The Buddha taught that the unenlightened relationship ... - Dhamma by Ajahn Jayasāro
The Buddha taught that the unenlightened relationship to the agreeable aspects of life such as youth and good health, may be best characterized as a kind of intoxication. We take the good things in life for granted, forget their impermanent nature, and as a result, act, speak and think in ways that cause suffering to ourselves and others.
For this reason the Buddha taught us to constantly remind ourselves:
- I am subject to old age. I am not exempt from old age
- I am subject to illness. I am not exempt from illness
- I am subject to death. I am not exempt from death
- Sooner or later, I will be separated from everyone and everything dear and agreeable to me.
- I am the owner of my kamma, heir to my kamma; I have kamma as my origin, kamma as my relative, kamma as my support. I will be the heir of whatever kamma that I do, good or bad
The strength of resistance we feel towards these reflections is a measure of the strength of the intoxication, it is dwelling on the truth that makes us sober and clear-minded
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