The Buddha: How to respond to life (sutra)

Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Positive Response: How to Meet Evil w/ Good, Buddharakkhita (Buddhist Publication Society, Access to Insight), Wisdom Quarterly

When you can't control what is happening, control the way you react to what is happening.

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Buddhist Art of Gandahra in the Ashmolean Museum

"Meditators, there are five modes of speech that people might use when speaking to you — speech that is:

1. timely or untimely

2. true or false
3. gentle or harsh
4. good or harmful (by motive)
5. with a loving or hostile heart.

"Meditators, some might speak to you using speech that is timely or untimely, speak to you truthfully or falsely, gently or harshly, with a good or harmful motive, with a loving or hostile heart.

"On all occasions, meditators, train yourselves in this way: 'Neither shall our minds be affected by this, nor for this matter shall we give vent to harsh words; rather we shall remain full of concern and pity, with a mind of loving concern, and we shall not give in to hate.

"'On the contrary, we shall live projecting thoughts of universal loving kindness to that very person, making that person as well as the whole world the object of our thoughts of universal loving kindness — thoughts that have grown great, exalted, and immeasurable. We shall dwell radiating thoughts which are void of hostility and ill will.'

"Meditators, train yourselves in this way.

The Great Earth

Another phony NASA CGI of Earth (Gaia)

"Suppose, meditators, a person were to come to you, holding a hoe and a basket, and were to say: 'I'll make this great earth earthless.' Then that person were to strew earth here and there, spit here and there, urinate here and there, and say: 'Be earthless, be earthless!'

"What do you think, meditators, would this person render this great earth earthless?"

"No, indeed not, venerable sir!"

"Why?"

"Because this great earth, venerable sir, is deep and without measure. It cannot possibly be turned earthless. On the contrary, that person would only reap weariness and frustration."

"In the same way, meditators, others may use these five modes of speech when speaking to you — speech that is

1. timely or untimely
2. true or false
3. gentle or harsh
4. good or harmful (motive)
5. with a loving or hostile heart.

"So train yourselves, meditators, in this way: 'Neither shall our minds be affected by this, nor for this matter shall we give vent to harsh words, rather we shall remain full of concern and pity, with a mind of loving kindness, and we shall not give in to hate.

"'On the contrary, we'll live projecting thoughts of universal loving kindness to that very person, making that person as well as the whole world the object of our thoughts of universal loving kindness — thoughts that have grown great, exalted, and immeasurable. We shall dwell radiating thoughts which are void of hostility and ill will.'

"Train yourselves in this way, meditators."

Empty Space

"Suppose, meditators, a person were to approach you, carrying paints of lacquer, turmeric, indigo, and carmine, and were to say: 'I will produce a painting on a canvas of empty space.' What do you think, meditators, could that person produce a painting on a canvas of empty space?"

"No, indeed not, venerable sir!"

"Why not?"

"Because empty space, venerable sir, is formless and invisible. One cannot possibly produce a painting on a canvas of empty space. On the contrary, that person would only reap weariness and frustration."

"In the same way, meditators, others may use these five modes of speech when speaking to you — speech that is

1. timely or untimely
2. true or false
3. gentle or harsh
4. good or harmful (motive)
5. with a loving or hostile heart.

"So train yourselves, meditators, in this way: 'Neither shall our minds be affected by this, nor for this matter shall we give vent to harsh words; rather we shall remain full of concern and pity, with a mind of loving kindness, and we shall not give in to hate.

"'On the contrary, we shall live projecting thoughts of universal loving kindness to that very person, making that person as well as the whole world the object of our thoughts of universal loving kindness — thoughts that have grown great, exalted, and immeasurable. We shall dwell radiating thoughts which are void of hostility and ill will.'

"So train yourselves in this way, meditators."

The Ganges River

"Suppose, meditators, a person were to come holding a burning grass torch and were to say: 'With this burning grass torch I shall set fire to and scorch the Ganges river!' What do you think, meditators, could that person set fire to or scorch the Ganges river with a grass torch?"

"No, indeed not, venerable sir!"

"Why not?"

