by 

Venerable Dr. Sobhita Thero

A student of mine came up to me one day said, " Venerable , I find it easy enough to do good things , such as giving Dana. But the real difficulty is actually to refrain or retrain from bad actions, such as cursing and swearing at another reckless driver on the expressway." Such is the challenge that Buddhism poses. More than just simply doing good, the attainment of goal of enlightenment in Buddhism requires that we restrain our actions, that we purge all evil thought and mental defilements and purify our minds. the problem is that the natural inclination of an untrained mind is directed towards anger, ill- will, hatred and jealously. Hence, the Buddha warns us that those who are bent on evil are unrestrained. Let not greed and hatred lead us to long lasting woe. if we make no effort to train our minds and control out thoughts, we will continue to suffer in the cycle of "Sansara". The wise man who truly understands the harmfulness of these thoughts as the enlightened one does will reject these thoughts. But for the untrained mind engulfed by such mental defilements, to try to act otherwise is like swimming against the current. From the Buddhist perspective , the eradication of all mental defilements and the purification of the mind require the cultivation of good or wholesome thoughts and actions, or "Kusala" which also means "Skilful" or "Meritorious" deeds. They are skilful because they are free from mental defilements and lead us on to the virtuous path towards enlightenment. They are meritorious, because they bring us happiness which comes to those who act with pure minds just as one's shadow that never leaves. 

           The notion of kusala is closely associated with the Buddhist idea of Karma or rebirth. the doing of good deeds and the accumulation of merits bring happiness, not just in this life but in the life hereafter. In accordance with the law of Karma, our present birth is largely a result of our past actions. The doing of good deeds brings good Karma which leads to a pleasant birth. 

             Realising its importance, the Buddha advised us to make every effort and strive to perform meritorious deeds whenever and wherever possible.

Every meritorious deed, no matter how small, counts.

In the Buddhist Practice, there are three ways by which we can perform meritorious deeds, namely, dana (giving), sila (morality) and bhavana (mental development). The practice of dana, such as donations of money to temples and charitable causes, is the way to perform meritorious deed. it is also the most common practice among lay Buddhists. It's a praiseworthy act that will no doubt bring happiness and merits for a better rebirth. But the full realisation of goal of enlightenment requires more than just the physical act of giving. Herein lies the real challenge of Buddhism - the purification of the mind thorough the practice of the higher forms of meritorious deeds- sila and bhavana. 

       The observance of sila requires us to restrain in our thoughts and actions and to exercise non greed, non-hatred and non-dilution. the violation of moral precept such as killing or adultery will bring bad "Karma"  and suffering to the doer. But just as my student pointed out,  in our ordinary lives, there are many minor incidents which led us to lose our temper, to raise our voices or to criticise others. To constantly control our actions , to be always on guard against the breaking of a precept is a tall order for most people. But like the silversmith purifying his silver, the wise man removes impurities little every moment. 

        The highest form of kusala, bhavana, is undoubtedly, from the Buddhist perspective, the only way to rid the mind fully of its defilements, to develop panna (wisdom) that will pave the way to enlightenment. It is also the most difficult to perform. but the benefits accrued from the practice of meditation of loving - kindness and compassion, even for just a few minutes every day, far exceeds that of the giving of vast quantities of material benefits.  

           In Buddhism, there is no god to pledge allegiance to who will guarantee our salvation. we are the makers of our own destiny. It's only through our own tireless effort and continuous practice that we can be assured of our salvation. This may seem an overwhelming task, but as with all things, practice makes perfect. By performing more and more meritorious deeds, we can rid our minds of al defilements and replace with wholesome mental factors. The good becomes internalized and part of our true nature. Only then can we flow with the tide and reach the shore of Nirvana. 

(Ven. Dr Sobhita Thero is the founder of the Sri Bodhiraja Foundation.)

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