From time to time I have a look at the statistics page for our web site and there I can find what search phrases people are entering. One caught my attention this morning: "Can Buddhism make you happy?" It is interesting as the other day when I was on the train in Sydney a young woman sitting opposite me was looking intently at the bag I was carrying, you know, the type of bag that the Chinese Buddhist monks carry. It was given to me by my teacher. I sensed she wanted to say something and just at that very moment she asked: "Is that a Buddhist bag?" I replied that it is. Then she asked: "Some people say Buddhism makes you happy and peaceful. Is that true?" I did not have time to finish me answer when she had to alight at the next station.
Buddhism can be understood as a Life Education. It has a rational explanation as to why we are in a state of unhappiness and has clear methods to allow ourselves to up-skill. Ignorance is one of the biggest blocks to living a happy and peaceful life. The antidote for ignorance is education. Many mistake Buddhism for Meditation. While meditation is certainly an integral part it is still only part of the story. Without first knowing why we came into the state we are in then any meditation will only give partial results at the best. The four Noble Truths of Buddhism outlines the syllabus, if you like. The first of the Four Noble Truths tells us our condition. The second tells us why we are in that condition. The third and fourth show us a way forward. Lasting happiness and inner peace can only come through a thorough knowledge of our condition.
As Buddhists we often refer to our practice of Buddhism. Like any new skill it takes practice. No top sports person becomes so overnight. It takes years of hard training to gain success in a particular sport. In our practise of Buddhism we must apply equal effort. Beads have been a part of our history for a long time, and jewelry beads played a very important role in
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