Setting Oneself in the Right
Course
It is not easy to build good character. If one fulfils all of the
preceding blessings, one will naturally be inclined to cultivate
virtue, but most people will have to make special efforts to avoid
wrong doing and correct their defects. Knowing ones faults is a
good start, but we need great humility, honesty, and patience to
correct ourselves.
Whoever was heedless before, but afterwards
is not,
he illumines this world like the full moon freed from
clouds. (Dhp v 172)
Great Learning
The Buddhas teaching is profound and difficult to understand
properly, let alone to put into practice and to realise for
oneself. We are very fortunate to have excellent translations of
the Buddhas teachings in English, and many other books by eminent
meditation masters. We should study the Dhamma whenever possible to
deepen and broaden our knowledge. Study, practice, and realisation
are all necessary unless we live with an enlightened teacher. In
that case, if we practice hard, realisation will follow without
study.
Skill in Work
Intellectual knowledge is not the same as practical skill. One can
read and write cookery books without being a good cook. Another
person may be able to cook very well indeed, without reading any
books. Meditation also needs many hours of practical training under
the guidance of a skilled meditation teacher. We should try to
acquire all kinds of practical skills to develop our knowledge and
wisdom.
A Highly Trained
Discipline
The Dhamma cannot be realised by an unmindful, lazy, or shameless
person. We need to train ourselves to eat little, sleep little,
talk little, and indulge in pleasures only a little. A devout
Buddhist should strive for wisdom, whether they are a householder
or one gone forth. Those who have gone forth should have much
higher standards of discipline and sense-restraint than
householders. Bhikkhus should follow all 227 training precepts,
restrain their senses, reflect well on the requisites provided by
the faithful, and purify their livelihood. The Buddha said (in the
Upakkilesa Sutta, A.ii.53) that a recluse does not shine if he
indulges in sexual relations, uses money, drinks intoxicants, or
earns a wrong livelihood.
Well-spoken Speech
Our speech is the manifestation of our thoughts. If our mind is
impure, it is better not to speak too much. The tongue is the
strongest muscle in the body it can work all day long without
getting tired. So a person who can control the tongue is the
strongest person in the world. Our speech should be pleasing to
others as far as possible, if not, at least it should be aimed at
benefit.
