Long is The Night

A verse from Dhammapada: Long is the night to one who is wakeful; long is (the journey of ) one yojana* to the traveller who is tired; long is sansara (round of rebirths) to the fool who is ignorant of the true Dhamma (the Teaching of the Buddha).

- The Fools 60

* Yojana: a measure of length, about twelve miles

Live The Dharma

Associate with good dharmas (qualities).
Consort with heedful attention.
Associate with correct views.
Be mindfully aware of worldliness.

Arise and heed the Call!
Live the Dharma well.
She who lives the Dharma
sleeps with ease
in this world and the next.

-Dhammapada, 13, after Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

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Originally published on June 7, 2006 at 2047H
Updated on February 6, 2013 at 1350H

Like a fish out of water

This mind is like a fish out of water that thrashes and throws itself about, its thoughts following each of its cravings.

Such a wandering mind is weak and unsteady, attracted here, there and everywhere. How good it is to control it and know the happiness of freedom.

-Dhammapada

Each of us is like a fish out of water, our only thoughts on each and every craving we have.

We always go through life thrashing and throwing ourselves about, never still.

Why is such a wandering mind so weak and unsteady? Because it is like a fish out of water, drowning in samsara.

Why is it attracted here, there and everywhere? Because of ceaseless distractions, all of them the result of endless craving.

When the mind is controlled, it knows the happiness of freedom.

Thus through limitations within which the controlled mind operates, one is happy and free.

Subdue Yourself, and Discover Your Master

Love yourself and be awake —
Today, tomorrow, always.

First establish yourself in the way,
Then teach others,
And so defeat sorrow.

To straighten the crooked
You must first do a harder thing-
Straighten yourself.

You are your only master.
Who else?
Subdue yourself,
And discover your master.

-from the Dhammapada

The Foremost Good Fortune

Hunger: the foremost illness.
Fabrications: the foremost pain.
For one knowing this truth
As it actually is,
Unbinding
Is the foremost ease.

Freedom from illness: the foremost good fortune.
Contentment: the foremost wealth.
Trust: the foremost kinship.
Unbinding: the foremost ease.

-Dhammapada, 15, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Chapter 15 of the Dhammapada is called Sukhavagga (Happiness).

In contrast with Thanissaro Bhikhu's translation, Acharya Buddharakkhita's translation reflects on the same verses (203 and 204) of the Dhammapada:

Hunger is the worst disease, conditioned things the worst suffering. Knowing this as it really is, the wise realize Nibbana, the highest bliss.

Health is the most precious gain and contentment the greatest wealth. A trustworthy person is the best kinsman, Nibbana the highest bliss.

Thus Nibbana (Nirvana) means unbinding, i.e. letting go of the ties that bind us to birth-life-death (samsara), helping us to accept spiritual suffering as-is.

This does not mean we accept illness and disease without seeking medical and professional help.

What it does mean is that we voice our complaints and receive medical assistance when needed.

After much meditation and subsequent control of the mind, for the Buddhist, Nirvana is samsara.

Consciousness as Creator

Mind precedes & initiates all phenomena,
mind is their chief, mind is their maker...
When one speaks or performs an action
with a mind that is internally all pure,
then happiness & pleasure follows,
like a shadow that never departs...

Dhammapada 2: "Phenomena are preceded by the heart, ruled by the heart, made of the heart. If you speak or act with a calm, bright heart, then happiness follows you, like a shadow that never leaves."

Difficult to detect and very subtle,
mind can seize & take up any object,
so let any wise being guard the mind,
for a guarded mind brings happiness...

Dhammapada 36: "Let the discerning man guard the mind, so difficult to detect and extremely subtle, seizing whatever it desires. A guarded mind brings happiness."

Neither mother, nor father, nor any other
family member can do greater good both
for oneself and for others as well, than
the well controlled & directed mind...

Dhammapada 43: Whatever a mother, father or other kinsman might do for you, the well-directed mind can do for you even better.

Do Everything Skillfully

Guarded in speech,
Well-restrained in body & mind,
Do nothing unskillful.
Purify
These three courses of action.
Bring to fruition
The path that seers have proclaimed.

-Dhammapada, 20, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Transcending Concern for the World Beyond

The person who tells a lie,
who transgresses in this one thing,
transcending concern for the world beyond:
there's no evil
he might not do.

-Dhammapada, 176, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The footnote on Verse 176 refers to "the principle of truthfulness." It also points to another verse in Iti 1:25 which further amplifies the above quote:


This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard: "For the person who transgresses in one thing, I tell you, there is no evil deed that is not to be done. Which one thing? This: telling a deliberate lie."

The person who lies,
who transgress in this one thing,
transcending concern for the world beyond:
there's no evil
he might not do.


Indeed, sincerity helps the truthteller, more than it does the liar.

For it is the depth of one's sincerity that determines the truth.

Reference:
Dhammapada 176: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/dhp/tb0/dhp-13-tb0.html

Footnote for Dhammapada 176: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/dhp/tb0/index.html#n176


Iti 1:25: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/iti/tb0/iti1.html#iti-025

True Dharma, Buddha Nature, True Mind, Self Nature

For a person of unsteady mind,
Not knowing true Dhamma,
Serenity
Set adrift:
Discernment doesn't grow full.

