Embracing Virtue and Avoiding Harm : หน้า 84/135

124. GRAB THE FLAG OF VICTORY We are extremely fortunate to be born a human being. We are born to pursue virtue, to build spiritual benefits. So take this opportunity to accumulate only good things for yourselves, and cast away all evil things. In this way, we can build up spiritual assets to take care of our future existences, to enable us to move forward towards higher states, and to never fall into hardships. I have observed the Five Precepts since I was 26 years old and continue to do so until now, at age 71. Prior to that time, I practiced every percept except one (killing), because I had a weakness of swatting mosquitoes. At age 26, I was able to teach myself that mosquitoes were much smaller than me and yet I took advantage of them by killing them. I had been killing mosquitoes for 26 years but I have not reduced its population at all. Having this realization, I decided to adopt the Five Precepts in full from then on. By age 28, I was able to adhere to the Eight Precepts in full to this day. I have already profited in this lifetime, and I have only good things to take with me. My life will continue to be better. I will not fall behind. I have already grabbed the flag of victory, I will only carry with me all that is good. So make the following resolutions: "Let the word “dissolute” and “failure” never fall upon me. Let me find only virtuous and success in every lifetime until I reach Nibbana." November 12, 1979 --- 125. PERFECT AND COMPLETE This is the last flawed life for me. In my future existence, don’t let even a tiny flaw or deficiency come upon me. May I find everything perfect and complete. Let me try to build the utmost virtue, perfectly and completely. June 24, 1980 --- 126. THE HARM OF KILLING In the news these days, I see so many killings. Killing begets more killing. The killers and the killed are bound by endless cycles of vengeance from one existence to the next. You kill him then he kills you, taking turn in the never ending wheel of kamma. I see the harm of killing in this way: if we kill them, we commit a negative kamma which cuts down our own virtue; if they kill us, they take away our chance to perform virtues and build merit. I make the resolution to never kill anyone so that I will never be killed in any lifetime until I ultimately reach Nibbana. If someone wishes to harm me, let the thought of harming me quickly disappear from him. December 3, 1980