Today ULUBUDA and ICBS had a day trip to Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, around 30 of us took a coach there this morning. It is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable day I had so far. I think it was the environment and the people there which allow me to really relax, got to enjoy the countryside,enjoy the fresh air and listen to the birds. At the same time, getting to know myself better and just see things as they come and pass. Didn’t have anything to worry about and was able to just relax and enjoy the moment and live the present moment.

While I was enjoying the peacefulness, I got the chance to really reflect on myself. Asking question like what more do I want in life? My answer was that this moment of peacefulness is what I should treasure and live with. We often try to search and hope for something in the future, but if we do this all the time, the moment that we hope will never come because we always want more. Rather than worrying about the future, what I should concentrate on is in fact this moment, right here, right now. Many will agree that material things can only bring us temporary happiness and it’s conditional. Why are we craving for more and more when we know that it doesn’t bring us ultimate happiness.

Like many things, meditation is something that we must experience ourselves, no one else can do it for us. E.g. no matter how much someone tells us about the taste of sugar, we wouldn’t know how it taste like unless we try it ourselves. To experience the peacefulness, all we need to learn is to let go, let go of our desires and our clingings. When we can truly let go, the experience of peacefulness is belong what words can describe. Although I’m still far from it :(.

Since I came back from the temple, there have been many things happening and I’m already losing that calmness and feeling the attachments that I have. I am trying to maintain the mindfulness and calmness at all time despite the surroundings. I think you will agree with me that we work a lot more efficient what we are not too stress, of course not too relax either. Finding the balance (middle way) of the two is the way to go and that’s what I need to practise in my daily life.

Don’t need to go and search for peacefulness elsewhere, it’s within our ability to experience it right now. Just give yourself 5-10 minutes, sit and relax, tell yourself that within this time you will let go of all the things that is troubling us. Purely observe our (wondering) mind and let our thoughts pass, don’t attach to any thoughts that may arise and let our mind rest. Don’t you think we all deserve a break from this busy world, relax but don’t fall asleep :)!

Tags: Buddhism, icbs, temple, Travel, ULUBUDA
Categories: Weblog, Buddhism