- The attainment of Nibbãna is the ultimate goal of the holy life
(brahmacãriya). - The Pãli word vãsanã, variously translated as “inherent virtuous
tendencies” or “resources of merit”, refers to virtues developed in past
lives which then become part of an individual’s ongoing spiritual legacy
that is experienced in the present life.
It is a common belief among Buddhists that those who feel a
strong inclination to ordain as monks and practice meditation must
have cultivated Buddhist practices in their previous lives, and therefore
have available to them a store of accumulated virtue that they can fall
back on. Some rely on these presumed inherent tendencies to ensure
their continued progress.
Ãcariya Mun is insisting here that only diligent effort at the prac-
tice in a suitable environment can truly ensure spiritual progress. - “As for Dhamma, which is the path that the Lord Buddha taught
us to follow, its basis is faith (saddhã) – in other words, faith that fol-
lowing the path will bring us good results – and diligent effort (viriya)
to make us persistent in our attempt to earnestly follow that path.
Mindfulness (sati) is what guides our efforts along the path. Concen-
tration (samãdhi) is firmness of the heart as it progresses along the
path, in addition to being food for the journey – in other words, the
spiritual peace and happiness that we enjoy along the way before we
reach the goal. And wisdom (paññã) is the circumspection needed to
follow the path step by step from beginning to end. All of these qual-
ities support us and encourage us to stay on the right path. When we
have these five qualities – faith, diligent effort, mindfulness, concen-
tration and wisdom – constantly with us, there is no doubt that the
right results will clearly appear as our reward, in line with our strength
and abilities. If we develop these five qualities so that they are power-
ful within our hearts, then the results that the Lord Buddha declared
to be lying at the end of the path – release from suffering and Nib-
bãna – will not be able to elude us, for all of these qualities aim at just
those results.”- comments by Ãcariya Mahã Boowa
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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