Blessing 7

Skill in Knowledge

Being skillful in knowledge refers to individuals who possess a wise ranging intelligence and are knowledgeable.

* They are usually highly educated and hold learning as an essential part of life.

* They only choose to learn subjects that they believe are the most important and which will be of most benefit.

* Their knowledge will lead them to success in their professional and personal life.

Differences between the Wise and the Skillful in Knowledge

The Wise are those who perform good deeds and display positive behavior. Regardless of their level of knowledge themselves and provide assistance to others. The wise are those whose good actions bring positive outcome.

The skillful in knowledge is those who have extensive knowledge, yet they may not always behave well. Sometimes they make wrong decisions that will have an impact on their next life.

Types of Knowledge of Those Who Gain Skillful in Knowledge

1. In-Depth Knowledge: Refers to fully understanding the topics we are learning. For example, medical doctors who have to gain a deep knowledge of their field will be able to tell their patients what diseases they are suffering from, and will also be able to understand the contributory factors of their illness.

2. Width of Knowledge: Refers to the broad knowledge we all need to be informed about the world, for example, prominent people, politics, economics, the environment and climate.

3. Thorough Knowledge: Refers not only to knowledge around us, but also to know and understand in detail and how it is connected to other issues and topics in society and globally.

4. Long-Sighted Knowledge: Refers to thinking ahead of the current situation and considering what will probably happen in the future. This may include knowing the consequences of economic factors on society and the issues of climate change.

Characteristics of Those Who are Skillful in Knowledge

1. Appreciate learning, reading and researching.

2. Have a good memory and understand the issues.

3. Have excellent commutation skills and know what to say without having to open their notes, especially the Dhamma, which never changes.

4. Reflect deeply on issues and problems. Always try to understand the reasons for their happening.

5. Always use knowledge in any situation and fully understand each situation in terms of theory and practice.

Characteristics of Those Who are not Skillful in Knowledge

1. They enjoy praising themselves, love compliments; pay increasing attention and care to their appearance, give excessive attention to everything else, so that they no longer have time to study.

2. They easily become angry, irritated, and vengeful all time.

3. They forget things easily and do not pay attention to the things they do. Their mind is not stable, has negative thoughts, and doubles the true existence of the Dhamma.

4. They lack confidence in themselves and are too scared to do anything. This is because they fear criticism and only want to be followers, not leaders.

5. They are excessively drawn to wealth. They believe that wealth is more important than knowledge.

6. They do not take things they do seriously.

7. They like to drink alcohol, get drunk, lose their senses, as well as their chance to learn.

8. They lack responsibility. They like to have fun all the time, like small children.

Ways for People to Gain Skillfulness in Knowledge

1. Be intelligent and only learn what is necessary for wholesome spiritual and worldly development.

2. Be diligent and study hard in their chosen fields.

3. Be eager to acquire more knowledge.

4. Gain Dhamma knowledge along with the worldly knowledge.

5. Be able to remember everything they learn and put their knowledge to practice right away.

Warnings

1. If the knowledge we possess can only be used in the world and not in the Dhamma, there will always be an increased risk for us to take the wrong steps.

2. Therefore, we need to learn about the teaching of Dhamma along with worldly knowledge. The Dhamma acts as candlelight to help us decide what is right and what is wrong.

The Benefits of Being Skillful in Knowledge

1. Can rely on oneself.

2. Become a respectable leader.

3. Become courageous in any situations.

4. Attain an honorable position, wealth and happiness.

5. Receive respect and praise from others.

6. Maintains their intelligence and knowledge in their future lives.

7. Good basic for creating skills, aptitudes, abilities and talents.\

8. Easily attain the path to Nibbana.

Blessing 6

Building Good Foundations for Life

What does “Building Good Foundations for Life” mean?

These phrase means setting the main goal of life as good and positive with stable foundations and an optimistic future for this life time and others.

Building good foundations = the first “building blocks” in creating true happiness and prosperity in your life.

If a person seeks positive and good aims in their life from the foundations upward and use true knowledge of how to live life in a good and moral way.

Their thoughts and actions will secure them a happy and prosperous future.

What is the goal of life?

1. Primary goal of life

The primary goal of life is aimed to manage an utilization of life for only this life. i.e. somewhere to live, enough food, clean water, access to education, freedom from illness and disease, feeling safe and secure, positive, honest, legal and moral occupations, and all other basic necessities of everyday life.

2. Middle goal of life

The middle goal of life is setting the goal for the next life.

* The aim is at not only trying to have sufficient in this entire life, but also to set future life goals by using every possible opportunity to act in meritorious ways.

* Buddhists belief all good thoughts and actions lead us to more positive and good rebirth for our next life.

* Having stable sufficiency in this entire life is not the true life goal. We should create value for our lives by dedicating oneself to making merit, in order to collect beneficial merit for the next life.

* Our middle goal is an essential factor to succeed in the ultimate goal of life.

3. Ultimate goal of life

An ultimate goal of life is aimed at the highest service for the greater good and for the benefit of everyone.

It means sacrificing and dedicating oneself to studying Dhamma and putting what you have learnt into action.

“Do not insult merits and hurry to step forward following the Buddha’s path. Even though, we help the others a lot but do not forget our own goals especially when we know what our goals are. Then we should hurriedly go for it.”

Anyone who sets themselves up in life in a way that corresponds with these three levels of aim in life is said to be someone who has “set themselves up properly in life.”

The Method of Keeping the Goals of Life Strong:

1. Train yourself to base your actions on understanding and experience rather than “blind faith”.

Two types of belief

* Believing reasonably which is wise; it’s called faith.

* believing without any reasons, excludes wisdom; it’s called foolish.

Four Primary faiths or Confidence

* Confidence in the working of the Law of Kamma.

* Belief in the result of Kamma, the consequences of one’s actions. It is the belief that doing good receives good and alternately that doing bad receives bad.

* Belief in the ownership of the consequences of one’s actions. Good and bad actions will be carried forward from life time to life time with that person forever.

* Belief in the enlightenment of the Buddha.

2. Keep the precepts: try to keep the minimum of five precepts.

3. Having heard much: being diligent in the acquisition of knowledge both spiritual and worldly by listening to many teachings and putting them into practice.

4. Practice giving: being able to sacrifice and being generous for example;

* Donating in order to overcome stinginess. The result of giving is being loved by everyone.

* Let go all our grudges and bad temper by forgiving others and trying to stay calm.

5. Training oneself in meditation: Practice meditation is to practice helping the mind to gain more energy as well as becoming stronger and have more clarity.

Having a clear, energetic and strong mind helps in keeping life’s goal straight forward. Furthermore, it helps us to gain wisdom in setting the goal of life correctly, as well as doing what is naturally wise.

The Benefits of Building Good Foundation in Life

1. To manage life wisely and with maturity.

2. Considered a well prepared person for their death.

3. Considered as a lucky and a good person to everyone.

4. Considered as respectful people with integrity with high respect for the Sacred Triple Gem.

5. Considered as good citizens for the country.

6. Considered as good examples for all generations.

7. Considered as protector of oneself from “hell”.

8. Considered as clever person who is able to use their lives positively and successfully.

9. Considered as a three treasure receiver, such as human treasure, divine treasure and Nibbana treasure.