Expert: Bodhicitta - 9/19/2004

Question
I can't describe the long story, someone keep give me trouble, I asked many professionals, but their asnwer only make thing worse.

I don't know if I plant the seed, but I really want to start my own life, think positive don't help, he still try to take adventage of me, now I ask for spiritrual power, hope you can give some direction, thank you.

Answer
I feel you have a difficult life situation involving relationships.

You havent given us much detail. Maybe
discussing it with someone closer to you who you can
meet face to face is necessary if yo ucan find such a person. But I will say something and I will ask you
to forgive me if it doesnt talk to your situation
as its a shot in the dark, or a match lit in a dark room.

You feel something in your heart linking to a spiritual journey as part of changing a difficult situation you are in.

Buddhism talks about refuge a lot. We take refuge in many things in life our jobs, money, relationships that make us unhappy, family sports, hobbies. But all these things
let us down eventually and cause us pain. friends get old
or act selfishly, money once spent hasnt changed anything.
What ever worldly thing we try in order to make us happy
lets us down. So we feel down for a bit, and then pull
ourselves up and try the next thing. We stumble through life with hopes and fears in this way.

So what could we take refuge in. What would be reliable?
what wont let us down?

The life story of the Buddha involved a prince 2500 years a go. He left his palace in search of something that could
be a source of refuge. It was said he had three experiences
that are called the messengers. he met someone old - which told him that we will all grow old so life is not a good refuge. He met someone sick - so he saw we all get sick. Then he came across a corpse so he saw we are all going to die.

Buddhism teaches meditation as a way of finding a deep truth in our hearts a truth that doesnt get thwarted by
changes of life.

So the Buddha told us to go find a teacher who could teach us meditation and find out this truth for ourselves through meditation A jewel that exists in all our hearts.

I wish you well in your spiritual journey

Love
Bodhicitta