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Furthermore, we should not act as though we have leisure, and we need to ensure that we can maintain this precious opportunity from lifetime to lifetime. But what is it that brings about such a precious human rebirth and the conducive circumstances for practice? The answer, Śāntideva asserts, is discipline. As ''The Sūtra of Authentic Discipline'' (Skt. ''Śīlasaṃyuktasūtra'') says, "By having moral discipline one will encounter the presence of buddhas."<ref>Kirtimukha Translation Group, trans., ''The Sūtra on Having Moral Discipline'', ''Śīlasaṃyuktasūtra'', Toh 303 (84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, 2024), 1.6, https://read.84000.co/translation/UT22084-072-003.html?#UT22084-072-003-25.</ref> | Furthermore, we should not act as though we have leisure, and we need to ensure that we can maintain this precious opportunity from lifetime to lifetime. But what is it that brings about such a precious human rebirth and the conducive circumstances for practice? The answer, Śāntideva asserts, is discipline. As ''The Sūtra of Authentic Discipline'' (Skt. ''Śīlasaṃyuktasūtra'') says, "By having moral discipline one will encounter the presence of buddhas."<ref>Kirtimukha Translation Group, trans., ''The Sūtra on Having Moral Discipline'', ''Śīlasaṃyuktasūtra'', Toh 303 (84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, 2024), 1.6, https://read.84000.co/translation/UT22084-072-003.html?#UT22084-072-003-25.</ref> | ||
Perfect discipline is key to obtaining a precious human rebirth in the future where there will be the chance to meet with a buddha and their teachings. Conscientiousness is essential to maintaining that discipline. We may wish to be reborn in the higher realms, but we must ask ourselves, "Are my actions realistic in relation to that wish? Are they in accord with my pledge to work for the welfare of others?" Conscientiousness is the tool that aids us in taking a closer look at all of our actions. And with this, Śāntideva stresses the continuous practice of virtue. | Perfect discipline is key to obtaining a precious human rebirth in the future, where there will be the chance to meet with a buddha and their teachings. Conscientiousness is essential to maintaining that discipline. We may wish to be reborn in the higher realms, but we must ask ourselves, "Are my actions realistic in relation to that wish? Are they in accord with my pledge to work for the welfare of others?" Conscientiousness is the tool that aids us in taking a closer look at all of our actions. And with this, Śāntideva stresses the continuous practice of virtue. | ||
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We have this incredible opportunity right now to train ourselves in virtue. If we do not seize the chance, we will fail to obtain a precious human rebirth and be born in the lower realms. There will be no opportunity to practice virtue, and all we will accomplish is negativity. We can see this even in the animal realm, where most creatures fight for resources and consume other creatures just to stay alive. There is little room for even the smallest of virtues in their lives, and their negative actions drag them deeper into the lower realms. It is extremely hard for them to escape this cycle, and if we fall into these realms we will wander in these evil states for vast periods of time. A precious human existence is very different. Its main advantageous quality is that it affords us some space and opportunity to think about and engage in doing positive things with our body, speech, and mind. In verse 20 Śāntideva stresses the rarity of a precious human rebirth using the following oft-repeated analogy: | We have this incredible opportunity right now to train ourselves in virtue. If we do not seize the chance, we will fail to obtain a precious human rebirth and be born in the lower realms. There will be no opportunity to practice virtue, and all we will accomplish is negativity. We can see this even in the animal realm, where most creatures fight for resources and consume other creatures just to stay alive. There is little room for even the smallest of virtues in their lives, and their negative actions drag them deeper into the lower realms. It is extremely hard for them to escape this cycle, and if we fall into these realms we will wander in these evil states for vast periods of time. A precious human existence is very different. Its main advantageous quality is that it affords us some space and opportunity to think about and engage in doing positive things with our body, speech, and mind. In verse 20 Śāntideva stresses the rarity of a precious human rebirth using the following oft-repeated analogy: | ||
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