DHARMA IN EVERYDAY LIFE

By Nhat Quan

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The path of cultivation towards the top, towards the good, is the path of practice to transform unwholesome karma, towards the end of suffering, to attain peace in the present, and the fruit of liberation in the future. In that upward path, each person is their own master and must walk on their own.

Through the teachings of the Buddha, you must be aware that whether each person's life is happy and holy or not, does not lie in prayer and supplication, or depending on any other divine force. Or wish for some protection from outside forces, but in your own practice, if you know how to practice transforming bad karma into good karma.

People are born in this life, there are you who live happily and peacefully, there are you who suffer a lot of suffering and unhappiness, there are you who are rich and rich, and there are you who are hungry and suffering. All suffering or happiness is affected by your thoughts, words, and deeds. If you know how to practice kusala dhammas, you will enjoy a peaceful and happy life, while if you practice unwholesome dhammas, you will bring yourself suffering. Thus, whether life is happy or miserable is up to you to decide, not for someone else to interfere. This is evidenced by the teaching of the Enlightened One more than two thousand five hundred and sixty-two years ago, which is recorded in the sutras handed down to this day. Thereby, in the Agama Sutra, there is recorded a passage about the story of the pagan nun Sundarī and the prostitute Ciñcā-māṇavikā who had great beauty but had low and low status, and both died tragically. One was killed and then buried in the garbage, and the other was retribution in hell. These two events raised in Queen Mallika's heart countless questions, about cause, and effect in this life, and in the next life as well as the secret of karma!

So, one day, Queen Mallika and about a hundred maids brought offerings to the Jetavana Vihara to make offerings to the Buddha and the monks. After that, she asked to bow down to the Buddha and said:

- Venerable World-Honored One! Today, disciples are asked about the similarities and differences, related to the beauty, ugliness, richness, poverty, luxury, and cowardice of all women in this world.

Buddha replied:

- Just ask, Mallika! Does the queen want to ask about the cause, effect, condition, and karma; from which arise the similarities and differences of karma?

The Queen replied:

- Yes, Venerable sir!

Then Queen Mallika's questions were summed up, summarized as follows:

1- Firstly, because of what causes and conditions, there are some women in this world with ugly figures, slanted facial features, and rough, dry skin. Giving off an unpleasant odor, but still living a life of poverty and hunger in the condition of a servant, lowly making everyone want to stay away, not to be close?

2- Second, due to causes and conditions, there are women as ugly as above. But live a rich life, have fame, high status, full of fortune, children and servants have a happy and prosperous?

3- Thirdly, due to causes and conditions, there are women with five senses of balance. Graceful; the beauty is extremely beautiful, the skin is white and ivory and the scent is fragrant, everywhere everyone goes to admire and praise. But living a life of poverty, lack of food, lack of clothes, no property, no position, and no reputation in society?

4- Fourth, due to causes and conditions, there are women who are almost comprehensive in terms of the five senses, comfort, and beauty as above. Still living a rich and glorious life, full of wealth, full of fortune, position, fame, husband, and children, servants, often worshiped, respected, and admired by the world!

Dear World-Honored One! So there are four types of women in this world, ask the Blessed One to compassionately open up the dark veil that is covering the disciple's mind, to untangle all doubts and questions for the disciples.

Through the question of Queen Mallkila, it can be summarized that there are four types of women:

- First class, ugly, poor, and unhappy.

- The second class, though ugly, is rich and glorious.

- The third rank, although beautiful and beautiful, but unhappy and poor.

- And the fourth place, having both beautiful beauty and living in wealth and glory!

