Buddhist Perspective on the Development of Social Welfare
by Ashin Indacara | 2011 | 61,386 words
This page relates ‘How to Fulfill Sila� of the study on the Buddhist perspective on the development of Social Welfare, employing primarily the concepts of Utthana-sampada (persistent effort) and Arakkha-sampada (watchfulness). Based on the teachings of the Buddha in the Dighajanu Sutta and other canonical texts, this essay emphasizes the importance of effort, knowledge, and good karma in achieving social welfare.
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13. How to Fulfill ³§Ä«±ô²¹
It is, here, noteworthy that there is a saying of how to fulfill ²õÄ«±ô²¹ talked by Webu Sayadaw, a very famous meditation master in Myanmar. He said that:â€�
“Doing meritorious deeds such as cleaning a pagoda or watering the holy Bo-tree, or serving one’s teachers or parents, or even attending to the needs of your family...all these will go into the credit side of your fulfillment of ³§Ä«±ô²¹. While doing these things one can still meditate. If you neglect any of these duties, can you say for certain that you have fulfilled ³§Ä«±ô²¹? If ³§Ä«±ô²¹ is thus unfulfilled, can you acquire the happiness you look for? If there is no happiness, no peace, you cannot get ³§²¹³¾Äå»å³ó¾±. Without ³§²¹³¾Äå»å³ó¾±; you cannot acquire ±Ê²¹Ã±Ã±Äå (Wisdom).â€�[1]
According to the aphorism of this, it is evident that how important ²õÄ«±ô²¹ is! Besides, it is impossible for one to establish ²õ²¹³¾Äå»å³ó¾± (concentration) and ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå (wisdom) without ²õÄ«±ô²¹. It means that one can reach for a higher level of wisdom, such as, insight knowledge (±¹¾±±è²¹²õ²õ²¹²ÔÄå ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå) and enlightenment (bodhi-ñÄå²Ô²¹ or magga-ñÄå²Ô²¹) through ²õÄ«±ô²¹. ³§Ä«±ô²¹ and ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå are not differentiated or separated from one another. They go side by side. Thus, it is said that ²õÄ«±ô²¹ is the foundation as mentioned above.
It is stated in the ¶ÙÄ«²µ³ó²¹ ±·¾±°ìÄå²â²¹ as follow:â€�
â€�Yattha ²õÄ«±ô²¹á¹�, tattha ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå, yattha ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå, tattha ²õÄ«±ô²¹á¹�. ³§Ä«±ô²¹vato ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå, ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äåvato ²õÄ«±ô²¹á¹�. ³§Ä«±ô²¹±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äånañca lokasmiá¹� aggamakkhÄyati.â€�
It means that “If there is virtue, there is also wisdom and if there is wisdom, there is also virtue. The virtue and wisdom (²õÄ«±ô²¹ and ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå) are the greatest in the world.â€�[2]
In short, observing the precepts or moral trainings which is prescribed in the teachings of the Buddha is the way to fulfill virtue (²õÄ«±ô²¹).