วันเสาร์ที่ 28 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Future-Buddha’s moralities and vows



 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



[1] Sila derives from sita.
[2] Bodhisatta
[3] Rules for Buddhists’ monks.

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