Page 56 - The Buddha‘s Noble Eightfold Path

you feel free from the sense of guilt. Although this is very
important psychologically, these practices do not absolve you

from the consequences of the fault that has been committed.
You still have to suffer the consequences of your actions, but you
are free, subjectively, from the feeling of remorse or guilt, which

is very important, because it can poison or vitiate our whole
spiritual life.

Fifthly, Rejoicing in Merits. This is complementary to the previous
practice. If you think about your faults and contemplate your

numerous backslidings too much or too often you may become a
bit disheartened. So you should inspire yourself afterwards by

recollecting the virtues of others, thinking especially of the
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, of the lives they have led, and the
perfections they have practised. Think, say, of the inspiring

example of Milarepa, or Han Shan, or Hui Neng, or Hakuin.

Think, if you like, of the various secular heroes and heroines who
have lived for the benefit of others and whose lives are an
inspiration to us: people like Florence Nightingale and Elizabeth

Fry great humanitarians, great social reformers, and so on. Think,
even, of the virtues of ordinary people. Think of your own

friends: how well they sometimes act; how unselfish they are on
occasion, how kind. Dwell on this more positive side of their
natures, and in this way learn to appreciate, to rejoice in, the

merits of all other living beings, from the Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas right down to the ordinary people who happen to

be your friends and neighbors. This will give you a feeling of
exhilaration, even of support. You will realize that you are not
alone in the world, spiritually speaking, but are treading

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