The Buddha says (MN 46.2):
For the most part, beings have this wish, desire, and longing:
“If only unwished for, undesired, disagreeable things would
diminish and wished for, desired, agreeable things would
increase!” Yet although beings have this wish, desire, and
longing, unwished for, undesired, disagreeable things
increase for them, and wished for, desired, agreeable things
diminish.

OVERVIEW:

The Buddha’s teachings on the human condition are timeless, they are just as relevant to contemporary conditions as they were over 2,500 years ago. Faced with unprecedented, rapid changes and uncertainty in the world around us, we often feel lost and alone. Instead of giving into feelings of hopelessness, we can instead use these difficult circumstances to our advantage
as we chart our spiritual path. The Dalai Lama says, “For me, spirituality refers to the basic good qualities of human beings,
such as compassion, affection, gentleness, and humility. When these qualities are well established in our hearts, we will have more peace of mind and will contribute to the happiness of others.” No matter how many hardships we face, the purpose of life is to consciously develop these inner qualities because they are the cause of long-lasting happiness for ourselves and others.

Part 1 of the series of classes on Approaching the Buddhist Path by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ven Thubten Chodron covered Chapters 1 through 3. Recordings are available on the DNKL YouTube channel.

Part 2 will focus on Chapter 5 The Buddha’s Teachings Form a Cohesive Whole and Chapter 8
A Systematic Approach.

The class format centers around a presentation by Ven Tendrol, student input and discussion, and meditation. Students who would like to attend part 2 are encouraged to prepare by reading the first few chapters of the book.

Reference:
The Dalai Lama and Ven. Thubten Chodron. Approaching the Buddhist Path from the Library of Wisdom and Compassion. vol. 1. Wisdom Publications

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