General Discussion

In a message delivered around Day 112 of his walk for peace in the United States (approx. February 15, 2026), Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara shared a teaching on how to handle life's challenges, using lemons and bitter melons as metaphors.

Make Lemonade: Pannakara advised that when the world throws "lemons" or "bittermelons" (symbolizing suffering, challenges, and burdens) at us, we should collect them rather than react with anger.

Transform Suffering: He encouraged transforming these difficult experiences into something positive, such as making lemonade to get "vitamin C" or cooking the bitter melons for health benefits (which are good for diabetes), metaphorically turning obstacles into wisdom.

Mindfulness over Reaction: He emphasized that by staying calm, patient, and mindful, we can process negative experiences without letting them disturb our inner peace.

This message is part of a broader teaching on maintaining equanimity in the face of adversity, urging people to stop multitasking, reduce phone usage, and practice daily mindfulness.