Q17. What did the Buddha say about people in succeeding ages?
~ By Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~
In one of the Numerical discourses*, the Buddha speaks of future generations, which includes our own, as ‘rejoicing in unrighteous pleasures, being too much given to covetousness, and pursuing false Dhamma.’ They will find great delight in pleasurable excitement of an unrighteous kind, that is to say, they are far too self-centered. They will completely lack awareness, and thus their greed grows intense and excessive. They will fall into false Dhamma, because of falling completely under the power of the defilements.
The Buddha made this statement more than two thousand years ago, yet he used the term ‘people of later ages,’ which extends from when the Master made this observation until the present day. Our duty is to look at ourselves in this present age. Do people in the world today take excessive delight in unrighteous pleasures, behave far too selfishly, and lean towards false Dhamma? Obviously people at present are very different from people at the time of the Buddha. However, if we are to live correctly according to the pattern set by the Buddha, then, although we may take some pleasure in colors, shapes, sounds, scents, and tastes, we will do so with constant mindfulness and right knowledge, and will not let greed become excessive. This means that we will not pursue the colors, shapes, sounds, scents, tastes, and tactile stimuli more than is necessary, not excessively. The single word ‘excess,’ that is to say, more than necessary, signifies the cause of all the upsets, difficulties, and troubles of the world at this time.
I have read that Christianity considers a person to be ‘sinful’ who seeks beyond what is needed. One who merely seeks after more than is necessary is considered by Christian standards to be a sinner. Perhaps we don’t yet consider ourselves sinners, because we prefer not to see ourselves that way or because we really consider ourselves not as yet excessive. Perhaps we think that there’s nothing about us that is excessive. This matter can be discussed only with people who are honest with themselves.
In an excellent Tibetan book of parables, all the birds assemble together. They voice their opinions and express their thoughts on the way of Dhamma practice that brings happiness. Each variety of bird speaks its own mind. In the end, all the birds assembled resolve that, ‘We will not seek food in excess of what is necessary. This is the ultimate.’ Finally, they request the whole gathering not to seek more food than necessary. Here the story ends.
One ought to consider that seeking more than one needs is a source of suffering and torment for oneself and causes trouble for other people all over the world. Think it over! Pursuing false Dhamma means knowing something is wrong, yet wanting that wrong thing without feeling fear or shame, because defilements preponderate and overwhelm one. A person confirmed in this way of thinking is badly fitted to Dhamma and by habit is opposed to it. So if we want to be free of suffering, we must pursue no more than is necessary.
(*) Aṅguttara-nikāya, the fourth major collection of suttas, arranged by the number of qualities or aspects of practice under each thematic heading.
(From “Buddha-Dhamma for Inquiring Minds”)
- - ❖ - -
Buddha-Dhamma for Students (title of original translation) was composed of two talks given by Ajahn Buddhadāsa in January 1966 to students at Thammasat University, Bangkok. It was translated from the Thai by Rod Bucknell, and revised in 2018 by Santikaro Upasaka. To read/download as free ebook (pdf).
- - ❖ - -
For all English retreat talks, visit Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu.
For more information and free ebooks, visit Suan Mokkh – The Garden of Liberation.
Photo: Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives D-124