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We have continuously spoken about the manner in which an
individual expecting the refuge of the Sasana of Buddha can acquire
successful results from Dhamma meditation.
We must know what methods one has to basically follow and how
one has to maintain the meditation in order to make the meditation
more successful. If we do not become aware of that it becomes
impossible for us to make a success of the meditation.
In the Tika Nipata of Anguttara Nikaya we come across a very
valuable sutta. The name of the sutta is Pathama Papanika Sutta.
May be most of us have read this. We should read such suttas
frequently. Our problem is not reading suttas frequently. Therefore
the best thing is to note down at least the name of the sutta when
we refer to a teaching. Then we get a chance to refer to it
frequently. We get used to it. If we note down a Dhamma fact it
will help us to avoid unskillful activities such as keeping on
thinking of useless things.
Then we have something wonderful to do. When we note down Dhamma
facts we can refer to them again and again. Then we become someone
who does this habitually. It is very valuable when we are on the
path to Dhamma. Otherwise we get misled even by a minor matter.
Because at such times there is nothing to refer to. Therefore we
should referring to teachings frequently.
When we read a sutta we get knowledge from it. We must make use
of that knowledge for a long time. Therefore keep a record of the
suttas you have studied. Some day you will realize the value of
such teachings. We should make use of them not only today but for a
very long time in the future.
In this sutta in Anguttara Nikaya Buddha tells us:
‘Oh Monks, the businessman with three characteristics does not
qualify to get wealth he has not received or enhance the wealth he
has acquired’. Oh monks, this businessman does not engage
methodically in his activities in the morning. He does not engage
methodically in his activities during the noon. Nor does he do so
in the evening. Oh monks. A businessman with these three
characteristics does not qualify to receive wealth or enhance the
wealth he has already received.
That businessman does not attend to his work methodically in the
morning, noon or evening. Sometimes he does a little in the
morning, does nothing in the daytime and does a little in the
evening. He does not engage in his business activities methodically
throughout the day. Consequently he does not earn any new wealth or
he does not increase the wealth he has already received. He fails
to improve his wealth. The wealth deteriorates. Don’t we understand
it?
We have seen some businessmen do something in the morning. Idle
in the daytime. Idle in the evening too. Some others idle in the
morning in laziness. He starts work very late in the daytime. By
that time others have completed their work. He cannot reach the
expected progress. Whatever progress he has achieved gets
deteriorated.
Therefore Buddha tells us
‘In the same way Oh Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu with three
characteristics does not qualify to attain merit that he has not
received or to improve on the merit he has already
achieved. What are these three factors? This Bhikkhu does not
engage in his Samadhi objective methodically in the morning. He
does not do so in the midday. He does not do so in the evening. Oh
Bhikkhus, A Bhikkhu with such characteristics is not qualified to
attain merit that has not gained or to improve the merit already
possessed’.
The reason is his not carrying out the meditation appropriately
throughout the day. He meditates for a little while in the morning,
idles in the midday, and in the evening meditates for a little
while. He does not carry out these activities so that they are not
systematically divided throughout the day. Therefore it is not
possible for him to achieve merit he has not attained. It is not
possible to improve on the merit he has already achieved. Why? He
does not practise after allocating the entire time in a balanced
manner.
You may note how we meditate. Sometimes we do not meditate in
the morning. Sometimes we do not mediate in the day time. Not in
the evening also. Some people meditate in the morning for a few
days. After that he does not meditate. We do not do it
systematically. If there is no systematic way how can we attain
merit that has not been achieved?
If we carry out several meditations little by little throughout
the day it will be possible to attain some degree of success after
sometime. If we do not follow that system afterwards also our
success gets diminished. We find it impossible to maintain that
success beyond that. Therefore we must get all these clarified.
That is why we said that once we learn a preaching we must
continue to be in touch with it. If we had not studied this Dhamma
we would not have got the results of it. Why? We would not have
been aware of the existence of this fact in the Dhamma.
If we do not make use of the Dhamma we have studied we will not
be able to get its benefits. That is why we wanted you to remember
the suttas you have studied. It may not be possible to remember the
entire sutta. But if you at least note down the name of the sutta,
and if you can have in your memory a rough idea of the facts in the
sutta it will be very useful. You may maintain a brief note to the
effect ‘There is a sutta like this. Such and such facts are
indicated in that sutta’. That will serve as a handbook. It
contains the teachings necessary for our progress on the path.
By Dr Padmaka Silva, Compiled with instructions by Ven
Ariyawansa Thero (Mahamevnawa Sri Lanka).
This article has been taken from Daily
News online edition.