, restlessness and stress. Animals have problems that they inherited at birth such as hunger, thirst and safety. They keep on looking for solutions for their problems. They do not invent problems. The Dhamma says that human begins have only four needs, which are physical needs such as foods, shelter, clothes and medicine. Hunger and foods are not mental but physical things. No suffering is associated with hunger as the solution is simple, which is to feed us with rice, bread etc. Most people suffer not because of hunger but because of the involvement of the mind, which projects questions/thoughts associated with hunger. What is to be eaten? What is to be eaten to suit the social status, profession, economic status? What is eaten by those around me? What is going to be bought by others from this shop? All these are mental complications. Even at the time of cooking, similar thinking arises. How to cook? What to cook? Look for variety in each meal etc. All this makes cooking a complex process. If the mind is complex, all the thoughts are also complex. Even though only four basic needs exist, human begins suffer a lot unlike animals, because of the involvement of their craving mind which cannot be satisfied easily.
Upul Nishantha Gamage
Upul Nishantha Gamage, present resident meditation teacher, has been guiding thousands of people from different backgrounds who come to Nilambe to practice meditation. According to the article titled “Mistakes” published in Dhammaja (Nilambe Buddhist Meditation centre Newsletter-Volume 2, Jan 2009), he started meditation in 1977, at 13 years of age. At that time, he was instrumental in establishing a Youth Society at a Buddhist Temple near his parents’ house and got involved in many activities as the Secretary of the Society. In late 80’s, he had offered to help Godwin at a point where someone’s assistance with the activities at the Meditation Centre was vital. Subsequently, he had been introduced to those at the Centre by Godwin as the “new boss” of Nilambe. Ever since he has been a very dear friend and an outstanding Dhamma teacher for thousands of people who attend programs conducted by him, also many others who are yet to attend his programs and a counselor for those who are in need of counseling. Besides teaching at Nilambe, Upul conducts programs at prisons, schools, monasteries, private residences etc. He is regularly invited to conduct meditation retreats in Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. According to his teaching, practice of Meditation paves the path to help ourselves, to understand ourselves and to change ourselves for better as we are becoming more and more mindful about all our day-to-day activities. Moreover, Upul’s great ability to speak to our hearts and practical and philosophical way of presenting Dhamma has enormous power to make us practice Meditation in a joyful manner.
Read more from Upul Nishantha Gamage
Coming Alive with Mindfulness of Breathing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rain of Thoughts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLove, Hatred & Mettā Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSeeing Emptiness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLiving with Awareness: Teachings of late Godwin Samararatne Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Happiness of Letting Go Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDisentangling Tangles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSeeing the Nature of the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSave Time by Investing in Time Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMultiple Characters Multiple Suffering Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Beauty of the Silent Mind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIn Between Happiness and Unhappiness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIllusion of Painful Painkillers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBe an Outsider if You Want to Change The Inside Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5No Burning Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNo Colour No Shape Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAcquiring a Mind Like Pure Gold Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSit On Your Own Chair Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSuffering Is a Dream Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBuddhism = Mindfulness + Heartfulness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Makes You Thinking You Are a Meditation Practitioner? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSprings from the Heart Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to What is Human Life?
Related ebooks
No Colour No Shape Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSuffering Is a Dream Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Beauty of the Silent Mind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDisentangling Tangles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAcquiring a Mind Like Pure Gold Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSeeing the Nature of the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKarma, Mind, and Quest for Happiness: The Concrete and Accurate Science of Infinite Truth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSnow Lion Set Free Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEnlightenment? Who Cares! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLazy Lama looks at Bodhichitta: Awakening Compassion and Wisdom Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLazy Lama looks at Loving Kindness: Our true brave heart Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHarry: The Story of Dr. Harry L. Kenmore and His Life with His Beloved Pop, Meher Baba Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPure Land Buddhism - Dialogues With Ancient Masters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTime for the Wind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Journey Towards Greater Happiness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaster of Self-Realization - International Edition: An Ultimate Understanding Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPure Experiences Volume 3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBuddhism: Enlightenment in a Busy World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCloser to Death, Closer to God: True Stories of a Spiritual Awakening Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBreathe In: English Haiku Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Nature of Happiness According to Advaita Vedanta: Enlightenment Series, #7 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5That Was Zen, This Is Tao: Living Your Way to Enlightenment Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWho Am I? (In English) Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5U. G. Krishnamurti: Collected Works: The Mystique of Enlightenment, Courage to Stand Alone, Mind is a Myth, The Natural State Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBuddhist Scriptures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGentle Breeze, Rustling Leaves: Sing, my soul, your symphony of silence Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Laghu Guru Upanishad: Spiritual Teachings of Sri Sivabala Yogi Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPure Experiences Volume 2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Essays on Nonduality, Volume II Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Religion & Spirituality For You
The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Calendar of Wisdom: Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul, Written and Se Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gospel of Mary Magdalene Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Course In Miracles: (Original Edition) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Here Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching: A New English Version Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Complete Papyrus of Ani Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Warrior of the Light: A Manual Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Buddha's Guide to Gratitude: The Life-changing Power of Everyday Mindfulness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5NRSV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Reason for God Discussion Guide: Conversations on Faith and Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Love Dare Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5THE EMERALD TABLETS OF THOTH THE ATLANTEAN Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Upon Waking: 60 Daily Reflections to Discover Ourselves and the God We Were Made For Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Abolition of Man Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Weight of Glory Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for What is Human Life?
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
What is Human Life? - Upul Nishantha Gamage
Meditation is the only activity that is possible to produce limitless results upon cultivation. Therefore, meditation is considered a spiritual cultivation which is capable of producing limitless fruitful results. Another reason for getting unlimited harvest in agriculture is the ability of not just one branch, but all the branches of a tree to bear fruits and thereby making the whole area of cultivation fruitful. Similarly, meditation can make one's life overflow with freedom, peacefulness, liberation and happiness. One can experience such a life through meditation, not only today but also tomorrow, not only this year but also next year, not only in this life but also next lives. If you rank all the activities that can make your life fruitful, meditation falls on the top of the list. Not only meditation, but other also other activities can make your life fruitful. However, we are aware that it is the meditation, among all those activities, that can make our lives most fruitful. So meditation is worthy of praising and valuing. As we praise meditation from the bottom of our heart, we come for meditation, practise meditation and spend time on meditation.
Dear Dhamma Friends, we sacrifice our lives for many things. Just think how many things we have sacrificed our lives for and keep on sacrificing our lives for. We all got a life at birth. As soon as we were born in this world, we were offered with human lives free of charge, for which we may have probably paid earlier.