Buddha: The Ultimate Happiness Guru

The  Greatest Blessings

Generally, it is believed that the Buddha was a pessimist who preached misery. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

Buddha had great compassion for all beings. He saw their misery, felt deep empathy, explored the causes, and discovered a way out.

Not only that. He gave us a valuable guide for deep and lasting happiness.

The building blocks of an authentically happy life are outlined in the Discourse on Blessings - Maha-mangala Sutta – thus:

·       Not to associate with the foolish, but to associate with the wise; and to honor those who are worthy of honor

·       To reside in a suitable locality, to have done meritorious actions in the past and to set oneself in the right course 

·       To have much learning, to be skillful in handicraft, well-trained in discipline, and to be of good speech 

To support mother and father, to cherish wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupation

To be generous in giving, to be righteous in conduct, to help one's relatives, and to be blameless in action

·       To loathe more evil and abstain from it, to refrain from intoxicants, and to be steadfast in virtue

·       To be respectful, humble, contented and grateful; and to listen to the Dhamma on due occasions 

To be patient and obedient, to associate with monks and to have religious discussions on due occasions

Self-restraint, a holy and chaste life, the perception of the Noble Truths and the realisation of Nibbana

·       A mind unruffled by the vagaries of fortune, from sorrow freed, from defilements cleansed, from fear liberated

These are the greatest Blessings.

Buddha closes the discourse with the words, “Those who thus abide, ever remain invincible, in happiness established. These are the greatest blessings."

There is no doubt whatsoever that the Buddha is the Ultimate Happiness Guru!

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Happiness Coach & Laughter Yoga Master Trainer

Email: coolbisht@hotmail.com

Phone: +91 7389938255

Anapana Meditation: Mindfulness of Breathing

Anapana meditation is simple, pure, and pristine.

“Prana” means breath. “Ana(prana)” is the breath that comes in and “apana(prana)” is the breath that goes out. Both put together and shortened for convenient usage make “anapana”. Anapanasati is concentration on breath coming in and going out.

It is believed that mindfulness of breathing, cultivated and regularly practiced, is of great fruit and great benefit. Two thousand and five hundred years ago, Buddha outlined the method in Anapanasati Sutta – the discourse on mindfulness of breathing.

He begins elucidating the method, “A monk, gone to the forest or to the root of a tree or to an empty place, sits down, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, established mindfulness in front of him, ever mindful he breathes in, mindful he breathes out.”

The focus is on breath alone. The meditator observes his breath dispassionately. There is no attempt to modulate breathing. Just observation.

While breathing in a long breath, he knows, “I breathe in a long breath”; breathing out a long breath, he knows, “I breathe out a long breath.” Breathing in a short breath, he knows, “I breathe in a short breath”; while breathing out a short breath, he knows, “I breathe out a short breath.” Experiencing the body, he breathes in and out. Calming the bodily function of breathing, he breathes in and out.

 

The meditation takes him on an inner journey encompassing contemplations of the body, feelings, the mind, and mind-objects. During each step, he continues to observe his breath.

Experiencing rapture, or happiness, or the mental functions; he breathes in and out. Calming the mental functions, he breathes in and out. Experiencing, or gladdening, or concentrating, or liberating the mind; he breathes in and out. Contemplating impermanence, or dispassion, or cessation, or relinquishment; he breathes in and out.

The Blessed One recommends, “This concentration through mindfulness of breathing, when developed and practiced much, is both peaceful and sublime, it is an unadulterated blissful abiding, and it banishes at once and stills evil unprofitable thoughts as soon as they arise.”

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Happiness Coach & Laughter Yoga Master Trainer

Email: coolbisht@hotmail.com

Phone: +91 73899 38255

Vipassana Meditation: All You Wanted to Know About the 10-Day Retreat

Vipassana is an ancient technique of meditation discovered by the Buddha more than two thousand and five hundred years ago. It is non-sectarian and open to people of all colour and creed.

The 10-day retreat of silence and meditation is a unique experience which everyone should have at least once in lifetime. It’s a boot camp for the mind and gives you a first-hand feel of virtue, mindfulness and wisdom.

During the tenure of the course, you observe five precepts: abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lies and intoxicants.

You wake up at 4 am and meditation begins at 4.30 am. All through the day, you meditate, meditate and meditate! Of course, you have breaks for breakfast, lunch and evening meals. You are in your bed by 9.30 pm.

The accommodation is simple and hygienic, with basic amenities. No television. No internet. You live like a monk/nun for ten days of your life.

The food is simple and nutritious. Some people have an impression that they might starve there. That’s not correct.

On the zero day, you have to report at the centre by afternoon. You are required to deposit your mobile phone, cash and valuables in a locker allotted to you.

Please carry simple and comfortable clothing with you for the course. Don’t carry too many of those. Laundry service is usually available at the centre.

What you learn in the ten days is truly valuable and often life transforming. For the first three days, you learn to concentrate by focussing on your breath, next six days are for gaining insight into your body and mind, and on the last day you enjoy the bliss of loving kindness meditation.

The course also guides you subtly to a routine of moral discipline, purity of mind and loving kindness for all beings.

You learn the basic technique there and then go back home to continue meditating and progressing in the path of spirituality.

The course gets over on the eleventh day at 7 am.

It’s an experience you will cherish, adore and would like to repeat frequently!

You may register for a 10-day course at the global website for Vipassana Meditation.

May your life be filled with happiness, love, peace and tranquillity!

Jagat Singh Bisht

Founder: LifeSkills

Happiness Coach & Laughter Yoga Master Trainer

Email: coolbisht@hotmail.com

Mobile phone: +91 7389938255