Maitri with Evolved Beings

Everyone wants to be happy. Every living being makes effort to avoid suffering. A living being is constantly in search of ways to avoid suffering.

To avoid suffering, or to seek guidance against suffering, or to even temporarily forget one`s suffering and be happy, a human being is always looking to establish a loving connection with someone- someone to be friends with, someone who can guide and help, someone with whom one can speak to and listen to, someone with whom one can form a deep connection with, someone to be one`s own.

A person may try to achieve this kind of friendship with another person. However, ordinary human beings are fallible and human relationships are not perfect. As per some religions, the perfect and infallible is believed to be God. Other than God or if not God, there is belief in Evolved Beings who are on the path of perfection and who are referred to by various terms such as bodhisattvas, siddhas, saints, divine beings, deities, mystics, celestial beings, angels, masters, lamas and spiritual teachers who befriend, guide and help anyone who is connected with them.

Human beings constantly encounter suffering and it becomes a tendency for human beings to be sad, angry, jealous, dejected, unhappy and develop vices which keeps one entangled in the cycle of non-virtuous deeds. However, by keeping an awareness about God and Evolved Beings, surrendering to them and seeking their guidance one is able to stick to the virtuous path and avoid getting involved in deeds detrimental to one`s own wellbeing. This is because the Evolved Beings are virtuous beings and by keeping an awareness about them one is able to keep an awareness of virtues.

Virtues are very important to end suffering. In fact, becoming virtuous is the path and the goal in Buddhism. Buddha himself stressed on virtues and asked all to focus on ethics. The concept of purification, both physical and mental, by practising virtues is very basic to reduce suffering. Infact, His Holiness Dalai Lama advises on emotional hygiene. His message is of Karuna which is compassion.  He says that when we practise compassion, we feel we are being kind to others but actually we are being kind to ourselves. He says that if you want to be selfish, be selfish to understand that compassion helps yourself first. When we practise compassion, we are purified from mental afflictions and go beyond the gross and into the spiritual path.

Even about the issue of Chinese invasion of Tibet, His Holiness Dalai Lama maintains that he does not fight because even before a conflict is created outside, a conflict will be created within Himself and He does not want a conflict outside or within Himself. He says that to be bad to their neighbouring country of China will be to be bad to Tibet. According to Him, the ordinary citizens of China are themselves against the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese Government, and if there is violence and bloodshed against their own people, then the people of China will withdraw their support to the Tibetan`s just cause of wanting Tibet to be a free state.  The views of His Holiness Dalai Lama inspire us to practise mindfulness and to at least avoid fights with our next-door neighbours.

The Buddhist believe that following the right path leads to liberation and not following the said path leads to suffering. The aspirants for the right path take refuge in the Triple Gems of The Buddha, the Dharma and The Sangha.

The First Jewel, The Buddha is the The Perfected One, The Supreme Guide of Human Beings, The Teacher of God’s and Human Beings, The Bhagavana.

The Second Jewel is the Dharma, the Teachings of Buddha which help one to become Perfect. The Teachings of Buddha as referred in the composition titled Praise to Shakyamuni Buddha by Venerable Rgyun Chags Gsum Pa are:

Do not commit any non-virtuous actions,

Perform only perfect virtuous actions,

Subdue your mind thoroughly,

This is the teaching of the Buddha.

The Third Jewel is The Sangha, the monastic order of persons on the path of Perfection.

By taking refuge in the Triple Gems of The Buddha, The Dharma and The Sangha the aspirant prays to generate Bodhicitta (spontaneous altruistic intention to achieve Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings by elimination of all mental defilements) as follows:

I go for refuge until I am enlightened,

To the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

By my accumulations of the practice of giving and so forth,

May I become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings.

Inspired by wisdom and compassion

Today in the Buddha’s presence.

I generate the mind of full awakening.

For the benefit of all sentient beings.

