Our Attitude toward Life

~Part Six from 《The Six Paramitas 》

(The Six Perfections)

　

What should our attitude be toward life?

1. Pursue spiritual needs in addition to material desires. Having acquired the materials needed to survive, we ought to pursue spiritual needs such as  

knowledge, education, and love. Having acquired the desired knowledge, we need to develop an appreciation of beauty, music, and painting, and thereafter engage in spiritual pursuits that will transcend all other needs. In short, we ought to pursue our spiritual needs in addition to material wants.

2. Engage in cultivation in addition to pursuing knowledge acquired in words.      Putting knowledge into practice is far more important than acquiring knowledge only for the sake of knowing. We are able to interact and communicate with each other through the words of language alone. However, it is not sufficient to rely only upon the knowledge acquired through words to promote understanding among people. What is more important is our ability to put this knowledge into practice. For instance, we may talk about the four infinite states of mind: Limitless loving-kindness (maitri), limitless compassion (Karuna),Limitless joy (mudita), and limitless equanimity (upeksa).Are we able to put these four virtues into practice in our relationships with all kinds of people? Are we able to control our hatred and anger when we are in a rage?

3. Hold fast to the basic principles of right living and adjust according to ever-changing circumstances. In Buddhism, we often come across the following two common verses: "Though every phenomenon arises according to changing circumstances, its true nature remains unchanged", and "Though each phenomenon has an invariant true naturｓe, the form of its arising varies with changing circumstances, free of all worries and obstructions at all times and not subject to the suffering of excessive desire". One who holds fast to right living is unlikely to change the basic principle of his or her conduct, and therefore will not be troubled by the perpetual and unsettling feelings of fear that arise in daily life.

4. Pursue Dharma joy in addition to worldly pleasures. Embracing and practicing Buddhism does not stem from the need to endure suffering but rather from the motivation to seek happiness. Therefore, in addition to pursuing worldly pleasures such as those derived from gardening, vacations, and amusement, more importantly we should pursue Dharma joy by broadening our horizons and learning and practicing the Buddha’s teaching. Worldly pleasures are temporary and short-lived in nature.      On the other hand, Dharma joy is the result of pursuing the truth. It is the joy of peace and harmony, and is permanent and everlasting in nature.

Our attitude toward life is therefore fourfold: 1. Pursue spiritual needs in addition to material desires. 2. Engage in cultivation in addition to pursuing knowledge acquired in words. 3. Hold fast to the basic principles of right living and adjust according to ever-changing circumstances.