Categories: Guardians of the Dhamma
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Welcome. In our previous discussion, we touched upon how an unrighteous life can attract the influence of unwholesome, non-human beings and the unfortunate consequences that follow. We also promised to explore the path of righteous living, what it means, how to cultivate it, and the profound benefits it brings. Today, we will fulfill that promise.
This article delves into how living a life of virtue attracts the help and protection of divine beings who possess what is known in Buddhism as Samyak Dṛṣṭi, or Right View. We will explore, through experience, how this divine support can aid not only your spiritual journey but also your worldly progress, and how you can actively invite this benevolent protection into your life.
Understanding the Two Paths: Unrighteous vs. Righteous Living
First, we must clearly define what we mean by an unrighteous life. It is a life lived without regard for basic ethical principles, such as the Five Precepts. It is fueled by jealousy, anger, hatred, and greed, causing harm to others and oneself. A person living this way is out of harmony with the natural law of cause and effect, which Buddhists call Kamma. Such a life is considered unrighteous, or ‘adharmic.’
The Buddha also specifically advised against five types of livelihoods because they inevitably cause harm:
- Trading in weapons
- Trading in human beings (slavery)
- Trading in meat
- Trading in poisons
- Trading in intoxicants
Engaging in these trades, especially while neglecting the Five Precepts, places one firmly on the unrighteous path.
So, what is righteous living? It is the opposite. It means diligently upholding the Five Precepts, and any higher precepts you can, and avoiding these harmful trades. It is a life dedicated to not causing harm or distress to any being. It is about living in alignment with the Buddha’s teachings, with the natural law of Kamma, and with nature itself. This is the essence of a ‘dharmic’ life.
Life’s Turning Points: The Catalyst for Change
For many, the shift towards righteous living begins at a significant turning point. Perhaps you previously lived without much thought for these principles. Then, life presents a powerful, unignorable event. It could be a profound loss, the passing of a mother, father, child, or a close friend. It could be a major setback, a personal crisis, or a hardship that shakes you to your core.
Alternatively, the spark might come from an external source. You might hear a Dhamma talk on the radio, television, or the internet. A wise and noble friend, a kalyāṇa-mitta, might share a piece of Buddhist wisdom with you. Any of these moments can become the turning point that awakens the desire for a better, more meaningful way of life.
The Gradual Journey to a Transformed Life
Once this turning point occurs, your journey begins. You start listening to teachings and consciously steer your life in a new direction. You might begin with just one of the Five Precepts (Pancasila). For example, you make a sincere effort to abstain from harming living beings. After some time, you feel ready to take on the next precept, such as abstaining from taking what is not given (stealing). Gradually, you work on abstaining from sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants.
You move away from your former habits and establish yourself on a higher, more wholesome foundation. But the journey doesn’t stop there. You might feel inspired to undertake the Eight or Ten Precepts on special days. Your life may change so profoundly that you become a dedicated lay practitioner, an upasaka, living a life of celibacy even at home. Some may even be inspired to live at a monastery or become an ordained monk, progressing systematically on the path.
Deepening Your Practice: From Devotion to Meditation
As a layperson, your practice can deepen further. You might feel a growing desire to show reverence to the Triple Gem, the Buddha, the Dhamma (His teachings), and the Sangha (the community of noble ones). You begin a daily routine of chanting and making offerings (puja) at your home shrine. You might offer flowers, light, or incense in the morning and evening.
From there, your generosity and involvement grow. You might participate in larger temple offerings, like robe offerings or creating ‘wish-fulfilling trees’ (kapruka puja). You begin helping at local temples or monasteries, finding joy in service. You might start making regular pilgrimages to sacred sites like the Eight Great Places in Anuradhapura (Atamasthana), which you never did before. You begin to seek out and appreciate the company of monks.
Eventually, as you listen to more teachings, you’ll hear about the inner, spiritual aspect of the path: meditation (bhavana). You’ll learn about the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipaṭṭhāna) and the methods of tranquility (Samatha) and insight (Vipassanā). You start to seek out meditation programs and apply these teachings practically, transforming another facet of your life.
The Natural Separation: How Your World Begins to Shift
As you change, your entire world begins to change with you. The person you are now is vastly different from the one who lived an unrighteous life. If you were once consumed by jealousy, that fire begins to cool. If you engaged in harmful trades or used intoxicants, you strive to stop.
