Candle

In life, we all have goals and ambitions, don’t we? Humans fail to operate at their best if there isn’t something to work towards or accomplish. Ambition is a crucial attribute of our evolution as a species. But to get there most effectively and efficiently, one needs a teacher, mentor or guide ahead of you on that path. You can’t reach a destination you have never been to without directions unless you are prepared to accept a substantial amount of losses as you trial and error. The reassuring alternative is, of course, to have the guidance of a teacher. Those of our readers who have made significant progress or achieved their targets will admit that the key to their success was obeying the instructions of their mentor. We have an education system in Buddhism cut out for attaining true happiness. It is called the Disapamok Methodology. It involves the students living on-site at the teacher’s residence along with other students from a young age. The idea behind this is to mould the child into a complete human being so that when they are thrust into society upon coming of age, they have the self-confidence and courage to stand on their own two feet and build a life for themselves. The modern-day equivalent would be boarding school. This is a highly effective methodology because children are constantly under the watchful eye of the teacher. They will learn all types of skills, and some might even master certain abilities. Spiritual growth is also a significant part of the syllabus, with the ultimate goal that when they come of age, they will enter society as fully independent, entirely capable, multi-skilled, talented young men and women with high moral standards. The school that is affiliated with our monastery has adopted this methodology. The more observant among our readers would have noticed that when monks go on an alms round, they gracefully place one foot after another in sync with the monk in front, symbolising that they follow in the exact footsteps of their teachers. Apart from providing valuable guidance, support, and encouragement to navigate through various stages of your life, their experience and knowledge can help you avoid mistakes and make better decisions. I suppose the most beneficial aspect of using a teacher or a mentor is they will challenge you to push beyond your comfort zone and reach your full potential. This will seldom happen if we are left to our own devices. Moreover, they can offer valuable feedback and constructive criticism to help you improve and grow. You will agree that having a teacher or mentor can significantly impact your personal and professional development. As the former president of Turkey, Mustafa Atatürk, once said, “A good teacher is like a candle. It consumes itself to light the way for others.”

Before becoming the Buddha, ascetic Gothama encountered a few teachers in his quest to find everlasting happiness. The first teacher he learned from was Ālāra Kālāma, who taught him the techniques of jhana meditation. After mastering these techniques, he moved on to study with Uddaka Ramaputta, who taught him the techniques of higher meditation. This shows that even he recognised the importance of having a teacher or mentor to guide and instruct him. In one of his famous teachings, the Kālāma Sutta, the Buddha advises his followers to seek guidance from wise and knowledgeable teachers who can help them discern the truth and live a virtuous life. The Buddha believed that a mentor or spiritual guide can help individuals cultivate wisdom, develop mindfulness, and overcome ignorance and suffering. He taught that a good mentor should be someone knowledgeable, compassionate, patient, and who can provide guidance and support as one works towards spiritual enlightenment. In Buddhist tradition, having a mentor or spiritual guide is essential to one's spiritual practice. A good mentor is believed to help individuals develop a deeper understanding of the teachings and traditions and can offer guidance and support as they navigate the challenges and obstacles on their spiritual path.

Noble Association

I want to take our readers on a journey back in time to the year 500 BC. During this time, a conversation took place between lord Buddha and his primary attendant, Venerable Ananda. For the benefit of readers unfamiliar with Ven Ananda, he was the primary attendant of the Buddha and Guardian of the Dhamma. Among the Buddha's many disciples, Ven Ananda stood out for having an exceptional recollection. Most early Buddhist Sutta-Piṭaka texts are attributed to his recollection of the Buddha's teachings during the First Buddhist Council. For that reason, he is known as the Treasurer of the Dhamma. He was the first cousin of the Buddha. Ananda performed his duties with great devotion and care and acted as an intermediary between the Buddha and the devotees. A separate article dedicated to Venerable Ananda deserves to be published, and we will aim to do so in the future.

He questions his master on one occasion, doesn’t half of the Sasana (ministry of the Buddha) depend on noble association? To which Lord Buddha replied. On the contrary, the entirety of the Sasana depends on noble association or ‘kalyana mittas’. In Buddhist teachings, the concept of a mentor or spiritual guide is known as a "kalyana-mitta," which translates to "noble friend" or "spiritual friend." The association of noble ones is vital for attaining Nibbana because noble ones create a conducive environment for cleansing one’s mind by dispensing the Dhamma and providing counsel when required, thereby constantly uplifting each other to a higher state of wisdom, virtue and morality. Being in the presence of a noble associate inspired and motivated towards the same goal provides a springboard to launch and propel oneself on the noble path. This is one reason the Buddha established the Sangha community. We enrol in a gym to improve our fitness because fellow gym-goers work towards the same goal. Hence, the energy, positive vibes, inspiration and motivation will aid the process. Sometimes, getting to the gym is the hardest thing, but once you get there, you will automatically put the work in. Furthermore, you can get guidance from personal trainers who are experts in body transformations.

