Dancing with Dukkha, Embracing Sukha
Bhikkhu Mokkhita's journey into meditation began with a transformative 10-day course in Germany in 2005, profoundly impacting his life and setting him on the path of Dhamma, something he shared with us during a recent podcast conversation. The calling deepened when he encountered a video showcasing the life of Burmese monks, which resonated with him and prompted him to seek further understanding in Myanmar. He later traveled there, seeking to deepen his practice, and found a welcoming monastery near Yangon. The guidance and kindness of the monks there reaffirmed his spiritual path. Although he was initially hesitant due to personal commitments back home, he eventually returned to Myanmar, ordained as a monk, and immersed himself in the culture and practices of the Sangha. His experiences in Myanmar, particularly the generosity of its people, inspired him to give back through service, leading to his significant work with the Mudita Foundation.
“The greatest joy I feel because I can think of the suffering of the world inside my heart and mind, and I want to do something to lessen that suffering a bit.”
Seeing the Dhamma, seeing Dukkha, it's there; we are all suffering beings in this world. Not everything is suffering; there's much joy Sukha as well, but dukkha is apparent, and it's looking for me, and it doesn't seem to get any better in the world.
Autocratic countries are teaming up and getting stronger and more, and we see climate change is making things no better. Seeing what is happening now in India, for example, it's hard to see. To see that's the state of our world, that's the state of Myanmar; this is what we are going through. In my lifetime, we'll probably see the world as we know it.
The world has changed in many ways, and things will get more complex over time. I am prepared for this; this is something that I'm feeling. I'm not scared of this and don't want to hide away. I have a perfect situation here in Germany: a comfortable place to stay; I can work here in medicine if I choose to; I can have a good life, a good salary, go skiing, and go on holidays if I want to. But that's not some life that I would choose by ignoring the state of the world. It's a feeling of responsibility to do something against the suffering that happens in the world.
And that's also, at the same time, the greatest joy I feel because I can think of the suffering of the world inside my heart and mind, and I want to do something to lessen that suffering a bit. I am not under the illusion that I could ever stop that suffering or even significantly bring it down, but I can do a little bit for a few people, for a few children, to show a better future.
For me and others, it's the best way to spend my lifetime here in Myanmar. If I saw more and more people going in that direction, we wouldn't be where we are. As the Buddha said, only a few people with less dust in their eyes can understand the Dhamma. There was never a majority of people practicing the Dhamma who could understand the world's reality. There will be suffering, and there will be few people who will realize we have to do something; fortunately, more and more, But those people harming are also getting stronger; we need to see which side we are on; do we live in ignorance and prioritizing safety and building walls, with America first or Germany first, trying to protect the resources, but rather look for what we can share to open up help each other. Experience this for yourself; for me, that's the greatest joy and the best I can spend my life lifetime with.