Our Life Principles

Our life principles

First revision: Jan.10, 2025
Last change: Jan.10, 2025
Searched, Gathered, Rearranged, and Compiled by Apirak Kanchanakongkha.

1.
       These principles of life I have collected from many sources, some from gurus and some from unknowns, collected for many years. When I have refined and selected them, I would like to present them for all of you to consider. I hope that they will be of some use, as follows:

       1. I will take precepts, concentration, and wisdom (or the threefold training) as my refuge.
       2. I will use diligence, perseverance, and frugality to help me escape suffering.
       3. I will be a knowledgeable, awakened, and joyful person.
       4. I will be mindful and aware at all times.
       5. I will restrain my body, speech, and mind.
       6. I will remember and repay my benefactors (if at that time I do not have the strength to repay, at least I will remember their kindness).
       7. I will smile (even though, at that time, it is a critical time).
       8. I will cooperatively view everyone.
       9. I will not procrastinate.
     10. I will study and research seriously.
     11. I will work as if I am worshiping the Lord Buddha.
     12. I will use the four divine abodes: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity (considered the home of the Brahma - which will protect from all dangers). Give loving-kindness or love {in the way of Mahayana Buddhism, as received from the teachings of Master Thich Nhat Hanh (of Plum Village, France) - it is believed that the next Buddha will be called Sri Aryametrai, who is the Buddha of love}.
     13. I will use the four powers: desire, diligence, citta, and investigation.
     14. When I give, I will have no conditions and forget.
     15. For those who have offended me, I will also forgive and forget (reduce resentment).
     16. I will try to avoid dinner (generally, when I eat dinner, I tend to feel lustful and distracted and have a high chance of creating bad "karma").
     17. I will ask to reach the 4 Satipatanas or the 7 Bodhi Factors within this life {even if it is only a fraction of a millisecond, and in the next life (if it exists), let's talk about it again, but I ask that there will be an inspiration for me to continue from what I have left - Resume}
     18. I will do my best to be beneficial to society and the country, not be indifferent, and
     19. I will use natural resources, including energy, sparingly, as much as necessary (Think Earth, reduce and stop using plastic, straws, especially single-use disposable plastic).
     20. I will remind myself constantly to practice not harming others and all living beings.

       All the merits that I have made, am making, and will make, I dedicate to "My parents, siblings, grandparents, children, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, teachers, colleagues, subordinates, servants, and bosses who have done me favors, both in the past, present and in the future, both in front of me and behind my back, both directly and indirectly, both in the beginning, in the middle and the end.

• All those who have done me favors that I can remember now.
• All those who have done me favors that I cannot remember now and can remember later.
• All those who have done me favors that I cannot remember now and cannot remember at all."