Purifying the Mind for a Better Life : หน้า 156/207

3. Purify the mind: Keep one's mind bright and clear all the time, while inhaling and exhaling. If a person inhales and does not exhale, that person's life will come to an end. Death bears no sign of warning. Therefore, everyone should prepare for death by always keeping a clear mind. The brightness or cloudiness of one's mind will open the door to heaven or hell for us, respectively. A bright and clear mind resulting from the recollection of past good deeds will lead you to happiness. The force of good kammic effects based on the good deeds that one has done on earth will open the gateway to a heavenly realm with celestial treasures. And a cloudy mind resulting from the recollection of past evil deeds will lead a person to the unfortunate realms. The force of bad kammic effects will lead to painful experiences corresponding to that person's actions in his current existence. These principle guidelines are categorized and elaborated in the Buddhist teaching, the 10 Bases of Meritorious Actions (Puññakiriya-vatthu), which are shown below: 1. Generosity (Danamaya) Merit acquired by giving to the appropriate recipient 2. Moral Discipline (Silamaya) Observing moral behavior by restraining one's speech and actions, by not causing turmoil for others 3. Meditation practice (Bhāvanāmaya) Mental development through meditation 4. Humility (Apacāyanamaya) Reverence and humility towards others with virtue 5. Aiding others (Veyyavaccamaya) Assisting others without breaking the law, tradition, or morals 6. Transferring merit (Pattidānamaya) Sharing merit with others 7. Rejoicing in merit (Pattanumodanāmaya) Rejoicing in others' merit 8. Listening to Dhamma sermons (Dhammassavanamaya) Listening to doctrines or right teachings 9. Giving Dhamma sermons (Dhammadesanamaya) Teaching the doctrine or showing truth 10. Forming the Right View (Ditthujukamma) Strengthening one's views or forming correct views "In sum, these ten meritorious actions can be categorized simply into three main groups. They are generosity (Dana), moral discipline (Sila) and meditation practice (Bhāvanā). "A person who understands the purpose of life, habitually contemplates the reality of death, and makes an effort to cultivate good deeds will have the right view of the world. The Warm Hearted Family 310 The Value of Life The Warm Hearted Family 311 The Value of Life