Q12. How Do the Minds of Ordinary People and of Practicing Buddhists Differ?
~ By Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~
We shall consider a perspective that gives some understanding of the difference in level between the minds of ordinary people and the minds of Buddhists who actually practice. ‘Ordinary people’ refers to people who have never been proper Buddhists, know nothing of genuine Buddhism, merely follow customs, are Buddhists in name only, or according to birth records through having been born of Buddhist parents. To be a ‘true Buddhist’ is to be ariya, those of noble practice who understand everything around them correctly to a far higher degree than ordinary people.
The Buddha humorously said, ‘Between the view of ariyas and the view of ordinary people there is an enormous difference.’ For example, from the perspective of the ariyan discipline, singing songs is the same thing as weeping, dancing is the antics of madmen, and hearty laughter is the behavior of immature children. Ordinary people sing, laugh, and enjoy themselves without noticing when they are weary. In the discipline of the ariyas, singing looks the same as weeping. If we observe someone singing loudly, it not only looks the same as weeping but, furthermore stems from the same emotional conditions as does weeping. As for dancing, this is the behavior of lunatics! If we are just a little observant, we will realize as we are getting up to dance, that we surely must be at least ten percent crazy or else we couldn’t do it. Because it is universally considered something pleasant, we don’t see it as the behavior of lunatics. Some people like to laugh; laughter is something enjoyable. People laugh a lot, even when it isn’t appropriate. However, in the ariyan discipline laughter is regarded as the behavior of children. If we could laugh less, that would be a good thing, and not to laugh at all would be even better.
These are illustrations of the way in which the ariyan discipline differs from the traditions of ordinary people. According to the traditions of ordinary people, singing, dancing, and laughing are of no consequence and are normal events, while in the ariyan discipline they are looked upon as pathetic. Such is the view of those whose minds are highly developed.
The point here isn’t that we should never do such things. The Buddha wants us to know that there are higher and lower ways to behave, and that we need not create hardships for ourselves more than is necessary. Don’t behave commonly too often. Though we aren’t yet ariya, we may still raise our standards of behavior. Certain behaviors are at times amusing, but eventually we get tired of them. We then raise ourselves to the level of Buddhist practice and discipline of the ariyas.
Some people don’t like to hear about ‘discipline.’ They worry that restraining themselves might lead to dukkha. However, lack of discipline creates much more trouble than it avoids. Giving in to passing moods is dukkha; lack of discipline perpetuates dukkha. Noble discipline uplifts our behavior and minds above our changing moods.
When it occurs to us that we ought to improve our status somewhat, we may apply for admission into the society of the Buddha, that is, having the mindful intelligence and understanding that diminishes suffering. Avoid making things unnecessarily hard and fruitless for yourself. The reward you will reap with nobility is to rise from the level of ordinary commoner to become a true Buddhist in the ariyan discipline. The Buddha’s hope for his teaching is that there would come to be many noble ones and that we wouldn’t remain ordinary worldlings forever.
(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 E-32