28.04.2015 Views

Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

As more educated people like this professor hold only<br />

vague beliefs, so there is room in their hearts for<br />

knowledge of <strong>and</strong> faith in Buddhadharma.<br />

D. IMMEDIATE CAUSE—BY REASON OF<br />

STRESSES IN WESTERN DAILY LIFE<br />

Many people now believe only in science <strong>and</strong> its<br />

instruments, most of which seem to be used to increase<br />

desires. There are so many advertisements in<br />

newspapers <strong>and</strong> by the roadside tempting people to buy<br />

more <strong>and</strong> more things. Other desires are awakened by<br />

the "yellow press," pornography, cheap <strong>and</strong> nasty<br />

entertainments over the radio <strong>and</strong> television, <strong>and</strong> bad<br />

music arousing sensual desires. None of this is strictly<br />

controlled by the government but it is all in the h<strong>and</strong>s of<br />

the merchants with their selfish desire to make more<br />

money. It is often difficult to publish really good books,<br />

as only trashy literature brings in much money. From all<br />

these examples we can see that mammonism is already<br />

very strong.<br />

The interest of the multitude is not in the evils of<br />

sinning, for they have already rejected God <strong>and</strong> so can<br />

easily neglect his comm<strong>and</strong>ments; their only interest is<br />

having freedom to do as they please. Unrestrained<br />

freedom is now the aim of many foolish people who do<br />

not realize that they will not get happiness from this, but<br />

instead will only increase their miseries. So we see men<br />

<strong>and</strong> women freely having improper relations with one<br />

42

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!