The most significant aspect of noble association is that it is a key requirement to attain the state of Sotapanna or stream-enterer. One can only become a stream-enterer upon listening to Dhamma expounded by someone who is at least a stream-enterer. The moment of Sotapanna fruition may not be “experienced” in real-time. It is a state of Samadhi which can come and go within a split second. What generally happens is that one slowly becomes aware of significant changes in one’s gati (traits) and general state of mind over weeks and months. However, it is virtually impossible to determine with absolute certainty whether one has attained this state of mind because an ignorant mind can always be deceived, and what could be worse than the self-deception of realisation?

The Buddha emphasised the importance of having a mentor or spiritual guide to help individuals cultivate wisdom, develop mindfulness, and overcome suffering. A "kalyana-mitta" is an essential part of Buddhist practice and highlights the value of having a mentor who can offer guidance and support on one's spiritual journey.

Unsung Heroes

Often, hard-working parents are not the role models of most kids. It’s usually fictional characters in comic books, social media influencers and celebrities. Children may look up to social media influencers and celebrities for various reasons, such as popularity, wealth, and lifestyle. However, it may not always be a good idea to idolise them. While social media influencers and celebrities may have certain admirable qualities, it is essential to remember that their lives are often curated and edited for public consumption. Moreover, many social media influencers and celebrities are not necessarily positive influences. Some may promote unhealthy habits, such as unrealistic beauty standards, unhealthy eating habits, and substance abuse. Additionally, they may hurt mental health by promoting toxic positivity or perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Kids need to understand that social media influencers and celebrities are human beings with flaws and imperfections, just like everyone else. They should be encouraged to look for real-life role models who embody positive qualities and values, such as kindness, empathy, and hard work. Parents and educators can help by fostering critical thinking skills and encouraging kids to question the messages and values promoted by social media influencers and celebrities. Ultimately, it is a deeply personal choice who someone wants to look up to and emulate, but it is essential to make an informed decision and not blindly follow someone just because they are popular. The unfortunate truth is popularity and influence have trumped hard work and skill. You might have seen a huge disparity between the pay of a nurse who has to work her socks off for most of the week battling with patients' lives under immense pressure and a TikToker who performs a short dance routine wearing questionable clothing, earning ten times more than the nurse. There are plenty more examples like this in society. In your hour of need, who can you count on? A cardboard hero or an influencer on the other side of the planet? Let me offer our readers an example. Before becoming an Anagarika, I used to play cricket at a semi-professional level during my free time. Once, I felt down following a disappointing season where I failed to perform anywhere near my ability. Our coach at the time said, "Why do we fail? So that we can learn what it takes to win." He told me what I had to improve on, and we made a plan together and worked on it pre-season. The following season was my best season, where I significantly contributed to getting our team promoted to the division above. These are the unsung heroes that often go unappreciated and unnoticed.

Be the Hero Humanity Deserves

Even though we have discussed the importance and the value of mentors, that isn’t the main message I want our readers to take from this article. Once you are well on your way to or have reached your targets, you can become a mentor/teacher to many people. I believe this should be the ultimate goal of our readers. Unity, cohesion, and knowledge sharing are paramount for humanity to thrive. If it is role models you want, look to the Maha Sangha, who are undoubtedly, without a shadow of a doubt, true heroes to all beings in all realms. From dawn till dusk, every breath they take from the moment they don robes is to help worldly beings. I hope our regular readers understand what the earlier statement meant. My reference was to the qualities and the virtues of the Maha sangha, not individuals. If you are unsure what I mean, please refer to the third article of this series, ‘The Maha Sangha - The Ultimate Journey’. We at the monastery have taken the idea of spreading the dhamma to the world very seriously. This is why we are learning about twenty languages at our monastery’s International Language Centre. We firmly believe that everyone deserves to experience happiness and freedom from the mental suffering we experience. Let’s follow in the footsteps of our teachers and emulate them with the pure intention of helping others. Let’s provide guidance and noble companionship, share our experience, and help others avoid potholes and reach their target as smoothly and quickly as possible. For some of us, it is not about saving our world but our children’s. This is your chance to become the hero to the entire humanity. Open your heart and mind, and let everyone occupy a space within. However, we must also be mindful of this when we reach the top. You will get respect, fame, influence, and even money. But you need to make sure the end goal stays in your mind. Remember why you started your mission in the first place. As we’ve seen with certain public figures, one does not die a hero if one becomes attached to the benefits. If you don’t die a hero, you will live long enough to see yourself become the villain. A firm determination that all the monks make when entering monkhood is not to receive praise leading to an inflated ego but to expect constructive criticism, which will account for personal growth but a diminished ego. Criticism, setbacks and failures, when managed well, lead to success. Excessive or underserved compliments tend to lead to complacency. Granted, one with mental resolve and a good understanding of the dhamma will not have such issues. But prevention is better than cure. Charles Dickens perfectly summed up the eulogy of a hero. I will conclude this article with his words. “I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy. I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known”. While the masses may feel disillusioned with the self-centred, materialistic and consumerist culture of modern society, I urge our readers to be the ones to seek ways of not falling victim to one’s desires and cultivate inner peace and contentment not just your own but of as many around you. As the Buddha once said, we should wield the sword of wisdom, pannāudena, and the shield of compassion to aid us in battle. This is a fight we have to win at all costs. Otherwise, the future of humanity will be in jeopardy.

May the Noble Triple Gem bless you all!