Chapter 37. The Formula of Life
The Formula of Life
As humans, we may doubt why we have to
face with good and bad experiences in our lives whereas our lives are either
more fortunate or misfortunate when comparing to others. Without a good reason for this, we may end up
concluding that it is due to someone’s will.
But when life is so torturing, misery, and suffering, we cannot help
questioning why we are destined to go through such a hardship and difficulty
instead of the promising love and happiness in return for our faith.
According to Buddhism, the Lord Buddha
taught that karma plays an important role in our lives as we are still roaming
along the cycle of rebirth or samsara.
As such, we reflect this truth in the arena of Dhammonomics by
incorporating all other contributing factors which cause happenings &
mishappenings in our lives. Thus, we
come up with ‘the formula of life’ as follows:
Happenings & Mishappenings in Life
= Past Karma (45 to 75%)
+ Present Karma (10 to 35%)
+ Accumulated Merit & Perfected
Virtues (10 to 80%)
+ Accumulated Sin & Disvirtues
(10 to 80%)
+ Supramundane Enhancement or Vijja
(5 to 85%)
+ Mundane Knowledge Enhancement
or Vija (5 to 50%)
+ Divine Quality or Prakasitt
(5 to 30%)
+ Help by the Holy (5 to
90%)
+ Obstruction by the evil
(5 to 90%)
+ Wishes & Aim (5 to
15%)
+ Etc. (5 to 15%)
(1)
Past Karma: This is one of the most influential factors which causes
karmic consequences whereas the karma(s) committed in the past lifetime usually
bear fruits in the following lifetimes in a timely manner. Karma(s) can be categorised into different
types such as the frequent karma, the strong karma, and the expired karma. When
we commit physical, verbal, and mental deeds, the deeds will be reported as
inputs to the ‘transcendental machine of element and essence’ which calculates
the inputs according to the Karma-Program in order to process the outputs which
are programmed to destine our lives.
Thus, so many present happenings and mishappenings in our lives are due
to the past good & bad karma(s).
(2)
Present Karma: Although much of
our present lives are destined by the past karma, it is the present deeds which
can deviate more or less of what we are destined by the past karma. In addition, many people attempt to solve the
bad karmic fruition and empower the good karmic fruition by improving their
present karma.
(3)
Accumulated Merit &
Perfected Virtues: It is the good energy within ourselves
which brings about good & sound lives.
With more merit and perfected virtues, we are more likely to experience good
lives, and the perfected virtues are also more likely to form good habits which
lead to good lives as well.
(4)
Accumulated Sin &
Disvirtues:
Sin & disvirtues which are accumulated over many lifetimes can turn
into the bad energy in ourselves which draw problems and troubles to us. In addition, those with accumulated
disvirtues are more likely to carry on the bad habits over lifetimes.
(5)
Supramundane Enhancement
or Vijja: This means that our supernatural capabilities
can be helpful in solving problems and promoting wellness in our lives. The supramundane capabilities include (i) insight
& intuition, (ii) divine eye, (iii) divine ear, (iv) mental might, (v) supernatural
power, (vi) recollection of past lifetimes, (vii) reading others’ thought, and (viii)
eliminating mental impurities or defilements.
(6)
Mundane Knowledge
Enhancement or Vija: This is the Dhamma, worldly
knowledge, and competency which we learn from teachers, trainers, and masters
either at school or through various media.
The knowledge can help shaping our lives to be more efficient & successful
in many aspects.
(7)
Divine Quality or Prakasitt: Prakasitt is
the celestial tokens blessed by the celestial beings which are added and accumulated
within ourselves. The more prakasitt
we have, the more likely we would experience auspiciousness, admiration and
honour. Prakasitt can also be in
the form of an emblem leveled by the celestial beings. Prakasitt is the source of celestial
power which can influence one’s life to be superior than others both in the
present and after passing away.
(8)
Help by the Holy: Other than the karma, we also take into account of the
assistance and help by the Holy such as the Buddhas, the Silent Buddhas, the
noble disciples, the Bodhisattvas, Lord Brahmas, the angels, gods &
goddesses, as they may be able to intervene the karmic procedure with their
power; although, the Holy may lose their power in order to help us.
(9)
Obstruction by the Evil: Although one does only good deeds and performs only good
karmas, one may still face with problems and obstructions caused by the evil mara. The suffering and difficulty that one
experiences may not be the karmic fruitions, but it is due to the direct interference
by the evil lords who intervene the governing under the law of karma.
(10)
Wish
& Aim: Our own wish & aim can be influential in directing our
lives directly. Many people believe that
their lives depend on someone’s will, but indeed, our own will is no less than
others. Making all other contributing factors
equal, our own wish & aim can also affect the happenings &
mishappenings in magnitude.
(11)
Etc.: There could be some other factors which
may contribute to the happenings & mishappenings in our lives such as the
possession of the transcendental Seven Precious, technology advancement of the
human society, and the progressing / regressing round of the universe.
The numerous factors which contribute
to the happenings & mishappenings in our lives allow us to be aware of what
we should be concerned of in our livings.
Many of both Buddhists and non-Buddhists live their lives in vain as their
goal and path are unclear or unknown.
Hence, our formula of life provides another universal Dhammonomic
expression made available and applicable for people from all walks of life.
By Pirajak Tisuthiwongse
20 April 2021
