We humans are mysterious beings with inconceivable potentialities. Noble characteristics and criminal tendencies are latent within us. These may rise to the surface of our life at any time unexpectedly without using strength and power. These are dormant within us in various degrees. Within the powerful complex machinery of man's mind, we find a treasure storehouse of virtue and rubbish heap of wickedness. By developing these respective characteristics, we may become either a blessing or a curse to humanity. If we wish to sublimate ourselves to the noble service of humanity, we must endeavour our best to remove the latent evils and cultivate the dormant seed of virtue. To discover invaluable treasure latent within us, righteous patience and persistent effort are essential. Even the poorest people can accomplish this task. Thus, wealth and power are not essential prerequisites to the accumulation of human value.
One powerful destructive vice within
us is anger (Dosa). The constructive virtue that can eliminate this evil force
and ennoble mankind is loving-kindness (MettÈ). Cruelty (HiÑsa)
is another vice that is responsible for many horrors and atrocities prevalent
in the world today. Compassion (KaruÓÈ) is its antidote.
Jealousy (IssÈ)
is another vice that is a poison to every system of the world. The poisonous
jealousy leads to unhealthy rivalries and dangerous competitions. The most
effective remedy for this poisonous drug is appreciative joy (MuditÈ).
Two other universal characteristics that upset the mental equipoise of a man
are attachment to the pleasurable things and aversion to the un-pleasurable
things. Developing equanimity (UpekkhÈ) can eliminate these two opposite
forces. These four sterling virtues may be rendered by modes of Noble Conduct
or Noble Abodes. These four noble conducts are capable of elevating the world
if mankind is so wills on them. If all mankind tries to cultivate these
conducts, irrespective of creed, colour, race or sex, the world can be
transformed into a supreme paradise where we all can live in perfect peace and
harmony as ideal citizens of one world. So, we should also extend these four
noble virtues towards all living beings without exception. Consequently, these
virtues can be called boundless noble spirit. Irrespective or religious
beliefs, everyone should cultivate these sweet virtues and be a blessing to
oneself and all others.
The development of loving-kindness
softens people's hearts. In the organization of nations, instead of providing
military aid, we should give the pure aid of loving-kindness to the helpless
world. It is defined as the sincere wish for the welfare and genuine happiness
of all mankind without making distinction between ourselves and others.
"Just as a mother protects her only child even at the risk of her own
life, even so one should cultivate boundless loving-kindness towards all living
beings". Therefore, loving-kindness of mothers is not the passionate love
towards her child. Even so, our love towards other nations or other countries
must be a sincere wish and pure love for the genuine peace and welfare of the world.
We should extend the boundless universal brotherhood and sisterhood spirit
without barriers in the differences of political views and religious beliefs.
The loving-kindness, which is a
sincere wish for the genuine peace and welfare of the world, is not political,
racial, national, or even a religious brotherhood. Political brotherhood is
confined only to those who share similar political views, such as the partial
brotherhood of Democrats, Socialists, Communists, and so on. Racial brotherhood
and national brotherhood are restricted only to those of same race and nation.
Very often to assert their racial or political superiority, they resort to
brutal warfare and killing of people by mercilessly raining bombs from the sky
above. The pathetic incidents of the Second World War are striking as examples,
which can never be forgotten by mankind. Acts of violence and terrorism should
be denounced, and harmonious relations should be established with the people of
different background and faiths.
Loving-kindness (MettÈ)
is not mere religious brotherhood either. Owing to the limitations of religious
brotherhood, religious disputes and so called holy wars are waged without the
least compassion; sincere outspoken men and women have been roasted and burnt
alive. Many atrocities have been perpetrated which baffle description. Cruel
wars have been waged, marring the historic pages of world history. To establish
genuine peace and happiness amongst mankind, a sincere religious awaking and
harmony are necessary in this morally bankrupt world. So we must carefully
establish a pure and useful life of love, reason and justice based on the noble
principle of their respective teachers and leaders.
