Mettavalokanaya_Magazine_August_2017

The Life Targets….
Most Venerable Muwagama Muditha Thero
The Incumbent of Pundarica Buddhist Temple, Daegu, South Korea.
Life goals have three levels: the goal on Earth, the goal
in the celestial realm, and the goal beyond (Nirvana). The goal
on Earth is to live happily, enjoy good health, be blessed with
a good family and be accepted in society. Everyone wishes for
this, whether they believe in any religious faith or not.
Those who have faith in a religion have a second level
of life goal, because they believe in life after death. This is
the goal in the celestial realm. Why do people with religious
faith believe in heaven and hell? Many major religions have
backgrounds that include meditation in their doctrines and
practices so they already know about ‘Inner Light.’
Buddhism strives to provide a means to brighten this
light continuously by looking within, in contrast to other
practices that may seek to brighten the ‘Inner Light’ by calling
on outside acknowledgement or help from their gods or
deities. Buddhism is not mentioned in many other religions or
faiths. The highest level of life goal is the goal beyond heaven,
that which we call Nirvana. Only the Buddha taught about this
as his ‘Inner Light’, manifested through meditation, which was
bright enough to reveal the truth of all things and release him
from human sufferings into Nirvana.
Meditation - The practice of meditation in daily life leads
to understanding the value of the right view. Those who do
not easily have an understanding of the right view. With the
right view comes the ability to know yourself and the obstacles
that need to be overcome to achieve excellence in the field of
teaching and all other aspects of living one’s life.
Meditation creates the right foundation from which
to acquire and disseminate knowledge correctly and
efficiently. There are many different schools of thought and
methods applied regarding practising, learning and teaching
meditation. However, the subject of meditation technique is
a subject on its own and should be studied separately but in
conjunction with the theory presented in this book. Suffice to
say at this point that meditation enables one to see one’s own
mind through connecting with the ‘Inner Light.’
Willpower, Inspiration and Sustainability - Meditation
is the catalyst for developing willpower, deriving inspiration
and sustaining a life based on the truths of this world. Even
with good intentions and commitment, without training the
mind through meditation the focus and progress with regard
to learning and teaching will not be as successful or complete.
Without a method to understand and look into one’s
own mind, it is not possible to become aware of the negative
influences that cause suffering. With regular meditation comes
the power of sustainability of direction and intent, thought
and action, progress and refinement. Meditation alerts us
to our failings and distractions and cultivates consistency of
behavior while increasing our potential in this lifetime and the
next.
Economic, political and social problems arise as a result
of incomplete education. Mismanagement and imbalance
between academic and ethical education leads to a systemic
breakdown within the immediate society and between
different societies in other places. A world inhabited by moral
beings would be a peaceful world. Only with moral education
can human beings eliminate conflicts, selfish and greedy
tendencies and practices so that man may truly coexist with
mindful and peaceful consideration for each other. This state
of peaceful coexistence will only be achieved if all parties work
together to solve the moral failings caused by incomplete or
flawed education.
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