As you walk this wholesome path, you become a true spiritual friend to yourself and others. A natural separation occurs. Your old friends, who joined you in drinking alcohol or using drugs, will start to drift away. They no longer find your company suitable for their pursuits.
This shift also happens in the unseen world. Any non-human beings (amanussa) who lingered around you to vicariously enjoy the sensations of intoxication or other unwholesome acts will also depart. Malevolent forces, referred to as Māra, may try their utmost to disrupt your progress, but as your virtue strengthens, their influence wanes. Both your visible and invisible companions begin to align with your new way of life. As the Buddha taught, it is like with like: milk mixes with milk, honey with honey, and filth with filth. Goodness naturally attracts goodness.
Attracting the Attention of Right-View Deities
When your life takes this positive turn, you begin to attract a different kind of attention, that of Samyak Dṛṣṭi deities. These are divine beings who hold Right View; they understand and respect the Buddha’s teachings. This includes benevolent beings from various realms, devas, nāgas, and others who are on the path of righteousness.
This attention often begins locally. A tree spirit (vruksha devata) or an earth deity (bhummāṭa deva) residing in your own garden might be the first to notice. If they hold Right View, they will see the change in you and recognize you as one of their own. They see that you are no longer the person you once were.
How Divine Beings Offer Their Subtle Protection
How do these righteous, unseen forces help you? Their support is often subtle. Your own past wholesome actions, your reserve of good Kamma, play a crucial role here, as it enables these benevolent beings to assist you. They help you strengthen your virtue. If you were struggling to keep one precept, they might provide the inner strength to keep more. They might plant a thought in your mind: “You should aim for a higher level of practice.” It feels like your own thought, but it is a subtle encouragement from them.
They also help create a conducive environment for your practice. They work to prevent you from meeting those unwholesome people that negative forces might try to bring into your life. They gently steer you away from tempting situations and guide you toward wholesome opportunities.
A Shield Against Danger and Misfortune
This protection can manifest in very tangible ways, shielding you from life-threatening dangers. Imagine you are swimming and find yourself drowning. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, you are saved, even with no one around. That could be the intervention of a righteous deity protecting you. A being with wrong view, in contrast, would let you perish.
It is often these negative forces that cause people to slip in the bathroom, get into accidents, or suffer other misfortunes, hoping to claim them for their realm at the moment of death. Right-view deities do the opposite: they preserve your life. Think about times you may have narrowly avoided disaster.
Perhaps you were supposed to be in a car accident, but you were delayed by five minutes for some trivial reason. You later learn an accident happened at that exact spot, and you realize, “That could have been me.” These are instances where your life was preserved.
This divine help doesn’t come instantly. These beings observe you. Only when they see that you are sincerely committed to the path of righteous living do they begin to offer their full support.
Inviting Blessings Through the Sharing of Merits
To cultivate this relationship, you should regularly share your merits with these divine beings. After any wholesome act, whether it’s chanting, meditating, or making an offering, you can make a specific aspiration. First, share the merits, the positive energy (puñña), with the local earth deities, tree spirits, and all right-view beings. Then, make this resolve:
“May I receive your help and protection to continue my journey in this righteous life. If my worldly situation, such as my finances, faces a setback, please help me restore it so that I do not have to resort to unrighteous means. May I always receive the protection of righteous non-human beings, deities, or Brahmas to continue living this wholesome life.”
When you make this aspiration with sincerity after performing a meritorious deed, their assistance and protection will surely flow to you.
The True Goal and the Fruits of a Righteous Life
Remember, when you live a life of righteousness, you are protected wherever you go. You could be in a plane crash where others perish, and your life might be spared. Even if your life does end, your virtuous conduct ensures a rebirth in a good destination.
This is because those who are righteous naturally associate with righteous deities. The same principle applies to meditators; they attract the support of divine beings who favor meditation. You can explore our other articles to learn how to make aspirations to receive their help in your practice.
We share these truths out of compassion and from our own experience. However, please be patient. These changes, especially worldly improvements, may not happen overnight. Your primary focus should not be on worldly gain. The true goal is the development of your righteous living and your spiritual progress. Make that your core objective. When you do, the other aspects of your life, like your finances and well-being, will naturally begin to fall into place. Focus on the path, and the destination will take care of itself.
May the power of the Triple Gem, the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, bless you with the wisdom to understand these teachings and put them into practice.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!.
