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If you live in a house from where you have a nice view, you are probably happy
as far as the location of your house is concerned. The happiness of living in
the House of Life depend on what kind of views you have to your life. In this
issue you will read my thoughts about ways of applying one's understanding of
the Dharma and meditation practice in everyday life by developing the right view
to life. Those who have genuinely taken refuge in the Dharma and have developed
self-discipline through meditation would have discovered a view which provides
a clear understanding of what is going on in their lives and why. The
teachings of the Dharma makes lot of sense as it shows how to see things in a
correct manner without being obscured by any distorted views of life's
confusion. The Buddha taught about eight interrelated techniques that were
essential to provide as a guide to sustain one's spiritual inspiration and
practice. Practising the Dharma according to its teachings depends on how much
understanding we may have of the Eight Noble Paths. Just as we use the
prescribed ingredients to prepare a meal according to a recipe, we must combine
and integrate correctly all the eight skillful techniques. In this issue we will
discuss two Buddhist principles which constitutes main factors to develop the
right view.
To understand anything and life as a whole, one must not be influenced by any
narrow and limited views. If you have strong views, they will bring problems
whether you believe them to be right or wrong. The views we hold have no
substance in themselves for any change of the circumstances upon which the views
were based will prove them unsubstantiated. While we don't like to be misled
by others we do not want to be troubled by our own wrong views. Wrong views
produce frustration and bring pain and suffering upon those around us. In fact
all the sufferings are caused by our own ignorance. Our views or perceptions of
any event or our existence in this world mold our attitudes, behaviours and
experiences. Regardless of the correctness of our views, they create deep pain
as long as we cling to them. So, it is essential to cultivate the right view.
If we can associate ourselves with the following principles, we will live a full
and wholesome life. In order to be able to see things in a correct manner, one
must not forget the four basic and universal principles which constitute correct
Buddhist views:
Suffering will not go away unless you honestly accept that parting is the
ultimate outcome of all meetings. Basic acceptance that pain is the nature of
life enables you to lighten your mental worry and anxiety by reflecting on the
impermanence of all things. You were born alone and will die alone. You will
also have to learn to stop blaming others and be responsible of your experiences
since they are result of your own making. If you have a good recollection of
past after so many years, why don't you try to remember some good and happy
experiences derived from such meetings and then see whether it is going to be
the same experiences of the past that you were so upset about. If you do this in
relation to sufferings, you will find that you yourself are creating the
sufferings based on your inability to let go of the past without having any of
the circumstances under which the past suffering arose. So do not trace the
past, unless you wanted to go that way. You will not be aware of the best
moment of here and now if you are anticipating future. Even if you have obtained
something pleasant without facing some pain, examine how long would it last.
Appreciate everything when it occurs before it vanishes and do not expect things
to stay unchanged as you want them to be. The acceptence of the law of
impermanence will enable you to free from clinging and it provides a swift and
smooth parting into freedom. You do not have to make deliberate attempts to
change things but accept the changes that are occurring in and around you
effortlessly and respect this course of nature's law. Do not try to stagnate
your growth by holding onto things that are no longer part of you. You cannot
have control over other people's actions to make you happy if you have
difficulty controlling your own. Set yourself free from clinging, bitterness
and unforgiveness as soon as the parting takes place, and do not wait to occur
anything that is not yet due. Although it may not be obvious, parting is not
only inevitable but it is extremely necessary as much as the meeting. Learn to
see the movement and change of things when they occur and do not assume what
should or should't happen to it. Do not be hard on yourself, take care of
yourself. Do not appreciate only when good things that come to you but also
when they go away from you so that you remain receptive. You will also set him
free if you would let him go. Observe the fleeting nature of your own thoughts
and attitudes which projects things on to changeable objects and yet you are
trying to make them stand still. Do not have doubts of the result of an action
if you are doing it right. Even if you did something wrong, why should you be
upset if you can understand that it is not happening now and will not happen
again. If you have helped somebody in the past, do not think when and how they
should repay you since he or she may be busy helping someone else. If friends
have become what they were not, check what the foes will become if you don't
hold them to be so. When trees grow taller to provide you shade, energy and
coolness, examine what are you giving to the world as you grow older. When
the busy hours of a worker's day turns into nothing more than a sleepy night,
let him sleep soundly for it may be the only thing he can enjoy for himself and
so that he can be ready for another hard day. When chopping woods, do not hold
an axe tight unless you do not want to use it again. Do not try too hard in
the beginning, for you may loose interest in your goals. Do not speed for a
short distance as in a race to exhaust yourself but walk slowly and steadily to
energize yourself wherever you might be going. Just talking to myself. L.C.
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