Dhamma Talks - Things Suitable To Mental Development :: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

There are many things to do in life. What is suitable to life, sometimes it is hard to distinguish suitable thing from unsuitable things. In Visudhimagga*, there is Dhamma called ‘things suitable to mental development’. What are they? They are as follows;

1. Suitable abode: stay in a quiet place in a good environment.
2. Suitable resort: stay in a place where is easy to make a living.
3. Suitable speech: speak only virtuous words which give rise to wisdom.
4. Suitable person: associate with good or virtuous friends who can advise us.
5. Suitable food: eat healthy food which does not weaken our body and mind.
6. Suitable climate: adjust to the climate and make life comfortable.
7. Suitable posture: balance all the postures; walking, standing, sitting or reclining.

The suitable thing to do is usually discovered by experience, it is not from prediction. Prediction is not as accurate as experience, but people like to predict the future, especially in the economic field. Some business men search for an accurate predictor, as told by one of Luangpor Char’s students; concerning the prediction of Luangpor Char about economics, here is the story; when a business man went to see Luangpor, he would discuss with him about economic and asked him to predict the economic of the future. Luangpor Char predicted that one day the world economy would face a crisis. There would be no paper to print the bank notes, and no metal to produce coins. Human beings would need to find something to use instead of money for trading, or exchange. He added that the government would use chicken dung instead of money. Every businessman would carry chicken dung everywhere, and they would invest in chicken dung. The banks would be full of chicken dung. The rich would be proud that they had a lot of chicken dung. On the contrary, the poor would try, in every way to earn chicken dung. All countries would pay attention to the chicken dung in their national bank.

When Luangpor Char told this story, people were laughing at each other. That was funny. What are the differences between money and chicken dung? They are not different at all, because they are things, they are the same; we just give value to them. Let’s imagine if that had happened, it would have been funny, as people would carry the chicken dung, argue with each other about the chicken dung, steal the chicken dung etc. The story reminds us to be content with what we have. Sometimes, we work to death, just for money, or chicken dung, so we must make things suitable for our lives, the middle way of life. We should bear in mind that we make things suitable for mental development, or not, when we spend our lives. If we don’t, it is not too late to think about it, and find something suitable for mental development. It can be our life’s refuge right here, now, and in the future.

*Vism.127; Vin.A.II.429; MA.II.911