A Truly Good Person

We should not, because of our arrogance,

harm ourselves by doing something improper.

We should not, because of our lack of confidence,

give up on ourselves.

With effort, we will each gradually become a noble person.

It was Claire’s favorite part of the day. Every night, before she went to sleep, her mother would read a book with her. They wouldn’t read a lot. Just the right amount.

Then Claire’s mom would talk to her about what they had read.

Would Claire have done anything differently from the characters in the book? Which ones did she admire and why? What did Claire think would happen next, after the story ended?

Claire would also ask her mom the same questions. She was really good at guessing which characters her mom admired the most. First, they always listened to their parents! Often in the story, they would make a mistake and then learn from it. And they were kind to the people and animals they met.

One day, after Claire and her mom had finished reading The Little Mermaid, Claire was especially quiet. Her mom asked, “Claire, what are you thinking about?”

Slowly Claire replied, “The mermaid was so good. First, she swam for hours to save the prince’s life. Later, when she had a chance to become a mermaid again she didn’t because she would have had to kill the prince. Instead, she jumped into the water but was saved by fairies.”

Her mom agreed, “She was very brave, wasn’t she.”

“She was sooo brave. And so good!” Shaking her head, Claire said, “I could never be like that.”

Claire’s mom stroked her daughter’s hair. “If we tell ourselves that we cannot be really good, do you know what will happen?”

“No,” Claire answered.

“If we tell ourselves that we can’t be really good, we won’t be. Because we won’t even try. So what we tell ourselves is very important. It’s like the story about the blue locomotive. Remember how he kept saying, ‘I think I can. I think I can.’? And he did! Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Claire brightened a bit. “I think so. I should tell myself that I can be good. Just like the little mermaid.”

Her mom hugged her and said, “That’s my Claire.”

Suddenly they heard a surprised cry coming from the kitchen. Claire’s mom jumped up and ran out of the bedroom. Claire got off the bed and ran after her. When they got to the kitchen, they found Claire’s twin brother, Chris. He was sitting on the floor holding his foot. Next to him was a soymilk container.

His mom ran to him. “Chris, are you okay? What happened?”

“You said we could have soymilk and cookies tonight as a treat. I wanted to surprise you and get the soymilk out. But it fell off the shelf and hit my foot. I just wanted to help.”

His mom checked his foot, then picked up the soymilk container and put it on the table.

“Well, this certainly is the night for lessons! Your foot is okay and will stop hurting in a few minutes. You need to be more careful. Chris, haven’t I told you to hold things with both hands? When I tell you something, like to do things slowly, there’s a reason. I want you to do things correctly, and I don’t want you to be hurt. Do you understand?“

Chris nodded and went to his mother. “Yes. I’ll try to be more careful next time.”

She hugged him and smiled. “You’re so adventuresome! I can’t keep up with you.

Then she put out the cookies and poured the soymilk, and the twins sat down at the table.

“There’s something else the both of you need to understand.”

Claire and Chris looked at their mother as they munched their cookies. She sat down at the table between them.

“I’m very proud that you try so hard to be good. Being a really good person takes time and work. But it is worth it.“

As they looked up from their cookies, she continued. “Because being a really good person will make you and those with you happy. You’ll be happy because you know you’re doing what’s right. Others will be happy because you’re so nice to be with.”

Claire and Chris were looking up at their mother and listening to every word she said. They knew her this-is-important voice.

“I know that each of you can become a really good person. I want you to know that too. As I’ve told you before, everything you and I say and do causes something to happen. It’s like a boomerang. So your efforts to be good will result in you being good. Okay?”

Claire snuggled closer to her mom. Chris beamed up at her.

Their mom smiled as she looked down and hugged them both.

Mistaking a Thief for a Son

Greed, anger, and delusion are afflictions common to everyone. However, if you are aware that they are diseases, their power should not be overwhelming. They are like thieves who have broken into the house. If the owner mistakes them for members of the household, all the valuables in the house will be stolen. If, on the other hand, he recognizes the thieves as such and immediately chases them away, his valueables will be safeguarded and he will be at peace. In this connection, the ancients have said:

Fear not the early arising of thoughts [greed, anger, delusion, etc.]; fear only the late awareness of them as such.

When greed, anger, and delusion arise, as long as you recognize them for what they are, these thoughts will immediately be destroyed. However, if you take them for the true master of your household, it is no different from mistaking a thief for your son. How can your riches not be squandered and lost.

~ Great Master's Yin Guang, Thirteenth Patriarch of the Pure Land school

Giving Up Our Addictions

We often hear in Buddhism that Buddhas and bodhisattvas will help us. Hearing that, many look around at the suffering of uncountable people and ask where are the Buddhas and bodhisattvas? With all the problems we are facing, we certainly need help. So why aren't they helping us?

To some degree they are, we just don't know it. But that's only to some degree.

Why aren't they helping more?

Anyone who has tried to help an alcoholic or drug addict will sadly admit that if the alcoholic or addict does not want help, there is little that can be done to help them. Before the person can be helped, they have to be willing to give up their addiction to alcohol or drugs.

It's the same with the rest of us.

