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5. To Do No Wrong is to Do Nothing
Our mistakes are our best teachers. We should be grateful to
ourselves for our mistakes and take cheer in the fact that we have
met with a special counselor, our mistakes, in line with the
saying, "Once burned is twice forewarned." We have to act on our
own and make our own mistakes. These are our best teachers and our
best lessons, so that we will remember and be careful not to repeat
them. We can make a fresh start, mindful and uncomplacent. Our past
mistakes are a thing of the past, but our special counselors are
still with us, ready to whisper their warnings at every instant:
"Be careful. Don't be complacent. Don't repeat that error
again."
Once wrong, remember
to prevent twice wrong in the future.
Thrice wrong and you'd better think carefully,
my friend.
Four times, five, and six
What forgiveness can there be?
Think carefully and you'll notice that all scientific researchers,
as well as all outstanding teachers of the Dhamma, have without
exception overcome the obstacle of their own mistakes countless
times.
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6. Composure and Self-awareness
In avoiding mistakes, the important point is composure. If we have
composure guarding our thoughts, words, and deeds at every moment,
we won't make any mistakes at all. The mistakes we make are due to
lack of composure. We're forgetful, absentminded, heedless,
complacent, exuberant, or deluded and thus we make mistakes.
Remember the maxim, "Keep your composure as a protective shield,
and you'll do bravely in the field."
Every form of life human, animal, even plant life survives
through struggle, in line with the saying, "Life is struggle." At
whatever moment we can no longer keep up the struggle, we have to
die. So as long as we keep our composure, then even when death
comes, only the body dies just as with the life of the Lord
Buddha and the arahants: They had full composure with every mental
moment, so that they never made mistakes. That was how they reached
deathlessness, the state of immortality. Thus their death was
called parinibbana: the disbanding and extinguishing of nothing
more than the physical and mental phenomena termed the five
aggregates (khandha): body, feeling, perception, mental processes,
and consciousness.
Thus we should develop composure (mindfulness before acting,
speaking and thinking) and self-awareness (clear comprehension
while acting, speaking, and thinking). Once we are done, we should
use mindfulness to check back and consider if anything is defective
or if everything is in proper order. If anything is defective, then
immediately make corrections so as to be perfect the next time
around. If everything is already in order, keep trying to have
things in even better order until reaching the ultimate.
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7. The Efficacy of the Triple Training: Virtue, Concentration,
& Discernment
It's through the efficacy of the Triple Training virtue,
concentration, and discernment that the enemy defilement in its
gross, intermediate, and subtle forms can be overcome.
The gross forms of defilement that transgress in the area of word
and deed can be overcome through virtue.
The intermediate forms of defilement that arise in the heart
liking and disliking, deluded love and deluded hatred can be
overcome through concentration.
The subtle forms of defilement misunderstandings, misperceptions,
and misconceptions concerning the true nature of natural processes
can be overcome through discernment.
A person who studies and practices fully and completely in line
with the Triple Training virtue, concentration, and discernment
is sure to gain release from all suffering and stress without a
doubt. Thus we should be interested, earnest, and intent on
studying and practicing in line with the Triple Training at all
times.
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8. The Jasmine
The jasmine is agreed to be the most fragrant of all flowers and
the purest white.
The life of human beings is like a play. Try to be the hero or
heroine with the best reputation, just like the jasmine. Don't be
the villain. And remember that the jasmine blooms fully only for
two or three days and then withers away.
So make yourself your best. Make your life, as long as it lasts,
the most fragrant, like the jasmine just beginning to bloom.
Choose to do only the good.
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9. Do Good Rather than Ask for Blessings
Choose to do only the good. A warning to prepare yourself for the
future conduct of your life is the best substitute for a blessing
and the most reasonable. If you do good, then even if you don't
receive blessings, you'll have to do well. If you do evil, then no
matter what blessings can be contrived, they can't make you do
well. To do evil is like tossing a rock in the water: It will have
to sink immediately. No one, no matter how charismatic, can come
and charm or plead with the rock to float back up to the surface.
If you do evil, you will have to sink, spoiling your dignity, your
character, and your reputation, like a heavy rock sunk down into
the mud.
To do good is like light oil: When you pour it on water, it is
bound to float as an iridescence over the surface. To do good adds
to your dignity and to your reputation. People will be sure to
praise and respect you, to exalt you like the oil that floats over
water. Even if you should have enemies intent on hating you,
reviling you to make you sink, they won't have any effect and will
simply fall victim to their own efforts.
So make up your mind to be courageous in doing only the good,
without fear or apprehension for any obstacle whatsoever. The
person who trusts in the Triple Gem, the person with true
happiness, the person who prospers, achieving his or her desired
goals, is the person who does only the good.