The Buddha addressed, "Hatred
never ceases through hatred, but hatred ceases by love alone. This is the
essence of the ancient and eternal law." As loving-kindness is a
constructive peaceful force, it has the power to counteract destructive influences.
Just as hateful thoughts can produce toxic effects in any system or policy,
even so loving thoughts can produce healthy, wealthy mental and physical
effects. The Buddha emphatically stated the importance of morality as a means
to overcome tensions and difficulties, to solve the problems of humanity. We
should exercise right thought of selflessness, loving-kindness, compassion and
harmlessness or non-violence.
Today's world is full of a chaos,
miseries, war-weariness, and violence; the nations are arming themselves to the
teeth. Human lives are in danger and frightened by the arms race between great
countries or G countries. These weapons are always ready to release and to kill
many human lives at any moment. In fact, the world is absolutely in need of
this universal loving-kindness, measureless compassion, sympathetic joy, great
tolerance and right vision in order for all of us to live in one world in
perfect peace and harmony like brothers and sisters.
We should develop sincere love to
kill the enemy of the world, which is hatred. We should develop invaluable
compassion to remove the woe of nations, which is cruelty. We should develop
appreciative joy to protest from the poisoning of all systems, which is
jealousy. We should develop the mental equipoise of man to eliminate attachment
to pleasurable situations and aversion to un-pleasurable situations.
IN the world today, from the
materialistic point of view, all technology, industry, machinery are highly
advancing, but on the contrary, most people's mind are underdeveloped, their
spirits remain in poverty.
Most modern people's mentalities are
lacking loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equilibrium.
Furthermore, the character of the young generation is bankrupt. Both material
and mental progress are essential for the development of a country. In order to
alleviate poverty, all religious leaders and spiritual scholars should develop
educational infrastructures for modern education and moral education as well.
Generally, good education is an avenue to upward morality and a way out of
poverty. Now worldly progress is good enough, but the progress of spiritual
life is at the minimum degree in the material world. Therefore, we need to try
to elevate spirit of people, especially the character of sons and daughters of
our world for the progress of our age in the near and far future.
To do so, we should change and
promote the entire education system of every country; we should plan and
project, teach and learn moral education, cultural education, religious
education, spiritual education according to respective country, culture, nature,
etc. Thus, all spiritual and religious leaders need to meet on a common
platform and we should try to form one organization such as "The United
Religions" just like the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United
Nations. If we could organize the United Religions, we would co-operate with
the United Nations to solve the problems of nations.
On account of different faiths or
views, if we cannot meet, stand and walk on a common platform like brothers and
sisters, and then surely the many mission of compassionate world teachers or
many spiritual leaders would fail in doing good for the world. Since we all are
citizens of the world, loving-kindness (MettÈ), great tolerance (KhantÊ),
forgiveness and compassion are our common platform, it is to walk on together.
However impossible it may seem now, surely it cannot be easier less risky than
engaging at a brutal fighting in nuclear war. Let us get together and construct
the spirit of universal brotherhood and sisterhood.
I would like to conclude for my
speech with the priceless word of the Buddha:
"One should win anger through
loving-kindness, wickedness through goodness, selfishness through charity, and
falsehood through truthfulness." This is the advice of the Buddha.
"Hatred never ceases through
hatred, but it ceases by love alone. This is the essence of the ancient and
eternal law." This is the advice of the Buddha.
May the truth and peace prevail in
every corner of the world! May All beings be peaceful and happy forever!
Sitagu Sayadaw Dr. Ashin Nyanissara,
The Admonition Master of State, Sangha Raja of Shwekyin Nikaya Buddhist Order,
Abhidhajamaharatthaguru, Abhidhajaaggamahasaddhammajotika, Ph.D., D.Litt.,
Founder of Sitagu International Buddhist Missionary Association, Chancellor of
Sitagu International Buddhist Academies, Patron of Sitagu Ayudana and Sekkhu
Dhana Hospitals, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Theravada Dhamma Society
of America
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar
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