Modern Buddhism: Buddha's Ancient Teachings For The Modern Person

by Devean Chase

The more you search for happiness, the further away it becomes. Gautama Buddha says that searching for happiness is like trying to reach the horizon. As much as you try, it will always remain in the distance. A mirage.

This is the Second Reality of the Buddha. All unhappiness, suffering, stress, and dissatisfaction come from one source. The source is of craving. This is your constant clinging, your obsessions, your desire for more.

It is only once a person begins to drop even the desire for bliss will they begin to experience it. Remember that the origin of unhappiness is the craving itself, not just craving for the "wrong" things. It does not matter what you desire, it’s the desiring itself.

Life is like breath, you cannot take in more than you need, and if you hold onto it, you will die.

The difficulty comes in becoming aware of yourself enough to even recognize all of your desires. Then becoming detached from all your desires.

The Four Realities converge into the Eightfold Path: There is unhappiness in this world and we must understand its effect on humanity. The origin of suffering is craving, clinging, and desire. There is an end to this unhappiness. The Eightfold Path is the way to achieve happiness.

The Buddha never spoke in such terms. The path is a guide to a personal experience that you must have in order to find meaning in your life. The eight parts are road signs that will guide you into a life of bliss.