こころある人
Mindful person
2023-12-19 17:00:00
A mindful person gradually accumulates merit, creates karmic conditions, and ultimately reaches this perfect peace (= Nirvana).
This is the full path to enlightenment.
By the way, what kind of person is the "mindful person"?
The true meaning of the phrase "mindful" can be understood as something akin to "having the intention."
In other words, it is synonymous with "having the intention to attain enlightenment."
So, what does it mean to "have the intention to attain enlightenment"?
In short, it means holding the "noble aspiration," and at its core, it can be said that this is "seeking enlightenment just as the Buddha did."
In other words, it refers to aiming for the fundamental resolution of human suffering.
The concrete expression of this is summarized in the Holy Search Sutra.
However, one does not start out with the noble aspiration from the beginning.
The initial motivation for a person to become interested in Buddhism and to begin practicing the Buddhist path is unlikely to be something as grand as what the Buddha describes, but rather, it is almost certainly based on very personal matters.
Even so, when a person with intention devotes themselves to Buddhist practice, their underlying thoughts will gradually approach the noble aspiration, and eventually, they will become that very noble aspiration.
And at that moment, they will truly be deserving of being called "a mindful person with intention."
In other words, it can be said that the noble aspiration is deeply connected with Buddhist practice.
Additionally, let me emphasize that the noble aspiration is not something passive like a mere desire.
The noble aspiration is an active determination, accompanied by the conviction that one will surely attain enlightenment. It is this very conviction that motivates the individual to engage in Buddhist practice more earnestly and sincerely than anyone else.
However, this does not mean one should use any means necessary, act recklessly, or seek Nirvana as if coveting something.
A person who can maintain this delicate balance in accordance with the Dharma and apply it to the practice of Buddhist training—that person can be called "a person with intention."
And if not, no matter how much interest they may have in Buddhism or how much practice they may engage in, they will never reach enlightenment and, in the worst case, may fall into hell.
For this reason, as stated earlier, it is said, "A person with intention will eventually reach enlightenment."
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