On Sunday 13 September, devotees gathered at Nalanda Centre for a Dhamma talk by Sis Sunanda Ong on “How to Live Without Fear and Worry”, based on a Dhamma book written in 1989 by the late Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda.

Using the lion as a symbol of fearlessness, Sis Sunanda shared that true fearlessness arises from courage, truth and wisdom – seeing things as they really are.  Fear and worry often arise from attachment, cravings, comparison, insecurity and our resistance to the realities of ageing, sickness and death.

The way forward is through training the mind and reducing attachment to “I, me and mine”.  Sis Sunanda highlighted three common defilements – anger, selfishness and jealousy, and practical ways to overcome them through mindful observation, wise reflection and cultivating mettā and muditā.

She also encouraged devotees not to fear criticism, but to use it as a “mirror of the mind” to recognise our own shortcomings.  Through wise attention (yoniso manasikāra), compassion and purposeful living, we can gradually overcome fear and worry.

Let us strive to be like a good bus driver – allowing our defilements to “get down”, and steering our lives towards wisdom and compassion.

For more photos, please click here