RIGHT LIVING
Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Intoxication
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Intoxication is unhealthy.
Refraining from intoxication is healthy. (MN 9) What are the
imperfections that defile the mind? Negligence is an imperfection that
defiles the mind. Knowing that negligence is an imperfection that
defiles the mind, a person abandons it. (MN 7) One practices thus:
“Others may become negligent by intoxication, but I will abstain from
the negligence of intoxication.” (MN 8)
There are these two worldly conditions: praise and blame. These are
conditions that people meet—impermanent, transient, and subject to
change. A mindful, wise person knows them and sees that they are subject
to change. Desirable conditions do not excite one’s mind nor is one
resentful of undesirable conditions. (AN 8.6)
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The “worldly
winds,” you will recall, are those conditions that are inevitably found
in the world, things it is useless to object to or resist, and the best
course is to learn how to adapt and live with them. Praise and blame are
among these inevitable worldly conditions. No matter what you do, there
are times you will be praised, justifiably or not, and there are times
you will be blamed, justifiably or not. It is best to accept this.
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One thing that
helps in dealing with praise and blame is not to take things personally.
Having yourself be the focus of everything can be seen as a kind of
intoxication, distorting your perception of things as they actually are.
Remind yourself that conditions are transient, that peoples’ opinions
are subject to change, and that they may not praise or blame you with
any real understanding of who you are or what you had in mind.
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Tomorrow: Maintaining Arisen Healthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Harming Living Beings
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