When this is, that is. From the arising of this, comes the arising of that. When this is not, that is not. From the stopping of this, comes the stopping of that.
Together, these statements are called this/that conditionality. All things that occur in this very moment do so as the result of an infinite number of causes and conditions, also occurring in this moment. When this is, that is. Conversely, without this, that cannot be.
From the arising of this, which takes place over time, comes the arising of that, also an event that takes place over time. There is a past and a future. So to put an end to the arising of this will put an end to the arising of that.
These are universal and inescapable laws. But what this mean to me? It means I have some control over what happens to me this very moment, and I have the potential to influence what happens to me in the future. So if I want a good future for myself I have to pay very close attention to what is happening right now.
Wholesome actions bring good results. Unwholesome actions bring bad results. But telling the difference between what is wholesome and what isn’t is often not so easy. It takes practice and perseverance.
To practice skillfully, though, is difficult when immersed in the secular world. To be a monastic is one thing, and I know monasticism has its own heap of trials. But I am not a monk. I am a householder. I have a family, a home in suburbia, cars, and all the responsibilities that go along with them. And I have an ongoing need for income.
So how do I, a householder, create a happy life here and now and into the future within the context of the Noble Eightfold Path as outlined by the Buddha?
What About…
When this is, that is.
From the arising of this, comes the arising of that.
When this is not, that is not.
From the stopping of this, comes the stopping of that.
Together, these statements are called this/that conditionality. All things that occur in this very moment do so as the result of an infinite number of causes and conditions, also occurring in this moment. When this is, that is. Conversely, without this, that cannot be.
From the arising of this, which takes place over time, comes the arising of that, also an event that takes place over time. There is a past and a future. So to put an end to the arising of this will put an end to the arising of that.
These are universal and inescapable laws. But what this mean to me? It means I have some control over what happens to me this very moment, and I have the potential to influence what happens to me in the future. So if I want a good future for myself I have to pay very close attention to what is happening right now.
Wholesome actions bring good results. Unwholesome actions bring bad results. But telling the difference between what is wholesome and what isn’t is often not so easy. It takes practice and perseverance.
To practice skillfully, though, is difficult when immersed in the secular world. To be a monastic is one thing, and I know monasticism has its own heap of trials. But I am not a monk. I am a householder. I have a family, a home in suburbia, cars, and all the responsibilities that go along with them. And I have an ongoing need for income.
So how do I, a householder, create a happy life here and now and into the future within the context of the Noble Eightfold Path as outlined by the Buddha?
The answer to that question is worth seeking.
-paul g-