The importance of being a virtuous Buddhist

by Samangie WETTIMUNY

Throughout last week Sri Lankan Buddhists celebrated Vesak with much devotion engaging in meritorious deeds- conducting dansalas, offering alms to bhikkhus, reaching out to the needy and rescuing cattle from slaughter. Ven. Bellana Gnanawimala Thera in an interview with the Sunday Observer deals with the importance of celebrating Buddhist festivals meaningfully. While responding to common issues related to the Dhamma, the thera emphasised the importance of leading a virtuous life, without inflicting pain on others.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

Question: How should a Buddhist celebrate Vesak?

Answer: Festivals are associated with all religions. Most of the time such festivals are held to mark significant events in the lives of the respective religious leaders. Buddhists normally engage in religious rites on Full Moon days commemorating the cardinal events of the life of the Buddha and those of the Buddha Sasana.

Similarly other religions too have their own significant days. The essence of Buddhist festivals is to help people lead a virtuous life. Here considerable importance is attached to virtuous deeds such as offering alms (Dana), rescuing animals from slaughter, observing Seela etc. The concept of observing sil is unique to Buddhism and it is considered a way of following the routine of an arahant at least for a day.

When talking of Vesak celebrations, two things come to mind.

First people have got used to conduct dansals, offer alms to bhikkhus, food to poor people and rescue animals from slaughter. Such activities are beneficial to the society. If you rescue a cow from slaughter, make sure that there is a proper way to look after it. If not, the innocent animal will have to face the same plight again!

Secondly there are people who spend lavishly on Vesak pandals and lanterns in order to display their social status. Similarly, there are people who have made it a source of income. Such activities cannot be accepted.

Q: If a person leads a virtuous life without violating any precept, is it still necessary for him to observe Sil?

A: It is indeed great to lead a virtuous life without violating any precept. But it cannot be considered the same as observing Sil.

Observing Sil is very significant among Buddhist practices. It is in front of another person, mostly, a bhikkhu, that you make a solemn wish not to violate any of the precepts (8 or 10 precepts).

This is clearly described in a Buddhist Nikaya - “Sarva Asthi Vada”.

Q: How to distinguish between Atasil (Eight Precepts) and Pansil (Five Precepts)

A: The lay Buddhist morality is embodied in the Five Precepts referred to as “Samajeeka Seela”. Observing these five precepts helps people lead a virtuous life (abstaining from killing any living being, abstaining from stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech and consumption of intoxicants ) The five precepts are there for the protection of the society. They help people to live in harmony with mutual trust and respect.

The Eight Precepts are based on the Five Precepts . Here the third precept is extended to prohibit all sexual activity and an additional three precepts are there that are especially supportive of meditation practice.

The Eight Precepts are to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual acts, lying, Consuming liquor, partaking food after sunset, dancing, singing, music, going to see entertainment, wearing garlands, using perfumes, and beautifying the body with cosmetics, and lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place.

Observing the eight precepts helps one develop relaxation and tranquillity, train the mind and develop spirituality.

Q: Is there a difference between meritorious acts (Pina) and wholesome acts (Kusala)?

A: Though most people do not distinguish between these two kinds of acts there is still a difference between the two.

Engaging in ‘wholesome’ acts would help one achieve the supreme bliss of Nibbana- the highest status one can achieve by adhering to Buddhist way of life. If you try to correct your weaknesses-eliminate avarice, greed and malice - such activities can be considered wholesome.

If you perform a good deed (helping others, being kind to others), it will be a meritorious deed. For example, if you give a parcel of food to a beggar it is a meritorious act which can sometimes be considered a wholesome act as well. If you are determined not to inflict pain on others it is not only a meritorious act, but also a ‘wholesome’ deed. It is possible to transfer merit on others, but not ‘Kusala’.

Q: Should a Buddhist stick to a vegetarian diet?

A: If you gain satisfaction by consuming meat, how can you develop universal compassion. Though there are contradictory views on meat consumption by Buddhists, I firmly believe that “Avihimsa” and “Meat consumption” are far apart.

If all living beings are leading happy lives , from where can we get animal flesh ? So, it is better if you can stick to a vegetarian diet. Then it is easy to bestow compassion on others. If none of us consume meat there won’t be any demand for it.

Q: Meditation has been defined as a phychological approach to mental culture, training and purification. What is the best method of meditation that an ordinary man can follow?

A: Basically, there are two forms of meditation. One is the development of mental concentration - one-pointedness of mind which is called “Samatha” or “Samadhi” meditation.

The second form of meditation is Vipassana- insight into the nature of things, which leads to complete liberation of mind, to the realisation of Nirvana.

One can practise any of the two, but sometimes it is necessary to get the advice of a trainer.

The most well-known meditation that is connected to the body is called ‘The Mindfulness or awareness of in-and-out breathing (Anapanasathi). Practising it would continuously help you develop the Absorption. (Jhana).

The practice of Metta Meditation could bring immense benefits. The meaning of the word ‘metta’ is “being friendly.” If we are on friendly terms with someone, we always wish him or her all happiness. Here we try to bestow compassion on others to its optimum.

You should be able to be compassionate to others, to the same degree that a mother would treat her only son. First, you can develop compassion towards your relatives, then friends, neighbours etc. Step by step, try to add more people (even your enemies) to the group of your loved ones.

If you practise Metta meditation, you have to do it in a meaningful manner so that you can gain the best out of it. So, remember that practising Metta Meditation is not simply chanting the verses.

Q: What is the procedure we should follow when transferring merit to dead relatives.

A: Transferring merits to dead relatives is an accepted practice in Buddhism. It is practised in different ways in different parts of Sri Lanka.

Prior to an almsgiving, people normally reserve a small portion from each food item and keep it on a tray which is placed outside the house.

When a person is dead, he can be reborn in different forms, as a human being, a god or as an evil spirit. Such offerings are normally done for evil spirits.

It is said that these evil spirits extract the taste and smell of food items.

If you offer food in the name of dead relatives, it is always better to perform the ritual outside the house.

But it is quite alright to bestow merit on them by reciting the stanzas inside the house.

Q: In a house, where should one set-up a shrine room?

A: It is better to have it outside the house. But in urban areas, most of the people do not have enough space in their compounds, so that they have no alternative, but to have one inside the house.

When you offer food and ‘Gilanpasa’ to the Buddha daily ,certain evil spirits may get attracted to those food offerings and may haunt the place always. But it is quite alright to have the shrine room even inside the house if you limit your offerings only to flowers, oil lamps and jossticks.

Q: Can you please elaborate on the effects of these evil spirits on human beings? Can we help them get rid of these evil forms?

A: If a man is religious, virtuous, pure in mind, and intelligent, such a person can be deemed to be much stronger than spirits. The evil spirits cannot harm such people, they would keep away from him.

But if a person fails to lead a religious life, if his will-power and understanding capacity is weak, he can be easily affected by evil spirits.

There are even instances where such evil spirits had tormented Bhikkhus.

If any of your dead relatives are reborn as evil spirits , you can do meritorious deeds in their name and transfer merit to them. Those who can obtain merit are called “Paridaththupa Jeevi”. Anyway, such evil spirits are not always willing to receive merit.