Category: Developing Our Habits and Behavior 

What is Character ?

It is anything that we do frequently to the point that it becomes a habit. Our actions can start off as something insignificant, but when done frequently, it grows to the point that when we don’t do this action, it can disrupt us and make us irritable. At this point, it has already become a habit.

Let’s make it clear, “anything done frequently will stick to us.” How do we know if a habit has already stuck to us? So the saying goes, “if we don’t do it, we become irritable. At that point, we sure it’s stuck”. 

If we are attached to a habit that depraved, it’s urgent to give it up. Continuing this habit only accrues us bad kamma (demerit), closing the path to heaven and Nibanna. Being attached to the path of unwholesomeness only leads to loss. We should give up alcoholism and cigarettes. Being attached to cigarettes may end up in us being attached to a hospital bed. 

 

Our Character Determines Whether Our Nature is Good or Bad.

Since childhood, it’s fortunate children have well-intentioned parents who taught them to stray from doing wicked things.

However, the children whose parents are busy with work, who are left with their siblings, and who have never been well taught miss the opportunity to have goodness instilled into them and are not taught right from wrong. Thus the children’s bad habits may become ingrained, causing them to do untold amounts of mischief. 

It is starting from one’s habits where the making of good and bad takes place in a person.

August 24, 2019

 

Repetition Makes for Good Performance

Doing good over and over eventually builds up to be good habit. We practice it to the point that it becomes part of our character. 

Be careful of any dangers even it its consequences hasn’t reared its head. Consider this carefully, my children. When doing anything, don’t let it cause you any troubles in retrospect. If it causes you no trouble, then be certain that it’s good. But if it causes you trouble, then be certain that it’s bad.                                                                                                                                                                                   

In a word of monk hood, it’s known as the restraint of the senses. As for Thai people, it’s called a precaution. It’s good habit to practice what is certainly good.

Sometimes elders would scold you with, “don’t rush into things without thinking first!”

What they mean is that, “don’t rush into any action without knowing whether it will cause you trouble in the long run.”

August 8, 2019

 

Our Knowledge and Abilities are in the Hands of Our Character.

A person of decent character, who is humble, clean, honest, takes his knowledge and abilities for benefit. However, one whose character is depraved, heedless, lazy, selfish, will take his knowledge and use it to his own advantage.

 

Your Character is What Makes or Breaks You.

A person who’s developed his character well will thrive anywhere he goes. How educated he is or how well dispositioned he is is besides the point, with any company or title he attains, the work becomes developed to be better. Any country he’s in becomes better. That’s the magic of fine character.

Vice versa, with someone whose basis of character is rooted in unwholesomeness, with any family, work, or country he is in is bound to meet problems. Therefore, the prosperity of a country depends on the habits of their inhabitants. If we want to develop Thailand, we have to start with developing the morality of our citizens even at a young age. Whether you’re a layperson or a Bhikku, you should develop your character to be a better person. This will help make Thailand a better place.

Therefore, if we want Buddhism to prosper, if we want Thailand to prosper, we must start with ourselves first and foremost.

 Category: Methods for Making Decision and Training Ourselves 

How a Decision Should Be Made

One day, A Bhikku* asked Phra Sariputta how a decision should be made. He confessed that he knew what was right and wrong according to the Buddhist Vinaya principles, but between what should and should not be done, the matter was lost on him.

Phra Sariputta responded, “Bhikku, look ahead and see the effects of ones actions. See the consequences resulting from this action. An action which bears unwholesome results, whether now or in the future, is an action which should not be done. However, an action which bears wholesome results, whether now or in the future, is an action that should be done.”

How do we know what is wholesome and unwholesome? The Buddha already expounded on these topics, which are called The Ten Wholesome Actions and The Ten Unwholesome Actions. Therefore my children, we already have the knowledge, we must be able to give proper reason for our actions.

