Blessed is ministering unto parents
Pleasant in this world is ministering to mother. Ministering to father too is pleasant in this world. Pleasant is ministering to ascetics. Pleasant too is ministering to the noble ones.
NAGA VAGGA The Dhammapada

Arising through causal condition

Ven. Guren Martin

In Buddhism there is the fundamental teaching, ‘Arising Through Causal Condition.’ This is an important teaching or truth in Buddhism, ‘Arising through causal condition.’

All phenomena arise through causal condition.’ Some people perhaps have not heard about, or do not understand causal condition. For this reason, it is important to make an explanation here. The meaning of causal condition is explained using the following example.

A plant is produced from a seed. And due to the influence of various causal conditions; the sun, the rain, the soil, the seasons, a seed may develop into a plant. Various causal conditions act upon the seed, and the seed grows into a plant.

Causal condition also refers to sounds, sights, smells, tastes, thoughts, and feelings, the six sense-objects. Sometimes the word causal condition is also translated as relation, and affinity. The world that we live in is a vast concurrence or coming together of causal conditions.

There is a poem about causal conditions that I would like to introduce to you.

‘A caterpillar on a willow branch,
The wind blows, the caterpillar rolls off.
A butterfly on a pear flower.
Rain falls, the butterfly flies off.’

This poem is about our life. It is about each and everyone of us. It is about the coming together of causal conditions. The various causal conditions that influence our life, or which can move us in life. In the poem, ‘The wind blows’ and ‘rain falls’ can mean gain or loss. It also can mean favourable conditions, or unfavourable conditions. Doubts or problems also are causal conditions.

It is not uncommon that people may think of a problems as a bad thing.

However, problems also are the working of enlightenment. That is, in cause and effect, problems can be the seeds of solutions.

We should understand, however, that life is not instant, like instant food. Opening the lid, adding boiling water, and in two to three minutes everything is ready and complete. It is not that in two to three minutes our problems in life may all be solved.

For this reason, the Buddhas and Patriarchs who have clarified life and death, have taught forbearance (patience), and perseverance as important virtues. And it is taught that we should be grateful for small gains, persevering in the Way in life. Day by day, being diligent, and not wasting time, we make our world.

Furthermore, it is taught that we should endeavour to be one with causal conditions. Being one with causal conditions. For some people, this may be difficult to understand, perhaps. For example, in the morning when the alarm clock rings to wake us, being one with this condition (the ringing), we wake up.

Then we wash our face, we take our breakfast. Then we dress appropriately for our work. And in Buddhism it is said that we should wear clothing that is decent, or respectable; putting on clothing which is good. Then we go to work, and earnestly we perform our daily activities.

A baker would earnestly bake bread doing one’s best. And of course the baker should make a profit. A student would earnestly study. Studying sincerely for a future occupation, not wasting time.

Similarly, if we have an illness, when there is the condition of sickness, we wholeheartedly make an effort to recover as soon as is possible. This is being one with causal conditions. Like this our life will teach us, all things will teach us.

All things are important. There are the words,’ All the earth is medicine. The Universe is the highway, vast and wide. ‘So sincerely, carefully, politely, and energetically we should live our lives. And we should go straight ahead.

There is an old story of a person who once saw a fine house with a splendid top floor. The upper storey of the house had large windows, a fine roof, and a grand balcony all around.

And there was a fine view of the surrounding mountain scenery and nature. Truly a beautiful place in which to live. So this person seeing the house with the splendid upper storey wanted the same for their own.

The person then spoke to a construction company, and asked them to build this fine upper storey on his own land. Accordingly, the construction company began work. First, laying the foundation for the house, and then starting to firmly build the lower floors.

However, upon seeing the foundations being laid and the work being done on the lower floors, the person became upset and said, ‘I did not ask for foundations and the lower floors to be built, I just want the top floor.’

Of course, this is foolishness. This story serves to point out that often in life it is not possible that immediately, or instantly, we have things the way that we want them to be. Or that things in life will immediately or instantly turn out just as we would like them to.

Fortunately, the Buddhas and Patriarchs have taught the Way for the benefit of sentient beings. With our feet firmly in the Buddhist Way, our life can improve. And our life will be a life that is worth living. And we will never abandon ourselves to a feeling of hopelessness which may occur due to various causal conditions coming together.

Owing to the great compassion, self-sacrifice, and constant practice of the successive Buddhas and Patriarchs, today we are able to know the Buddhist Way which benefits both self and others equally.

Courtesy: Lin Kok

Buddhist Journal

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Ways to eliminate stress from your life

Ven. Olande Ananda Thera

Stress is the “wear and tear” our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings.

As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust our lives. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it.

How can I eliminate stress from my life?

As we have seen, positive stress adds anticipation and excitement to life, and we all thrive under a certain amount of stress. Deadlines, competitions, confrontations, and even our frustrations and sorrows add depth and enrichment to our lives. Our goal is not to eliminate stress but to learn how to manage it and how to use it to help us.

