Delight in Virtue

Virtue is doing good,
not doing evil,
and taming the mind.

To purify our habitual tendencies,
delight in instruction to purify our habitual tendencies
and delight in virtue.
Then we are spiritual practitioners.

“Purify our habitual tendencies” means putting an end to circling thoughts and our use of the word ‘I’ (if possible!).
“Instruction” is enlightened advice.
“Delight in virtue” is to be a spiritual practitioner – a knowledge holder.

If we have agreed to this then we have just taken refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha (spiritual community)! Buddhism is perfect, but Buddhists are not, and that why we practise so much!

This world is like a traffic jam, and we are in it, complaining about the traffic jam. All these cars and people, all this pollution, all this impatience…and yet we forget we are part of it. “Well, I’m not involved in wars and killing people!” Ah! But when we blame others, find fault, hate and fear we create a poisonous atmosphere, where others who are less mentally stable can then carry out negative acts. Thus we have helped to create a world of care-less-ness and lack of empathy.

We are all responsible, due to the collective karma we have accumulated. For example, there are many negative activities happening in the world under the guise of “Sustainability”. We, as individuals, can only do what we can with what appears to our minds, be it in solitude, with the family, at work or in our leisure time. We can create the home for either goodness or evil to spread. Both are like a virus.

It’s like playing chess. We can either play to ‘win’ and smash the opponent, or play to understand the game and be relaxed. If our moves succeed…fine, and if the other wins…fine. That is the actual challenge!

I know how ‘Delight in Virtue’ can sound wet, but it has a tremendous power. I used to think we should confront and fight and expose, but all that does is increase the traffic jam. To delight in virtue is to delight in clarity. That is the winner!

We have to use psychology – spiritual psychology – known as skilful means, to change an unpleasant atmosphere. Going beyond hope and fear is challenging, and it can take us into a place that is psychologically unfamiliar. But that is precisely how we evolve, and step into a finer level of understanding.

Everything is psychological: the way in which we perceive things makes all the difference.

To delight in virtue is to rest in pure perception.
To delight in self cherishing is to scream at the traffic.

Go slowly.
Create clarity.
Ensure a sound arrival.