Introduction

In modern society, most people are striving for worldly perfection, happiness and success. Many of them strain themselves to gain material desires. These uncontrollable desires cause suffering, for when the desires are being fulfilled people are contented, but if not, they despair, or can even, become insane. Thus, people can easily become the victims of failure simply because they cannot realize that success and happiness lie within themselves.

According to the teaching of the Lord Buddha, the real cause of our suffering is the lack of skill in utilizing our minds. The Buddha taught that the mind is the place where both happiness and suffering are stored. It is also the only means by which we can release ourselves from our own suffering through the practice of meditation.

Meditation is the most direct method by which we can start to diminish our suffering. Meditation improves the mind from the unhealthy condition suffered by most people who have not yet discovered the "secret" of meditation. From a state vulnerable to distraction and superficiality, the meditator will begin to recover the still and shining mind which lies beneath the chaos of mundane thought. Far from being something mysterious or supernatural, this shining mind is the most healthy and natural mental condition which can be attained by human beings. It can be enjoyed by anybody who is willing to practice meditation.

The benefits of meditation are many-fold for the individual willing to practice and for the friends and society surrounding them. With a secure mind, the meditator can rise above the superficiality of everyday problems. With a penetrating and creative wisdom, the meditator can understand the root causes of his suffering and thereby has the chance to shed this burden. The meditator will also understand the causes of the problems affecting the people and environment that surrounds him. With the confidence borne of a secure and healthy mind, the meditator will find that he can genuinely help anybody who is in need of assistance. As more and more people learn to practice meditation, the self-discipline which arises naturally from the practice will produce effects which spread to improve the quality of life for society as a whole.

The meditator's ultimate benefit is to be able to really penetrate and understand for himself, the source of his religion or philosophy. The human lifespan is short one. Surely the best that any human can achieve, is to find the source of True Happiness; and to allow True Wisdom and Compassion to reflect in the dealings of his everyday life.