Sorrow – Peace LiLy

Once, a man sought refuge in Gautam Buddha’s ashram after spending two days alone. Finally, he mustered the courage to approach Buddha and said, “Oh Buddha, I have questions lingering in my mind. I believe you hold the answers I seek.” Buddha replied, “Please, share your questions with me.” The man sighed deeply and expressed his dissatisfaction with life, saying, “I am constantly plagued by sadness and find no happiness whatsoever. I yearn to understand why this happens to me.”

Gautam Buddha, in his calm demeanor, responded, “First, tell me about the root cause of your sorrow. What are the exact factors contributing to your grief and anxiety?” The man pondered Buddha’s words for a moment and retorted, “Why do you ask me such a question? Aren’t you supposed to provide me with answers?”

With a serene smile, Buddha gently replied, “Your sorrow is yours to bear, and it is essential for you to identify the causes of your own suffering.” The man, astounded, exclaimed, “Oh Buddha, you possess prophetic abilities, capable of reading minds. You should already know everything.”

Buddha’s smile widened as he humbly replied, “It is a misconception on your part. You believe someone else can liberate you from your grief, but that is not the case. Only you have the power to resolve your own problems. I am just like you, the only difference being that I am free from confusion. The day your inner confusion dissipates, there will be no need for you to seek out a Buddha for answers. Have you ever observed flowers closely?”

Intrigued, the man responded, “Who has time to observe flowers?” Buddha continued, “A flower blooms like a bird at dawn, flourishes throughout the day, and withers by evening. If the flower had known it would wilt in the evening, it might have hesitated to blossom. Similarly, if you constantly dwell on sorrow, you will never experience true happiness. There are countless things in life that can bring you joy. You can smile and relish every moment. To find happiness, you must follow this path. I can show you the way, guide you on the path, but it is you who must walk it. Only then will you discover true happiness in life.”

Upon hearing this, the man fell silent for a while. After thoughtful contemplation, he said, “Buddha, one thing eludes my understanding. Is it possible to solve all the problems in my life simultaneously?” Buddha began to speak slowly, “Imagine someone approaches you and informs you that you will die in the next ten minutes. At that moment, no other problem would occupy your thoughts, for you would solely contemplate the absolute truth of life—death. You would realize the futility of dwelling on problems. We often fail to recognize life’s transience, becoming attached to our desires and perceiving our existence as eternal. Happiness and sorrow are not permanent; they arise from our actions and thoughts.”

The man listened attentively to Buddha’s words and inquired further, “So, should I constantly think about my mortality? Will that resolve my problems?” Buddha gently responded, “No, never think that way. Merely acknowledge the uncertainty of your existence and choose to live happily for as long as you are here. Ponder deeply; there are still many things that can bring you joy and contentment. Cultivate a focused mind, free from confusion. The sorrows and sufferings of life stem from desires. Control your mind. If you can make it as pure and innocent as that of a child, you will attain eternal happiness.”

The man eagerly asked Buddha, “Oh Buddha, how can I control my mind?” Buddha responded, “To gain control, we must understand the distinction between happiness and sorrow. One must recognize what brings happiness and what causes sorrow. The mind should neither be overly elated in extreme happiness nor deeply saddened in extreme sorrow. It is crucial to remain steady in the middle ground. If you closely analyze your sorrows and their underlying causes in real life, you will ultimately realize that the root of all sorrows lies within ourselves. And since the mind governs our actions, by controlling the mind, we can overcome sorrow.”

Buddha then suggested, “If you can accomplish one more task, you will witness the permanent vanishing of sorrow from your life.” The man, filled with enthusiasm, asked, “Tell me, Buddha, what must I do?” Buddha explained, “For the next two days, refrain from conversing with anyone. Find a solitary place in the ashram, take pen and paper, and contemplate your sorrows and their causes. On another piece of paper, write down the happiness that still exists in your life and its reasons. Take your time, think deeply.”

The man respectfully bowed to Buddha and retreated to a secluded corner of the ashram. After two days, he returned to Buddha with numerous sheets of paper. Buddha smiled and said, “Let me hear the summary of your sorrows first.” The man began reading, “Number one, all my siblings are wealthy, but I am burdened with debt and poverty. I fear taking action, always comparing myself to others. Number two, my neighbors have accumulated significant savings, unlike me. The reasons are that I have worked less, earned less, and squandered my money in bad company. I have not saved a single penny. Number three, my wife has been ill for a long time, and I am to blame for her suffering. Neglecting her, I have failed to seek medical help, leaving everything to chance. In truth, a wicked desire lingers in my mind: if my wife dies from her illness, I will remarry a faithful woman. Number four, I constantly daydream of illusory happiness, worrying and grieving when these dreams are unfulfilled due to a lack of money. Every day, I resort to alcohol to drown my sorrows, fully aware that I cannot afford it, yet I make excuses for my drinking. These are my four sorrows, and at the core of all of them lie my actions and thoughts.”

This time, Gautam Buddha smiled and said, “Now, tell me about your list of happiness.” The man’s face beamed with joy as he exclaimed, “I am truly happy, experiencing immense joy within me for the first time in my life during these past two days. The list of reasons for my happiness is so extensive that it would take hours to read. But let me share a few highlights.” Buddha smiled and responded, “Not just for you, but for all of us, the scenario is the same. We simply waste precious time fixating on the causes of sorrow. In reality, life is a treasure trove of happiness, peace, and joy. Well, you don’t need to read the entire list; just share a few.”

The man began with great delight, “First and foremost, I am grateful for being alive in this world, blessed with good health and strength. I have parents, a loving wife, and children, just like the fortunate ones in the world. My wealth extends far beyond material possessions; it encompasses the love and care from my parents, the affection of my beautiful wife, the tenderness of my children, and the joy of being a father. I am capable of working, physically fit and healthy. I have the opportunity to enhance my income through various endeavors, enabling me to fulfill the needs of my entire family. I am happy because I can create a harmonious family without comparing myself to neighbors or siblings. With the compassion instilled in me by your grace, I can leave behind my vices and embrace eternal peace.

The man continued: “The greatest joy and fortune lie in finding a place at the feet of Lord Gautam Buddha through your grace. As long as I am temporarily on this Earth, I will seek the truth of life, understand myself with a composed mind, and strive to bring eternal bliss to myself and others.”

Buddha remarked, “Now, go back to your family, for today you are reborn. Live a life of eternal peace with a steadfast mind. Whenever confusion arises, remind yourself that life is fleeting, and you are not meant to be enslaved by sorrow. Analyze and identify the causes of your sorrows, eliminating them immediately. Only then will you discover everlasting happiness and boundless joy.”