How old are you?
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/
Volume
6 no 2
Feature
Seize The Day
In the Noble Eight-fold Path[1] taught by Buddha, the Right
Action[1] advocates practitioners of Buddhism to pursue all that
are virtuous with zeal and a commitment to progress. Such should be
the correct attitude whether in our career or in pursuit of the
ultimate truth. The following short story may help to illustrate
Buddha's teaching more clearly.
Early
one morning Buddha and one of his chief disciples, Ananda, set out
from Jetavana to seek alms. They came to the city of Sravasti. As
they entered the city gate and were walking along a path by the
city wall, they saw an aged couple.
Their
backs were crooked and they could neither straighten themselves nor
move about. They were dressed in rags, appearing unhygienic and
well worn with age: frail, toothless, grey hair, hard of hearing
and poor eyesight. They lived next to a pile of rubbish by the
derelict wall of a sleazy alley. They crouched close to each other,
facing a normal fire for warmth. With eyes only for each other,
they resembled a pair of old swans that cannot bear to part.
The
Buddha turned his head and asked Ananda, "Did you see that aged
couple by the wall and the warmth of the burning cow dung?"
Ananda
replied, "World Honoured One, I see them."
The
Buddha continued, "If this old couple had been determined and
diligent when they were young and strong, regardless of the nature
of their work as long as it is legitimate, perhaps at this age they
are already amongst the wealthiest class of people in Sravasti. On
the other hand, if they had chosen to renounce their worldly life
to learn and cultivate the right path with diligence, perhaps they
would have already attained the Arhat [2] by now.
Even if they were not that determined when they were young, but are
ambitious and diligent only at a later age and they work with the
Right Action, perhaps they are already amongst the second
wealthiest class of people in Sravasti. Similarly, if on the other
hand, they had chosen to renounce their worldly life to learn and
cultivate the right path with diligence, perhaps they would have
already attained the Anagami [2].
Worse still, should they only realise about diligence and progress
when they are already at their middle age, and only then began to
work with the Right Action, perhaps they are already amongst the
third wealthiest class of people in Sravasti. If they had chosen to
renounce their worldly life to learn and cultivate the right path
with diligence, perhaps they would have already attained the
Sakrdagamin [2].
However,
they did none of the above. Instead, they spent their life times
loving and possessing each other, and wasted the most useful time
of their lives. That is why today they are helpless and have no way
out of their predicament. They live in poor conditions, are
penniless and there is nothing that they can do. For them it is a
living death, having to face the retribution of their own doing,
and nobody took any pity on them. What meaning is there in a life
like this?"
In
order to encourage people not to fall into the same predicament,
the Buddha said, "Ananda, always remember to advise and guide
people:
In youth, be determined, diligent, and thrifty and strive to
acquire knowledge.
Maintain a mind that is distant and unchained from desire and
be focused on building a career during the prime of
life.
In middle age, realise a stable career that is based on
diligence, zeal, progress and Right Action.
Always use the wealth meaningfully to benefit self and
others.
Do not wait till old age and rely on the people's benevolence
like the aged swan."
The above incident demonstrates the compassion of the Buddha in
caring for sentient beings and encouraging people to be determined
in striving for progress, regardless of whether one is concerned
with building a career, or one who has renounced the worldly life
to learn and cultivate the right path. His only wish was for all
sentient beings to be distant from suffering and attain happiness
in life. 
Notes:
[1] Noble Eight-fold Path:
1. Right Speech
2. Right Action
3. Right Livelihood
4. Right Effort
5. Right Mindfulness
6. Right Concentration
7. Right Views
8. Right Thought
[2] The four stages in Hinayana sanctity:
- 1st stage - srota-apanna
- 2nd stage - sakrdagamin
- 3rd stage - anagami-phala
- 4th stage - arhat, the highest stage
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2002.Jen Chen Buddhism Centre
