Buddhism As Education

The answer to this question is, the noble qualities such as generosity, morality, etc, etc, not spoiled by craving, pride or wrong view, but founded on great compassion and wisdom which is skill in seeking merit, are to be named Parami. Further explanation, when giving dana, if it is tainted with craving, thinking "this is my dana", if it is tainted with pride, thinking, "this dana is mine", if it is tainted with wrong view, thinking, "this dana is for myself", such dana is said to be spoiled by craving, pride and wrong view. It is only the kind of dana not spoiled by craving, pride or wrong view which could be termed Perfection (the same applies to observance of morality, etc). To be qualified as a Parami, acts of merit such as dana, sila, etc should not only be free from taints of craving, pride or wrong view, but should be founded on Great Compassion (Maha-karuna) and wisdom which is skill-in seeking merit (Upaya-kosalla Nana). Mahakaruna: A ...

Generosity, giving, is the first parami. It confers upon the giver the double blessing of inhibiting the immoral thoughts of selfishness on the one hand and of developing the pure thoughts of selflessness on the other hand. The object in giving is to eliminate the craving that lies dormant within oneself; apart from which there are the attendant blessings of generosity such as the joy of service, the ensuing happiness and consolation and the alleviation of suffering. He makes no distinction in extending his love with supreme generosity, at the same time not forgetting to use his judicious discrimination in doing so. If for instance, a drunkard were to seek his help, but he was convinced that the drunkard would misuse his gift, the Bodhisatta would not hesitate to refuse him, for such generosity would not constitute any parami. If however, someone should seek his help for a worthy purpose, he would express his deep obligation for the opportunity offered and willingly and humbly...

Millions of people follow sports. If you love to watch soccer or baseball, you probably look for one team and identify yourself with them. You may watch the games with despair and elation. Perhaps, you will give a little kick or swing to help the ball along. If you do not take sides, the fun is certainly missing. In wars, we also pick sides, usually the side that is being threatened. Peace movements are born of this feeling. We get angry, we shout, but rarely do we rise above all this to look at a conflict the way a mother would, who is watching her two children fighting. She seeks only for their reconciliation. In order to fight each other, the chicks born from the same mother hen put colours on their faces. Putting colours on our own face is to make ourselves stranger to our own brothers and sisters. We can only shoot each other when they are strangers. Real efforts for reconciliation arise when we see with the eyes of compassion and that ability comes when we clearly see that...

There are varieties in the essential nature of Giving: (a) giving of the Buddhist Law (Dharma), teaching the Subline Doctrine without error; (b) giving of security against fear of men, fierce animals and the other elements; (c) giving of material things, either concretely or imaginatively. Speaking generally, the household or layman Bodhisattva does the giving of material things and the Bodhisattva who has entered the religious life does the giving of the Law (Dharma). An illustration of how the Bodhisattva practices all six Perfections simultaneously with Giving predominant, the Great Commentary on the 'Perfection of Insight in Eight Thousand Units' explains: At the time he practices, say the Giving of the Law, he has the Morality of restraint against the mental orientation of Sravaka and Pratyekabuddha; he has both the Forbearance with conviction of the Law of Omniscient One and the Forbearance of mistreatment by another. He has the Striving purposive to promote...

Another way we can give is to relieve the worries and fears of others. A friend told me of an incident that had occurred in her home. A caring woman with an excellent sense of humor, she does draw the lone at some things. Upon walking into her bathroom, she saw a large python on the floor. Having good reflexes, she drew the line and firmly closed the door. Knowing that she was not at risk, her immediate thought was for her elderly cat that could no longer move quickly. Jenny, who is a Buddhist by practice called her husband Rob, who is a Buddhist at heart. Rob look into the phone book and locate a snake catcher. However, before the snake catcher was allowed to leave the premises with his catch, Rob thoughtfully queried the man: Was the snake okay? How would it be released and where? Would it be safe or would it subject to any risk? The snake catcher patiently explained that he would take it a considerable distance away before he would release it in a safer and more natural environment....