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The Art of Happiness
The “Returning to the Source” retreat is not for acquiring Buddhist knowledge as in a university, but for practicing to heal body and mind by “listening to the Dharma like rain falling on the earth of our heart”: not thinking, comparing, or judging, but allowing the Dharma talk to directly water the wholesome seeds—of happiness, insight, and love—in our store consciousness. When the Dharma rain touches us, wholesome mental formations arise, making our consciousness fresh and beautiful; on the other hand, if we water the seeds of anger, our consciousness becomes dark and sorrowful. The teacher only makes the rain; love and happiness are already present, we only need to water them in the right way so they can sprout.
Each day we are given 24 precious hours, but we often live like “the destitute child” who wastes the inheritance that is the present moment. The Buddha taught sixteen methods of breathing to generate joy (the fifth breath) and happiness (the sixth breath), and at the same time, the seventh breath “recognizing suffering” and the eighth breath “embracing suffering” with mindfulness, concentration, and insight, helping to reduce suffering and plant seeds of happiness. At any time, with each breath, each step—under the blue sky, white clouds, whispering pines, blooming flowers—can become a source of joy when we let go (relinquish) of all attachments and dwell peacefully in the here and now.