Poya

Persevere to reach your goal

Persevere to reach your goal

If we examine the type of work we have to do, we realize that irrespective of age or gender, we have certain tasks to perform. A child has to do his studies. A housewife has her domestic chores to attend to. An employee has a job at his workplace. If one were to feel lazy and inactive, nothing will get done. One will feel lethargic if he does not have enough perseverance. Such a person will keep on postponing doing what he has to do. He will neglect his work. And find enough excuses for doing so.

In 'Singalovada Sutta', the Buddha identifies how people neglect their duties. "One does no work saying 'It's too cold'. Another would say 'It's too hot'. For one 'it's too late' to start work, while for another 'it's too early'. One will say 'I am hungry' and avoid work while the other will say 'I am too full'. As he thus avoids doing what he has to do under various pretexts, such possessions he is entitled to, will not reach him. And what he already has, will begin to exhaust."

A Sanskrit stanza describes the need for making an effort. None can succeed by mere thought. You have to go ahead and make an effort. The lion is the bravest and strongest beast in the forest. Yet if he sleeps without looking for food, his prey will not fall into his mouth. 

This verse in Dhammpada explains that effort is an indispensable element for success in life:

Uttanavato satimato
sucikammassa nisammakarino
sanatassa ca dhammajivino
appamattassa yasobhivaddatti

For him who has effort, mindfulness, purity in deed, consideration, self-control and righteousness, the glory increases.

Several methods are taught in Buddhism in relation to effort and perseverance. One is 'Prevent method'. That is to try to prevent evil and unwholesome thoughts which have not arisen. It is important for one to understand the nature of good and bad thoughts. As long as we can keep good thoughts in mind, bad thoughts like greed, hatred, delusion, and jealousy will not arise. 

This method can be used to prevent problems that often confront us in our daily life. For example, when we speak, we must train our mind to consider the consequences of the type of words we may use. The same can be said of our actions. Prevention is better than getting into trouble.

The 'abandon' method is the next. Here, one should try to give up evil thoughts which have already arisen. Most of the time our mind is spoilt by unwholesome thoughts. We should try to get rid of them. Bad thoughts never promote the nobility of a person. Such thoughts affect the positive and constructive nature of a person. 

Why does one worry? One begins to worry when he starts thinking about things that he should not have done. Such thinking is of no use. One should just forget about it. On the contrary, what is necessary is to try and do that which was not done at the present moment. One may also worry about the bad things he has done. There is no point in doing that. What has been done, has been done. At least hereafter try not to do things which you now feel are bad.

The 'produce' method is the third. Here, one has to make an effort to bring about good, productive and positive thoughts which have not arisen yet. For example, if you have not done anything for charity, now is the time to start. Or if you have not started to meditate, start doing so now. It is never too late. Any time is a good time to start good, wholesome and beneficial deeds. 

The 'develop' method is the last. Try to nurture good thoughts which have already arisen by practising them. 

Some start doing certain things with a lot of effort but they lose interest as time goes on and finish up without achieving the desired objective. Such an effort can be compared to a bottle of soda. As soon as you open a bottle of soda, there is a rush of bubbles. They are there only for a short time and then they disappear. If you want to do something or achieve something, keep doing it till you reach your goal. 

Life is not a bed of roses. We have to face numerous obstacles and negative forces. You can face them with perseverance. You will not fail.

(The writer is the resident monk at Lankaramaya, Schofield, NSW, Australia)

Dispelling the darkness

By Nedra Wickremasinghe

Buddha's Enlightenment brought about new visions for the world to see the reality of life. "In this Aloka Puja, we express it symbolically dispelling the darkness of the night with hundreds of coconut-oil lamps. In terms of religion, we wish to dispel or remove the ignorance of man not knowing the reality of life as it really is," said Prof. Bhikku Dharma Vihari.

He believes that the attempt to portray light with unfailing regularity especially on the dark day of the moon is to remind humanity to get a clearer view of things of the world as they really are. Also that such new visions facilitate the correction of our failures or shortcomings was clearly explained in his sermon. 

The highlight of the evening was the chanting of the Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta, the First Sermon delivered by the Buddha to the 5 disciples which explains the basis of His Teachings. In it the symbolism of light is explained as gaining of insight into the unsatisfactory nature of life namely, Dhukka, its origins or Samudhaya, its cessation in Nibbana and the way to achieving it via the Noble Eighfold Path.