“When the students ready, the master appears” How do you interpret the proverb?
I have spent 20 commemoration of Vesak day each year but I never felt the real sensation like yesterday. That explains if I am some kind of a dunce or something.

Yesterday, I did come right on time before the ceremonial started which I usually missed 15 minutes late-least. Finally, I sat calm without talking for once since all my friends are in the different seats and rows; I chant the paritta without discord tone; I follow the meditation as we all trying to increase mindfulness; I took a fully attention to the Bhante’s dhammadesana; I did the Padakkhina (Circumambulation three rounds, always keeping the object of worship to the right and with the hands clasped together in adoration) with fully awareness of present.

While I did the Padakkhina ritual, walking along the road, circling three times, at that moment I can really sure you that I am one of the happiest person I ever felt in my whole life. I don’t know why I can so that blissful. First I thought that the high spirit must be some delightful as I have plan with friends to go to starbucks coffee after the ceremony and drinking one tall Caramel Java chips with ½ price, but it’s not the only reason.

The reason why we happy or sad can be answered by ourselves. I can control if I wanted to be happy or to feel sad on my own. One of my friend text me the other day, “Happiness or sadness, joyful or sorrow depends on ourselves on our thoughts, not determined by external factors. Happiness is state of mind not a set of circumstances. I can choose to be happy today.” She’s absolutely right.

The other reason maybe because of Dhammadesana content by Bhante Sri Paññavaro Mahāthera. Based on the Buddha taught, Bhante told us if we want to be happy, secure, and successful in life, we must rely on ourselves and hold ourselves responsible for our actions or inaction. The Buddhist law of kamma teaches us not only self-responsibility for our deeds, but also that the results (vipaka) of past deeds can be nullified partly or wholly by present skillful, energetic action, self control. We must forget the past, assume responsibility for present action, and determine to shape our life in the way we want according to the principles of the Dhamma. In this way we can face the future with confidence and after we can conquer ourselves, our ego then we can delivered on the life of members within the family and within the society, all human beings. The ideal relationships that we should develop with respect to our family and the society at large are based on the acceptance of reciprocal responsibilities between people.

Buddhist believe in a just and rational law of universe that operates objectively, automatically and speak in terms of cause and effect instead of rewards and punishments from the supreme beings a.k.a you-know-whom-I-talking-about.

May all beings be happy.

"By self is one defiled,
By self is one purified."