I am re-reading Becoming Enlightened by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and want to take time to reflect on each lesson in the book.  I love Buddhist literature because of its logic and simple truths are undeniable and inescapable compared to other moral or religious doctrines. I find purpose, meaning and that personal motivation to work hard each day to take advantage this gift of mind and body. Here are my notes and reflections on a lesson focused on the rarity and value of a human life and going about virtuous deeds.

Human life is precious. If you are a Buddhist, you believe it took a hell of an effort and many lives as lesser beings to be given this opportunity and it will take many virtuous acts to have the opportunity to be a human in your next life. If you are of a Western religion, this life is it. No matter your view, the opportunities provided with this life are the most important things you will ever have. I am lucky to have the freedom to pursue academic and spiritual wisdom every single day. To take full advantage of this life I should spend each day learning what I can to rid myself of destructive emotions, so that I can become more selfless and apt to help others.

Lately, I feel I’ve been distracted from spiritual practice and rationalizing it by focusing on regaining stability in my life and relationships. Yet ironically, mental clarity is needed to meet these challenges. The ability to stay virtuous and compassionate in hard times is vital to overcoming obstacles and alleviating suffering. My spiritual practices and beliefs are very different from most people and I want this body and mind to best use. I best serve myself and others by keeping the mind and body sharp; taking time out of everyday to read, meditate, act, challenge and engage myself in practice. I am tormented by my own analytical abilities and what some grasp in a bumper sticker, I will take days to comprehensively wrap my head around reflecting upon reading through writing, meditation and exploration.

I’ve read that there are four ways to mitigate a non-virtuous action; admitting it, regretting it, committing not to do it again and engaging in virtuous acts such as helping others. Unlike  my experience with the notion of repentance, there is less focus or dwelling on guilt and more on acknowledgment of regret and progressive steps to do better and serve others.

There is a subtle but important difference between guilt and regret. Too often do we claim words as perfect synonyms.  The notion of guilt takes a communal, punitive,  external approach to experiencing shame. Guilt is most often expressed when staring down  a gun barrel or guillotine. Regret is  a personal, internal experience  of accounting for one’s actions. Which is more effective? A  man who expresses shame or regret needs no gun, or external prompt to atone for his actions and does so by choice. A guilty man, when rid of the barrel, has yet to atone and has every reason to avoid doing so as it is tied to punishment.  Regret and shame alone are not as condemning as guilt, and leave opportunity for progress. So, a religious institution that relies on teaching that all are guilty (and to seek repentance in  fear of punishment)  might not be as effective as an instituition that instructs to feel shame and/or regret and to seek enlightenment. I love and recognize the power and importance of words.

I do not avoid responsibility but I do believe that focusing on guilt can more easily lead to other destructive emotions and far more suffering than the original infraction. This gives all sinners purpose and responsibility to themselves and their community. We will all make mistakes but need not dwell in guilt.

In order to perform virtuous deeds, one should prepare a good motivation in advance, with high quality execution dedicated to altruistic enlightenment and without regret. We take on many tasks and complete few, and fewer still we complete well. In order to do well, it is important to cultivate a strong motivation to wish to see something through with no other aim than enlightenment; to learn something. This echoes the chivalry of ancient knights errant, juxtapose a world that still thinks  Don Quixote a great fool.

I love my life and spending a little time each day to reflect on life’s many lessons just makes me that much more determined to get more out of  each and every day.