What if I told you that all of your life’s problems stem from one single cause? Will you believe me?

What if I told you I can show you the way to solve these problems? Will you think it is possible?

I don’t believe in belief, despite how paradoxical that statement is. And I don’t want you to blindly believe in me either. So let’s try it out and you see for yourself. Think of a problem – any problem. Lost love. Lost friend. Lost marks. Lost job. Lost money. Lost car. Lost opportunity. Lost reputation.

Now think for a minute how you feel. Unhappy, angry, depressed, frustrated, pity, disappointed, self-critical, or maybe unloved. Whatever the feeling stay with it and recognise it is there. No need to push it away or suppress it. Don’t act upon it either.

Now ask yourself, “Why do I feel this way?” And keep asking yourself “why?” until you get to the root of your unhappiness.

You may come up with many answers, but let me propose that inevitably, it will always lead to one answer: attachment. Attachment to things being the way they are and people being a particular way. Attachment to our views as right, and feeling our egos threatened with every criticism.

But everything is impermanent and subject to change. Things change, circumstances change, people change, and most importantly, we change. Problems often arise when we live and attach to things as if they are supposed to be permanent, instead of changing ourselves to the natural rhythms of life.

If we accept that attachment can cause unhappiness, then obviously letting go is a source of happiness. But what does that actually mean? It doesn’t mean to give up or to be indifferent. It has a much more profound meaning than that.

To explore more on this theme of attachment, the UNSW Buddhist Society (UNIBUDS) will be holding its anniversary celebration of performances and festivities on the 25^th August from 7pm to 10pm at the Sir John Clancy Auditorium. There will be a one-hour play, songs performed by our trained choir, multimedia animations, talks on Buddhism by a respected monk and nun, and a vegetarian dinner before the show at 6pm. Tickets cost $10 for UNIBUDS members and $12 for all others.

UNIBUDS also has other FREE weekly activities on campus, including Dhamma talks in English (Fridays, 7-9pm) and Chinese (Thursday, 6-8pm) and Meditation Sessions (Tuesday and Thursday, 1-2pm).

For more information, please log onto our website at www.unibuds.unsw.edu.au

- Article printed in Blitz -