Spiritual Lesson 1

Taken from 'Why Worry? How to live without fear and worry'
by the Venerable Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, J.S.M., Ph.D., D. Litt.
(Laser Press Sdn Bhd: 11th print, September 1998)

1. '... all conditioned phenomena, including suffering and all problems, arise out of causes and that nothing can arise by way of independent causes.'

2. '... we can put an end to each and every form of suffering by discovering the root cuases of our problems.'

3. On facing problems: '... act wisely in overcoming [problems] ... it is not so much who experiences problems that marks the difference between a wise and an unwise person, but the manner in which he faces them.'

4. The Buddha said: 'Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own mind, unguarded. But once mastered, no one can help you as much, not even your father, mother or any other relative.'

5. 'When we are faced with fear, considerable courage is required to recognise the truth of its origin, and still greater courage to accept the truth after we have experienced it.'