Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Jayasaro

The Venerable Ajahn Jayasaro, a Bhuddist monk, gave a Dhamma talk on happiness at Group T on Friday, May 28, 2010. The Dhamma is part of Group T's engagement with plurality.

Contrary to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Bhuddism is not a belief system but an educational one. This was reflected in the way Ajahn Jayasaro presented his talk: a lecture containing information, wisdom, accounts, and tips, accessible and useful for both bhuddists and non-bhuddist.

One of the keys to finding true happiness and also one of the pillars of bhuddism, is the notion of giving and sharing. By giving, the monk explained, you indicate to what extent you cling to the material and also how you can free yourself from this. By sharing you prove that your life can add meaning to that of the other.

Someone in the audience wondered whether technology can contribute to happiness. He said that it was imposible to give a straightforward answer to that question, but rather suggested we consider which values we find important in life. We should ask ourselves what and how much we really need and to which ends we want to use technology.

Ajahn Jayasaro was born in England in 1958. His interest in Bhuddism grew after a yearlong stay in India at the age of 17. He left for Thailand only a couple of years later. Ajahn Chah, one of the most important meditation masters, guided him towards his ordination as a Bhuddist monk.

From 1997 to 2002, Ajahn Jayasaro was the abbot of Wat Pa Nanachat. This unique monastery counts about 20 nationalities who follow the traditional monastic training in English. Currently, he is living in seclusion at the foot of the Kow Yai mountain. He meditates and writes books on Buddhism.

Ajahn Jayasaro is renowned for his impressive speaches, both in English and in Thai. For example, he spoke to UNESCO in Paris on the theme Education for Non-violence, Solidarity, and Happiness.

Happiness and Suffering are central to Buddhism: by studying our behavior, our emotions, and our knowledge in the way of Buddha, we can diminish our suffering and possibily eliminate it. This is the path to real and enduring happiness.

• More on the dhamma talk by Ajahn Jaysaro in the fall 2010-issue of Interview.