Tu Viện Quảng Đức105 Lynch Rd, Fawkner, Vic 3060. Australia. Tel: 9357 3544. quangduc@quangduc.com* Viện Chủ: HT Tâm Phương, Trụ Trì: TT Nguyên Tạng   

11. Right Aims

05/05/202015:59(Xem: 2321)
11. Right Aims

Duc The Ton 11
RIGHT AIMS

Venerable Sumangalo


As we learned in the preceding lesson, good understanding and good thinking go together like twins that are never separated. But, to Buddhists, the use of the word thought in connection with our religion has a very special meaning. We are all familiar with what is meant when someone says “I have made up my mind.” We know he has decided what he wants to do and is determined to do it. We can not gain Right Understanding without thinking what is resolute, that has Right Aim. Buddhists who wish to get the most out of the Dharma of the Blessed One must have their minds made up to get Right Understanding and to use that understanding in their daily lives.

We may have good beliefs without having good understanding that has come from rightly aimed thought, but when we accept someone else’s opinions, then we are going against Lord Buddha’s advice to us to do our own thinking and to have our own aims. Sometimes we heard it said of a person that “he is such an aimless man” or the same. In the Dharmapada we are told that thoughtless people are somewhat like dead people. Such persons dislike to be resolute, they have no real aim in life; it is just too much bother to do their own thinking. But there are some great differences between corpses and unthinking, aimless people. The dead can get into no trouble; those who dislike to do clear, purposeful thinking can get into very much trouble indeed, and usually do. If each one of us will carefully remember the last three or four times we have been in some unpleasantness, we shall almost certainly find out that we got into those disagreeable situations because we did not look ahead and plan and think before we acted.

There is an old saying that is found in many languages and it is good advice for all of us: “Look before you leap.” It would be much better advice if worded: “Look and think before you leap.” Our Buddhist religion teaches us that each one of us has the kind of life he makes for himself. If we have no real resolution, no well-planned aim in life, and do but little thinking, then the result can only be a life full of confusion and unhappiness. It is only stupidity to blame our unhappiness on “bad luck.” In order to have a life that is full of satisfaction and is worthwhile, we must resolutely make sure that we do our best possible thinking with the best possible aim. The best way to make a good start in this direction is to free the mind from all the dark and ugly thoughts that ought to be a source of shame to anyone, young or old. For example, we must cleanse our minds of anger, ill-will, greed, hatred, jealously, envy and laziness. We must have real will to think clearly and act sensibly. If we do not have this aim, then we can blame only ourselves if unhappiness overtakes us.

Once there was a rich and aged man whose sole aim in life was to get as much excitement and pleasure as possible. He had decided never to think of anything unpleasant. He even refused to give thought to the fact that someday he must die. This foolish man decided to build a great pleasure palace for himself. When the mansion was completed, he filled it with many treasures and luxuries sufficient to last a hundred years.

The Buddha sent Ananda to preach to the foolish old man and urge him to have a better aim in life and to do better thinking. But the rich old man would not listen. In his stupidity he had convinced himself he would never die. His aim was wrong and so his thinking was wrong. Shortly after Ananda left, the old man died suddenly. When this news was brought to the Buddha, the Lord said: “A food, even though the wise instruct him, understands nothing of wisdom, because he has only foolish and selfish thoughts. Just as a spoon cannot taste soup, even so those whose minds are filled with wrong thoughts can never know how to get free from sorrow.”

 

RIGHT THOUGHT

Right thought will lead me on

To wisdom’s holy height,

And show to me the surest way

To pass through sorrow’s night.

 

Right thought will light me through

The shadows of this life;

“Twill ease my heart and peace assure

And free my mind from strife.


Right thought will be my guide

Across life’s troubled sea;

My pilot, compass, star and chart,

Right thought shall ever be.

 

Right thought will keep me on

The way to perfect peace,

And ferry to the other shore

Where all illusions cease.

                                                                                         -Sumangalo

 

