First, I would like to warmly greet the teachers and scholars of the great religions present here, and all of you. This is a great opportunity for me, and I thank you. I am a Buddhist monk, but I do not want to teach you Buddhism; I am here to speak about happiness in this life. There are many religions in the world. Their philosophies differ, but their purpose is the same, because they all speak of love, compassion, and kindness.

All living beings, including animals, want happiness and wish to avoid suffering. What distinguishes human beings is a brighter, more capable mind, which seeks happiness through science, technology, and material means. Science and wealth have progressed enormously. To some extent, this brings happiness by making life easier. Everything has improved, but these are moments of happiness; ultimate happiness remains difficult to attain. Science and economics cannot give it to us: something is still missing. There are many religions and important religious figures in the world. It would be valuable for them all to work together, learning from one another to improve human life and achieve peace. Exchanging knowledge does not mean converting: everyone can remain within their own faith while sharing positive ideas. This could improve human life and lead toward happiness and peace. For example, Christians offer much help to poor people, those in need, and older people. This is a good example, and applying it within our own religion could be very helpful. Helping others can make us happy. Scientific exchange offers another good example: discoveries made in one country can be taken up and developed elsewhere, benefiting everyone. The same should happen in religion. As a Buddhist monk, I know our tradition offers good examples of actions that can help us be happy, and I would like to share them. When we speak of SAMSARA and KARMA, people have an intuitive sense of their meaning. Many think of them as phenomena appearing before us, without understanding their roots. Buddhism can help explain them.
KARMA is the law of CAUSE AND EFFECT. Buddhist philosophy helps us understand its origins. Neither positive nor negative KARMA comes from outside: both arise within us. Love, compassion, kindness, generosity, and caring for others drive positive KARMA. We generate negative KARMA whenever hatred, attachment, ignorance or mistaken views, and selfishness influence us—the three poisons!
We generate positive KARMA when we work for others and consider their well-being, and negative KARMA when we think negatively and harm others. NEUTRAL KARMA can arise when there is no thought. We may think our bodies were given to us, but they result from actions in previous lives. If our bodies had simply been given, we would share similar characteristics. Yet we differ in both our physical condition at birth and our personalities, so the conditions we experience in this life result from past actions. We accumulated positive and negative KARMA in the past, and our present happiness and suffering are their results. Buddhism says we guide our own path. We generate this KARMA ourselves through thoughts, words, and actions. We have the power to become loving, happy people or unkind, aggressive, unhappy people.
How can we guide ourselves toward goodness or its opposite? Our mind’s nature is PURE, but energies surrounding it can lead us down a negative path.
The three poisons are ignorance, attachment, and anger.
Anger: if it guides us, how will we feel, and what environment will we create? We will cause suffering for ourselves and others.
Excessive attachment and desire make us restless, always wanting more and increasingly dissatisfied. We must recognize that these energies can become enemies and learn to control them.
Often we do not know why we suffer or where suffering begins. If we recognize the three poisons and see these energies as potential enemies, we can work to bring them under control. (Comment: this is not Buddhism but simple observation of real life!) There are NINE potentially poisonous energies: the three poisons plus six others, including selfishness and envy. A monk must eliminate them completely because they are unnecessary in monastic life. For an ordinary person living in society, some desire and anger are normal and necessary because they prompt action. The challenge is learning to control and use them appropriately. Food without salt is unappetizing, but too much makes it inedible. Prayer and meditation help us find the right measure. How can we build positive energy? Through love, kindness, compassion, and generosity. Not only humans but animals, too, respond with love when treated lovingly.
If parents are loving and generous, their children will love them, and the surrounding environment will become loving. We can generate and spread love. If many people do so, we can create happiness for ourselves and others. As a Buddhist monk, I wanted to share my thoughts and these good examples. If they seem positive, reflect on them; if not, that is all right. If I have bothered you, I apologize, and I thank you.

Lama Ciampa Monlam

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