Buddhism advises on taking refuge not just under anyone but under those spiritual mentors who fulfil the ten qualifications of: (1) morality, (2) meditative concentration, (3) wisdom, (4) qualities surpassing those of the students, (5) enthusiasm, (6) wealth of scriptural knowledge, (7) loving concern, (8) thorough knowledge of reality, (9) skilled in instructing disciples, and (10) abandoned dispiritedness. As far as the seeker is concerned, he or she needs to keep an attitude to undergo transformation, an attitude to earn merits, receptivity to the teachings of the master and a desire to be a Bodhicitta to end one`s own suffering and that of other sentient beings.

It is interesting to know that, in the Buddhist texts, the masters are referred to as the Saint-Scholars implying that they were both morally and intellectually evolved. Universally as described in all religions, the Saint-Scholars through their purity and wisdom could connect to the transcendental and the common people could connect to the Saint-Scholars to understand the Reality. Infact, it seems, that when an enlightened monk dies his skin does not crumple the way it normally happens for other dead bodies. That is the level of purity and suppleness achieved and retained by even the Evolved Being`s dead body. The most famous of the incorruptible bodies is that of Saint Rita of Cascia in Italy who died in 1457 AD. Her body is still kept in a glass case and is not decayed because she was so pure by heart that even when her husband was murdered she did not avenge his death and on the contrary sought for peace between the rival families. She practised and preached peace and love. Other such saints whose incorruptible bodies can be seen in churches in France and Italy are Saint Silvan, Clare of Assisi, Saint Zita, Saint Clare of Montefalco, Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, Blessed Margaret of Castello, and many others. Infact, the Evolved Beings don’t die, they just leave the body at will. The death is not due to old age or disease. The leaving of the body is more because the purpose on the earth in that body is served. Swami Vivekanand had also predicted his death.

Human beings have limited senses and cannot know all that is there and therefore the existence of various realms and other beings cannot be denied. The Buddhists also believe that the Evolved Beings exist not only in gross form but also in spiritual form in subtle realms. The shloka from Srimad Bhagwada Gita, “Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya” has already told us that Evolved Beings take birth in human form to uphold righteousness and to end unrighteousness. It will not be out of place to mention that all social reformers were Evolved Beings who came down to earth to end the suffering of humanity. The Buddhist believe that the Bodhisattvas are the Evolved Beings who exist in the virtuous realms and they choose the physical human form to come to earth and free the humans from suffering. They want to help human beings and even transfer their merits to human beings. But the human beings should also make the effort of connecting to them for their own good.

In the Bodhicittavivarana of Arya Nagarjuna it is stated:

Verse 86.

When, through practice, it becomes firm,

Then, alarmed by other’s suffering,

The (Bodhisattvas) renounce the bliss of concentration

And plunge even to the depths of relentless hells.

Verse 87.

 This is indeed amazing, praiseworthy it is;

This is the excellent way of the sublime;

That they give away their own flesh.

And wealth, is not surprising at all.

Welfare of the sentient beings is of paramount importance.

In Chapter I of the Bodhicharyavatara of Bodhisattva Shantideva in praise of the Bodhisattvas having Bodhicittas it is stated

Verse 21

If even the thought to relieve

Living creatures of merely a headache

Is a beneficial intention

Endowed with infinite goodness,

Verse 22.

Then what need is there to mention

The wish to dispel their inconceivable misery,

Wishing every single one of them

To realize boundless good qualities?

Verse 23.

Do even fathers and mothers

Have such a benevolent intention as this?

Do the gods and sages?

Does even Brahma have it?

Verse 24.

If those beings have never before

Even dreamt of such an attitude

For their own sake,

How would it ever arise for the sake of others?

Verse 25.

This intention to benefit all beings,

Which does not arise in others even for their own sake,

Is an extraordinary jewel of the mind,

And its birth is an unprecedented wonder.

Verse 26.

