Introduction
The explanations
of morality, the ten virtuous actions, and (14) actual
downfalls of the bodhisattva were discussed in this essay. In northern
Buddhism, generally Buddhists want to be Buddha so they have their moralities
and vows so that they obtain their aspiration. The moralities and vows will be
mentioned here some.
Morality
First of all, I
am going to explain morality. When you observe morality which brings a type of
coolness[1], you
have no fear that brings about a types
of heat. Sila derives from Sita that means coolness. It results rebirth in
higher states, happiness. Next the ten virtuous actions will be mentioned.
The ten virtuous
actions
Abstaining 1) killing,
2) stealing, 3) committing sexual misconduct are virtuous actions of body.
Avoiding 4) lying
5) slandering 6) speaking harshly, 7) speaking uselessly are the four virtuous
actions of speech. Without 8) covetousness, 9) ill will, and 10) wrong view are the
three virtuous actions of mind.
These ten bring
virtuous actions result in higher states. The ten non-virtuous actions
which are opposite the ten virtuous actions bring about lower states. Furthermore let’s
talk on18) bodhisattva vows.
(18) The future-Buddha’s[2]
vows
There are
eighteen titles, but fourteen actual downfalls that Future-Buddha and leaders
of society should refrain.
The
Essence of Space Sutra mentions:
1) stealing the
wealth of the Triple Gem is a root downfall;
2) forbidding
the precious Dharma.
3) seizing the
robes, beating or imprisoning a monk who has renounced his vows, or causing a
monk to renounce his vows;
4) committing any
of the five heinous crimes namely killing one’s father, mother, or an arhat
etc.;
5) holding a
wrong view;
6) destroying
cities and towns;
7) expressing
emptiness to beings who are not fully trained;
8) causing those
who have entered the path toward Buddhahood to renounce complete enlightenment;
9) causing
someone to give up a pratimoksa[3] vows
by connecting to the Mahayana vehicle3;
10) holding the
belief oneself that the training path will not dispel the afflicting emotions
of desire and so forth and influencing others to go this way;
11) expressing
one's good qualities in order to get wealth, honor, and praise and to abuse
others;
12) wrongly
expressing that “I have the patience of the profound teaching”;
13) causing a
practitioner to be punished, falsely taking an offering intended for the Three
Jewels, or accepting bribery;
14) disrupting
someone in calm abiding meditation, or taking the provisions of a retreat
practitioner and giving them to someone who says prayers—these are the root
downfalls which cause you to be reborn in the great hell realms. They were
taught by Shantideva,
in the
Essence of Space Sutra. Now let’s focus on three types of morality.
Three types of
morality
1) The morality
of restraint, which steadies the mind and this includes the pratimoksha and
bodhisattva vows.
2) The morality
of gathering virtue, which brings your own Dharma to maturity.
3) The morality
of performing the benefit of living beings, which brings living beings to
maturity. The bodhisattva’s morality
brings benefits of oneself and living beings — if you have good morality,
your actions become useful, it dispels the suffering of living beings. Show the
method to those who do not know it, if someone helps you, don’t forget it.
Repay their kindness.
There are two
types of result of morality: happiness, temporary and ultimate. Temporary
happiness is rebirth in heaven. Ultimate happiness is becoming a Buddha. If you
have morality, good things come to you even unwanted.
Conclusion
The lessons we
studied are interested because they are useful in daily life. They mention what to practice and what to
avoid e.g. morality, the ten virtuous actions and the three type of morality
are to practice.The essence of Space Sutra mentions fourteen actual downfalls to be avoided.
Bibliography:
Gempopa. The Jewel Ornament of Liberation. Ed. Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche.
New York. Snow Lion Publications,
1998. Print