1 October 2519

 

Circumspection

When making any decision, don’t just think about what you’ll gain. Think also about the risk and dangers too. Whether it is something one should or should not do should be considered before taking action. Awareness of the consequences any thought, speech, and action becomes necessary should we heed the advice of, “seeing only the benefit is not enough, for one must also see the danger.”

2 September 2019

 

Avoid Causing Problems Later Down the Road.

“Whatever wouldn’t cause problems later down the road is worth doing because they’re wholesome actions”

.”Whatever ends up causing problems for you later down the road isn’t worth doing as they’re unwholesome actions”

Whatever that would not cause you to end up in court, jail, hell, spiritual or material losses, go ahead and do it anyways.

17 October 2019

 

What Makes Something “Good” or “Bad”?

How do we decide whether something is good or bad if we don’t have a measurement for it? We do not have a scale that tells us how bad or good something is, so how can we know?
The Lord Buddha once said, “a good deed is something that doesn’t cause us trouble later on, while a bad deed is something which surely causes us trouble later on.”

Therefore, the consequences of our deeds have to be carefully considered before taking action, as these four points worth considering.

1.The consequences of health for an individual or a public

2. The consequences would have an impact on those around you, society or legally.

3. The consequences of effect on economy.

4. The consequences increase or decrease our defilements and make a habit of good or bad towards us or a pubic.

These four factors should be taken into consideration before acting.

The Teachings on the end of Buddhist Lent

13 October 2019

 

The Mind Will Not Stay With Us If It Feels That We Are Unclean.

After getting up in the morning with feeling refreshed and ready for the day, the mind encounters some particularly foul words. At that point, the mind loses its good mood and takes its leave, exiting the body.

Encountering a messy room with leftover food laying about, the mind feels disgusted and exits the comfort of the body.

On the other hand, if the body, speech, and thoughts are clean along with our surroundings, the mind feels at calm and serene, being at ease and pleased to stay centered within our bodies.

7 September 2018

 Category: Skillfully Handling Emotions 

Letting One’s Mind Become Irritable is Letting Oneself Become Selfish

One who lets himself become irritable regularly will eventually become a person who is selfish and can’t be reasoned with. In the end, he becomes someone who only sees the faults in others, is prejudiced, and puts himself first before others.

August 16th, 2017

 

One Who is Envious is the One Who is Intolerant of Those Who Are Successful.

The person who cannot stand it when someone else is successful and hopes to see them encounter misfortune is known as a jealous person. There are such people in this world.

My children, we must not let ourselves behave this way. Whatever the matter is, when seeing someone else benefitting from success, don’t let that get to you. We should rejoice in their merits and train ourselves to further pursue our perfections. 

January 3rd, 2018

 

The Many Levels of Endurance

Enduring wind and sunlight is a small matter when compared to the patience it takes to deal with social conflicts and one’s inner defilements.

It is not difficult to tolerate getting blamed or cursed, but what is difficult is not be pleased when getting praised. Being too pleased will lead to haughtiness. We have lost people this way due to haughtiness.

In our organization, we deal with money when handling donations and funds for large projects. We have lost people this way as they were tempted when having access to large funds.

Failing to tolerate our defilements is what breaks us. The art of learning to endure working with others and our own defilements is what we gain from our field of work.

7 February 2019

 

The Mind Like the Earth.

Hot wax, which drips, spills, and is overly messy, can be compared to the characteristics of the mind. However, the Buddha gave a sermon to Bhikkhu Rahula that the mind can be molded like the earth,

“Rahula, do you think that the earth becomes pleased when someone spills perfume on it? No, it is indifferent. How about when someone spills something foul on it? Yet the same, the earth remains indifferent.

Make your mind like so. Should anyone come to disturb your peace of mind and find some business with you, you maintain your mind firm and steady like the earth. By doing so, you will be able to eliminate your defilements quickly.”

Do as the earth does and the Dhamma will take root in your mind, enabling it to sprout and bear its fruits. But because our mind is like beeswax, caving in to any little pressure, we are vulnerable to the words and actions of others. A little bit of wind from someone’s speech is enough to hurt us! This is setting us up for a long life of pain and dissatisfaction with every little thing.

