Purity – the Path of Buddha Part – Sixty Seven

Purity – the Path of Buddha

On May 19, 2008 falls Buddha Poornima – the day celebrating the birth, enlightenment as well as nirvana of The Buddha. Here is what Bhagavan Baba said on this sacred day more than a decade ago.

True wisdom consists in the awareness of the rarity of the individual and the Samashti (collective whole). How can a man who is not aware of his humanness recognize the Divinity within him? Hence the first requisite is the recognition by everyone of his human essence. Basing on this truth, Buddha declared that everyone should cultivate at the outset Samyak Dhrishti (a pure vision). It is only when a person has pure vision that he/she can get rid of impurities in the body, speech and mind. It is this purity that can protect one from invasion of impurities through the eyes and the ears. Hence the first requirement for every man is Samyak Dhrishti.

The second quality that is needed is Samyak Sankalpa (pure thoughts). Only the person who has developed purity in vision can have purity in thoughts. The third requirement for every individual, along with purity in vision and thought, is Samyak Karma (pure deeds). Through pure deeds man is able to recognise his human essence. Man is not merely an embodied being. By his capacity for developing good vision, entertaining good thoughts and performing good deeds, he has the power to transform humanness into Divinity.

A fourth requirement for every individual is Samyak Shruthi (listening to sacred words). When one listens to unsacred words he can have only unsacred thoughts. The fifth quality prescribed by Buddha is Samyak Jeevanam (living a pure life). What is meant by “living”? It is not leading a worldly life attached to worldly pursuits. True living means making one’s life meaningful by ideal actions. Man’s life must be governed by idealism in action.

Next, Buddha declared that everyone should aim at Samyak Sadhana (Achievement of the highest good.). Sadhana means elimination of the evil tendencies in man and acquiring good and sacred qualities. True sadhana is the eradication of all evil in a man. Study of sacred texts, meditation and penance do not constitute the whole of sadhana (spiritual exercise). To remove all the impurities in the mind is real Sadhana.

True Samadhi and Nirvana

After this comes what Buddha called – Samya Samaadhi or Nirvana (Pure Realisation or Liberation). What is meant by Samadhi? It means treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss alike. Sama – dhi (equal mindedness) is “Samadhi”. To look upon light and darkness, pleasure and pain, profit and loss, fame and censure, with an equal mind is Samadhi.

Buddha termed this equal mindedness as Nirvana. It is the recognition of the sacredness of the qualities of all the senses in man that constitutes real humanness. At the very outset, one has to keep the tongue pure. This was referred to as Samyak Vaak (purity in speech). The tongue has to be sanctified by refraining from falsehood, slander and abusive speech…

Happiness is not to be found in any of the things of the world. Everything is fleeting. Man is wasting his life in the pursuit of petty ephemeral pleasures. Nirvaana is the only Truth; it is the sense of oneness with all life. To turn the mind towards that which is permanent is Nirvaana.

It is not enough to read the lives of avatars and messiahs. Their teachings should be put into practice as much as possible. People must gradually outgrow their material attachments and develop Divine Love. Shuddhodhana tried to protect his son (Buddha) from all external worldly influences by keeping him in the palace and not even sending him to school. What happened ultimately? Buddha decided to renounce everything in quest of the Truth about human existence and he declared Ahimsa (non-harming) as the supreme good.

We are celebrating today Buddha Poornima or Buddha Jayanthi. What does Poornima (full moon) signify? It signifies wholeness. When the mind is filled with love, it achieves fullness. As long as the mind is filled with darkness (evil thoughts) there is no meaning in celebrating Buddha Poornima. Get rid of this darkness. Without the light of love in the heart, what use is there in having illuminations outside? Light the lamp of the Divine in your minds. Banish hatred and envy from your hearts. Man is the victim of two evil planets: attachment and hatred. To escape from their grip, the only way is to cultivate love.

Purity – the Path of Buddha – sacred wisdom for divine peace

Purity – the Path of Buddha is a timeless spiritual message that shows how a human being can move from suffering to peace. Buddha did not teach complicated theories for display. He showed a practical way of living where the mind becomes calm, the heart becomes compassionate, and life becomes meaningful. His path begins with purity because without purity, wisdom cannot shine clearly.

