“Not to blame, not to strike, to lived restrained under the law, to be moderate in eating, to sleep and sit alone, and to dwell on the highest thoughts, – this is the teaching of the Awakened.”
– The Dhammaphada, 185
“Men, driven by fear, go to many a refuge, to mountains and forests, to groves and sacred trees. But that is not a safe refuge, that is not the best refuge; a man is not delivered from all pains after having gone to that refuge.
He who takes refuge with Buddha, the Law, and the Church; he who, with clear understanding, sees the four holy truths: Pain, the origin of pain, the destruction of pain, and the way that leads to the quieting of pain… that is the safe refuge, that is the best refuge; having gone to that refuge, a man is delivered from all pain.”
– The Dhammaphada, 188 – 192
In my experience, clear understanding is not the deliverance from pain, but it leads to it. Of course, the translations may be off and by ‘clear understanding’, they may mean ‘assimilation’, which is more difficult and takes a heck of a lot longer (the difference between knowing you should be ‘this way’ and managing to accept it well enough that not only can you manage to be ‘that way’, but it is such a natural part of you that you no longer think of it — it’s who you are).
Still, good things to contemplate and think upon today. The ideal path through life is not the one that leads to extremes of being or extremes of circumstance (riches, fame, etc.), but the one that allows you to walk easily and comfortably in every moment…. the middle (moderate) path.
I am far from being clear or certain that I am more than a muddled human being with the same silly flaws that every human being has… but here and there, I remember, The perfected state that is my mind is clouded by my own humanity and those moments of clarity are the proof of it. Keeps me motivated. Heh.
Rambling, of course. Talking to myself for myself. A calm Friday at last. It did not start that way, but it was always that way. Hah. I’m poking fun at myself… do you see it?
Hope your Friday is delightful. (hug)