We need not to ask why were we born? We didn’t intend to. I used to raise this question as a theme of my talk. But now, I want to tell you the truth that we didn’t intend to be born, but we were already born. The next question is, since we were born already, what do we need to do? We need not to answer why were we born? The problems, once we were born, arise because we can’t control the instinct. We are selfish which causes us sufferings. We need to accept that we must fight with sufferings. We must try to get rid of them. The truth is that we are suffered because we can’t control the instinct. We can’t control the selfishness, reproduction, the need for food, clothing. Therefore, the suffering would disappear when we can keep the instinct under control, and eliminated when we reach Arahantship. Now we are not an Arahant yet, we need to know the instinct and keep it under control. We can prevent before it arises, find solutions after it arises, or eliminate it, because we have enough knowledge. Let’s study this truth in all aspects, not just in book, assumption or hearsay. See the truth by ourselves that when the instinct arises, it causes all kind of problems around us. The first one is the instinct of having ‘self,’ later, to survive, to seek food, to consume food, and many more, including to show off. Even animals like cat, chicken, like to show off. It causes some small, some big problems. We need know it in details. I’ll give many talks about this. Suffering arises from the instinct, of ordinary untrained persons, such as, the desire to eat, to beautify, to hear beautiful sound. Just observe the children, they want good food, the desire for good music. They want them all time, but when they don’t get, or only get some, or sometimes get too much, all of these could cause problems. It just the story of the instinct. If we have enough knowledge, we can control it. Ones seek food, consume it properly or store it when needed. This kind of problem
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Atammayatasara