Buddhism is not judgemental of everything else except for oneself. One must always concentrate on oneself, for the happiness of oneself, and never to let one’s emotion to be moved by outer world. The training for a Buddhist is to abandon greed, hatred and delusion to finally become an Arahant. The most difficult thing to do is to go forth and decide to walk the spiritual path as a monk. After that, the most difficult thing to do is to find delight as a monk. After finding delight through meditation and concentration on oneself, the most difficult thing to do is to continue living according to the Dhamma. If one can persist to walk on the Noble Eightfold Path, it will not be long for one to become an Arahant. One will have direct or personal knowledge of Nirvana, feel what have to be done have been done, and there is no more coming back into this world to suffer in the never ending cycle of rebirth. Of course, this is the highest achievement and the Buddha never expected many will be able to reach this ideal state of crossing the floods. Nevertheless, the teaching cannot be watered down simply for the purpose of fitting the deficiency of individuals. Like an examination, scoring 50% is good enough for lay disciples and most monks. It’s an extremely difficult examination after all. Don’t be too hard on yourself, much less on others. One can always retake the examination again in the next life. If one truly has the Right View, he has scored more than 50% and is guaranteed to become an Arahant in less than 7 attempts or lives.
The objective of the spiritual path is not about perfection of virtue. Although there are precepts to follow, clinging to rules and views are forewarned by the Buddha. One must also cultivate himself in terms of equanimity and wisdom. One must not see right and wrong in others, lest his equanimity will be affected and indicates his lack of wisdom. There are right and wrong in judging oneself but not in judging others or the world.
The Noble Eightfold Path comprises Right View, Right Thinking, Right Actions, Right Speech, Right Livelihood, Right Efforts, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. It is one path with eight attributes and cannot be divided into eight different paths. Similarly, an Arahant must have perfect virtue, equanimity and wisdom; not lacking any one aspect. He is then liberated, by himself, and gain true freedom which cannot be taken away by anybody or anything in the outer world.
In Buddhism, what is right is any skilful karma which leads to one’s happiness. The only thing which is wrong is any unskilful karma which leads to one’s unhappiness now or in the future; or a volition which will have suffering repercussions. There are no right and wrong for judging of others. We don’t judge other teaching as right or wrong; but we do analyse it, praise it if it is a good practice for us to follow, or criticise it if it is a bad practice which we must not follow. We will not dictate others to do or not to do anything, regardless of whether it is right or wrong. Enforcement of laws must be left to the relevant worldly authorities. Any teaching is praiseworthy if it leads to abandonment of greed, hatred and delusion. A person is praiseworthy if he practices abandonment of greed, hatred and delusion.
Life is suffering because nothing is permanent. There are 4 kinds of pain or suffering, due to: 1) sensual organs, 2) existence, 3) ignorance, 4) views. These are also called the 4 floods to cross. One can never cross any flood if he stand still or he strive too hard. If one stands still, he will sink. If one strive too hard, he will be swept away by the whirlpool. The right thing to do is to walk the middle path; don’t stand still and don’t strive too hard. Abandon clinging to sensual pleasures, desire for existence or self-identity, clinging to rules and rituals (hence zeal to judge right and wrong), and abandon clinging to views (about what is freedom, good or bad, capitalism vs. Socialism, democracy vs. Totalitarianism, etc.) Thinking about “I”, “mine”, “myself” is ego. Thinking about wanting to possess, or to be/become something is greed. One must let go of ego and greed if he is serious about finding happiness, or letting happiness finds him. The truth and happiness are looking for you; they can only find you when you are ready and you stop running around.
RESILIENT KID 