Monday, January 3, 2011

Determination is the 8th Mental Perfection:

Friends:
Determination is the 8th Mental Perfection:
Only determination can completely fulfill the other mental perfections!
Its characteristic is an unwavering decision, its function is to overcome
hesitation
, and its manifestation is unfaltering persistence in this task...!
The proximate cause of determination is strong willpower to succeed!
Only the power of resolute determination lifts any praxis to perfection...

When the Future Buddha placed his back against the trunk of The Bodhi
Tree
, he right there made this mighty decision:
"Let just the blood and flesh of this body dry up and let the skin & sinews
fall from the bones. I will not leave this seat before having attained that
absolute supreme Enlightenment!" So determined did he invincibly seat
himself
, from which not even 100 earthquakes could make him waver.
                                                                                                     Jataka Nidāna
A female lay follower (Upāsika) at the time of the Buddha kept pure the
precepts
, comprehended the nature of impermanence, the consequent
fragility of the body and thereby won stream-entry (Sotāpanna)...
After passing away, she re-arose as the favourite attendant of Sakka,
the king of Gods. Reviewing her own merit, she remembered her prior
admonition to herself:
"Let this body break up as it may,
herein will not be any excuse or
relaxation of the effort...!"
Whose mind is like a rock, determined, unwavering, immovable,
without a trace of lust of urging towards all the attractions,
without a trace of aversion of pushing away all the repulsive,
from what, can such a refined mind ever suffer?
                                                                                                         Udana IV - 4

Using the tools of Faith, Morality, Effort, Determination, Meditation and
true Understanding of the Dhamma, one gradually perfects first knowing
and then behaviour. So well equipped & always aware, one becomes capable
of
eliminating of this great heap of suffering once and for all ...
                                                                                                  Dhammapada 144
What is being determined by Right Motivation?
The decision for always being motivated to withdrawal,
The decision for always being motivated to good-will,
The decision for always being motivated to harmlessness,
This is being determined by Right Motivation...
                                                                                      Samyutta Nikāya XLV 8
My mind is firm like a rock,
unattached to sensual things,
no shaking in the midst of a world,
where all is decaying and vanishing...
My mind has been thus well developed,
so how can suffering ever touch me?
                                                                                          Theragatha 194

The four determinations:
One should not neglect the Dhamma,
One should guard well the Truth,
One should be devoted to Withdrawal,
and one should always train only for Peace.
                                                                                 Majjhima Nikāya 140
Fearing being predestined for Hell if he became a King, who had to punish
criminals
violently, the Bodhisatta determined not to show any intelligence,
and played dumb, deaf and crippled for sixteen years, only showing his real
abilities, when he was on the verge of being buried alive!
This was his ultimate perfection of resolute determination...
                                                               The Basket of Conduct: Cariyapitaka


More of the 10 mental perfections (paramis):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_10_mental_perfections_(parami)_in_three_levels.htm

Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

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