For a person of unsoddened mind,
Unassaulted awareness,
Abandoning merit & evil,
Wakeful,
There is no danger
No fear.

-Dhammapada, 3, translation by Thanissaro Bhikku.

Commentary: this quote is from verses 38 and 39 in Chapter 3 of the Dhammapada.

Chapter 3 is entitled The Mind, and gives the disciple instructions about the mind.

The footnote for verse 39 reveals that a soddened mind is soaked by the rain of passion.

For, just as our clothes are soaked in the rain, so too is the mind by passion.

Of course, a light rainfall will barely soak me; but a rainstorm would drench me.

Likewise, a storm of passion would harm me greatly, disturbing my mind, leaving me distracted, lost, confused, motivated by fear and prone to anger.

Thus, passion itself is harmless in moderation. Too much of it or too little of it will lead to
psychic illness.

As well, "true Dharma" is subtly realized as Buddha Nature where the realm of truth, being that of phenomenon and noumenon, is also known as Dharmakaya.

When the disciple always views Self Nature as Buddha Nature, the True Mind is bathed in the realization of the true Dharma path, the Middle Way.

---

Reference:

Footnote to Dhammapada Verse 39: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/dhp/tb0/index.html#n39

The Teaching of the Buddhas

Right speech, harmlessness,
Restraint in speaking ill of others,
Moderation in food, at peace in remoteness and solitude,
Devotion to higher meditation.
This is the teaching of the Buddhas.

-Dhammapada 185


Compare to Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation of the Dhammapada:

Not disparaging, not injuring,
restraint in line with the Patimokkha,
moderation in food,
dwelling in seclusion,
commitment to the heightened mind:
this is the teaching
of the Awakened.


The Patimokkha consists the rules for Buddhist monks: http://www.vipassana.com/canon/vinaya/bhikkhu-pati.php

For everyday life, the Five Precepts are more easily followed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism#The_Five_Precepts

Look at this world all decked out

See it as a bubble,
See it as a mirage;
One who regards the world this way
the King of Death doesn't see.

Come, look at this world
all decked out
like a royal chariot,
where fools plunge in,
while those who know
don't cling.

-Dhammapada 13, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

See also http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/dhp/tb0/index.html#n170

In Chapter 13 of the Dhammapada, the message is clear:

The wise do not cling to the world -- they know much better than to be distracted by what it has to offer.

However, the underlying message is still to go out and participate in the world.

For the disciple may grow attached to thinking by being apart from it, one is unblemished by it. This is a subtle form of clinging to the world.

And the remedy for that is to cultivate happiness and joy.

Universal Responsibility

Adopting an attitude of universal responsibility is essentially a personal matter. The real test of compassion is not what we say in abstract discussions but how we conduct ourselves in daily life.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama, "Imagine All the People"

Just talking about harmlessness isn't enough.

When spiritual practice (meditation) does not lead to reciprical compassion from others, a person's conduct should still be to practise harmlessness.

To feel guilty for past wrongs is not enough - one must strive to learn from one's mistakes.

Even in the Dhammapada it is written to not cling to regrets and worries.

Dhammapada 67-68:

It's not good,
the doing of the deed
that, once it's done,
you regret,
whose result you reap crying,
your face in tears.

It's good,
the doing of the deed
that, once it's done,
you don't regret,
whose result you reap gratified,
happy at heart.


As well, the cure for regrets about wrongs done is simply letting go:

348:

Gone to the beyond of becoming,
you let go of in front,
let go of behind,
let go of between.
With a heart everywhere let-go,
you don't come again to birth
& aging.


Thus what the Dalai Lama says about the real test of compassion is ... how we conduct ourselves in daily life.

Why Fear?

From the Dhammapada 212-216 (a collection of sayings of the Buddha):

"From what is dear, grief is born,
from what is dear, fear is born.
For someone freed from what is dear
there is no grief
-- so why fear?

From what is loved, grief is born,
from what is loved, fear is born.
For someone freed from what is loved,
there is no grief
-- so why fear?

From delight, grief is born,
from delight, fear is born.
For someone freed from delight
there is no grief
-- so why fear?

From sensuality, grief is born,
from sensuality, fear is born.
For someone freed from sensuality
there is no grief
-- so why fear?

From craving, grief is born,
from craving, fear is born.
For someone freed from craving
there is no grief
-- so why fear?"

Buddha Nature as Pure Mind Meditation

Buddha Nature as Pure Mind is the foremost refuge - there is no other.

For Pure Mind results from spiritual (right) action which help purify the human mind, just as motherly compassion washes away childish ignorance with the milk of lovingkindness.

Indeed, the purified mind sees one's original nature as Buddha Nature, and the self grounded in basic goodness.

This compassion is symbolized by Kuan Yin, the feminine aspect of Avalokitesvara.

The way to purify the mind is simple: meditation, chanting of Buddhist sutras, reading books written by Buddhist monks and nuns, and reading the Dhammapada are helpful at home.

As well, other forms of purifying the mind include speaking well of people, helping other people, and being thankful for the help of people.

One famous example of compassion is the self-immolation of Thich Quang Duc in 1963. As a result, the Diem regime in South Vietnam was overthrown, and public opinion shifted from opposition to US military intervention in Vietnam.