Once, one of Buddha's disciples was asked a question on the causes of man's happiness and sorrow. He said that Man himself is the cause and the six things associated with him are the basic causes. Man is a social animal this is the basis for all his sorrow and happiness.
First is the expectation of welfare of the near and dear. A mother may feel sorrow or happiness, on hearing about her son's suffering or well being. Even a saint or a priest, who has renounced everything to serve God, will become sad, if he hears that his mother is ill or dead. This is different from being selfish.
Relations bring sorrow or happiness. It is the affection and affinity that causes such feelings.
You feel pity or show mercy and that brings about sorrow. When you see a man wounded in an accident and feel for him, you become sorrowful.
Acquaintance brings on sorrow or happiness. When you see even an acquaintance who has suffered a loss of baggage at a railway station or airport, you feel sad, and go to his help; when he gets his possession back, you also feel happy. Will you do this for an unknown?
Belief is another source of sorrow or happiness. When you hear that a dog or a horse was being ill-treated, you feel sad. When you hear that the police have arrested him or the horse kicked him, you feel happy. Your belief on what you hear became the source.
Lastly, 'Feel one with' what you see, hear or read. This will certainly be a source of sorrow or happiness. Literature influences many and those that feel with what they read; they weep or be merry.
One of my professors used to laugh loud reading
P.G. Wodehouse, forgetting the surroundings. And we see many feel with the characters of a film and weep for them.
Sorrow and happiness are things that surround us at all times. Even renouncing the world may not help us transcend them.
© Narayanan Krishnaswamy; prof.english@gmail.com
Professor of English. Taught English at university level for 37 years. Turned freelance writer,editor and teacher on retirement.
Join Us
Fall Meeting October 30 -31 & Novermber 1 - 2 , 2010
We welcome anybody that wants to start a Withdraw Center or wants to join the Oregon Coastal Center. There are no dues, fees or costs.
We will be holding two identical Sessions this fall. One session on the weekend and one during the week. Both Sessions will be about our experiences with our Peaceful Preparer Center, our plans, our dreams, our fears, and brainstorming.
There is no charge for either Session if you provide your own lodging. If you want to stay at the meeting resort, the following is the pricing for Eagle Crest lodging.
We ARE NOT “back to landers.” We do not want the hardships of homestead. Instead, we like our comforts and are willing to prepare for them to continue. That is why we have picked the Eagle Crest Resort for our First Annual Fall Meeting. The Eagle Crest Resort has all the comforts you want in a resort. Just check the features of Eagle Crest Resort
If two people want to share a bedroom, then both can attend the Sessions with no additional fees. The bedrooms vary with king size beds, queen size beds and twin beds.
The early bird gets their choice.
Session # I - October 30 - 31, 2010 2 nights ($100/night*) - Starts on Friday night October 30 at 7 pm and last until 11 am on Sunday November 1, 2010.
Session #2 - November 1 - 2, 2010 - 2 nights ($100/night*) - This part starts on Sunday night and 7 pm and last until Wednesday at 11 am.
*Lodging Scholarships are available.
The above fees include lodging at the Eagle Crest at Redmond, Oregon (11 miles from Bend, Oregon)