According to the Buddha's teaching, the reason for such differences is that thoughts and actions create such a life span:

1- Ugly, poor & unhappy

The reason these women are ugly, poor, and unhappy is due to two reasons:

- Ugly cause:

These are women who were born into lowly families, such as slaves, hunters, fishers, bamboo makers, rickshaw drivers, and professionals in other low-key crafts. Poor, short life, emaciated body, but living with a low job, also being ordered by lowly people. In such miserable circumstances, these women do evil deeds with their bodies, speak evil words with their mouths, and think evil thoughts. Temperament, unusual anger, easily angered when someone intrudes, even if it is just a petty and trivial matter. Something touched their ego, they immediately expressed dissatisfaction. So anger, and fierceness erupts immediately, often causing enmity with others. In addition, their temperament is often jealous of those who have wealth. Be envious of the good deeds of others. Jealous of people who have many benefits, who are respected and admired by the masses; and who also do many other wrong and evil things.

- Human poverty & unhappiness

These poor, miserable women do not believe in good and evil, and add anger, wrong views, and delusion, creating many negative karmas. Not respecting monks, nuns, Taoists, and people who uphold the precepts, many disparaging words, and not praising also obstruct the wise. These women do not believe in cause and effect, do not have faith in kusala, do not rejoice in creating a field of merit, and never know how to give rice, water, fruit, medicine, fragrant things, ointments, and need means. , cloths, clothes, oil lamps, lodgings, places to lie down, to sit... to monastics, brahmins, or to the hungry.

For these reasons, these women, after their death, suffer many retributions of suffering in the evil paths: hell, hungry ghosts, and animals. If under the influence of a certain blessing in the past, one is reborn as a human, then it will fall into the case of the first class of women: Both ugly, poor, and living a low and unhappy life.

The first type of woman is a person of low merit. In the past, they have sown unwholesome causes, so now they encounter evil retribution. However, they also do not know how to do good to change the cause of suffering, so they have to suffer the consequences forever. This way of life and behavior is like going from the latrine to the latrine, washing the blood with blood, leaving evil, and then taking evil again. According to the Agama Sutra, these are the people who go from dark to dark.

2- Ugly, but rich and glorious:

- Ugly cause:

These are women born into a lowly family, with an aggressive, fierce temperament, easily angered as in the first case….

- The cause of wealth and glory

Although they have ugly bodies, they are poor and ugly women with faith, little anger, and often feel ashamed and embarrassed. Knowing giving away from greed. Seeing those monks, those who uphold the precepts, and those who are educated, they bow down to greet and visit. Skillfully helping and advising others to give alms. Praise the giver and the recipient of alms. People who cultivate such virtue from here to the next life are reborn in heaven: These people are from the dark to the light.

These women have faith, have a mind to create a field of merit, and know how to give food and clothes to ascetics, brahmins, or the needy and poor. These women also have other good qualities, such that they are not jealous of those who have many benefits, and are not jealous of those who are respected and praised. Do not be envious of those who receive respect and offerings. But the body always does good deeds, the mouth often speaks good words, and the thoughts are good. In addition, they also do many other rights and good deeds. For these reasons, this type of woman, after dying, is often born into auspicious realms; to be reborn in a good path, to be reborn in a heavenly realm. However, if you are born again as a human, you will fall into the second case: Although the body is ugly, it will be noble and rich.

The second category of women is also in the bad situation of past karma, but they know how to turn bad karma into good karma. When they do good deeds with their bodies, speak good deeds with their mouths, and with good thoughts in their minds, they immediately cease suffering because of these causes and conditions. When they die, they are reborn in a good realm and are reborn in heaven. It's like you step from the ground onto a palanquin, from a palanquin to a horse, from a horse to an elephant... In the Agama Sutra, these people are called people from dark to bright.

3. Beautiful, but unhappy & poor:

- The reason for being beautiful:

This is about women who were born into wealthy families or royal families or wealthy Brahmins. The bourgeois and the rich families have a lot of money, many servants, many intellectuals, a good body, intelligence, and wisdom. Despite being in such rich conditions, these women have no or little anger, are always gentle, cool, and always look good. If anyone accidentally says something harsh, touching, or insulting them, they will not be angry or indignant. Never hold a grudge against anyone.

