Episode 148 - Mindfulness for a Happy Life

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mindfulness can be used to train the mind: to make the mind more peaceful and see your world differently. Mindfulness, in this way, is used to remember things we’ve learned and intend to put into practice. For example, we may have heard the teaching to gather all blame into one--our mental afflictions. We might agree that there are no external problems or enemies; our problems come from our mental afflictions, such as anger, attachment, ignorance, pride, or greed. To practice mindfulness, we could then determine to recall this wisdom when we start to get angry or upset. Mindfulness is used to remember our determination to practice this wisdom and not blame another person or situation for our unpleasant feelings. This practice helps us let the unpleasant feelings pass without clinging to them and blaming others.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Mindfulness is a powerful tool for creating a happy mind. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Always Rely on a Happy Mind</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">(One of Atisha’s 59 slogans of training the mind.) </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Story of the Elephant Called Paveyyaka</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (327) of this book, with reference to the elephant, called Paveyyaka.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paveyyaka when young was very strong; in due course, he became old and decrepit. One day, as old Paveyyaka went into a pond he was stuck in the mire and could not get on to the shore. When King Pasenadi of Kosala was told about it, he sent an elephant trainer to help the elephant get out of the mire. The elephant trainer went to the site where the elephant was. There, he made the musicians strike up a martial tune. Hearing the military airs, the elephant felt as if he were in a battlefield; his spirits rose, he pulled himself with all his might, and was soon