Make our mind like the earth and that will enable our mind to be the foundation to receive the lessons in virtue, enabling the growth of our own Dhamma. In the end, we would have peace and happiness as our reward.

Take this as a lesson to implement in your family. If each person in the family were to do this, there would be more harmony in the world. Because families would get along better, there would be less conflict, leading to parents and children staying together as a whole unit.

 

Have firm principles – Upholding what is right as the standard

As Buddhists, we must adhere to best practice first in anything we think, speak, or do.

We must be clear here, not allowing our emotions to lead us in work, but rather let principles lead. Regarding matters related to Dhamma, uphold best practices according to the teachings left by the Lord Buddha. However, in matters concerning the world, then we must abide by the best practices in this field.

We shouldn’t use our temper on anyone. If we let our temper affect other people, it will cause conflict and damages to ourselves, our families, and ultimately to Buddhism. We must be clear in upholding best practice as standard, not letting emotions get in the way.

February 8th, 2015

 Category: Progressing in Work as a Leader and Employee 

Learn To Be an Worker in Order To Be a Leader

Before you can be a leader, it’s necessary to invest time into seeing how the work is done as a subordinate. Get broken into the work, get experience and knowledge and develop your endurance. Let the tough work teach you, while doing so without a word of complaint.

Then when we are ready, we will find success in the bigger projects. This is the reward that comes from our patience of having invested the time to train without giving up halfway in.

8 October 2019

 

It is Hard Work Which Develops Oneself

Work which is tough and tedious becomes a tool that pulls out ones abilities to the test. One who has perseverance will see their lives improve. Whenever your parents pulled you into doing some tough labor, don’t give up so quickly and try to get out doing work. Grit your teeth and do it. If you get stuck on anything, ask. The work will be completed successfully and your abilities, skills, and experiences will improve too.

 9 October 2019

 

Power and Magnanimity

I am someone who you can say has a lot of friends around them. My underlings are considerate of me because I respect their boundaries. I have both power and benevolence in their eyes. You can compare this to being both the sun and the moon.

To be the sun means that you’re able to protect them from possible dangers, so you have their reverence.

To be the moon means you offer them encouragement and support. You’re able to provide them protection in the form of food, clothes, and shelter. You have their love and gratitude in this respect.

People who can be both the sun and the moon, possessing both power and magnanimity, can be leaders.

On the contrary, whoever exercises power over others can merely force them without winning their hearts.  Once losing power, they will become meaningless in the eyes of their followers.

31 October 2019

 

Dedicate Merit to Your Ancestors

If no one has gratitude for the good that others have done for them…

…We will be left with a world where no one feels inspired to help each other.

To Progress, One Must Consult Their Masters

If you seek knowledge and advancement you need to find a master (teacher).  Get close to them, ask them questions, help them.  You will improve immediately.

1 November 2019

 

Heart of Administration Lies in How Problems Are Solved.

Having a skill in problem solving means to be able to adequately size up a problem and apply the means to achieve a solution without compromising ones morals. What this means is that the solution must provide results without detriment to oneself, one’s organization, and one’s society.

In the case where his or her organization has depleted its funds and finds itself in a corner, the administrator resists resorting to corrupt means or actions which goes against his morals for the sake of getting out of a rut.

The skillful administrator is mindful of the consequences of any decision. He uses his senses to make a decision rather than letting the heat of the moment disturb his peace of mind. Rather than acting on their emotions and creating more problems as a result, he takes proper action in order to contain or solve the problem.

Hence, the good administrator relies not on ability alone, but he always acts in accordance to the set of principles he has defined for himself. In other words, he knows what is makes the difference between unwholesomeness and unwholesomeness and is able to determine between should and should not.

One who understands the importance of having principles is one who holds his principles close to his heart at all times.

 Category: Having integrity in good action and speech 

An Honest Man Will Always Do His Best.

