Two thousand five hundred years ago Shakyamuni Buddha realized the first step to true happiness, in realizing the nature of our life now - that all good things come to an end. Nothing lasts. The Buddha's realization of the truth of suffering is called “The First Noble Truth”.

We will learn how understanding the First Noble Truth is the foundation for this journey to true happiness - the method of transforming the ups and downs of daily life into the path of to enlightenment.

Motivation

When listening to a dharma teaching, there are three states of mind to avoid: A closed mind is like a closed pot – nothing will go in; A negative mind is like a dirty pot – what goes in will be impure; A distracted mind is like a leaky pot – nothing will be remembered.

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Whenever you engage in the teaching or listening to a teaching of the Buddhadharma, it is very important to show that you adopt the right and correct motivation, attitude. And therefore, in order to cultivate this correct motivation within our hearts and minds, we will do the recitation of taking refuge in the Three Jewels, and also reaffirm our generation for the mind for enlightenment, our altruistic intention.

Until I am enlightened,
I go for refuge to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
Through the virtue I create by practicing giving and the other perfections,
may I become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The purpose of my coming here, coming here to Mongolia, is that millions of people are being converted to Christianity but Mongolia is a Buddhist country. I felt responsible, that I must help.

So, one boy said “What is the difference between Christianity and Buddhism?” That is what he asked. For those questioning that God created everything - Why has God created suffering? Wouldn't it have been better if God hadn't created suffering? It has been in my experience, in the past when I discussed with priests and missionaries, you ask that question, then the answer comes “You just have to have faith.” But there is no reason to go deeper, to prove. So, it comes down to faith.