Wisdom and Method

 

The growing popularity of Buddha impelled the king called Machendra to meet Lord Buddha. Since the king has imprisoned his own father, he thought Buddha would not receive him. Nevertheless he wanted to try. When the king showed up, Lord Buddha was preaching in- group.  

"You are welcome, the great king", said the Lord Buddha.  The king thought that the welcome was not for him, but for another king. Looked around, he found no king other than himself. When the Buddha welcomed him twice, he was convinced. Being astonished, he developed faith and offered prostration. He then listened Dharma from Lord Buddha. Later he has attained Arhat – liberation from Samsara.

Lord Buddha's wisdom knows that no one, even dogs, likes blaming and scolding. He then applies the method, that is, to welcome the king. And his wisdom even knew that the king was suitable for the teachings. So he listened Dharma. When the suitable time comes across, he gives teachings.

When dealing with people, Lord Buddha applies wisdom and method. So we can use to better our human relationship.

​For example, a friend did a wrong, and he is under stress and fear. Desperate for a solution, he came to seek your help. "Why did you do that," you lashed out, "and why you came here?" 

Upon hearing this, there is no slight doubt that Friend was disappointed and enraged. Instead, if you welcome and console him, he will be relieved: It is like cool water being poured on hot. When he calms down, you can tell him what he did is wrong, and what to do next. In this way you can direct him to the right path.

​When a child smoke, our normal words are: “Don’t smoke! it is injurious to your health.” But our usual worrisome words have no strength to touch his mind. So it doesn’t work. It is also possible that he smokes intentionally probably because he is tire of your often lashing.

In this beautiful world, no one, it seems, is ready to accept 

ones fault easily. In this case we must deal with wisdom and method. ​

With wisdom and method, we will score higher in terms of public relationship. Of course people flock around us like bees gathering around honey.

We can apply wisdom and method to altar the unruly behavior or habit of others. Directly pointing would hurt their feeling, and also intensify theirs.

When wife shout, husband must keep quite. If you both shout, then there is no way for calmness; it might damage your relationship. When one speaks, other listen, whereas other speak, one listen. It is not only a part of our living, but also that it is how we lead life together and further.

And we can use the wisdom and method in our family, or in our office. With wisdom, we must know what your wife and children want and think. Then you use the method to fulfill their want and thought. It is not necessary to spend lot of money to fulfill ones wish and thought. A sincer word can satisfy. This is one of the methods.

It might be hard for us to use wisdom and method on regular basis. All we need is patience and practice. If we really want benefit and credit, we have to do so.

If a woman show up in your office, shouting and complaining, what are you going to do? 

First of all, tell her, please have a seat. Let her talk. Listen to her with smile and patience. (we like to talk, but not to listen, which is our weakness.) If she says something unpleasant, do not react but be patient. You must know she is under emotion and in this case she would scold. After a while, you can ask her, “Do you like a cup of water or tea?” This distract her intense. Also, to calm her down you need to share feeling and solidarity. This is what she really needs. And you can try to change her topic skillfully. When she calm down, it is your time to express and deal.

You may think why you ought to listen to her, since you are right, or you are superior to her. This is the destructive thought, which you should thwart immediately. Every human depends on each other. They would be helpful and useful for you in future. You might seek their help. The rich turn into poor, and the poor turn into the rich. So it is not good idea to bully and belittle poor and ordinary folk. Therefore, with the influence of wisdom and method, we will definitely have happy family, happy marriage, healthy friendship, and reputation. So let's make habit of applying wisdom and method in your daily life!

Fill spiritual vacuum!

Fill spiritual vacuum!

Although our human life is precious, it is difficult to find and easy to lose. And we have fewer conditions for survival, and more conditions for death. In careless, everything around us has potential to lead us to the state of death. When it occurs one day, nothing can stop it. Did we do something good to humanity? More importantly, did we do Dharma? These will determine whether we could rest in peace or not.

We have years for works, but no an hour for Dharma. For our whole life, we work hard for the momentary happiness. One day we leave everything behind, and depart from this world alone. At that point, there is one thing that we can carry with us—also from life to life. That is spiritual practice we have done and are doing. 

Of course, we know that there is no way to avoid death. One day it falls upon us, but we are not sure when. We think it has long way to go, because 'I am young', or 'I am not 60 and 70 something'. Also, we wish it doesn't happen soon. However, we don’t want to die. We are intolerable to distance from family, friends, materials, fame, beautiful world, etc.

We are even afraid to hear about death. Nevertheless, we cannot avoid when the time of death come. Our power and wealth can nether prevent us from death, nor we can escape from it. 

It is really beautiful how time lapse moment by moment. If we get up in the morning and find ourselves having reached 60 years old, we would be shocked. Maybe we think of suicide. We have no clear idea about getting older. If it occurs suddenly, we go crazy.

Death has no seniority of young and old. Some die right after delivery. Some die suddenly. Yesterday we talked to our friend and had lunch together. Today we pay tribute to his funeral. One day we feel we are at the point of death. At this time we remember Dharma. But it is very late. So now is time to do something spiritual.

The topic of death is not to scare us, but to hint us to prepare before the death. And it is inevitable that we draw close to the door of death moment by moment, although we do not get notice of the passage of time.

If we die without some spiritual practice and contribution to the society and humanity, it is really sad and regretful. It is more regretful if we die with spiritual vacuum.  

Supposed we live for 60 years. We would spend most of our years with sleeping, work or business, celebration and entertainment. Did we do something beneficial in all those years? Let's think!

If we want to do Dharma, we must do right now. Tomorrow never comes. Guntang Rinpoche said: “I passed 20 years, thinking to practice spiritualism. Another 20 years, saying that I would definitely do it, and another 20 years, regretting that I could not. This is my vacuum life story.”

Dharma is only one thing that we can carry with ourselves from life to life. This is the permanent investments, which give us profit from life after life.

There are people who think that if we do only Dharma, then we will get no food. I am not saying that we should devote all of our time to Dharma. We know we will not, nor we can. What I am saying is that we should give few minutes to Dharma every day.

Geshe Ben Gungyal said: “When I was a layman, I wore a sword at my belt. I had many enemies and few friends. I used to rob villages at night. Despite that I had shortage of food and cloths. Now I practice Dharma. I have shortage of neither food nor clothing, and my enemies leave me in peace.”

We have more time to brows through internet, to enjoy party, to watch television, to engage in gossip and holiday. Why don’t we have few minutes to practice Dharma, which gives us inner peace?

For our own peace and bliss, it is wise to make a decision to engage in spiritual practice from now on.