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Q-12: Dear Venerable,  nowadays many people are talking about meditation. One of my friends is always saying that meditation is very good and very important in life. Though I am a Buddhist, so far, I have not yet practised meditation. Now my question is “how do see my life without meditation?”

All the best,

Steve Ehrner

A-12: Dear Steve Ehrner, I think your life without meditation would be akin business as usual. Meditation is somehow like doing physical exercise for  our physical health. We do meditation, a spiritual exercise, for our spiritual health. By doing physical exercise, you can have  a healthy life and may be able to resist some infectious diseases. You  are likely  to be less prone to sickness than others who do not exercise.

However, as the saying goes, “Sleep moderate, eat moderate, die one day anyway.” I believe meditation can help one to understand oneself and others. And better understanding can give rise to patience and happiness. For example, anger is an infectious mental disease. Those who have concentrated mind  are less  agitated and can control their anger to some degree. Am I right to say less anger means more happiness?

I think it is  really a personal choice as to whether one does exercise or not or one does meditation or not.

We all agree that we want healthy bodies and strong minds. However, some  do not like to put to practise what they agree while others  will fervently pursue it.

So, a life without meditation will definitely be a business a usual.

 With Metta,

U Cittara

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Dhamma Questions are answered by Bhante U Cittara, resident monk of Mangala Vihara, and his assistant monks. Questions and comments on given answers are welcome. Send your questions and comments to resident_monk@mangalavihara.org.sg.