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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 29

of Ajahn Chah. There I found a place to ordain and a schedule to practice, batching practice is possible.
teacher I trusted. That was over a decade ago. For example, one day a week to dedicate more time
to your practice and at least three times a year, go
Benny: Theravāda teachings often emphasize that to a monastery for longer practices. I think that is
the ultimate goal is the end of rebirth. How should a an important pillar of a dedicated Buddhist’s life –
layperson balance this aspiration with the realities practicing in a monastery two or three times a year.
of family, work, and worldly responsibilities?
Benny: Is it considered skillful for a layperson to

Ajahn Kovilo: Whether one is a monastic or a lay first aspire to good rebirths as part of a gradual
person, the Noble Eightfold Path is the same. It involves path, or should one aim directly for liberation
training in morality, cultivating the mind, and wisdom. (Nibbāna), even from the beginning?
And specifically for the laity, it would be generosity,
morality, and cultivation. In terms of generosity, the Ajahn Nisabho: The goal and direction towards
Buddha said, “if beings knew, as I knew, the power of Nibbāna is so prominent that aiming towards that from
giving and sharing, they wouldn’t eat without having the beginning is, I think, the correct orientation for
given first.” (Dāna Sutta, Iti 26) If one has a spouse or most people. The articulation of Nibbāna and the end of
children, one can do that easily. One can serve one’s rebirth can be, for the reasons we have already spoken
family first. of, abstract and even difficult for some. On a daily basis,
a layperson should make the aspiration to give up greed,
The five precepts, which are the basis for the 227 hatred, and delusion, and being as kind and generous
monastic precepts should be the foundation of one’s life, as possible. These are accessible touchstones for most
and in a Buddhist context, a life of harmlessness. And people, and the definition of Nibbāna is the cessation
if they can keep the eight (uposatha) precepts it will of greed, hatred, and delusion. People should trust the
heighten their practice, and lead in the direction of the Buddha and aim for the end of rebirth.
end of rebirth.
And articulating that on a day-to-day basis: when you
The Buddha spoke of Nibbāna as the highest wake up in the morning, bowing, and dedicating your life
happiness, the highest peace, complete freedom to awakening, is a beautiful aspiration. Finding language
from suffering, and freedom from anger, and craving. and touchstones on that path which are readily accessible
Practicing the five or the eight precepts, and being and comprehensible is useful. At the beginning and the
generous, all lead in that direction. end of each day, you bow to your shrine, and you dedicate
your life to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha, you take
Ajahn Nisabho: In terms of how laypeople can live this refuge in the Triple Gem; and then you dedicate your
path sincerely, with families, jobs, and responsibilities, life to giving up greed, hatred, and delusion, cultivating
it’s useful to remember that the Buddha provided a awakening, for the benefit of all sentient beings.
powerful and robust form for the laity. It’s called the Awakening oneself benefits all.
Upāsaka form. As Ajahn Kovilo mentioned, one aspect
is keeping the five precepts as in it you’re giving the gift Ajahn Kovilo: A practitioner should look at the term
of fearlessness to others. And once a week, at least, take kusala (in Pāli) or skillful, when considering what is
on the Uposatha Precepts – the traditional eight which useful, beneficial and gives good results. The question
include not consuming media. Some people won’t have of what should be done often comes from a place of
that ability, but for those who can should do it at least idealism, which doesn’t accurately take into account how
one day a week, or fortnightly, on new moon and full something will affect one’s life. So, should one aspire to
moon days. It is a time to reorient your daily life. Nibbāna from the beginning or to good rebirths? I think
Although it is often difficult to find time in one’s daily it will change.