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are treated with great respect and are supported by the householders and given alms. This is
excellent. Often, people feel that there are actually only two Jewels of Safe Direction: the
Buddha and the Dharma, and that the Sangha is unnecessary. They think that we can forget
about them. There is no need for everyone to be monks and nuns, but we need to check our
own dispositions, and if it suits us, being a monastic is best. But, at least never criticize monks
and nuns. We need to examine and criticize only ourselves. The Sangha is very important for
setting examples and for symbolizing the Buddha's teachings. We need to be very careful
about our own karma and about what we say and do.
Refraining from Destructive Behavior
(8) A bodhisattva's practice is never to commit
any negative actions,
Even at the cost of our lives,
because the Able Sage has declared
That the extremely difficult to endure sufferings
of the worse states of rebirth
Are the results of negative actions.
In plain language, if we do good, good comes from it, and if we do bad, bad comes from it. It
is very simple. The effect follows in the same category as the cause. It never fails and,
moreover, from small causes we can experience extensive results.
In countries as well, any horrible conditions that happen come from negative forces built up
from past destructive actions. In Tibet for instance, we sometimes have drought; our crops
fail; sometimes there are wars, invasions, and so forth. All of these are due to our past
destructive actions and our lack of positive force. If we do not have any positive force built up
from our past actions, then no matter what we do, it will not bring about good conditions.
Therefore, we need always to wish for others' happiness. Like concerning the Chinese, we can
only wish them well. We must not wish that bad things befall them. What they experience will
be the results of their own actions.
Destructive behavior comes from our disturbing emotions and attitudes and, by acting in this
way, we build up negative force, which brings us nothing but suffering. Destructive actions
can be of body, speech, or mind. An example for one of the body would be, for instance,
killing, which is taking the life of anything from a human down to an insect. It is very
negative to kill, so we need to refrain ourselves as much as we can.
All beings have an equal right to life and cherish their lives as much as we do. If we prick our
finger with a thorn, we say, "Ouch, I hurt." Everybody feels exactly the same, all beings. It is
especially terrible to sacrifice animals; they still do that in some lands. In the past, they did
this in Kinnaur, Spiti, and some places in Nepal, and even in certain districts in Tibet.
Superficially, the people there take refuge in me, the Dalai Lama, and then sacrifice animals.
This is very bad. Saying the mantra of compassion "Om mani padme hum" and yet sacrificing,
that will never, never do.
Refraining from Destructive Behavior 19
A Short Commentary on Thirty-seven Bodhisattva Practices
Next is stealing. This also is very negative. Inappropriate sexual behavior is to have relations
with another person's spouse, or with someone who has a relation with someone else, and not
seeing anything wrong in so doing. When we look at the historical literature, most of the
various discords and fights in royal families have come from sexual misconduct. It is very
destructive.
Next is lying. This too is extremely negative. Of course, to lie to protect someone's life is
something else, but we need always to be honest. If we lie, it brings only unhappiness. We sit
in fear that somebody is going to find us out. That always makes for a very uneasy mind,
doesn't it?
Next is divisive language, causing others to be unfriendly and apart. We hear bad things about
someone and then spread it; this is very destructive. We need to try to bring other people
together. When people live and work together, their harmony is based on mutual confidence
and trust. When we look at the Chinese, for instance, they speak of everybody as being
comrades, but this is only at the discussion table. Outside, they will not even share a bar of
soap with each other. This is because they have no confidence; they do not trust one another. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