- Causes of unhappiness & poverty:

Although they are gentle people, they have no faith, and no mind to create a field of merit. Not knowing how to respect monks and nuns, those who practice and uphold the precepts. Criticism does not praise but also hinders the giver, and also insults the recipient of the alms. Do not know how to give food, clothing, and shelter to the monks, brahmins, or the poor and hungry! Moreover, they are jealous of people with many benefits; envy those who receive praise, love, affection, reverence, and offerings from others. At the same time, these women also have other wrong and evil actions. That person's body is always doing evil, speaking evil words, and thinking evil thoughts.

This type of woman, because of such causes and conditions, when dies, her body will be reborn in an evil realm and fall into hell. It is like a person coming down from a high floor to ride an elephant, from an elephant to a horse's back, from a horse to a cart, from a cart to a palanquin, from a palanquin to the ground, and from the ground to a pit. If there is a little blessing to be reborn as a human, they fall into the third case: Having a very beautiful face but living a dark, poor, unhappy life,

The third type of woman is a person with merit and virtue, created by good causes in her previous life, this life enjoys good results, and is pure and beautiful. But because they do not know how to cultivate, they are free to enjoy sensual pleasures, create evil karma, and then have to reap the results of suffering. The Agama Sutra calls this type of woman someone who goes from bright to dark.

4. Beauty & wealth and glory

- The cause of beauty:

There are women born into wealthy families who have good bodies. In this wealthy family, there is a heart to do good, a mouth to say good things, and thoughts of good deeds. Moreover, these women have no or little anger and are always gentle, loving, cool, and always cheerful like the third person above.

- Causes of wealth and glory:

Although they live rich and happy life, they still have faith, have a mind to create a field of merit, and know how to give food and clothes to monks, brahmans, or the needy and poor. These women also have other good qualities, such that they do not have jealousy towards people with many benefits; do not envy those who are praised; do not be envious of those who receive respect and offerings. In addition, they also do many other rights and good deeds.

These women, rich in faith and without anger, often have a mind of shame, are generous, have wisdom, and are free from envy. Seeing Monks, Nuns, and Brahmins, seeing people who practice precepts, study well and understand widely, they first greet them respectfully, then provide accommodation at their discretion, and advise others to make offerings. These women always do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts. For this reason, after death, one is reborn on a good path and is reincarnated in the heavenly realm. It's like you going from the shop floor to the restaurant floor, from a tall house with a wide door entering a taller, wider, better house...

After death, this type of woman is often reborn in good realms. If they want to be reborn as a human, they fall into the fourth case: Having an extremely beautiful face, but the blessings of wealth, fame, position, husband and children, and servants are all perfect. Loved and respected by everyone.

The fourth category of women is those who have both merit and virtue and know how to practice good karma and stay away from bad karma. These people are progressing day by day, their minds are bright, and in the future, they will attain liberation without difficulty. In the Agama Sutra, this class of women is referred to as one who goes from bright to bright.

  Through the Buddha's teachings on the law of cause and effect, and the merits of karma, from which you can summarize the causes leading to the result as follows:

1- Due to a hot temper or anger, a lot of anger, easily provoked resentment, hatred, always frowning, angry: This is the cause, the condition, creates karma, produces retribution with a pattern ugly face, slanted five senses, rough skin, unpleasant odor, hard to see, unpleasant.

2- Due to not having faith, not keeping the precepts, not knowing how to give: That is the cause, the condition, the action that leads to the result of having a miserable life, hunger, lack of food, lack of clothes.

3- Due to jealousy and envy towards people with status, fame, and fortune: That is the cause, the condition, the action that leads to low retribution in the status of a servant or a slave, female prostitution... is the lowest ladder in society.

4- Because there is little anger, always gentle, peaceful, cool, and always cheerful: That is the cause, the condition, the karma that leads to the retribution, having a beautiful body, and smooth skin, radiating fragrance, balanced and beautiful five senses like the embodiment of a fairy in this world.

