Buddhist study: Guidelines for being a good person part 3

The Buddhist “Guidelines for Being a Good Person” was written by ancient Chinese sages. There will be eight parts to this study so if you have not yet subscribed to the column here please take a moment to do so. Just find the subscribe button near the author's photo and click it, no spam will haunt your email we promise. Every time a part is published then it will automatically notify you in an email. The Buddhist “Guidelines for Being a Good Person” teaches us the standards for being a good human being.

In part 3 of the study, we can see that the Buddha wanted to teach us that there was a better way to go about our day than what was considered the norm. Actually, this is one of the best ways to improve your life whether you are a Buddhist or not and since that was said this will as well. This study is not for Buddhists only. It is for the world, every person in this world can benefit from the ancient wisdom of the Buddha. In today’s world, we can definitely see that something needs to change if we are to ever survive.

You see the Buddha was a down to earth man, he knew the wisdom of being silent and taking your time and respecting those that you did not know. He taught his disciples as if they were children because it is true that if we all want to change we must first enter into the mind of a child in order to start over from where we first began. When you want to fix something and do it differently we must first wipe the slate clean. In life, if we wipe the slate clean we become as an innocent child again.

Then from there, we can re-learn what it is that the Buddha is teaching. Maybe this time we will get it right and not have to continue to start over. Some of the things involved in mindfulness training might seem like you are acting as a child but if you think about it, what age group on earth is the only group that has not messed up yet? It’s the children of course. So remember every day that what you are doing is learning how to live a better more harmonious life not only with yourself but with those around you. In part three we are told to be mindful in daily life, every day of our life. These are some ways to do just that.

Being mindful in daily life

-Get up early and go to bed at a reasonable time. Knowing how time flies, we should treasure every day.
-When we get up, we should wash our face and brush our teeth. After using the toilet, we should always wash our hands.
-Our hat should be properly put on, clothing correctly buttoned, and socks and shoes neatly worn.
-We should put our clothes away in their proper places. We should not leave them lying around for they will get dirty that way.
-It is more important that our clothes be neat and clean than fashionable and expensive. We should wear what is suitable and appropriate for our age, and within our family’s means.
-When eating and drinking, do not be fussy. Eat only the right amount; do not overeat.
-When we are young, we should not drink alcohol. The behavior of those who are drunk is unsightly.
-Walk in an unhurried manner and always stand up straight. Whether greeting friends or elders, do so properly and with respect.
-Do not step on doorsills or stand leaning on one leg. When sitting, do not sprawl or fidget.
-When entering a room, we should open the door quietly. When walking, we should be aware of our surroundings so as not to bump into anything.
-Hold empty containers just as carefully as if they were full. Enter empty rooms as if they were occupied.
-Avoid doing things in a hurry, since acting in haste will lead to many mistakes. Do not be afraid of a task that is difficult or become careless when a job is easy.
-Keep away from rowdy places. Do not be curious about things that are bad or unusual.
-When we are about to enter a house, we should ask if anyone is inside. As we enter, we should make ourselves heard.
-If someone asks who it is, we should say our name, not “me” because this is not clear.
-Before using something that belongs to another, we should ask for permission. If we do not ask, it is stealing.
-After we borrow from others, we should return the items on time. Later, if we have an urgent need, we will be able to easily borrow from them again.