178

Love and Goodwill for the World

IT IS ESSENTIAL for all of us to be ever mindful to radiate love and goodwill for all beings on earth, so that our country and all the countries of the world, enjoy peace and prosperity, and the earth becomes a pleasant and happy place for all.

179

Love and Goodwill Returned

THE MONKS of olden days were forest dwellers, but came to no harm from the tigers, elephants and other wild animals that shared the forest. Why was this so? This was because of the power of love and goodwill which the noble monks ever radiated to all beings. Through the power of love and goodwill, the wild animals of the forest became mild and pacified, and regarded the monks with benevolence.

180

The Power of Love and Goodwill Increased

WHEN BUDDHISTS come together to radiate love and goodwill as a group, the power of love and goodwill are much intensified, and very much greater than that which is created by just one person.

181

The Power of Loving-kindness to Win Over Enemies

RADIATE LOVING-KINDNESS towards one who hates us, or harbours a grudge, wishing sincerely and ardently for that person's happiness and well-being. Before long, that person will greet you with humility, and cleansed of enmity. This has been the experience of many who have practised Metta bhavana in this manner.

182

The Protective Power of Love and Goodwill

THE PROTECTION afforded those who faithfully and ardently practise Metta-bhavana is truly miraculous. For such people, an ocean of troubles becomes a small pool, and a mountain a small hill. Fire and earthquakes do not harm such people. Even poison inadvertently taken loses its efficacy. Venomous snakes of wild and dangerous intent become tamed before such people.

183

A Mansion of Love

As PARENTS DEEPLY LOVE their children, and their children return this deep love, a household becomes divine with love, even if Metta-bhavana is not especially practised.

184

Human Nature

PEOPLE ARE NORMALLY forgetful and negligent of the Buddha's Dhamma of Truth. Only when faced with suffering, illness and danger do they remember the saving grace of religion. Such is the nature of ordinary people.

185

Prepare for Death

WISE AND LEARNED Sayadaws often admonish their lay disciples: "Be prepared for death." So that one can meet death bravely and gracefully, live according to this admonishment and be ever prepared for death.

186

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

ONE MUST LEARN to rejoice and share in the meritorious deeds of others. On encountering deeds of merit, it takes no effort to call with enthusiasm: "Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!" (Well done! Well done! Well done!), and one shares in the many benefits of the deed.

187

Too late, One Regrets!

ON REFLECTION, one realises how deep our parent's love is for us. When we become parents ourselves, we realise this even more, as King Ajata Sattu discovered when he became father of a son.

Many people tend to take their parent's love for granted, and become unmindful and inconsiderate. When their parents have passed away, only then, too late, do they lament how little they honoured, cherished and cared for their parents when their parents were alive.

188

First Heal The Mind

No MATTER HOW pained or diseased the body, keep the mind calm and mindful. Let not the mind too, become diseased. Let the shortcomings of the body be as they are, but cure the mind of the disease of impurities. A person with mind cleansed of all impurities is worthy of honour and worship even if his body be diseased.

189

Acts of Charity

ACTS OF CHARITY are as the magic Tree of Plenty. As one plucks off a fruit, another takes its place. As one gives in charity, one will receive greater rewards in return.

190

The Ordination Ceremony Repeated

IT IS SAID of the Ledi Sayadaw—a scholar-monk of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century renowned for his vast learning and for his practice and teaching of Vipassana that monks who had not received ordination at his monastery were re-ordained when opportunity arose. Monks having received initial ordination at his monastery were also re-ordained at least twice. One might ask if such re-ordination is necessary. The answer is that if the initial ceremony was faulted in any way, one truly becomes a monk only on re-ordination. If the first ordination was already successful, then the second and third ceremonies strengthen one's contentment with the monastic life.

Learned authorities in the Vinaya have also ruled that if one has performed deeds which are unwholesome or infringed upon monastic rules, re-ordination serves to remove, or at least reduce, the harmful effects of such deeds.

In like manner, kings of olden days performed their coronation ceremony two or three times. By such means, the honour and authority of the king were heightened.

191

Where Can it be Faulted?

IN ALL MATTERS, members of the Sangha have to answer the questions: "Is this wholesome or unwholesome? Can this be faulted? If it cannot be faulted, it must be deemed good." Surely a ceremony in which a monk reaffirms his determination to be a member of the Holy Sangha. and lay-disciples pay their homage, cannot be faulted on any grounds. It can only be judged good and meritorious.

192

Honour Lives On

ONE'S BODY and one's honour differ in this very important aspect. One's body is subject to decay, and lasts but for this life. In line with the saying, "The world may crumble but my vow stands forever!", the body perishes but one's honour lives on even after death.

