072-The chains - Buddhism in daily life

The chains


Once the Perfect One spoke to his followers about the chains that
the seeker has to overcome, which stir up uncertainty and doubt
in the heart, leaving indecision and no confidence.


First of all, there are the bad feelings towards the teacher,
which are the first chain. Those who are not sure about the
teacher, doubt his words, are undecided whether to follow him, do
not see any confidence in him, have not broken the first chain.


Then there are those who are wavering about the teaching, do not
hear (or do not want to hear) the message, feel skepticism in
their heart, are undecided about the view, who also do not put
hope in the Dharma, they have not broken the second chain.


Furthermore, there are those who feel biased towards the
community, have criticism of the Sangha (the community), are
fearful of it, draw little security from the meeting, they have
not yet broken the third chain.


There are also seekers who are apprehensive about the practices,
distrustful of the benefits, unstable and lacking in discipline,
who see no chance in meditating, who have not yet broken the
fourth chain.


Then there are those who face life itself in a rough way,
staggering without stability, not dissolving the distrust of the
sanctity of all being, unstable and fragile, meeting all being
with harshness, not seeing (or not wanting to see) a point of
light, they have not yet broken the fifth chain.


Those who have not yet broken the chains are at the mercy of
greed and hatred, of delusion, without being able to do anything
against it, because their heart is in chains, is a prisoner of
their infatuation, their thirst for more and more.


The one who lives like this does not want to look for the way
with zeal and devotion, he also does not find a gate, and no
nirvana. For this, the seeker needs effort, discipline and
perseverance.


Such a seeker will not be able to reach "enlightenment" because
he lacks the most important qualities. But the one who can break
these chains, who is able to become an "enlightened" being, will
no longer be shackled, the Perfect One explained.


The Exalted One explained that enthusiasm for the Way is the
beginning of all contemplations. Even if the path is still
unknown, the seeker nevertheless feels an attraction that pulls
him in that direction, similar to a magnet that can be felt.


Feel inside yourself, what attraction is acting on you? And do
you know about the chains that tie up your heart?


The way is the goal!





If recklessness is terrible for a disciple, if mindfulness is
dear to him, if he breaks large and small chains, he gradually
glows out like fire.


- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before
the year zero





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