Full Moon – For Goodness Sake

Having performed a wholesome deed
it is good to repeat it, again and again.
Be interested in the pleasure of wholesomeness.
The fruit of accumulated goodness is contentment.

DHAMMAPADA v. 118

What is our first response when we are feeling challenged? Perhaps something along the lines of, ‘How do I handle this?’ or ‘What should I do to fix this?’ We then set about trying to make ‘right’ a situation that we view as ‘wrong’. Understandable as this response is, it doesn’t always work. Some situations we can’t make ‘right’. When this happens, if we are not careful, we can find ourselves feeling helpless and frustrated. From the perspective of Buddhist practice there is always something we can do that makes a positive difference. As simplistic as it might first appear, it is always possible to generate goodness. Don’t underestimate the potential benefit of even a small moment of positivity. And remember, this goodness is not supposed to get rid of the frustration or the anger. We are not talking here about denying the pain and indulging a naive addiction to positivity. Accumulated goodness is a source of strength that can help us take responsibility for the way we feel. Indeed, facing intense challenges with a well-stocked storehouse of goodness is much less risky.

(This post is also available to view at dhammakatha.org)