The mind is the root for everything. It is the foremost. Therefore, all the merits and sins are created by the mind. If someone does something with a clean mind, the merit generated by the act will follow him like his shadow.
We all have a mind, and the nature of the things that we talk and do in our lives is dependent on the state of our mind. The mind gets corrupted when it binds with childish defilements. If one cannot identify these childish defilements, that person will act upon them with a corrupted mind. That action will not for his/her benefit. As soon as we recognize that the mind is approaching for a sinful thought, we must free the mind from it quickly.
Generating skills in a mind is a meritorious thing. For that, it is important and needed to contemplate wisely. A person like that can please the mind. Dear devotees and children, our minds should be pleased about three most extraordinary things that have ever been born to this world.
If you can please your mind about the pure and defilement free mind of the Gautama Buddha who was the extraordinary human being and the most powerful of all beings in the human history with a profound wisdom and about His profound realization, His amazing character, His remarkable talent of preaching the Dhamma, and about His tremendous compassion, then it is the clear notification of the light of merit that’s being formed within you. That delight of your mind will take you to a world of wise people.
What the Supreme Buddha taught us was not some views generated by a subjective knowledge gathered by reading many books. The nature of the Dhamma that He taught us was explained by Him in the following manner:
“Dear Bhikkhus, I am preaching the Dhamma by realizing it with a spectacular wisdom. Dear Bhikkhus, I am preaching the Dhamma with a cause and not without a cause. Dear Bhikkhus, I am preaching the Dhamma with supernatural powers and not without supernatural powers.
Dear Bhikkhus, I am preaching the Dhamma not without realizing it but by realizing it with an astonishing and spectacular wisdom. When I am preaching the Dhamma with a cause and not without a cause, and when I am preaching the Dhamma with supernatural powers and not without supernatural powers, you must follow my Dhamma advice and my preaching.
Dear Bhikkhus, you should be extremely happy, make your minds pleased, and become joyful by thinking the fact that ‘the Most Fortunate One is Sammā Sambuddha, His Dhamma is well preached (Swakkhāta), and the noble disciple Bhikkhus are in the path to eradicate the defilements (Supatipanna)’…”
– Anguttara Nikaya – Nika Nipata – Bharanhdu Vagga.
What we clearly see from this Buddha’s statement is that the Dhamma taught by the Buddha is not there just to teach others. The Buddha’s Dhamma is for others to help realizing the life. The Supreme Buddha showed His Dhamma, which He preached based on His realization, as follows:
“Dear Bhikkus, the beings in this world live in desire. They are attached to that desire and make themselves happy through the desire. But, when the Tathāgata (the Buddha) preaches them about eradicating that desire, they started to like to hear it. They listen to it. They prepare their minds to realize it. Dear Bhikkhus, this kind of wonder is happening because of the birth of a Tathāgata Arahat Sammā Sambuddha.
Dear Bhikkus, the beings in this world live in pride. They are attached to pride and make themselves happy through the pride. But, when the Tathāgata preaches them about eradicating that pride, they started to like to hear it. They listen to it. They prepare their minds to realize it. Dear Bhikkhus, this kind of wonder is happening because of the birth of a Tathāgata Arahat Sammā Sambuddha.
Dear Bhikkus, the beings in this world live in discomposure. They are attached to that discomposure and make themselves happy through it. When the Tathāgata preaches them about eradicating that discomposure, they started to like to hear it. They listen to it. They prepare their minds to realize it. Dear Bhikkhus, this kind of wonder is happening because of the birth of a Tathāgata Arahat Sammā Sambuddha.
Dear Bhikkus, the beings in this world live in ignorance. They are attached to the ignorance and make themselves happy through the ignorance. But, when the Tathāgata preaches them about eradicating that ignorance, they started to like to hear it. They listen to it. They prepare their minds to realize it. Dear Bhikkhus, this kind of wonder is happening because of the birth of a Tathāgata Arahat Sammā Sambuddha.”
– Anguttara Nikaya – Chatukka Nipata – Dutiya Tathagatha Achchariya Sutta.
Dear Bhikkhus and children, what is the Dhamma that the Tathāgata Buddha preached wonderfully? It is the Four Noble Truths. Wise human beings have the skill to realize the Four Noble Truths. It opens up to you based on how pleased your mind is. If someone’s mind is delighted by listening well to the Dhamma preached by the Supreme Buddha, isn’t that a person who controls his mind well? Therefore, it is indeed a benefit to please your mind about the Supreme Buddha. It is indeed a benefit to please your mind about the amazing Dhamma. It is indeed a benefit to please your mind about the noble disciple Bhikkhus.
May you be fortunate to realize the Four Noble Truths in the Order of the Gautama Buddha!
By Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
