زندگی از نعمت A Life of Blessings

Apart from the traditionally Buddhist countries in Asiawhere Buddhism remains strong, it is growing at anexplosive pace in America and many European countries,and is currently the fastest growing religion in Australia.Modern and educated people are increasingly findinga need for spiritual teachings devoid of fanciful storiesand myths, free from threats of punishments, andwithout beliefs which go against science and reason.Simple faith and worship are no longer enough in this dayand age. Buddhism with its practical and consistentteachings and its relevance to daily life, is able to satisfyintelligent and enquiring minds, and thus appeals verymuch to our present-day society. The Sigalovada Sutta,Vyagghapajja Sutta, Parabhava Sutta and Mangala Suttaare all very good examples of such teachings. They aresensible, readily applicable and lead to both personalimprovement and growth, and spiritual progress anddevelopment. This book is based on these four suttas.I hope to promote a greater understanding of Buddhismby presenting these essential teachings in a concise,uncomplicated and down-to-earth manner so that they canbe appreciated by more people. I had thought it useful toalso have these four suttas compiled into one compactbook for the easy reference of all practicing Buddhists and09for the convenience of all students of Buddhism. As such,the commonly available translations by Ven. Narada Theraare also included in the Appendix.The Buddha’s teachings were originally memorized andrecited rather than written down and read. But when writtendown, these recitations sometimes make for difficult reading.This is especially so when they originated more than 2,500years ago in conditions very different from that of ourcurrent age, and in a language quite unlike our own.Therefore, in line with the aim to make the teachings moreaccessible and easy to understand, these suttas have beenpresented in a modern context using contemporarylanguage. They have also been divided into chapters, withheadings, sub-sections and explanations inserted to makethem easier to read. However, the flow and sequence ofthe texts have been retained as much as possible topreserve the feel and spirit of the Buddha’s teachings.I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ven. S.Dhammika for his guidance and endless patience, Ven. Dr.I. Indasara Thero for writing the Foreword, Ven. PannyavaroMahathera for reviewing the booklet, and to Mr. LeongKum Seng and Ms. Han Ah Yew for their valuablesuggestions and help in checking the text. I am alsoextremely privileged to be able to work with Ms. Sylvia Bayon this book. My appreciation goes again toMs. Geelyn Lim for all her hard work on the design andlayout of this book. All mistakes, errors and omissions are10mine alone, and I will be happy to hear from anyone whocan correct them, so that this book can be improved on.Thanks also go to all my teachers and friends in the Dhammafor their support and encouragement from the verybeginning. My gratitude goes to my parents and my wife,Susan, for all the help they have given me in my ‘work’ ofpropagating the Dhamma. Finally my special thanks to thepeople all over the world who have made ‘Just be Good’so successful and for helping to spread the Dhammawherever they are.May all Beings be well and happy, and free from physicaland mental suffering. May all Beings embark on the Pathof the Buddha and realize Nibbana. May all the merits fromthis book be dedicated to the happiness and emancipationof all Beings, and to help protect and spread the Teachingsof the Buddha.T Y Lee