5- By having faith, having the mind to create a field of merit, knowing how to give food and clothing to ascetics, brahmins, or those in need and poverty: That is the cause, the condition, the auspicious karma for rich retribution, full of fortune

6- Because there is no envious mind towards people with many benefits; do not envy those who are praised and praised; do not be envious of those who receive respect and offerings. In addition, they can also do many other rights and good deeds: That is the cause, the condition, the action leading to noble retribution, and achieving the supreme position and fame that everyone in the world respects esteemed!

Those are six causes, six conditions, and six karmic actions that lead to six retributions. According to the thorough, thoughtful, perfect explanation of the Buddha, as a Buddhist disciple, you know for sure that the three bad causes and effects should be eliminated, and the three good causes and effects should be practiced sincerely. So for the sake of long-term benefit and diligence on the way to enlightenment, perhaps you should also make a vow:

- From now on, the disciple vows to give up his temper, or anger, a lot of anger, easily provokes resentment, generates hatred, always frowning, and being angry. The disciple must set up a mind to practice with less anger, always be gentle, peaceful, cool, and always excited and happy to have a more perfect beauty than this life!

- From now on, disciples vow to leave the mind stingy, hissing; living a life full of faith, having a mind to create a field of merit, knowing how to give food and clothes to ascetics, brahmins, or the needy and poor in order to enjoy the wealth and perfection of their possessions wealth, and more possessions throughout this lifetime!

- From now on, disciples vow not to be jealous of people with many benefits; do not be jealous or envious of those who receive praise and offerings. Moreover, disciples will respect them, and rejoice with them so that in the future I will gain fame and a noble position in the realms beyond this!

From the references to the scriptures, you can recognize your own abiding place. That is, you are most self-aware of your own karma, whether you are walking in the dark, or walking in the light. Besides, each of you also knows that your life in the present as well as in the future is determined by you. In other words, the high or low life of each of you is created by your own karma, through the daily training of your consciousness, words, and deeds. Therefore, you need to purify and transform unwholesome minds, always watering the seeds of good, so that happiness is present in you, and around you right in this life.

Once again, you must be aware that your life is happy and holy, not in prayer and supplication, depending on any other divine force, wishing, or hope for some protection from outside forces. But in your own practice, if each of you knows how to convert bad karma into good karma. Because karma determines your present destiny and karma also changes your present destiny of you and determines your future destiny, you should be remembered that:

- It is not by being born into a rich or poor family that a person becomes noble or lowly, but by Kamma or intentional action that makes him or her noble or lowly.

This view of the Buddha shows people his new perspective on man and the value of human life. Especially the value of an upward path towards good. The path to the top, is the path to practice, to transform unwholesome karma, to the end of suffering, to reach the fruit of liberation. In that upward path, each person is their own master and must walk on their own.

 In short, what I introduce to you, you have seen that the cause and effect of Buddhism are very broad and liberal. While a large number of people in the world have misconceptions: When people die, they are reborn in the human realm, when people in heaven die, they are reborn in heaven, when animals die, they are reborn in the animal realm, etc. You don't know your life is a stream of changes, change continuously moment by moment. From the moment you were born, you have suffered the karmic retribution of the past. Gradually becoming a human, you have created new karma. If you meet good conditions in good circumstances, are close to good knowledge, and teach good things, you will advance to good realms. On the contrary, if you are close to evil people, bad circumstances are infected with evil karma, and you will fall into the evil realms. Thus you go on ups and downs from life to life, never-ending. So you continue to cause karma to pay retribution, pay retribution and then cause karma.. etc.

Of the four types of women above, there are two classes that know how to progress, the second and the fourth. And the two classes that do not know progress are the first and the third. So in life, whether you create good causes or create bad karma, is up to you to practice changing karma, not anyone's decision. And karma is not fixed for good or evil, but it's up to you to change it.

 Knowing this, you should strive to cultivate good and cut off evil, as soon as possible.

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