Obstacles to Working Hard for Happiness - A Lama Marut Video

Why aren't we doing the things in life we know are the most important? What's preventing us from developing the "joyful effort" we need to progress in our spiritual lives? The main obstacle to working hard, happily, for real and lasting happiness is laziness. Laziness can mean "just not feeling like it" -- always procrastinating and putting off what we know we should do. But laziness can also involve keeping so busy with unimportant things that we don't have the time and energy to dedicate to our spiritual lives. We must learn to "get unbusy" with things that don't really matter in order to joyfully work hard for the things that do.

This videocast is taken from a Tibetan Heart Yoga Teacher Training course held in Tucson, Arizona, in September of 2007.

For Lama Marut's audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html


For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Lama
• Marut
• Buddhist
• Monk
• Tibetan
• Buddhism
• Happiness
• Spirituality
• Religion
• meditation
• teaching
• social

[surrealistful]

@hearts0ngs Thanks for your comment. You make a very, very good point. I may have been in a disturbed state of mind when I said that. Today I am re-watching this video, and it's much different than the last time. : )

[hearts0ngs]

-->"...because most of the world's people don't have access to all those things (at once)...the confluence of good conditions for me is very rare...I should live in gratitude EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE, that I have the available time and capacity to practice the Buddha-Dhamma." That was how I basically kicked myself in the backside and got back into my practice of Dhamma in a more concerted way.

[hearts0ngs]

Just as Lama Marut points out, when the mind is in a depressed state, it is very self-absorbed, and the 'cure' is the direct opposite - stop thinking of oneself all the time, so compulsively and obsessively bemoaning how rotten one's life is as compared with (some) others one might know! I've just 'emerged' from a spell of depression myself, and I confronted that mind-state thus: here you are with: food, shelter, clothing, clean water, and health...AND Dhamma Teachings...AND YOU ARE DEJECTED?!

[hearts0ngs]

@surrealistful He certainly doesn't fit the stereotype of 'calm and peaceful monk' that most of us carry around. But, I cannot find anything untrue in what he says; it is all Dharma (as far as I can see). The colourful way in which he describes blowing up TV sets is just humour, and maybe what the average TV-obsessed American (or Australian) needs to hear, to rattle their attachment.. So maybe we should not judge based upon outer personality, but rather upon virtuous conduct and realization.

[goodkarmalife]

Some of historys greatest Teachers are those who "Ruffle our feathers" The best teachers "get in your face" to get you outside of your "comfort zone" to make you question things that you normaly wouldn't . And this one is the "Master".

[uploadexplode]

@surrealistful all in it together. peace :)

[surrealistful]

@uploadexplode This is something to think about. Thanks!

[surrealistful]

@precioustange Agreed, there is such a tremendous difference.. .I advice people to check out videos by other Buddhist monks.

[surrealistful]

Who is this guy? He speaks with fear and doubt........ almost a robust ignorance about the way he expresses himself.

[Handsx]

people are afraid to progress. if you took away tvs, then people would have a lot more time to figure themselves out and actually DO something. buuuuut, people like to be comfortable. we arent taught AT ALL that we must face life and all its dangers in order to be happy. most people think once you get to a certain point you can just stop and enjoy everything. no way! life is a constant battle. we must continue to progress in order to survive in the long run. where is our sacrifice these days?