193

Are We All Commendable?

HARD TO WIN indeed is existence as human beings, but are we all therefore worthy and commendable? This is not so! We must always uphold our morality, integrity and honour to be worthy and commendable. Otherwise, our lives remain empty of value, and we do not profit from having won human existence.

194

Commendable Living

WE PROFIT from having won this hard-to-win birth as humans only if we strive to cleanse ourselves of defilements, and strive always to be pure in thought, word and deed.

195

The Right Way to Maintain One's Wealth

JUST AS, in the depths of a great forest, a vast lake remains of no use to anyone, but fills with sand and silt and disappears, the foolish man may have great wealth, but he knows not how to use it to benefit himself, nor to benefit others. But the wise man uses his wealth well, both for himself and for his community. He helps his relatives and his friends when necessary. He lives thus free from blame, and is praised and respected by all. Such a person is assured of a good birth among the happy celestial beings.

It is by giving generously that one maintains one's well being and happiness in lives to come.

196

Arrogance and Conceit

AN ARROGANT, easily angered person is sometimes compared to an air-filled leather ball. When not inflated, the ball is soft and pliable, but when inflated, it becomes hard and rigid. Just so, a person puffed up with pride and conceit becomes intolerant and impatient, intractable and opinionated, and closed to the views of others.

197

Friends True and Friends False

IT IS EASY to find friends who are always sweet with their words, but they are "friends" in name only. Difficult to find are friends who speak plainly and point out faults and shortcomings, or otherwise give advice, if to do so is to our advantage. Such friends are true friends who have our interests at heart and sincerely desire our well-being. True friends not only speak plainly and honestly, but in turn, also know how to accept sincere advice in good spirit.

198

True Disciples

MERELY LISTENING to sermons on the Dhamma, one becomes a "disciple" in name only. True disciples are those who put the Buddha's teachings into practice, and becoming ever mindful of the Eightfold Path, strive ardently to purify their minds of all impurities, and thereby achieve Nibbana, the release from the sufferings of Samsara.

199

One Characteristic of the Noble Ones

A MOTHER COW is ever mindful of her newborn calf, nursing it with love and tenderness, watchful of its needs, and taking time to feed herself only out of necessity. Just so, a Noble One is ever mindful of the Eightfold Path, and strives ardently to control and purify his mind, although out of necessity, he must also shoulder the responsibilities and duties of monastic life, administering to the needs of his fellow-monks.

200

Love and Contentment

A PERSON who is content and satisfied with what he gets and can accept with equanimity whatever happens, does not easily become unhappy or angered over events or people. Such a person finds it easy to develop and harbour love and goodwill towards all.

201

Love and Courtesy

LOVE AND GOODWILL are gentle, subtle states of mind and, as a result, are not found in rough and ill-mannered persons.

202

Praise and Encouragement

WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL for the praise and encouragement we receive from people we respect and honour deeply, for this can raise our interest and enthusiasm, and lead us on to success and achievement.

203

Extraordinary Even as the Golden Peacock

EVEN AS A GOLDEN PEACOCK in a previous existence, the Future Buddha had developed wisdom and integrity, forbearance, patience and equanimity to very high standards, maintaining always loving goodness towards all creatures, and desiring only their well-being. Even as a peacock, the Future Buddha was an extraordinary individual. Let alone the creatures of the forest, even ordinary humans could not be considered as his equal.

204

The Buddha's Omniscience

BY STUDYING THE PITAKA (Buddhist scriptures), one learns of the Buddha's all-seeing, all-knowing omniscience. So much in the Pitaka that seems incredible and extraordinary can be proved by practical experience as being correct. If we accept then, the truth and wisdom of the Pitaka, we can accept too, the truth of the Buddha's omniscience.

205

Good People and Bad People

GOOD PEOPLE who discipline themselves and strive after worthwhile goals will give only good advice and instruction to others. Bad people, undisciplined and inclined to unwholesome and unmeritorious activities, will give bad advice and instruction.

206

A Source of Endless Delight

A PERSON who appreciates good literature can find endless delight in a beautiful poem, marvelling at the choice and placement of words and at the sense and emotions evoked. But such a poem is without value or delight to one who cannot appreciate good literature.

In like manner, one can find endless delight in the Buddha's teachings, marvelling at the depth, range and subtleties of content, and in the choice of words and parables.

207

Let there be No Causes for Regret and Sadness

SOME PEOPLE NEGLECT their aged parents, failing to care for them in their years of need. This can give cause for regret later when their parents have passed away, and with this regret, there will rest always a heavy sadness in their hearts.

