Once, Ganaka Mogallana, the famous mathematician of the
time of the Buddha asked the Buddha �Venerable Sir, in
respect of various professions there is always a system
of training and a way to practice.
Is it possible to lay down a similar training and
practice in respect of spiritual and moral discipline.�
Methods
In response to this logical question, the Buddha said
�it is possible, learned devotee, to lay down rules and
regulations in respect of spiritual life. Just as a
skilled trainer who trains horses as having accepted a
person to be spiritually trained he disciplines himself
through a gradual method of training.�
Moral Conduct
First, the trainee, is told to be of moral habit through
a process of moral purification; live a self restrained
life by voluntarily undertaking to practise moral
precepts (sila); be endowed with right behaviour and
steadfastly adhere to your frame-work of morality, see
danger in any compromise and defilement (kelesa) of your
undertaking; and take pleasure in training yourself in
rules of moral conduct.�
Senze Cintrol
�As this disciple continues to train himself in this
manner, the Tatagatha disciplines him further, directing
him saying, �Come guard your sense-faculties; be the
master of your senses. When you see something with the
eye, do not get attracted to it by its appearance, but
treat it with self control.
In case you do not control your senses, then sensual
desires, frustrations and other evil thoughts will creep
into the mind.
So continue living by controlling and guarding your
senses the eye, the ear, the nose, the tongue, the body
and the mind�.
Moderation in eating
When controlling the sense faculties including the mind,
he is told, to eat moderately. The purpose of eating is
not to have fun to indulge or even to be physically
attractive or beautiful, but to maintain the body, so
that it will help to light up the spiritual life and
enable one to live, comfortably.
Heedfulness
The Blessed One further said, now live intent on
heedfulness, cultivate mindfulness and clear
understanding. Turn every action, physical, verbal and
mental, into meditational exercise enabling you to
remain mindful, alert by aware, watching over the body,
the feeling, the mind and all mental states and thus
cleanse the mind of obstructive mental defilements�.
Overcoming Obstacles
�As soon as the disciple is able to remain mindful and
to apply clear understanding in all situations, whether
walking or sitting, standing or lying, or doing any
work, throughout the waking hours, he is further trained
through meditation to gain full control over the mind.
�The Tatagatha encourages the disciple further saying:
�Come now, disciple, train your mind to overcome all
thoughts which render the mind uncontrolled. Get rid of
the evil thoughts of desire (kelesa) and ill-will (dosa).
Be generous, benevolent and compassionate (metta, karuna,
muditha and upekkha). Abandon laziness and remain
energetic (wiriya) and dwell in inward tranquillity, be
calm (sila, samadhi and panna).
Get rid of doubt and perplexity and dwell with a mind
filled with faith and conviction�. When the disciple is
thus enabled to be controlled in mind, he is then
advised to meditate.
Even a upasaka and upasika could follow the instructions
given above by the Buddha, while engaged in their daily
activities. The Dhammapada Verse 43, says, �Na tam mata
pitakariya, Anne vapi ca nataka, Sammapanohitma cittam,
Seyyaso nam tate kare� (Neither mother, father, nor any
other relative can do one greater good than one�s own
well-directed mind). On another occasion as recorded in
Anguttara Nikaya (1.4) the Buddha, addressing the
bhikkhus:
Bhikkhus, I do not see anything so completely harmful as
the untamed mind. Indeed, an untamed mind confuses to
great harm�. �Bhikkhus, I do not see anything so
completely harmful as the unguarded mind.
Indeed, an unguarded mind leads to great harm�.
�Bhikkhus, I do not see anything so completely
beneficial as the guarded mind. Indeed, a guarded mind
leads to great benefit�. �Bhikkhus, I do not see
anything so completely harmful as the unprotected mind.
Indeed, an unprotected mind leads to great harm�.
�Bhikkhus, I do not see anything so completely
beneficial as the protected mind.
Indeed, a protected mind leads to great benefit�.
Bhikkhus, I do not see anything so completely beneficial
as the tamed, guarded, protected and controlled mind
leads to great benefit�.
In fact even, terrorism that is causing trouble world
over is a creation of the mind of one leader and the
rest follow. The Buddha discoursed the Dhamma discovered
by his intuitive mind, in the 6th century BC, in India,
when the society was four-tiered, namely, Kshtriya,
rulers and worriers, Brahamans, priestly class,
Vaidhya-setts, the merchant class and Sudras, the menial
labourers which could be easily identified as racism.
This caste hierarchy still exists in India and there is
a section in the Indian Constitution as regards tribes
and scheduled castes.
පුර අටවක
පසෙලාස්වක
අව
අටවක
අමාවක