The joy of Giving

 Q&A (2022/01/23):

Verse 125 in The Way to Buddhahood:

Lower people give for the sake of themselves. 

Middle people give for their own liberation. 

Those who give all for the benefit of others 

Are called great people. 

1. Is it better not to give if you do not have the proper attitude? How will it affect the giver's Karma? Merit?

~> My personal opinion for your reference is that although the mentality is not quite right, it is still encourage to practice Giving.  Giving is a good deed after all, if the state of mind is not very good, there will still be a tiny amount of merit.  

~> As for the bad karma, they usually manifested from the defilement mind.  Therefore, if we want to avoid bad results, we should gradually subdue your afflictions, rather than give up generosity altogether.

Verse 126 in The Way to Buddhahood:

The giving of wealth, dharma, and fearlessness 

Is difficult but should be sympathetic and sincere. 

The joy that comes from hearing of the need to give 

Is superior to the happiness of Nirvāṇa.

2a. What are the qualities of the 3rd Dyhana mentioned in VS 126 

2b. Can you explain supreme happiness? or is it unexplainable at our level?

~> When it comes to "joy", there are the material and sensory "joy" that come from the Sensual (desire) Realm, and the “joy” that comes from meditation in the Form Realm.  In terms of the nature of "joy", the joy of material things is definitely not as good as the joy of meditation.

~> Likewise, the joy of the first jhāna is naturally inferior to the joy of the second jhāna; the joy of the second jhāna is naturally not as good as the joy of the third jhāna. 

~> When a person attain the fourth jhāna, there is only right mindfulness, equanimity, and right concentration in the fourth jhāna, without the slightest sign of joy. That's why the third jhāna is called superior worldly happiness — the highest experience of joy in the world.

~> The “Supreme happiness” mentioned here is the joy that arises from the heart of a bodhisattva practitioner when he learns that he has the opportunity to give. It's like some inner feelings are really indescribable.

Lessening International Dispute begin with oneself

Q&A (2022/01/09):

Verse 124 in The Way to Buddhahood:

For the benefit of all sentient beings,

The body, all usable things,

And all good dharmas of the three periods,

Should not be saved but should be given away.

Q: What would the Buddha do to fix this problem mentioned in VS 124 : Creating wealth and material goods for the sake of accumulating and gaining (economic) possessions of things and creating suffering in the world and also creating international disputes? How can this be lessened?

~> The Blessed One was originally a prince who could inherit the throne, but he chose to let go of his right to inherit the throne and to let go of all the glory and wealth of a comfortable life. He himself plays an example to achieve the greatest deed of dedication.

~> Most of the social disputes caused by the accumulating and gaining wealth, the Blessed One educates us with His actions, and more importantly, in His teachings on Generosity (Giving), inspires us to see the causes of those social problems and solve problems by establishing correct concepts (right views).

~> When it comes to the Right Views of Giving, this book is divided into two different stages of study. The concept of giving in Chapter 3 is aimed at beginners or those who are just preparing to learn Buddhism.  As for the more in-depth contents of giving in Chapter 5, it is a true self-sacrifice mind-building. In other words, Chapter 3 teaches us to Give and to share, while Chapter 5 elevates us away from self-centered thinking and focus on benefiting all beings.

~> However, the deep-rooted problems in society cannot be solved in a few words.  But don't be disheartened, as long as we uphold: if there is one more person (start with us) in the world who does good deeds physically and mentally, the problems will naturally be reduced relatively.