A Dhammakaya Foundation Paperback First Edition 2005 Published by the Dhammakaya Foundation Department of International Relations 23/2 Moo 7., Khlong Sam, Khlong Luang Patumthani 12120 Thailand Tel. (+66 02) 524 0257-63 Copyright © 2005 by the Dhammakaya Foundation All Rights Reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior and express written consent of the publisher National Library of Thailand Cataloging in Publication Data Dhammakaya Foundation A Manual of Peace: 38 Steps towards Enlightened Living Bangkok: Dhammakaya Foundation, 2005 466p. 1. Buddhism I. Title 294.315 ISBN 974-93135-5-0 Printed in Thailand by : Craftsman Press Co.,Ltd 487/42 Soi Wattanasilp, Rajprarop Road, Makkasan, Rajthevee, Bangkok, Thailand Tel: +66-2-2533009, 2533298 2 A Manual of Peace: 38 Steps towards Enlightened Living May the meritorious fruits accruing from the study of this book be dedicated for the benefit of George, Annie, Alice, Lilian, Richard, Harry, Alfred George, Arthur, Norman, Ivan (née Lee) & Evelyn Ayre, Ellen Mary Stokell, Hannah Carr, George & Charles F. Lee, Elizabeth, John & Margaret Curry, Anne Fenwick, Annie Jarman, Dennis George, Dennis Arthur & Malcolm Woods, Emily Mary Casbon, William Jabez & Ethel Dawes, Moses Edmund, Gladys, Hilda, Cecil, Reginald and Marie Heaton wherever they have been reborn. Blessing One: Not Associating with Fools 3 4 Contents Contents Preface to the First Edition ...................................................................................................................................7 The Manual of Peace in Action ..........................................................................................................................10 Abbreviations .....................................................................................................................................................18 Orientation .....................................................................................................................................................19 BLESSING GROUP I.: TURNING YOUR BACK ON UNWHOLESOMENESS ..................................25 1. Not Associating with Fools .............................................................................................................27 2. Associating with the Wise ...............................................................................................................37 3. Expressing Respect to those worth of respect ..............................................................................51 BLESSING GROUP II.: TURNING TOWARDS WHOLESOMENESS .................................................65 4. Living in an Amenable Location ....................................................................................................67 5. Having done Good Deeds in one’s past........................................................................................77 6. Setting Oneself up properly in life .................................................................................................91 BLESSING GROUP III.: SETTING ONESELF UP IN LIFE ....................................................................101 7. Artfulness in Knowledge ..............................................................................................................103 8. Artfulness in Application .............................................................................................................. 113 9. Artfulness in Usage ........................................................................................................................ 119 10. Artfulness in Speech ......................................................................................................................131 BLESSING GROUP IV.: HARMONY IN THE FAMILY LIFE .................................................................139 11. Cherishing our parents ..................................................................................................................141 12. Raising our children .......................................................................................................................153 13. Cherishing our husband or wife ..................................................................................................165 14. Not Leaving one’s work undone .................................................................................................177 BLESSING GROUP V.: BECOMING A PILLAR OF SOCIETY ..............................................................183 15. Generosity .......................................................................................................................................185 16. Dhamma Practice ...........................................................................................................................197 17. Looking after one’s extended family ...........................................................................................205 18. Blameless Work...............................................................................................................................213 Contents 5 BLESSING GROUP VI.: PREPARATION OF MIND ...............................................................................223 19. Abstaining from Unwholesomeness ...........................................................................................225 20. Restraint from Drinking Intoxicants ............................................................................................233 21. Non-recklessness in the Dhamma................................................................................................243 BLESSING GROUP VII.: INSTILLING ONESELF WITH BASIC VIRTUES......................................251 22. Respect .............................................................................................................................................253 23. Humility ..........................................................................................................................................261 24. Contentment ...................................................................................................................................269 25. Gratitude..........................................................................................................................................281 26. Listening Regularly to Dhamma Teachings ...............................................................................291 BLESSING GROUP VIII.: INSTILLING ONESELF WITH HIGHER VIRTUES ................................301 27. Patience ............................................................................................................................................303 28. Openness to Criticism.................................................................................................................... 311 29. The Sight of a True Monk ..............................................................................................................321 30. Regular Discussion of the Dhamma ............................................................................................331 BLESSING GROUP IX.: PRACTICE FOR THE ERADICATION OF DEFILEMENTS......................345 31. The Practice of Austerities ............................................................................................................347 32. Practising the Brahma-Faring .......................................................................................................357 33. Seeing the Four Noble Truths .......................................................................................................371 34. The Attainment of Nirvana ...........................................................................................................385 BLESSING GROUP X.: THE FRUITS OF HAVING PRACTISED UNTIL REACHING AN END OF DEFILEMENTS .......... 393 35. A Mind Invulnerable to Worldly Vicissitudes............................................................................395 36. Sorrowlessness ................................................................................................................................403 37. Freedom from Subtle Defilements ............................................................................................... 411 38. The Blissful Mind ...........................................................................................................................421 INDICES I. General Index ................................................................................................................................425 II. Pali Index .......................................................................................................................................449 III. Index of Similes .............................................................................................................................454 IV. Index of Illustrated Examples .....................................................................................................456 6 A Manual of Peace: 38 Steps towards Enlightened Living Preface to the First Edition How this book should be used 3. Doing that virtue so regularly that it becomes Most problems in the world can be traced back to the our habit habits of the people inhabiting the world — the things 4. train up the people around you to practise the we do,