Insufficient stress acts as a depressant and may leave us feeling bored or dejected; on the other hand, excessive stress may leave us feeling “tied up in knots.” What we need to do is find the optimal level of stress which will individually motivate but not overwhelm each of us.

How can I tell what is optimal stress for me?

There is no single level of stress that is optimal for all people. We are all individual creatures with unique requirements. As such, what is distressing to one may be a joy to another. And even when we agree that a particular event is distressing, we are likely to differ in our physiological and psychological responses to it.

The person who loves to arbitrate disputes and moves from job site to job site would be stressed in a job which was stable and routine, whereas the person who thrives under stable conditions would very likely be stressed on a job where duties were highly varied. Also, our personal stress requirements and the amount which we can tolerate before we become distressed changes with our ages.

It has been found that most illness is related to unrelieved stress. If you are experiencing stress symptoms, you have gone beyond your optimal stress level; you need to reduce the stress in your life and/or improve your ability to manage it.

How can i manage stress better?

Identifying unrelieved stress and being aware of its effect on our lives is not sufficient for reducing its harmful effects. Just as there are many sources of stress, there are many possibilities for its management. However, all require work toward change: changing the source of stress and/or changing your reaction to it. How do you proceed?

Become aware of your stressors and your emotional and physical reactions.

Notice your distress. Don’t ignore it. Don’t gloss over your problems.

Determine what events distress you. What are you telling yourself about meaning of these events?

Determine how your body responds to the stress. Do you become nervous or physically upset? If so, in what specific ways?

Recognize what you can change.

Can you change your stressors by avoiding or eliminating them completely?

Can you reduce their intensity (manage them over a period of time instead of on a daily or weekly basis)?

Can you shorten your exposure to stress (take a break, leave the physical premises)?

Can you devote the time and energy necessary to making a change (goal setting, time management techniques, and delayed gratification strategies may be helpful here)?

Reduce the intensity of your emotional reactions to stress.

The stress reaction is triggered by your perception of danger...physical danger and/or emotional danger. Are you viewing your stressors in exaggerated terms and/or taking a difficult situation and making it a disaster?

Are you expecting to please everyone?

Are you overreacting and viewing things as absolutely critical and urgent? Do you feel you must always prevail in every situation?

Work at adopting more moderate views; try to see the stress as something you can cope with rather than something that overpowers you.

Try to temper your excess emotions. Put the situation in perspective. Do not labour on the negative aspects and the “what if’s.”

Learn to moderate your physical reactions to stress.

Slow, deep breathing will bring your heart rate and respiration back to normal.

Relaxation techniques can reduce muscle tension. Electronic biofeedback can help you gain voluntary control over such things as muscle tension, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Medications, when prescribed by a physician, can help in the short term in moderating your physical reactions.

However, they alone are not the answer. Learning to moderate these reactions on your own is a preferable long-term solution.

Build your physical reserves.

Exercise for cardiovascular fitness three to four times a week (moderate, prolonged rhythmic exercise is best, such as walking, swimming, cycling, or jogging).

Eat well-balanced, nutritious meals.

Maintain your ideal weight.

Avoid nicotine, excessive caffeine, and other stimulants.

Mix leisure with work. Take breaks and get away when you can.

Get enough sleep. Be as consistent with your sleep schedule as possible.

6. Maintain your emotional reserves.

Develop some mutually supportive friendships/relationships.

Pursue realistic goals which are meaningful to you, rather than goals others have for you that you do not share.

Expect some frustrations, failures, and sorrows.

Always be kind and gentle with yourself — be a friend to yourself.

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Religious ceremonies to bestow blessings to the Chief Incumbent

K.A. Perera Wadduwa Special Correspondent

WADDUWA: A series of religious ceremonies were held at Sri Lankaramaya Temple at Wadduwa under the guidance of Ven. Wadduwe Dhammawansa Thera to bestow blessings on Ven. Pohaddaramulle Dhammarachchi Thera who was the Chief Incumbent of the temple and passed away having fulfilled a memorable national, cultural and religious service.

He was a monk of great erudition, a renowned exponent on the doctrine of Buddha dhamma, a celebrated preacher.

Among the religious ceremonies held at Sri Lankarama Viharaya at Wadduwa, the most colourful Buddhist event is the carrying of “Tripitakaya” by donors and parading in the main street of Wadduwa.

There were large gathering of people to view the Perahara commenced from the Y.M.B.A. at Wadduwa.

The religious ceremonies were organised by the “Vihara Karya Sadaka Samithiya” with collaboration of “Bauddha Kulagana Samithiya” and “Dharmaraja Daham Pasala.”

The Tripitaka Dhammadesanaya was delivered by Ven. Poojya Kotapitiye Rahula Thera the Senior Lecturer of Peradeniya University.

There was a Bodhi Pooja held at the temple to bestow blessings on the President, the Government and the three Armed Forces.

The religious ceremonies were ended with offering a Dana to twenty-five Maha Sangha and bestowed blessings on all the Nayaka Theras who passed away at the temple.