All Existences Are Based on Causes and Conditions – Fo Guang Shan (North Island) Lotus Link Humanistic Buddhism Study Class

On 18 March, Venerable Miao Yu led 11 members of the Lotus Link Dharma Class to reflect on feelings that bring suffering into their lives. She explained that our physical body is only temporary and all existence is based on causes and conditions, ie “real self” does not exist. Therefore when we attach to our own desires and expectations; suffering arises. She guided the members to reflect on the unhappiness they encounter in life and categorize them into the eight kinds of sufferings: The suffering of birth, old age, sickness, death, of being apart from those you love, of being with those you hate, of not obtaining what you seek and the suffering of the scorching heat of the five Skandhas (form, feeling, conception, impulse and consciousness).
Although life is full of ups and downs, self reflection increases as Humanistic Buddhism is put into practice.