| Led Buddhist precepts guide us through 2009 |
| Monday, January 5, 2009 |
Following the path shown by Lord Buddha will enable us to deal with discontent and suffering
The fire tragedy at the Santika Club, in which more than 60 people were killed during the New Year holiday, marks only the beginning of a difficult year that we are going to face. There will be more uncertainties, from the war in the Middle East, the impending collapse of global financial capitalism to the political turmoil in Thailand.
Most Thais are feeling uncertain about their jobs and their security. So do people from all over the world, who are feeling unsure of what lies ahead. They used to have assets, but now they feel they are poorer.
While nobody can predict the future, let us go back to some of the Buddhist principles to guide us through 2009. In good and in bad times, Buddhism has always given us the strength to be aware of what we are and the best course of action for our lives. If all of us practice Buddhism, we'll find refuge in enlightenment and reduce the cause of suffering.
First, we should all seek refuge in the Three Jewels. These are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. While we can't escape our karma or effects caused by previous thoughts, words and deeds, the Buddha has shown us the way to escape from further suffering by becoming enlightened.
The Dharma represents the Buddha's teaching, which is the body of knowledge to help us avoid suffering and to achieve enlightenment. The Sangha is the community of monks, who carry the torch of wisdom and pass on the Buddhist practices and its tradition from one generation to another.
To take refuge in the Three Jewels does not mean that we try to run away or escape from this world. Rather, it means that we should find the Three Jewels in our heart.
The lay people generally try to follow the five precepts.
These are: I shall refrain from harming living creatures; I shall refrain from taking that which is not freely given; I shall refrain from sexual misconduct; I shall refrain from incorrect speech; and I shall refrain from intoxicants, which lead to loss of mindfulness.
The five precepts are the easiest way for the layman to practice Buddhism. They are fundamental to the conduct of a sufficiently happy life. Now, Thais are in conflict as never before. The root of the conflict lies in their ignorance of the actual political and social environment, their pursuit of self-interest, their use of foul language against each other and intoxication with what is wrong.
The next stage is to gain more insight about the Four Noble Truths. The fundamental of life is suffering or dissatisfaction because of our cravings. The Buddha pinpointed the cause of suffering or dissatisfaction and summarised it in the Fourth Noble Truths - Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha and Marga.
Dukkha is the suffering nature of life, governed by a state of change. Samudaya is the cause of suffering, caused by our attachment to or desire for something.
This is rooted in our ignorance.
Nirodha is an end to the suffering, which is what we should strive for. The ultimate road of Nirodha is Nirvana. Marga represents the path that leads us out of suffering.
Marga is further explained in the Noble Eightfold Path - right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
All of these eight paths should be practised all at once as if they are the singular element, although each element complements or reinforces each other towards helping us to become a better human being.
The Eightfold Path essentially consists of meditation, following the precepts, and cultivating the positive converse of the precepts.
The path may also be thought of as the way of developing our mental and moral discipline.
If most of us take time to study some of the fundamental precepts of Buddhism and practice them with a pure heart, one will have a better understanding of the world, will refrain from creating more problems for the world, will live sufficiently happily with the world.
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| posted by The Times @ 10:29 AM |
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