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64 EASTERN HORIZON | DHARMA THOUGHTS

earlier. Note the significance of the word ‘Be-ing’ – with emphasis on the present moment. When
each present moment has been experienced it becomes the past and by living these moments
cumulatively we can say at death that we have lived a ‘happy life ‘.

In the Kālāma Sutta, AN 3.65 the Buddha declares that if we live nobly then when we die it is
reasonable to expect to maintain this state of mind in heaven, if there is such a place. If, however,
there is no after life and no heaven, then we have lived a heavenly existence here anyway!

The entire teaching of the Buddha consists of helping human beings to be happy in this life. In the
Mangala sutra for example the Buddha enumerates 38 mangalas which help one to experience
happiness. Mangala means ‘that which cuts off undesirable states’, hence a blessing. One of the
blessings listed is ‘kataññu’ meaning knowing or recognising a benefit or boon one has received and
developing a strong desire to reciprocate that good deed. Kataññu is therefore generally translated
as gratitude. Gratitude gives rise to humility and combats cynicism and thoughts of entitlement.
Closely associated with gratitude is another positive attitude and that is appreciation. We saw that
kataññu means ‘recognizing what has been done’. Of course, if what has been done has benefitted us
in some way we feel joyful over it and it increases our sense of well-being. Someone said ‘Happiness
is not a destination, it is a journey’. So the purpose of our life is not to gain happiness at the end of it,
but to live daily, constantly suffused with a sense of well-being. Gratitude and appreciation will go a
long way towards achieving it.

It is ironic that while we are living in an era of unprecedented development in science and
technology which has made available undreamed-of creature comforts as well as access to
knowledge, humans are probably suffering anguish, fear and despair at a level unsurpassed at any
other time in history. The Buddha referred to this in the Aggañña Sutta, DN 27 where he showed
how suffering arose as a result of spiritual development not keeping pace with material progress.
Today many believe that happiness can be achieved by pandering to the desires of the senses.
But pleasing the senses can only give pleasure. Happiness, according to the Buddha, entails the
wisdom to go beyond the senses and developing the virtues such as contentment, friendliness and
compassion.

Health is the greatest gain
Contentment is the highest wealth
The trustworthy are the best relatives
Nirvana is the highest happiness
Dhp 204

Wealth and materialism by themselves are not evil. In fact they can be a source of great good. What
we need to guard against is the delusion that materialism is the source of ultimate, permanent
happiness. The world can continue to pursue material wealth but this progress must be balanced
with a concern to cater for the needs of our spiritual goals by developing the four Brahma vihāras,
contentment, gratitude and appreciation. Only then can we combat the evils of greed, hatred and
delusion. It is only when positive attitudes like these are globally practised that we can achieve a
truly successful civilisation which develops human potential to its highest level. Then we can have
heaven on earth. EH