Stories

Steps to Sustainable Happiness: Achievable or Just a Dream?

Ven. Narongchai Thanachayo, President of Chiang Mai International Monks’ Retreat, elaborated on developing happiness according to Buddhism:

Buddhism teaches that life begins with suffering, but happiness can be cultivated in stages, whether it is physical happiness or mental happiness.

Happiness of the Householder:

What is “The Essence of Buddhism”?

Ven. Narongchai Thanchayo, President of the Chiang Mai International Monastic Residence, explained that the heart of Buddhism is crucial. In English, we refer to this as “The Essence of Buddhism.” Let’s explore this concept.

3 things that will make our life happy

Ven. Narongchai Thanachayo, President of iMONASTERY Chiang Mai said, “People who have mindfulness, awareness, and concentration will be able to live in this world no matter what the situation is. They will be able to maintain the quality of their minds, to be clear, pure, and happy..”

Mr.Yu is a 34-year-old computer engineer from Singapore. He describes working as a “typical corporate slave.” He states, “things that corporate perceives as great values I have them. But things that humanity perceives as great values do I have that? These are the sort of questions I ask myself.”

Monk Domingo is from Spain with a background in human resources. He has been meditating since 2015 and has been a certified mindfulness and meditation trainer with World Peace Initiative since 2019.

Monk Andreas is a 21-year-old from Trondheim Norway who plays the church organ and is in his 3rd year of a 4-year music program. Monk Andreas came to the Monk Life program through the recommendation of his best friend and fellow brother Monk Christian who is currently ordained with him for the second time.

Monk Christian is a 22-year-old from Norway who was previously working at a restaurant two years prior to his first ordination in May. This is his second ordination program.

“I’m Simon. I’m 25 years old from Taiwan. Before I came here I was an accountant. I was working in my family’s company. I graduated in University since 2020. Since then I was working in my family’s company.

Monk Tim is a 56-year-old celebrity from Canada. A previous jazz singer and former radio host of the Canadian broadcasting corporation who hosted a jazz radio show for over 10 years, decided to dedicate the rest of his life to the “pursuit of life’s worth and learn more about well-being and positive psychology.”

On how ordination changed his life the first time he states, “I ordained the first time after various stresses in my life. Since going home my relationship with my family and friends have improved enormously without any real effort. I continued to keep up my meditation and loving kindness practice.”

Regarding the turning point that led him to come to ordain at iMONASTERY Tim states, “During Covid I experienced a lot of suffering, depression and anxiety, from lockdowns, Black Lives Matter, and other negative news. I knew I had to do something and started looking into positive psychology and Buddhism.”

Having ordained twice before in other programs, I found the Monk Life Project surpassed my expectations. Every care has been taken to adjust the program to the needs of Westerners, as well as to ensure the best meditation experience with top instructors.

It’s always darkest before dawn. Those who are drawn to the light are most often those who see the darkness. One who sees Suffering, sees the Dhamma. Those who go forth as Buddhist Monks are not generally pure before they do so, rather they have realised the harsh reality of suffering and are seeking an end to it.