by. K.Sri Dhammananda

'Happiness,' said Life, 'is a wayward prize,
To be won by men with patient striving;
Half the race you have run, now please arise,
And push on, the goal is at the turning.'

Do you want happiness? This simple question will always be answered with a big 'Yes'. Yes, we all, without exception, want to have happiness, although the idea of what constitutes happiness and how it can be obtained differs from person to person.

One writer says, 'Happiness, as viewed by most people, is a much sought for destination. It is something to be. It is something to become. To this unfortune lot, happiness is the end of the rainbow, the pot of gold. They spend a lifetime chasing rainbows. They might as well chase their own shadows for they shall never find in the external that which only resides within.'

Critical Reflections on Theravada and a Plea for a New Buddhism
by S. Dhammika

As Buddha says, "Do not believe in anything you read or hear, even if it is said by your master. But after you can prove it is correct or benefits for all beings then you have to accept it."

That is exactly what the book wants the readers to. Either you take it as the truth or objectively observe on it, you have your own free will to decide.
This book is good to build up a critical thinking on the old traditions of Theravada, which never been questioned before.

It does not intend to discriminate the Theravada because the writer also mentioned the possibility of critics to Mahayana and Vajrayana as well.

Being realistic and objective, he only tried to gave critics based on his own observation as Theravadin monk. He believes, others would do better in commenting Mahayana and Vajrayana.

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The five most important requisites for a meditator who wants to practise Vipassana meditation for the achievement of Supreme bliss are as follows:

A Qualified Instructor

A qualified instructor is a person who has himself practised Vipassana meditation thoroughly and has acquired a very sound experience of meditation.
The meditator should see and relate to the instructor very often about his experience of the meditation.
During the interview, the instructor can guide the meditator on the correct method of meditation.
If the meditator is discouraged due to lack of progress, the instructor must give him some words of encouragement.

A Firm Faith

Not all meditators have firm faith in meditation. Some do have the characteristics, namely, obedience, faith, discipline, honesty and diligence. But they still have weaknesses in the mind which must be recognized.

With insight, the mental impurities of laba (greed), dosa (ill-feeling), moha (ignorance) can be uprooted. Only meditators with firm faith and the correct view of themselves will have the ability to attain mental purification.

Good Discipline

For best results, it is recommended that one seeks training at a proper meditation centre. From the time the lessons in meditation begin until a meditator leaves the centre, he will have practically no time to attend to external activities

Those who enter into a meditation centre usually get up very early in the morning and practise meditation for many hours. this insufficiency of sleep,
under normal circumstances, may affect the health of a person. But it does not affect the practising meditator, because of his mental concentration.

General conversation on worldly affairs, smoking, reading of newspaper, books, watching television, writing letters, doing anything which is not connected with meditation, are not encouraged at the centre.

Real Honesty

In relating his experiences to the instructor, the meditator must be truthful. He must relate only the facts, good or bad, which the meditator has definitely experienced.

If he does not have mental concentration, or if he loses faith in the meditation, he must reveal it.

There are some meditators who have learnt about meditation either from others or from books. During the interview with the instructor, they may relate these facts as if they are their own. This kind of untruthful dealings must be avoided at any cost.
If the meditator does not tell the truth to the instructor the latter will not be in a position to help him.

The meditator must relate only what he has experienced during meditation and not what he imagines he has experienced.
He must therefore be able to examine himself

Persistent Diligence

As has been pointed out above, the task of uprooting loba, dosa and moha is not an easy task.
If requires unflagging effort, patience, strong determination, devotion and understanding of the real purpose of Buddhist meditation.

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Our parents are the most wonderful and precious treasures that we are given. But we never fully realise their importance or ever cherish them enough.

I never understood how dear my parents truly are until I became a mother myself. The hardship of the pregnancy, the labour, the birth experience, the difficulties of nursing and looking after a newborn _ all these and more along the path of motherhood enabled me to comprehend just how dear and precious my own parents are, especially my mother.

I can never be thankful, grateful, appreciative or ever repay her enough for what she has sacrificed and done for me.

I believe the same goes for everyone out there. We can never love our parents enough because our love will always be wanting compared to the boundless love and sacrifice which our mothers enveloped us in since we were conceived.

This book pays tribute to all mothers and fathers, past, present and future.

May anyone who sees, reads, talks, hears or remembers this book awaken to be more loving, caring, grateful, patient, thankful and kinder to their mothers and fathers.

I sincerely thank Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh from the depths of my heart for giving this wonderfully simple yet direct teaching, and for so kindly allowing us to republish
this book for free distribution.

May all sentient beings be well and happy.
May all progress well on the path of the Dharma!

Yours in the Dharma,
Sister Esther Thien
Executive Editor

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A Rose for Your Pocket

A good marriage should grow and develop gradually from understanding and not impulse, from true loyalty and not just sheer indulgence.
A marriage is a partnership of equality, gentleness, generosity, calm and dedication.
Each is complementary to the other; giving strength and moral courage to each other;
supporting and appreciating the other in caring and providing for the family.


Are you wondering what it takes to maintain a truly happy married life? Or what is Buddhist view on marriage?
In this book, Ven.Dr Dhammananda emphasises the important note that marriage is a partnership of two individuals and that this partnership is enriched and enhanced when itallows the personalities involved to grow.

In the Buddhist perspective, marriage means understanding and respecting each other’s beliefs and privacy.

If a man can find a suitable and understanding wife and a woman can find a suitable and understanding husband,both are fortunate indeed.
- The Buddha.

If we investigate thoroughly the root causes of social problems such as pre-marital sex, teenage pregnancies, unhappy marriages and divorces, child-abuse and wife-battering,
we invariably discover that all these occur due to selfishness, lack of patience, tolerance and mutual understanding.
Since time immemorial, man has worked and struggled very hard to attain happiness. But very often, due to man’s ignorance of the nature of life, he does not know exactly what gives happiness.