Mettavalokanaya_Magazine_October_2017

Massive Effort - Viriya….
Most Venerable Royal Pundit Meegahakumbure Dhammagavesi Thero
The Chief Prelate of the Malwatta Chapter of the Siamese Sect in Australia, Chief
Incumbent of Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara, Lankarama, Schofield, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
If you develop and
practices seven
factors, you can
easily realize the
truth, dhamma
& achieve great
wisdom….
“Atti bhikkhave arambhadhatu nikkhamadhatu
parakkamadhatu Tassa yoniso manasikara bahuleekaro
- Ayamaharo anuppannassa va Viriyasambojjhangassa
uppadaya - Uppannassa va viriyasambojjhangassa Bhanaya
paripuriyati”
Buddha has referred virya or effort is several places. One
of them is in the Noble Eight Fold Path. The six steps there refer
to effort. In the above virya or effort is interpreted as effort
or energy. If one can develop this spiritual quality that will
carry him a long way. We must differentiate this from physical
energy. Physical energy is only considered as a component of
it. What is referred to here as effort is psychological energy
which is a special form of energy.
In Anguttara Nikaya Buddha says “Araddha viriyoyam
bhikkave ayam dhammo nayam dhammo kuseetassa” - this
dhamma is for a person with tenacity and not for one who is
lethargic inactive and lazy.
The Buddha mentions of our independent personally
held energy. It is not an energy given to us by an almighty god
or an agency who controls people and who requires us to pray
and obey his orders, where people are required to sign and do
offerings for personal liberation. Under such circumstances,
people do not have any independence.
The Buddha taught us how people should utilize their
independence and their personal energy “Tumehi kiccam
atappam - Akkhataro tathagatha” - The above verse deserves
to written in gold. Tumehi kiccam atappam - you, yourselves
should have this energy, effort, keenness and application to
eradicate defiling thoughts.
Akkhataro tathagatha - The Buddha is only person
showing direction. The Buddha does not identify the Buddha’s
as saviors who have to be worshiped and revered. He only
shows the path. One has to personally make the effort to have
success.
Even today, when someone is near the Bodhi Tree
another may ask what problems had brought him to the Bodhi
Tree. When a person regularly goes for meditation sessions,
people look in the very weird ways.
We must realize that a person should not have any
specific problem to go to the temple. There have been several
lay persons who have accessed us to confide that they have
been questioned by others whether there are problems or
issues to bring them to the temple. We are aware that quite a
number of lay people think that way.
The second reason is very relevant to “Attano loko
anabhissaro”. It is said that Great Ishwara is an all-powerful
deity. Then the Buddha says, “Attano loko anabhissaro” - there
is so Great Ishwara in the world one does not personally have
a Great Ishwara.
There is no one managing or ruling you. Everything
revolves around the phenomenon of cause and effect. So,
when I listened to that dhamma I understood the meaning
of “Attano loko anabhissaro” - there is no one who has
controlling power. All of us rise and decay based on our own
kammic causes and their effects.
22 I Mettavalokanaya I October I 2017 I www.meththawalokanaya.com
www.meththawalokanaya.com I 2017 I October I Mettavalokanaya I 23