"Because, venerable sir, the Ganges river is deep and without measure. It is not possible to set fire to or scorch the Ganges river with a burning grass torch. On the contrary, that person would only reap weariness and frustration."

"In the same way, meditators, others may use these five modes of speech when speaking to you — speech that is

1. timely or untimely
2. true or false
3. gentle or harsh
4. good or harmful (motive)
5. with a loving or hostile heart.

"So train yourselves in this way, meditators: 'Neither shall our minds be affected by this, nor for this matter shall we give vent to harmful words, rather we shall remain full of concern and pity, with a mind of loving kindness and not give in to hate.

"On the contrary, we shall live projecting thoughts of universal loving kindness to that very person, making him as well as the whole world the object of our thoughts of universal love — thoughts that have grown great, exalted, and measureless. We shall dwell radiating thoughts which are void of hostility and ill will.' So train yourselves, meditators, in this way.

The Catskin Bag

Don't even think it, humans.

"Suppose, meditators, there were a supple and silky leather bag made of catskin that had been beaten, tanned, cured, fully processed, and made completely free of all creases and wrinkles.

"Then a person were to come with a stick or mallet and say, 'With this stick I shall make creases and wrinkles in this supple and silky catskin bag which has been beaten, tanned, cured, fully processed, and made free of creases and wrinkles.'

"What do you think, meditators, could that person with a stick or mallet make creases and wrinkles in that supple and silky catskin bag which has been beaten, tanned, cured, fully processed, and made free of creases and wrinkles?"

"No, indeed not, venerable sir."

"Why not?"

"Because, venerable sir, that supple and silky leather bag made of catskin has been beaten, tanned, cured, fully processed, and made free of creases and wrinkles. It's not possible to make creases and wrinkles in it with a stick or mallet. On the contrary, that person would only reap weariness and frustration."

"In the same way, meditators, others may use these five modes of speech when speaking to you — speech that is

1. timely or untimely
2. true or false
3. gentle or harsh
4. good or harmful (by motive)
5. with a loving or hostile heart.

"So train yourselves, meditators, in this way: 'Neither shall our minds be affected by this, nor for this matter shall we give vent to harsh words; rather we shall remain full of concern and pity, with a mind of loving kindness, and we shall not give in to hate.

"'On the contrary, we shall live projecting thoughts of universal loving kindness to that very person, making that person as well as the whole world the object of our thoughts of universal loving kindness — thoughts that have grown great, exalted, and immeasurable. We shall dwell radiating these thoughts which are void of hostility and ill will.'

"So train yourselves, meditators, in this way."

The Parable of the Saw

"Meditators, even if bandits were to savagely sever you, limb from limb, with a double-handled saw, even then, whoever harbors ill will at heart would not be upholding my teaching.

"Meditators, even in such a situation, train yourselves in this way: 'Neither shall our minds be affected by this, nor for this matter shall we give vent to harsh words; rather we shall remain full of concern and pity, with a mind of loving kindness, and not give in to hate.

"'On the contrary, we shall live projecting thoughts of universal loving kindness to those very persons, making them as well as the whole world the object of our thoughts of universal loving kindness — thoughts that have grown great, exalted, and immeasurable. We shall dwell radiating thoughts which are void of hostility and ill will.'

"So train yourselves in this way, meditators.

"Meditators, if you should keep this instruction on the Parable of the Saw constantly in mind, do you perceive any mode of speech, subtle or gross, that you could not endure?"

"No, venerable sir."

"Therefore, meditators, keep this instruction on the Parable of the Saw constantly in mind. That will conduce to your well being and happiness for a long time indeed."

That is what the Blessed One said. Delighted, those meditators rejoiced in the teaching of the Blessed One.

• From Positive Response: How to Respond to Evil with Good, a Buddhist Publication Society booklet that contains a collection of short sutras by the Buddha and a passage from the Path of Purification, each preceded by a brief introduction by the translator. The unifying theme may be called a "positive response" for dealing with provocative people and life situations. These practical techniques taught by the Buddha are for overcoming resentment, hate, and other pollutants, and for cultivating elevating mental qualities like kindness, good will, amity, and compassion.