QUESTIONS

  1. Can we have Right Understanding if we do not like purposeful thinking?
  2. Is it well to do our own thinking, or ought we to depend on the thinking of others?
  3. What does the Dharmapada (one of the Buddhist scriptures) say about people who do not like to think?
  4. Can you remember an ancient saying about leaping?
  5. What does this saying mean?
  6. Does unhappiness come from bad thinking, or “bad luck?”
  7. What kind of thought must we put out of our minds?
  8. When we act stupidly ought we to be – proud? Ashamed? Or full of excuses?
  9. Can the spoon taste the soup?
  10. Can stupid thinking bring wise action?
Gửi ý kiến của bạn
Tắt
Telex
VNI
Tên của bạn
Email của bạn
14/10/2023(Xem: 2380)
For the sake of many, Dr. Ven. Buddha Priya Mahathero (Abbot and Secretary of Siddharth United Social Welfare Mission, Chinar Park, Kolkata, India) and Dr. Ven. Bhikṣuṇī TN Gioi Huong (English Lecturer at the Vietnam Buddhist University in HCM City and Abbess of Hương Sen Buddhist Temple, California, USA) have co-organized an international seminar with the theme, “Contributions of Buddhism for World Peace & Social Harmony,” on July 2, 2023 at the Siddharth United Social Welfare Mission, Chinar Park, Kolkata, India. At this Kolkata Seminar, there were twenty-three renowned speakers-spiritual peace leaders, eminent writers, and researchers presented their meaningful papers, such as Dr Siddharth M. Jondhale (Former Chancellor of Trinity World University), Professor Kishore Bhattacharjee (Viswabharati University, Shantiniketan), Professor Mahuya Mukherjee (Rabindrabharati University, Kolkata), Professor Swarnali Barua (Presidency University), Dr. Surajit Barua (Seth Anandram Jaipur Co
14/10/2023(Xem: 2352)
Our immense pleasure is to present to you this remarkable conference book – Buddhism: A Historical and Practical Vision. Inside these pages lies a stunning tapestry of wisdom created by the joint dedication and hard work of young Vietnamese Buddhist monks and nuns scholars who have explored the legacy of Buddhism in depth. From exploring the compatibility and integration of Mahāyāna Buddhism’s teachings with realistic political theory on leadership and the introduction Buddhist philosophy and the establishment and significance of Buddhist universities in the United States, each paper stands as a testament to the vibrant diversity and enduring relevance of Buddhist thought. Among the thought-provoking papers, you will discover insightful investigations into the practical theory of impermanence as a means to enhance one’s own living experience. Additionally, a critical interpretation of Nibbāna from Dr. Ambedkar’s perspective in the Indian Engaged Buddhist Movement sheds light
25/07/2023(Xem: 2730)
Dealing with the chosen work, I observe that a puggala has been present in the world because of dependent origination (paṭiccasamuppāda) or continuity of change (santāna). The five masses of elements (pañcakkhandhā), which constitute the puggala and the world around him, are without any substance (anattā), impermanent (anicca) and they are really causes of grief (dukkha)...
20/07/2023(Xem: 1166)
During his recent visit to Melbourne, Australia to attend the Conference on Sociology, at the Melbourne Convention Centre. Professor Dr. Ryushun Kiyofuji visited Quang Duc Monastery, 30 minutes from downtown Melbourne. On this occasion, I had the chance to interview him about the current situation of Buddhism in Japan.
12/06/2023(Xem: 2684)
“One person, mendicants, arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. What one person? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. This is the one person, mendicants, who arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” *
30/03/2023(Xem: 2842)
War - we all know this word. There were too many battles in this world since we were the nomads, wandering over sea and land up to the time when the acquisition of material goods increased over time and possession became more powerful in their desire to master and dominate the world. In family and society, from the young to the dignitary, none of them want to give up possession but always to get more. The more assets, the greater desire. The more one tries to get, the stronger greed and selfishness fortifies.
10/12/2022(Xem: 1742)
There can be no success in getting happiness out of Lord Buddha’s Dharma until we understand and use ‘Sila’, which is a Pali-Sanskrit word meaning morality. The Five Precepts are often called ‘Pancasila’, which means ‘the Five Moralities’. As a rule, these five moralities are recited after the Three Refuges, and are usually considered as a necessary part of the ceremony of becoming a Buddhist. Everyone who understands these rules knows it is good and wise to follow them all, but many persons have weak characters and do not make a real attempt to be guided by these Five Rules that all Buddhists must follow. They are:
07/08/2021(Xem: 9831)
The Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth (Ājīvatthamaka Sīla) Dhamma Teachers Certificate EN074 -__ Feb2010 5 8 Precepts Diacritials Requirements and Ceremonies for the Five Precepts (Panca Sila), The Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth (Ajivatthamaka Sila), Dhamma Teachers Certificate, issued by the Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Ketumati Buddhist Vihara at Wesak 2006). Updated February 2010
07/08/2021(Xem: 7392)
Venerable Rewata Dhamma born in Myanmar [Burma], was head of the Birmingham Buddhist Vihara until his death in 2004. His book Maha Paritta: The Discourses of the Great Protection (With the Threefold Refuges, Precepts, Salutations to the Triple Gem, Dependent Origination and Metta Bhavana), gives the formula in Pali and English for requesting Ajivatthamaka Sila (The Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth). (pages 9-12) Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Agga Maha Pandita (1896-1998) Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya, born in Sri Lanka, attended the Sixth Buddhist Council held in Myanmar [Burma] (1954-56). In 1956, during the third session of the Council, he served as Chairman of the Convocation for a few weeks. The Council was convened by the Myanmar [Burmese] government to prepare an authorized re-edit and reprint of the entire Tipitaka (the Pali Canon) and its commentaries. Venerable Ananda Maitreya was appointed the Sri
facebook youtube google-plus linkedin twitter blog
Nguyện đem công đức này, trang nghiêm Phật Tịnh Độ, trên đền bốn ơn nặng, dưới cứu khổ ba đường,
nếu có người thấy nghe, đều phát lòng Bồ Đề, hết một báo thân này, sinh qua cõi Cực Lạc.

May the Merit and virtue,accrued from this work, adorn the Buddhas pureland,
Repay the four great kindnesses above, andrelieve the suffering of those on the three paths below,
may those who see or hear of these efforts generates Bodhi Mind, spend their lives devoted to the Buddha Dharma,
the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Quang Duc Buddhist Welfare Association of Victoria
Tu Viện Quảng Đức | Quang Duc Monastery
Senior Venerable Thich Tam Phuong | Senior Venerable Thich Nguyen Tang
Address: Quang Duc Monastery, 105 Lynch Road, Fawkner, Vic.3060 Australia
Tel: 61.03.9357 3544 ; Fax: 61.03.9357 3600
Website: http://www.quangduc.com ; http://www.tuvienquangduc.com.au (old)
Xin gửi Xin gửi bài mới và ý kiến đóng góp đến Ban Biên Tập qua địa chỉ:
quangduc@quangduc.com , tvquangduc@bigpond.com
VISITOR
110,220,567