In the lecture “Transforming False Notions of Suffering and Success,” Venerable Master Bennie from the Australian Buddhist Practice Incorporated discusses the concept of vọng tưởng (illusory thought) and its role in creating suffering. The dialogue between the Master and a disciple highlights how incorrect definitions and pervasive societal habits lead individuals to perceive ease as hardship and labor as undesirable, ultimately resulting in self-inflicted misery and failure. The Master emphasizes that true understanding comes from practical experience and hard work, contrasting the physically active and often happier lives of manual laborers with the sedentary, health-deteriorating existence of office workers who then pay to exercise. He concludes that redefining one’s concept of work and suffering through continuous practice is essential for genuine transformation and well-being.
