Be enlightened by Buddha’s teachings

S. M. Wijayaratne,
Kurunegala Daily News Corr.

Thehuman beings of the modern era are fortunate in being born at a time when the light of knowledge is shining with considerable lustre.

It is therefore, an insult to our human dignity that we are utilising that light not to improve our mind, but to destroy ourselves along with our environment.

It is also of paramount importance that all the media available in modern times, be mobilised to save lives and civilisation.

All Buddhist countries in the wold are getting ready to celebrate the 2600th anniversary of the Buddha’s attaining Enlightenment in 2011. All heads of States of Buddhist countries in the world should explore all possibilities to instil a deep understanding of the Noblest teachings of the Buddha in the minds of the young generation since youth are to take over this world from the older generation.

Virtuous and erudite Buddhist Monks all over the world should organise well-planned programmes as soon as possible to create positive attitudes in the minds of young people as it paves the way for them to see the world and life through wisdom. Wisdom is not knowledge. We gain knowledge after listening, reading and observing many things in the world, but it is not wisdom in the real sense. Wisdom only appears in the mind when mental hindrances, obstructions and other impurities are not active in the mind. There are many learned people all over the world that, no doubt, have wonderful knowledge, but unfortunately, some lack proper wisdom. They are intelligent, but their behaviourist questionable.

They may be hot tempered, egoistic, emotional, jealous greedy and temperamental. On the other hand, there are others who are very kind patient, tolerant and have many other good qualities. However, they lack wisdom and can be easily misled by others. If we develop generosity without proper knowledge, we could get into trouble when people take advantage of us. Knowledge and good qualities must, therefor, go together.

Knowledge is of three kinds.

* That acquired by learning
* That acquired by thinking, and
* That acquired by meditation

This is wisdom, which is the apex of the threefold training - discipline, concentration, and wisdom-leading to ultimate bliss. The fountain of knowledge does not spring accidentally. Educators who seek ways and means to quench mankind’s thirst for knowledge dig it through layers of ignorance.

Knowledge, what we know, means little unless intelligently applied to serve others.

The Buddha points out the value of the good short life like this;

“Better to live a single day with wisdom, bright, contemplative than live for a hundred years unwise and unconcentrated. We are in the habit of criticising others’ faults and highlighting their shortcomings and weaknesses. We delay our own efforts to look at our ownselves to rectify our faults and weaknesses. Then only we will be able to tread on the correct path towards liberation or the eradication of defilements to enjoy the bliss of Nibbana. In order to show the importance of minding our own business, the following story will shed some light to us.

Once, some woodcutters were cutting a fallen tree trunk. They began by spliting the trunk down the middle.

To make their work easier, they inserted a wedge between the two parts as they proceeded. As it was almost noon, they decided to take a break, leaving the tree trunk with the wedge still in place.

Just then a monkey came along. It wanted to know what the wedge was doing there, so it sat astride the trunk, with its tail hanging between the spilt trunk. After shaking the wedge vigorously, it succeeded in removing it, but in so doing, the two sides of the trunk slammed shut crushing his tail and killing it.

From life’s experience we must learn. For life’s hard lessons unlearned leave us fossilised and impotent in a desert of ignorance.

By learning the teachings of the Blessed One that are full of wisdom, let’s try to be victors in ending the process of Life and Death.

May you have wisdom to realize the Four Noble Truths.