How can I fathom the depths

Of the goodness of this jewel of the mind,

The panacea that relieves the world of pain

And is the source of all its joy?

Verse 30

And clears away confusion.

Where is there a comparable virtue?

Where is there even such a friend?

Where is there merit similar to this?

Verse 31.

If whoever repays a kind deed

Is worthy of some praise,

Then what need to mention the Bodhisattvas

Who do good without it being asked of them?

The 17 Nalanda masters are greatly revered to in Buddhism. In the book titled Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment His Holiness has said that like some other ancient Indian Traditions – the Nalanda School excels in providing a map of the mind. It is stated in the said book that although his life has been far from easy, he has maintained equanimity and sleeps a good night’s sleep, due to his training in the Nalanda masters’ teachings. Further, at an experiential level He can therefore vouch for their efficacy, and in this sense, the teachings of the Nalanda Tradition are of an extremely practical and useful nature – neither out of date nor merely intellectual, rather a key to attaining ultimate happiness.

It is interesting to know that when ordinary persons are with Evolved Beings then such ordinary persons have experiences that are very same as that of a person in love. Joy is expressed without any reason, sorrow goes away instantly, knowledge of Higher Self is secured, creativity oozes out, everything looks beautiful, everything falls into place, there are no doubts. For Mira Bai being in love and connecting with Krishna was one and the same thing. For Tukaram the love for Vitthala was through Abhangas, the devotional poetry. Ram Krishna Paramhansa could see Maa Kaali and had a special bonding with her. Draupadi connected to Krishna by repeatedly chanting His name. These persons forgot their mortal self and connected to the transcendental. It was all love. It is always love that connects.

Buddhism also has methods of connecting to the Evolved Beings and have certain daily practices. The methods to connect to the masters are actually the methods to cultivate the Bodhicitta. By practising three types of morality: (1) morality of refraining from negativities, (2) morality of gathering virtues, and (3) morality of engaging in the welfare of sentient beings one develops Bodhicitta (which are considered the Foundation of All Good Qualities.)

By taking refuge in the Dharma and cultivating Bodhicitta all negative karmas can be purified and it is one of the four powers. The other powers being the (2) power of repentance, (3) power of overcoming misdeeds through antidotes, and (4) power of commitment not to repeat the misdeeds.

It is stated in The Instructions on Parting from the Four Attachments advised by Arya Manjushri to Venerable Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, “If you are attached to your own self-interest, you have no Bodhicitta”.

There are also specific practices in Buddhism to develop Bodhicitta. Some of the practices include:

• reciting of the mantras: TADYATHÂ (OM) GATE GATE PÂRAGATE PÂRASAMGATE BODHI SVÂHÂ,
• Meditation on the Four Immeasurable, the Chatvarbrahmaviharas of Loving Kindness, Compassion, Empathetic Joy and Equanimity,
• Worshipping the Mandalas and Yantras
• Practising of Tantra
• Doing Puja by lighting lamps, ringing bells, lighting incense, rolling beads, turning the wheels.
• Practising Mudras
• Visiting holy places

Buddhism advises the greatest regard for the scriptures and the books because these are the words of the enlightened ones. The books are not to be treated as other ordinary objects but with reverence. So, by reading, contemplating and meditating on the teachings one can inculcate the values and advice as taught in the scriptures. The Buddhists practise keeping an awareness of The Dharma through murals and art wherein hundreds of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are depicted to give a feeling that they are all around us.

To conclude and sum it up, we become what we believe in, we become what we admire, we become like our companions, we become what we practice. Following Bodhisattvas, becoming Bodhicitta and Selflessness all go together and helps oneself and those around us.

References

1. The Blaze of Non-Dual Bodhisattvas (Tibet House, New Delhi and Ven. Geshe Dorji

Damdul)

2. Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment (His Holiness Dalai Lama`s teachings)
3. The Quintessence of Secret Esoteric Buddhism by Trieu Phuoc
4. Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in