Do you want to leave something behind from your life? Or rather, do you want to take something good with you as you leave something good behind?

"We’re sitting here meditating, we’re practicing the Dhamma, partly because of the example of those who’ve gone before us, or as the Buddha would say, entirely because of the example of those who’ve gone before us. There’s a famous exchange where Ven. Ananda comes and says, “This is half of the holy life: having admirable friends.” And the Buddha says, “No, it’s the entirety.” He goes on to say that if it weren’t for him as an admirable friend, where would we be? We wouldn’t be practicing. We’d be off someplace else. We wouldn’t have any idea that there would be something good to be found just sitting here watching our breaths. So it’s good to think of the good examples that have gone before us, from the Buddha all the way on down.

Tonight we’re commemorating the birthday of Rama IX. It’s become Thai national day. The reason we’re commemorating him is because of the good examples he set, primarily in the area of generosity, persistence, and truthfulness. We look back on the history of the world, and there are very few people that really stand out for their goodness, but those who do, stand out because of these qualities. They’re generous with other human beings. They set their sights on something that’s really good. They stick with it. They develop endurance, because they have to meet up with a lot of obstacles.

It comes down to determination. This ideal can inspire us, because it can apply to us as well. We’re not in a position where we can be kings of countries or queens, but we are in a position where we lead a human life. We’ve gone to all this effort to develop the goodness to become human beings. What are we going to do with it? Are we just going to eat, have pleasures and pains, and then die? Think about the Buddha’s recollection of his previous lives. That was pretty much what he remembered of every life: what he ate, what kind of pleasures he had, what pains he felt, how he died, and then how he was reborn again. That’s usually all there is. It’s a pretty depressing chronicle. You have to ask yourself, is this the kind of life you want? Eating, pleasures, pains, die? Or do you want to leave something behind? Or rather, do you want to take something good with you as you leave something good behind?

This is where determination comes in. You decide that there’s something you really want to devote your life to. You want to make an extra effort that’s going to require that you be truthful, that you give up some things, that you be wise in choosing a good goal and wise in trying to follow it, and then keeping your mind calm as you do this. So think about what you want out of your lives — this life and lives to come — and see if you can follow through."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Step by Step"

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