Daily Reading ~ September 4

Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika

The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom

Giving up worldly desires, one dwells with a mind free from worldly desires and purified.

Giving up ill-will and hatred, one dwells with a mind filled with compassion and love for the welfare of all beings, and purifies the mind of ill-will and hatred.

Giving up slot hand laziness, one perceives the light, and mindful and clearly comprehending, one purifies the mind of sloth and laziness

Giving up restlessness and worry and remaining inwardly calm, one purifies the mind of restlessness and worry.

Giving up doubt, one dwells having crossed over doubt, and without uncertainty as to what is skillful, one purifies the mind of doubt.

♦ Just as a man who had borrowed money to develop his business, and whose business had prospered, might repay the money and have enough left over to support a wife, and would think: “Before I was in debt, but now I am free from debt”, and would be glad and happy because of that;

♦ Just as a man who was sick and suffering, without appetite and weak, might in time regain his health, appetite and strength, and would think: “Before I was sick, but now I am healthy”, and would be glad and happy because of that;

♦ Just as a man who is imprisoned might, after a time, be freed without any confiscation of his property, and would think: “Before I was imprisoned, but now I am free”, and would be glad and happy because of that;

♦ Just as a man who is enslaved, not his own master, controlled by another and unable to do as he desired, and who in time would be emancipated, would think: “I was a slave, but now I am emancipated”, and would be glad and happy because of that;

♦ Just as a traveler carrying goods and wealth might find himself in a wilderness with little food and much danger, and after a time, might arrive safe and sound at the edge of a village, and would think: “Before I was in danger, but now I am safe”, and would be glad and happy because of that;

In the same way, as long as the five hindrances are not given up, one feels indebted sick, imprisoned, enslaved, lost in the wilderness. But when the five hindrances are given up, one feels free from debt, healthy, free, emancipated and safe. And when one knows that these five hindrances are given up, gladness arises from gladness comes joy, because of joy the body is tranquil, with a tranquil body one is happy, and the mind of one who is happy is concentrated.