Purity is not only external cleanliness. It is the cleanliness of thought, word, intention, and action. A person may appear disciplined from outside, but if the mind is filled with anger, jealousy, greed, and pride, real peace remains far away. Buddha taught that suffering begins in the mind, and liberation also begins there. Therefore, the purification of the mind is the first step toward spiritual freedom.

Purity – the Path of Buddha reminds us that desire is one of the main causes of sorrow. When the mind constantly wants more, it never feels satisfied. One desire leads to another, and the heart becomes restless. Buddha did not say that life should be hated. He taught that attachment must be understood. When we cling too strongly to temporary things, we create our own pain.

The pure mind is a peaceful mind. It does not run behind every attraction or react to every insult. It watches life with awareness. Such a mind understands that everything changes. Happiness changes, sorrow changes, success changes, and even the body changes. When this truth is accepted deeply, pride becomes weak and wisdom becomes strong.

Purity – the Path of Buddha also teaches compassion. A pure heart cannot enjoy the suffering of others. It feels the pain of living beings and naturally wants to help. Buddha’s compassion was not limited to a few people. It flowed toward all beings, without discrimination. This is why his message continues to inspire the world even today.

In daily life, purity can be practiced through small actions. Speaking truthfully, avoiding harsh words, controlling anger, showing kindness, and living with honesty are all steps on the path. Spiritual progress is not only made in meditation halls. It is made in every moment when we choose patience instead of irritation and kindness instead of selfishness.

Purity – the Path of Buddha gives great importance to right conduct. Thoughts become words, words become actions, and actions shape character. If thoughts are impure, life becomes disturbed. If thoughts are pure, even difficult situations can be handled with balance. This is why Buddha encouraged awareness in every action. A person should know what he thinks, what he speaks, and why he acts.

Meditation is a powerful way to develop purity. When we sit silently and observe the mind, we begin to see its habits. We notice how quickly it becomes angry, fearful, proud, or restless. This observation itself brings change. Slowly, the mind becomes less controlled by old patterns. It becomes more steady, gentle, and clear.

Purity – the Path of Buddha is not a path of weakness. It requires courage. It is easy to blame others, but difficult to look within. It is easy to speak about peace, but difficult to remove hatred from the heart. Buddha’s path asks us to become honest with ourselves. This honesty is the beginning of transformation.

A pure life is also a simple life. Simplicity does not mean poverty or sadness. It means freedom from unnecessary desires. When life is simple, the mind has more space for peace. A person who is content does not waste energy in comparison. Contentment protects the heart from envy and gives strength to live with gratitude.

Purity – the Path of Buddha shows that every person can change. No one is permanently bound by anger, fear, or ignorance. With right understanding, right effort, and right awareness, the mind can become pure. This is a hopeful message. It tells us that peace is not reserved for a few saints. It is possible for anyone who sincerely walks the path.

Buddha’s teaching also reminds us to avoid extremes. A life of blind indulgence leads to weakness, and a life of harsh self-punishment also creates imbalance. The middle path is the way of wisdom. It teaches discipline without cruelty and detachment without hatred. This balanced approach makes spiritual life practical and peaceful.

Purity – the Path of Buddha becomes complete when wisdom and compassion come together. Wisdom helps us understand the truth of life. Compassion helps us live that truth with love. Without wisdom, compassion may become emotional weakness. Without compassion, wisdom may become dry and proud. Buddha’s path combines both beautifully.

The world today needs this message deeply. People are surrounded by noise, stress, competition, and endless desires. Many minds are tired because they are filled with unnecessary thoughts. The path of purity gives a clear remedy. It teaches us to slow down, watch the mind, speak gently, act rightly, and live with awareness.

A pure heart does not carry heavy burdens. It forgives, serves, understands, and remains humble. Such a heart becomes a light for others. Even without many words, a pure person spreads peace through presence, behavior, and compassion.

Purity – the Path of Buddha finally leads us toward inner freedom. When the mind is free from hatred, greed, and illusion, life becomes peaceful from within. This peace does not depend fully on outer situations. It arises from clear understanding and a purified heart. By walking this sacred path with sincerity, every human being can move closer to truth, compassion, and lasting spiritual peace.