We have discussed how ‘DHARMA SOLDIER’ will overcome cankers or ‘ills’, in the preceding issue.  Now we have discussed how to deal with ‘EVIL’ around oneself.

Evil in the sense it may be anything which affects him negatively, to lead secured, justified, peaceful and happy life. In order to reach such a state we need to eliminate social, political, economical suffering and injustice.

“The only weapon that we have in our hands this evening is the weapon of protest. That's all.”                             

                                                    ― Martin Luther King Jr., 

.       The living creatures need three things for their growth and evolution: nurturing, security and freedom.

Nurturing consists of a number of factors required by living creatures for their growth. For example, a plant needs soil and water as well as light and heat in order to grow. An animal needs food and other things. A human being's needs are the same as those of plants and animals plus a series of other needs which would come under the heading of nurturing, all of which are like food for it. How can one live without food? The faculty of nourishment is a necessary asset to a living being.

The main requisite of a living being is security. What does security mean? It means being able to keep the means and equipment necessary for living. It should not be withheld from them by an enemy or a foreign power. Next to this nurturing it needs security in order to keep its life and wealth and health and belongings safe against aggression.

The third need is freedom. What does freedom mean? It means the absence of obstacles in the way of growth. For example, in growing a plant, in addition to other requisites, you must provide a suitable environment to it and remove all obstacles. If you plant a tree under a roof, you are depriving it of free space above to attain its full growth. Thus every living being needs freedom for its growth and evolution. What is this freedom? It is the absence of barriers. Free persons are those who fight against all obstacles set in their way of growth and perfection. They do not submit to obstacles.

“The good or ill of man lies within his own will”

                                               --Epictetus

We have to cultivate right behavior to live in the society respectfully.  ‘Nobody is a born criminal’ every person is good till the society makes him sick.  Society prepares the crime and man commits it. 

Therefore somebody to become a criminal some other person and some circumstances may be responsible.  It is enough if our endeavor is to see that we are not those persons responsible for somebody to a criminal.  It is enough if our endeavor is to see that we do not create the circumstances for the other person to be a criminal.  If one is conscious at least of this fundamental responsibility, one is considered to be doing the utmost service to the society the greatest contribution more than positive service.

“Manners make man “

                                      --Anonymous

If “Might is right” is reigning principle.  ‘Survival of the fittest’ is the law that prevails.  As a result the poor is exploited by the rich.  The weak is exploited by the powerful and influential.   Lawlessness will be the order of the day.  Money power, influence under expert legal guidance, will do wonders in doing and undoing things.  As a result people gradually loose confidence in value based living.  Even good people, law abiding citizens, frustrated with the happenings around and tempted by the irresistible temporary results obtained by unlawful living, push back their conscious and culture to oblivion and adopt to corrupt methods taking the wrong values as means to achieve the ends.  Thus the entire society plunges into dark dungeons of polluted living.

Socially Engaged Buddhism which I am propagating is mainly for the benefit of the ordinary people.  If one practices it with determination, definitely he can develop his standard of knowledge and wisdom.   Soon he can practice higher level spirituality.  Then, one can choose any kind of teachings/religion.

Those who have sound health, intelligence and courage are only can practice Mediation and higher teachings of the Lord Buddha directly.  Also according to him one who possesses three things i.e. listening to Dharma teachings and having a Kalyana mitra and living with wise are wealthy.  Those who possess material things are just rich only.  They have much defilement.

          Life in developing countries is filled with lot of corruption and violence.  A spiritual seeker should understand what the path and what not the path in order to practice rightly.  For that aspirant should know, what are the original teachings of the Lord Buddha? Now- a-days many organizations are utilizing the name and teachings of the Lord Buddha for their political, social and economical benefits. 

In my case, I have right view from my birth.  But I don’t have possessed sound health and wise surroundings in order to practice higher teachings of the Lord Buddha.   There are reasons for low standard according to sacred literature i.e. it may be past life’s karmic effect.

My ambition is to bring change in human life style and to see the human society live a peaceful life and by attaining ultimate perfection to get liberated from this mortal world and to attain Liberation (Nibbana).

            My vision is to attain transcendental state and material well-being and work for social, Political, economic suffering and injustice as a Kalyana mitra, namely,‘DHARMA SOLDIER’.

            I take the opportunity to request all of you to share my views and Join with me to work together.

With regards,

Ven. Sumedha

A Buddhist Monk, Author, writer, International Traveler & social worker