Principles of Human Life Discipline

The main principle is the measure of human life discipline.

In the process of evolution, humans have found the necessary conditions for the instinct to be tamed to achieve happiness. We call these "life principles."

Human instincts are oriented towards enjoyment — loving good emotions and avoiding bad ones. But if we want to achieve the value of lasting peace and happiness, we need to practice letting go of unnecessary good emotions and accepting the necessary bad emotions. Unnecessary things are often referred to as "don'ts," and necessary things are often referred to as "do's." Those are valuable experiences that many previous generations had to pay very high prices to learn. Following these principles, while we can't live by our own free spontaneity, we won't have to spend more time and energy experimenting. Especially we can avoid unfortunate mistakes. Therefore, those who live according to the right principles will always be protected safely and always boldly go forward.

The principle also works to create harmony between many individuals. Because each person inherently possesses a different perception and habit of life. Especially human mood is also constantly changing, so there must be rules to regulate the level of "emotional balance". In fact, as long as we live or live with another person, we must have the necessary principles, so that one party does not accidentally cross the prescribed boundaries of the other. No matter how close or loving the other party is, they are not me after all. They have certain needs that we are obligated to respect. Thus, the greater the number of people living together, the greater the difference between perceptions and living habits, the more the number of principles must increase and become the standard voice of the union.

There are well-documented principles and dates of promulgation, but there are also "unwritten" principles. Because this depends on the living needs of individuals and the level of respect for each other. Therefore, the principle must be constantly changed to suit the constantly advancing level of human awareness. It can be said that the main principle is a measure of human life discipline. A principled person is a person who has bravery, dares to put himself in the right framework to reach truthfulness – goodness – beauty.

But many people hate principles. These are people who live by feelings, like to do not like not to do without doing without regard to the consequences. They argue that the main principle is bondage, which detracts from naturalness. People who easily achieve by luck (through favorable external conditions), or who rely on innate talent (not through the training environment) also tend to disregard principles. Even, they are very allergic to the principle. We see many people who are successful, famous or have outstanding talents, they often have unusual lifestyles and interactions. Sometimes, they deliberately don't follow general principles in order to show their special differences. To them, being different is a kind of caste. Then they blatantly miss appointments, dress up in matches, make condescending statements, or do things that people have to freak out but they show interest. Because they think they're stars. Now society has "star disease," i.e. people who give themselves the right to overcome society's "laws of emotional balance." They forget that they got it because of public interest and support. If they rely on their talents without respecting the basic principles of society, sooner or later they will be ostracized and forgotten. But as long as they can't shine like they used to, the public will turn away from them. This law of elimination celebrities need to keep in mind.

It is true that life always needs principles to help each individual tame their instincts and help individuals live in harmony with each other. But the principle is also set by man himself, so there are principles close to the functioning of the universe, and there are principles that are wrong or only have relative value in a given space or time. For example, "Near the ink is black, near the light is bright" is a very necessary and almost mandatory life principle for those who are still vulnerable to infection by the external environment. But for someone who is truly solid, able to "integrate without dissolving," that principle no longer works for them. Rather, people who have truly matured must go beyond narrow boundaries, must have the courage to interact with all objects or situations to expand the space and fulfill great goals. Especially to help helpers.

There is a little boy who has been ordained for a long time but has not yet quit the habit of shoplifting. Many times the brothers reported to the master, but the master did not react at all. One time, he stole a precious item when he was caught red-handed. The brothers immediately escorted him before his master and unanimously petitioned him to be sent away immediately. Otherwise, they'll walk away. The master pondered for a long time and then nodded and said, "If you want to go, just go. You are aware and responsible for all your actions, wherever you can live. This little boy is so foolish that he needs to stay with me for more practice." Everyone was shocked by Master's words. Many warmly thought it was an act of excessive cover-up, one person at the expense of the whole group. But when they calmed down and pondered carefully, everyone realized their master's immense heart.

The monastery was a place for people to take refuge and practice to reform and transform evil into good, not a center for selecting people who were already noble. The essence of precepts is to remind and prevent people from continuing to develop evil but to purify the soul, not as a golden ruler to worship or as a solid wall to divide between good and evil. If everyone who makes a mistake is properly punished, there is no such thing as education or transformational practice. Being a good person is a process of continuous striving, of course there will be times when there will be not. Therefore, it cannot be based on the time when the offense is considered good, or on the basis of the time of the offense that it is considered bad. Truly transforming evil is the core of practice.

Of course, when a person breaks the rules, the collective has the right to decide not to let them stay. But the question is, is it because we don't have the strength to help them, or is it because we're afraid we're breaking the rules? It is true that laws once enacted must be properly respected. But if we use rules as a measure of people's level of understanding and love, isn't it very unfortunate? Laws reflect only phenomena, and understanding and love can touch human beings. We know very well that the line between good and evil can be separated only by a hair. The other person was a Bodhisattva yesterday, but today can become a Yasha. And whether they can become bodhisattvas again tomorrow or forever depends on the support of those who have understanding and love. This is a very difficult problem – one side of reason and one side of love.

In fact, we are not always fortunate enough to solve problems that are both understanding and reasonable, but at least we must be intentional and wholeheartedly consider both sides. If we feel compelled to choose reasons to protect the majority, we must lose love with the other person. Although that decision was not wrong, in fact we failed. One person who can't embrace one person's faults is already a failure, let alone a whole group of dozens of people. Why doesn't the group have the courage to go beyond rules or regulations once to uplift and give the other a way out, and then collectively take responsibility for its mobility?

If we say that here there are only rules and laws, and that there is merit, and that rewards are guilty, then although we have protected some rights in the moment, we have inadvertently pushed our level of acceptance and tolerance to a very low level. If left for a long time, it can become hard and default. Granted, in the battlefield or the marketplace, it is imperative that we follow clear rules or principles. But life is not just a battlefield with a marketplace. Using rules or rules in a rigid, insensitive way is just an attitude that protects our weakness, bigotry, and indifference. We've seen parents who can't forgive their children because they're afraid of a bad education. Or there are many masters who have coldly turned their faces to the sincere penance of their students simply because they are afraid of being laughed at, derided and undisciplined. They cling to principles to cover up their ungenerous hearts, believing it to be an act of defending the truth. Therefore, if the principle is not used skillfully, it can turn into an iron lattice stronghold that imprisons and kills immense lovers.

To live is to be free and happy, not to hold or worship principles. Only when we feel weak do we accept refuge and respect some principles to restrain our superficiality and avoid unfortunate consequences. Once we've mastered our basic emotions or disturbing emotions, we can live on our own and be willing to take responsibility for all our actions. However, we also need to test our qualifications under the scrutiny of the masses, or at least the relatives who live next door. It seems that we are confusing the need to live bohemian life with the spirit of living beyond principle. And when we're really stable, principle or no principle doesn't bother us or hinder us. We can adapt to any object and situation. Because we no longer need to cling too much to external conditions. We have found strength in our own souls.

So let's practice principle-as-not-principle, because we want to set an example or remind others, but we've already transcended it. And let's also practice not keeping principles as-keeping, because we want to abandon the relative to reach the absolute. It is the art of living that we need to master if we want to reach the heights of happiness and uplift others. Remember, every principle is only the means, the attitude of living and dealing with each other is the most important value in life.

Don't build principles
: As a bulwark of perseverance
, Prison compassion
, Right and wrong get nothing.

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