208

Benefits of Speaking Well

A PERSON who speaks well easily becomes successful, can persuade, advise and instruct people to their advantage, and more easily wins the respect and love of his community. Thus, the ability to speak well brings benefits to oneself and to one's community.

209

Speak Well and Succeed

SOME ARE BORN with the ability to speak well. They interest and delight others with their speech. They can cajole, persuade, advise and instruct well without making special efforts.

However, with diligent effort, it is also possible for those not so naturally gifted to become good speakers. They can conscientiously broaden their general knowledge and study ways of effective speaking and presentation. By becoming good speakers, they make an important big step on the road to success and achievement.

210

The Speech of Fools and Good Men

LISTENING TO THE SPEECH of fools is like playing with knives, for it can bring us harm. But the speech of good men, guided by love and compassion, attracts discerning listeners just as the magnet attracts iron, and brings advantages to all.

211

Other People are Like Us too

WE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE to speak pleasantly to us. Rude or ill-mannered speech upsets and angers us. Liking pleasant speech ourselves, why then do we not speak to others always with courtesy and respect? Disliking harsh speech ourselves, why then do we sometimes speak harshly to others?

212

Where Learning May be Dangerous

A SNAKE may be adorned with rubies but nevertheless remains dangerous. Thus, a wicked person is to be avoided, even if that person is endowed with great learning.

213

A Good Place to Live

IT IS A BLESSING to be able to live where religious teachings and instruction are available, and where also one's education, prosperity and good health are not hampered in any way but can be further developed.

214

As a Person Blind

THE SCRIPTURES containing the Buddha's teachings are as the eyes of mankind, for through the scriptures, one's doubts are removed and one sees the sure road to personal well-being in this life and in lives to come. One who does not go to the scriptures for guidance and refuge is like a blind person.

215

Like People who Cannot Read

SOME PEOPLE do not write down and learn the Buddha's teachings, saying: "It is all there in the books." Such people are not much different from people who cannot read!

216

Learning that is Not a Blessing

ONE MUST ALWAYS have good objectives in learning and studying. One should not learn and study to defeat, slander and belittle others, or merely to show off one's earning. Such earning is no longer a blessing.

217

All Learning Has a Value

EVEN A LITTLE learning may one day prove its worth and bring benefits. Therefore, one must never think of learning as: "This is too little, this is not important, this is not relevant." All learning has value.

218

The Immediate Benefits of Charity and Alms-giving

A PERSON WHO has given with loving-kindness (Metta), compassion (Karuna) and sympathetic joy (Mudita) is always filled with joy to see his gifts benefiting others. In future, the remembrance of his good gifts and the benefits they have given others continues to fill him with joy. The advantages to the donor are therefore enjoyed both here and now, and in the future. One need not wait for future existences.

219

Lifeless, like a Blacksmith's Bellows

SOME PEOPLE, having no faith (in the benefits to be derived from acts of charity and alms-giving), do not give to others, but spend their wealth selfishly on themselves. Although they do not enjoy the benefits (of Dana) in future existences, they at least have enjoyed advantages in this present life. Some people fail to give to others, and fear also to spend their wealth on themselves. Wise men say that such latter people are like the blacksmith's bellows: they may be breathing but they are not living.

220

To Hunger for Criticism and Instruction

ON ONE OCCASION, Shin Rahula picked up a handful of sand and remarked: "How good it would be to have wise men, as many as the sand grains in my hand, criticise and instruct me!" All who understand the value of wise criticism and instruction hunger thus, for wise criticism and instruction to guide us swiftly and surely on the road to success and achievement.

221

Wealth, to Squander or to Use Well

WHEN SHOWERED with great wealth, unrestrained and undisciplined people squander their wealth recklessly. The restrained and disciplined know how to use their wealth well for the benefit of community and relatives, and thereby also win great merit.

222

However Ill-mannered a Rogue

THE LORD BUDDHA, seeing fully the dispositions of people, their shortcomings and mental defilements, whether great or small, apparent or hidden, was always able to give the most appropriate advice and instruction. Thus, however agitated, angered or ill-mannered a person, all became calmed and well-disposed on hearing the words of the Buddha.

223

Two Kinds of Learning

WORLDLY LEARNING IS for this lifetime and will not deliver you from the sufferings of Samsara. Concerning only the mundane, there is nothing really extraordinary about such learning. The Buddha's teachings however, will release you from the sufferings of Samsara, and give you the eternal bliss of Nibbana. How grateful one feels then, to experience even fleetingly this bliss of Nibbana. One comes, as never before, to love and worship the Lord Buddha as the Greatest of Teachers, Peerless and Omniscient.

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