DHAMMA PADETHA – 7. IF YOU WISH TO HAVE PEACE, ENTER A MEDITATION CENTRE (YEIKTHA)  

DHAMMA PADETHA – IF YOU WISH TO HAVE PEACE, ENTER A MEDITATION CENTRE (YEIKTHA)

   Every living being wishes to be happy and thus search for happiness. Also wishes to live in places where one can be at peace. A place where one can stay at peace is called a yeiktha.

      In Myanmar language yeiktha is a combination of two words: “yeik” means “ayeik” (shade); “tha” means happiness or peace. Therefore, it means a peaceful shade or a shady peaceful place.

      There are five kinds of shade.

     (1) the shade of a tree

     (2) the shade of parents and relatives

     (3) the shade of a teacher

     (4) the shade of a ruler

     (5) the shade of Lord Buddha’s dhamma or Teachings

      Among these five shades, the shade of relatives and parents is more peaceful than the shade of a tree. The shade of a teacher is more peaceful than the shade of relatives and parents. The shade of a ruler is more peaceful than the shade of a teacher. The shade of Lord Buddha’s Teachings or dhamma is more peaceful than the shade of a ruler.

      (1) The shade of a tree makes a weary traveller who has travelled in the heat of the summer sun, cool and happy both in body and mind when he/ she gets rested under the big cool shade.

      (2) To get the shade of the tree is only momentary. One is happy just at the time of staying under that tree. To get the shade of relatives and parents is better because one gets the wealth, property and legacy so that one can be happy in one’s whole life. That is why the shade of relatives and parents is better than the shade of a tree.

     Motto: The shade of parents is better than the shade of the tree, ’tis true happiness.

      (3) To get the shade of relatives and parents is peaceful because one gets wealth and property legacy. However, the wealth can be destroyed by robbers and bandits. But to get the shade of a teacher one can obtain vocational education and therefore, live peacefully. Knowledge or education cannot be destroyed by robbers or bandits. That is why the shade of a teacher is more peaceful than the shade of relatives and parents.

     Motto: A teacher’s shade is better than the parents’, tis true happiness.

      (4) In the shade of a teacher one gets only knowledge or a vocational education and is happy. But to be in the shade of a ruler who rules the county, one is free from danger internally and externally. Thus one can acquire education, wealth and dhamma so that one is happy in many ways. That is why a ruler’s shade is more peaceful than the shade of a teacher.

     Motto: A ruler’s shade is better than the teacher’s tis true happiness.

      (5) To get the shade of a ruler one is free from harm and is happy in this life. To be in the shade of Lord Buddha’s dhamma or Teachings, one is happy in this life as one gets the peacefulness of dhamma. In future lives, one is free from the unhappiness of apaya and all kinds of suffering. Thus, one is happy. One can also reach the noblest state of nibbana. Therefore, the shade of Lord Buddha’s dhamma is more peaceful than the shade of a ruler.

     Motto: The shade of Dhamnia is more peaceful than the ruler’s shade, ’tis true happiness.

      Consequently, to be free from all kinds of suffering and if one wishes to attain nibbana enter a Meditation Centre (Yeiktha).