“Election”
Teaching of Venerable Sayadaw Ashin Ottamasara
Delivered on 8th November 2015
at Thabarwa Centre (Thanlyin)
Part Two
Part Two
(3) Cleanest, Freest and Fairest Election
Do not expect to be good if you are doing bad
things. Do not expect to gain merit if you are doing unwholesome deeds. Do not
expect to gain demerit if you are doing wholesome deeds. This is the cleanest, the
most beneficial and the fairest Wholesome v.s. Unwholesome deeds election. Anyone can cast their votes. Anyone can run
for wholesome v.s. unwholesome election. It is wrong not to participate in this
important dual party election. It is worthy of participation. This, indeed, is
an election concerning an infinite number of sentient beings residing in this
universe.
This election involves everyone, without any exclusion. Not only the yogis, but also the politicians,
entrepreneurs, students, children, senior citizens, infirm, Buddhists,
non-Buddhists, free thinkers, multi-racial, multi-ethnicity, multi-faith,
multicultural, citizens by birth, naturalized citizens, citizens by
substitution and stateless, regardless of profession, age, health status, race,
religion, citizenship, everyone can get involved in this extraordinary free and
fair election. Each and every one of us needs to try his very best to get
involved in this election, which has no bias against race, religion or citizenship,
representing an infinite number of sentient beings residing in this
universe.
We should not abandon the mundane General Election of Myanmar. At the same time, we also should not grasp it
as a real election and hit a dead end. As a human being, we have imperfections.
For the General Election, we need to be vigilant in choosing the party and
candidate who has fewer imperfections, great knowledge, high calibre and who is
willing to serve the masses.
Do not stop at politically inspired General Election dead end. You need to continue participating in the wholesome against unwholesome
deeds election, where infinite numbers of sentient beings, including the winners, losers, voters, non-voters, monks, nuns, elders, youths,
the healthy, the sick, human beings, celestial beings, Brahmas (the supreme
beings) can also unanimously participate. As in the General Election of Myanmar, your participation
in this wholesome against unwholesome deeds election is also compulsory. In order for the merit-making party to claim
victory in this election, we must always be mindful and do all kinds of good
deeds continuously and diligently.
Always be mindful and cast your vote for the merit-making party. You
need to understand and accept the fact that ordinary worldlings tend to have
unwholesome attitudes, conduct, and verbal actions, in the past, at present, and
that they might also be committing the same mistakes in the future. The powers
of our wholesome deeds must unceasingly triumph over the powers of unwholesome
deeds.
As a community leader I lead by example. I do a diversity
of good deeds continuously. At the same
time, I am also training my disciples, each and every yogi, to follow my merit
making footsteps. The improvement or decline of physical and mental states,
success or failure, convenience or inconvenience, all are solely depending on
you. You must have the right attitude, right perspective, right conduct and
right verbal actions at all times. Always try to advocate and pass on these
good qualities and moral virtues to yourself, to your own family, to each and
every one in the society as well as the society as a whole.
(4)
USA Cinema Music Event
As Myanmar’s
General Election was taking place, the Cinema Music Event, a charity
fundraising concert to raise money to build hostels for the elders at Thabarwa
Centre, was held in the United States of America.
The elders at
Thabarwa Centre represent all the elders in Myanmar, as they come from all
regions of Myanmar. By nature, people
take care only of their own relatives, grandparents and those related to them. This
egocentric nature is not wholesome. Also, instead of condemning or criticising
the people who are in distress for their dreadful mistakes, hopeless fate or
bad karma, when the opportunity arises, take that golden opportunity to help,
assist and look after those who are not related to you, those who are not
Myanmar citizens, those who are facing difficulties and need your help.
Thanks to those
who are facing difficulties and who are in need, we have the chance to use our
money, assets, possessions and labour for a good cause to accumulate merit. By
nature, ordinary worldings are not selfless. We need to go against our will,
take pleasure in the happiness of others and learn to be selfless even if no
one else knows.
We need to do
as many meritorious deeds as possible with right understanding in mind. Since
these are not our usual or habitual tasks, we always need to go against our
will to do them. By doing so, the outcome will always be meaningful and
fulfilling despite facing and enduring numerous sufferings, difficulties and
obstacles along the way.
The majority of
ordinary worldings habitually spends most of the time, effort and life doing
unwholesome deeds, including having an unwholesome point of view, uttering
unwholesome words and doing unwholesome actions. By going against mundane
nature, if someone or some association takes a lead role in organising merit-making
events, assembles people to participate and overcomes difficulties along the
way, these actions can also be considered as voting for the merit-making party.
Whilst some
people might participate in merit-making activities, the majority will still be
leading their usual life, not making any effort to eradicate ugly loba, dosa
and moha
blemishes. By opposing the nature of ordinary worldings, the Cinema Music Event
can also be considered as participating in the election between wholesome and
unwholesome deeds on the side of the merit-making party.
The success of the
merit-making election should not be measured by how many donations are collected
or how lavish an even looks or how much time, money and effort are spent in
preparations. You can consider a merit-making event as successful so long as
you managed to make it happen. Due to
the self-centred nature of human beings who are not interested in helping others,
this merit-making event might face failure at the planning phase or initial
execution phase, or half way through, or might be unable to reach completion.
The path
towards this victory is a journey of obstacles, hurdles and difficulties. As long as you manage to overcome all the disruptions
along the way and organise the merit-making event successfully, this can be
called an event where wholesome deeds gained a glorious victory over the unwholesome deeds.
Sooner or
later, at present or in future, you will experience the favourable consequences
and benefits of the wholesome deeds that you have done successfully. This is very much fulfilling since you will
gain as much merit as the effort you put in.
It does not
matter where you start. As long as you start doing meritorious deeds, it will
not be difficult for you to continue doing them. As long as you do wholesome
deeds and vote for the merit-making party, it does not matter whether it
receives a single vote or many votes, your effort will not go wasted.
As long as you
manage to convince as many people as possible to participate and do as many
good deeds as possible, and continue doing them as long a period as possible,
it can be considered as a glorious victory of
the wholesome deeds. Indeed,
this kind of voting will not be in vain.
Instead, it is very meaningful and worthy of your best efforts.
Note : In
order to honour Miss Valerie Sheibel, a.k.a. Barbie, the main organiser of the
USA Cinema Music Event held at Lowell High School, Carol Channel Theatre, San
Francisco, the Mayor of Daly City has announced 7th November as Valerie
Sheibels's Day of Daly City.
To be continued …..