Whose who possess the Buddhist perfection of Sacca will have a simple principle, “whatever is done must be done to the best of my ability”

We must keep in mind though, that if we do not develop our abilities and skills, the best work we do compared to our friends who are deviated to improving themselves may funnily enough be the worst in the group.

24 October 2019

Nothing a Liar Won’t Do

Sacca, one of the ten Buddhist perfections, means integrity and sincerity. It means to be honest and truthful

One who practices the art of being dishonest is someone who has no one behind him, as the heart of Sacca and truthfulness is trust.

Lord Buddha said “There’s nothing evil in this world that a liar couldn’t do” In other words, a man, though knowing a truth, still lies, is someone who has not a shred of morality left in him.

26 October 2019

Do Not Lie Even for Jest

The Buddha said to his son Rahul “Rahula, think of an overturned cup emptied of water so that not a drop is left. This is like a man who chooses to lie, he empties himself of virtue so not a drop is remaining.”

“Thus, remember Rahula, don’t speak an untruth even in jest” said the Buddha.

Therefore children, listen to me carefully, don’t speak a word of untruth even when joking, as doing that in itself accrues demerit.

27 October 2019

 

To Lie, You Must Lie to Yourself First

In order to lie, you must first destroy the original image of the truth and come up with a new story. Just like with a television, when the signal cuts off, the image becomes distorted, even though the sound is crystal clear. You’re unable to see the original image.

The person who enjoys lying must use his imagination to distort the truth, causing the original memory of what happened to be distorted also.  In the end, he’s unable to tell the difference between a truth and a lie, between what truly happened and what false memory he constructed in his mind. The effect of lying can only cause problems for him, both in his personal and social life.

28 October 2019

 

Telling a Lie

How does one know when someone is insincere with us? When they tell a lie.

When we tell a lie to someone who loves us, this will cause their love to falter. Vice versa, our love and trust for someone diminishes when we are lied to. With this in mind, let it be known that sincerity is something that everyone in this world wishes for.

 Category: Respect and Putting Oneself in Other’s Shoes 

Goodwill Brings Forth Helping Hands.

When we have goodwill and display benevolence towards others, friends will come help us whenever we are in trouble. Therefore, wherever we are and whoever we encounter, whether there is gain or no gain involved, it’s best to be kind unto others.

January 3rd, 2018

 

Propriety of Giving

When talking about philanthropy, it’s best that the things we give are things that they actually need and are appropriate, making sure that there’s enough for everyone. It would be best if the alms was something that could be developed and provided continual gain, rather than something disposable.

For example, giving a man rice will only sustain him for a day. Teach him how to plant rice may sustain him for the rest of his life. But we should consider the needs first, if he’s hungry and has no rice, go ahead and give him rice!

30 October 2019

 

Forgive Easily to Let Go of Anger

Imagine a situation where we meet someone who 5 years before had caused us grief, we immediately felt displeased. What we have done is caged that person in our mind as someone who is blameworthy.

The effect that this has on our mind causes us to think irrationally. Because our mind has lost sense of reason, the effects of this tends to pop up in our meditation. Our mind wanders to this person again and again, causing us grief, and as we can see, this is the effect of failing to forgive others easily.
11 April 2018

 

Upon Seeing Khun Yay Spit, I Knew I found Myself My Teacher.

Luangpor has sought many masters to learn from. But just from seeing Khun Yay spit, I knew I found myself my teacher. 

Khun Yay would have letter sized papers cut into four placed next to her urn. Whenever she would spit into it, she would cover it up with the paper immediately.

I asked her for her reasoning,

She replied, ‘I’m decrepit, not able to do much. I need my children’s help to empty the urns for me. Whatever I empty into the urn stays there. It ends up attracting flies. Laypeople who come and visit me will see this and feel disgusted, as well as the children who come to empty my urn.”

 “But if I cover it with paper this way, they won’t feel as bad when they only see paper upon emptying,” said Khun Yay. Even in Thai culture, where elders are held with high respect, Khun Yay was still considerate of her children. This is an example of putting oneself in another’s shoes, which is known as empathy.

November 29th, 2017