Dharma Talk and discussion: Happiness

Thursday, April 23, 2009

This Thursday will be the follow-up session to last month's topic which was "Happiness." Last month Geshe gave us a definition of Happiness and related this contemporary definition to concepts in classical Buddhism. We also had a very good discussion of what people usually think happiness means. This month's session is a follow-up in which the discussion of Happiness will continue and we will delve more deeply into it. It will be part presentation by Geshe Jamyang Tsultrim, and part discussion.

Suggested Donation: $15.00, no one will be turned away. (If you paid for the last Thursday teaching, this is a continuation of that, so there is no need to pay again.)

This event will take place at our normal Thursday night location, the Lien Hoa Temple at 1211 Wilson St. NE, Olympia WA, 98502

A favorite dedication prayer

Precept Dedication Prayer
by Shantideva,

revised by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

May no living creature suffer, commit evil or ever fall ill.

May no one be afraid or belittled, with a mind weighed down by depression.
May the blind see forms, and the deaf hear sounds.

May those whose bodies are worn with toil be restored on finding repose.
May the naked find clothing, the hungry find food.

May the thirsty find water, and delicious drinks.
May the poor find wealth, those weak with sorrow find joy.

May the forlorn find hope, constant happiness and prosperity.
May there be timely rains and bountiful harvests.

May all medicines be effective and wholesome prayers bear fruit.
May all who are sick and ill quickly be freed from their ailments.

Whatever diseases there are in the world, may they never occur again.
May the frightened cease to be afraid and those bound be freed.

May the powerless find power, and may people think of benefiting each other.
May all beings everywhere, plagued by sufferings of body and mind,
Obtain an ocean of happiness and joy by virtue of my merits.

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When I remember to start my day with this dedication prayer

the day seems to be much less stressful.

I am more mindful of how fortunate I really am

and how small all my "big" troubles really are.

When my day does get crazy full of stress,

this prayer helps lower that stress to a more manageable level,

and for me that is very beneficial. ljc