At the Shingon Japanese Esoteric
Buddhism web site
Right Understanding
Right Understanding is to see reality as it truly is. Though a
shadow may sometimes look like a person, perhaps at night, if you
wake up and the wind is blowing a curtain, right understanding is
recognizing the reality of what you see, hear, and think. When you
think about your Self, you should see what truly is, not the
incidental factors that make up a description such as you would give
to a stranger meeting you at a coffee shop. You should see your Self
as it truly is. In Shingon, the definition of Enlightenment is, "To
see the mind as it truly is." That is Right Understanding.
Right Thought
Right Thought refers to the contents of the mind. Many thoughts
assail us as we go through the day. Sometimes thoughts of anger and
hate arise in our minds. We must not hold onto these thoughts, they
cloud the mind and prevent us from thinking clearly. When these
thoughts arise, we can deal with them in one of two ways. First, we
can examine them, learn where they come from, how they arise. Or,
second, we can allow them to disappear by simply not focusing our
being on them. By clearing our minds of negative thoughts, we open
the way for what is positive, thoughts of love, compassion, and the
true nature of reality.
Right Speech
Right Speech meams to speak the truth, but it means more than that
simple injunction. It also means that sometimes we should withhold
speech. Though we may know something interesting, relevant and true,
sometimes it's better to remain silent. The underlying question is,
Will speaking these words now be hurtful without good cause? Will
what we might say be akin to gossip, something that will intimidate
or denigrate someone? Then why say it at all? Right speech is saying
what furthers the exercise of compassion and loving that should
motivate all our actions.
Right Action
Right Action benefits yourself and/or others and is intended
to benefit. Right action is refraining from that which is hurtful.
We have no control over the fruits of our actions, so we must always
be aware of both why we act and the likely consequences
of our action.
Right Livelihood
Right Livelihood is, in a sense, an extension of Right Action. Our
livelihood is receiving money for actions we do, repeatedly, for
weeks, months, and years. We should benefit society, build up what
is good, and foster the ability of others to live worthwhile lives.
We should refrain from basing our lives on work that injures or
degrades others. Similarly, we should avoid injuring and degrading
the environment that supports all life on Earth.
Sometimes the choice of livelihood may seem balanced between good
and evil. Much of life is like that, but by maintaining an awareness
of the consequences of our actions, we can teach ourselves to follow
the path of Right Livelihood.
Right Effort
Right Effort means to persevere. When we have chosen a path or begun
studying or meditating, we should continue. Sometimes, while
meditating, we may feel pain, or an itch, and think we should stop.
Sometimes, over months, we do not seem to be progressing. Right
Effort is to continue.
Right Mindfulness
Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, Right Mindfulness is to be
aware of exactly where we are and what we are doing.
During meditation, you should be aware of your body, your breath,
the cushion beneath you, the air and room and world around you.
During everyday life, you should also be aware of your body and the
world around it. When you eat, you should be aware of the food and
how it tastes and feels, and also of where it came from and how it
came to be in front of you, on the table.
It is necessary to develop an acurate awareness of your body, your
speech and the contents of your mind. You must be able to correctly
understand what is important and what is not about yourself and, on
a more basic level, exactly what it is that you are thinking, doing
and feeling.
Right Concentration
Our minds are filled with thoughts. They lead us in one direction,
then another, unendingly, both awake and asleep. When we try to
grasp one thought, it turns into something else and slips away.
Concentration is holding fast to one thought, whether that is the
thought of a sound, an image, or the nature of thought itself.
Shingon teaches the Three Secrets of Body, Speech and Mind. This
method allows the practicioner to coordinate these three aspects of
living by concentrating fully during meditation.
