The Goodness and Merits inside us?

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Goodness springing from our hearts arises from true sincerity and is true goodness. What is true goodness and false goodness? We must look into our hearts to see if we are genuinely practicing goodness. False goodness is simply following others, to act without sincerity while wishing for a return. True goodness is to wish for nothing in return.

Learning and practicing Buddhism is nothing other than letting go of wandering thoughts, discrimination and attachments. When one does so, the true mind will manifest. It is true that. “in Buddhism, every wish can be fulfilled”.

We often read in the sutras of the fire burning our forest of merits. What is the fire? It is anger and hatred. When we lose our tempers, we lose our merits as well. If you want to know how much merit you have, think of the last time you became angry. With one angry thought, the fire burns our forest of merits.

Why do all our merits get destroyed with just a little anger? Because we lose our purity of mind. Therefore, all the teachings and attainments are based on patience and deep concentrations. They are not only the key to our cultivation in transcending the cycle of rebirth, but the key to worldly matters as well.

To remain unmoved by slander is deep concentration and is the revelation of wisdom. To become angry due to slander is a manifestation of karmic obstacles. We can choose whether to have our wisdom revealed or our karmic obstacles materialized.

If one seeks wisdom, one must achieve a pure mind. When one has a pure mind, wisdom manifests. A pure mind is like a mirror. Its function is to see everything clearly in its reflection. This is called, having wisdom. If one intends to have a pure mind, one’s mind must not be contaminated even in a slightest way – by mundane teachings (the 5 desires and 6 dusts) or by supermundane teachings (i.e. Mahayana, Theravada, True Teachings or Provisional Teachings). This is very important. One must try to have a mind of the utmost purity and words and behaviour of the utmost virtuousness.

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