We need to let go of our addictions.

What addictions could we possible have?

Greed for starters. We are addicted to the conveniences we consider it is our right to enjoy. We are addicted to doing what we want when we want. Addicted to consuming more than we need, to indulging our senses, and, generally, to putting our own interests before those of others. 

Anger. We are addicted to thinking we know what is right and that those who disagree with us are wrong, and need to be corrected. We are addicted to expressing how we feel without first thinking how it will affect others. Addicted to failing to practice self-restraint, to not caring enough about others, and, generally, to being so wrapped up in our own emotions that we ignore those of others.

Ignorance. We are addicted to our own complacency and laziness. We are addicted to seeing the suffering of others, silently thanking whoever or whatever that it wasn't us, and continuing with business as usual. Addicted to thinking we can escape the consequences of what we do, to not feeling the suffering of others as acutely as we do our own.

So many addictions. Addictions we don't want to give up.

It is not that Buddhas and bodhisattvas do not want to help. It is that we have not yet done what is necessary for them to be able to do so.

The Princess and Her Two Gifts

If we associate with and learn from people of great virtue,

we will benefit greatly. Day by day,

our own virtues will grow and our faults will lessen.

If we do not associate with and learn from these people,

we will suffer a great loss.

We will attract people without virtue,

and nothing we do will succeed.

 

Princess Christine began the day as she always did. She stretched, got out of bed, and called her maid. After the maid helped her dress, the princess went to the dining hall where she greeted her father, King Alfred.

The king and the princess were served breakfast by Willis, their new butler. Willis also told them all the latest news. The king was delighted with this because his new butler updated him more than the royal advisors did! Willis told them that two strangers were on their way to the castle. The princess asked if one was a tall, handsome prince. Willis replied no. King Alfred asked if one was a rich taxpayer, but he too was told no.

Willis reassured the two disappointed royals that it would still be an important day. When the king asked why, Willis explained, “Sire, each visitor is bringing a gift for the princess. May I make a suggestion to her highness?”

As the king nodded, Willis turned and said, “Princess, instead of greeting them as yourself, I suggest you do so as your maid. You can put on an old cloak.” He brought one in from the hallway and gave the cloak to her. 

She put it on and asked excitedly, “Now what?

“Your visitors will arrive any moment. You will need to use wisdom. I am confident that you will know what to do.”

Then they heard loud knocking. Eagerly the princess ran to the door. She flung it open and saw an elderly, dignified man. “Sir, I am the princess’s maid. May I help you?”

“Child, I am a virtuous sage from far away. I have knowledge that will greatly benefit your mistress. Kindly tell her I am here.”

Before the princess could reply, she saw a carriage approaching. As it stopped, a groom jumped down and opened the door. A beautiful woman carrying a sparkling box stepped out and stood by the carriage. She announced, “Tell your mistress she has a very important visitor. In this box are secrets that will make her rich and powerful!”

Not sure who to talk to first, the princess turned to the sage. He who held out his arm as if to reassure her and softly said, “I bring goodness and truth for the princess.”

The princess looked again at the beautiful woman.

“I bring her wealth and power! All in this box.”

As if mesmerized by the box, the princess walked out the door. She continued past the virtuous sage. And away from his gift of goodness and truth. Her eyes were held by the magical box. She forgot that she was dressed as a maid and reached out to touch it.

The woman struck her. “Impudent girl! This is for the princess not her wretch of a servant!”

Instead of being angry, the princess felt as if she had just awakened from a trance. “How could I have been so blind,” she marveled, “as to think a selfish gift more valuable than a virtuous one? Thank goodness that I realized it in time.” With that, she threw off the cape. “I am Princess Christine. To me, your gift is worthless. I do not want it.”

When the woman cried out, the king came running, Willis at his side. They all watched as the woman turned into an old witch and the box into a snake, which coiled around her arm. Then suddenly both were gone.

The princess turned to the sage. “Sir, I am ashamed. I was greedy and foolish. Caught up by selfish thoughts, I turned away from virtue. I will never do so again. If by chance you still think me worthy of your gift of goodness and truth, I would be most honored by it.”

“Princess,” said the sage, “it takes wisdom to know that we have made a mistake and courage to admit it. The following few words—my gift to you—may appear to be simple. But they are beyond value. To become virtuous, we need to always be with those who are virtuous and learn from them.”

“Princess, my king is looking for a bride for his son. She must be humble and know the value of virtue. The prince has also been looking. He sent word that he believes he has found his bride. I now agree with him. Would you like to meet your prince?”

“Oh, yes please!” replied Princess Christine.

“Here he is. His name is Prince Willis.”

 

At Least for a Moment

If I cannot be compassionate and awakened for all my tomorrows,

may I be for the rest of this life.

If I cannot be compassionate and awakened for the rest of this life,

may I be for a year.

If I cannot be compassionate and awakened for a year,

may I be for day.

If I cannot be compassionate and awakened for a day,

may I be for a minute,

If I cannot be compassionate and awakened for a minute,

may I be for a moment.

And may that moment expand until it becomes

a minute,

then a day,

then a year,

then a lifetime,

and then, finally, forever.