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Transforming Life’s Difficulties
Since the world began human beings have spent almost all their time & energy improving external situations in their search for happiness. What has been the result? Instead of their wishes being fulfilled human suffering & problems have continued to increase while the experience of happiness & peace is decreasing. This clearly shows that we haven’t found a correct method for reducing our problems & increasing our happiness. The correct method is changing our attitude from negative to positive. However hard we try we will not be able to avoid problems. Things go wrong. It is impossible to avoid life’s difficulties but if we learn to transform these difficulties there is no need to become unhappy when things go wrong.
For instance when things go wrong we can see it as an opportunity to improve our patience. Most of our emotional problems come from failing to accept things as they are in which case patient acceptance is the solution rather than trying to change things. A lot of mental stability can be gained simply by acknowledging that things aren’t perfect & that it is natural for things to go wrong.
A person with no patience has no stability of mind & is upset by the slightest obstacle or criticism. In contrast, when we develop real patience our mind will be as stable as a mountain & as calm as the depths of an ocean. With such a strong stable mind it will be easy to develop all other good qualities.
Thinking in this way we can welcome difficulties as opportunities to deepen our patience. Most of our possessions are of limited value but patience will hold us in good stead for all our life & help us to respond positively to whatever life throws at us.
Odiyana Kadampa Meditation Centre will be running a 7 week course entitled Transforming Life’s Difficulties in local areas. For details of evenings and venues please click on the location from the drop down menu or click on the area you wish to attend – Chester, Crewe, Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, Northwich and Warrington.
