Chapter 42. The Equation of Resolution
Resolution or adhisthana
is one of the ten perfections in Buddhism which one has to cultivate and fulfill
in order to be qualified for enlightenment.
In a common sense, resolution or adhisthana means ‘wishing’ which
one makes to direct one’s pursuit of perfections.
In Dhammonomics, we
clarify and classify resolution further to ‘decode’ the philosophy behind
it. Generally speaking, resolution can
be divided into:
(1) Supramundane wish
such as the wish for enlightenment and Sainthood
(2) Mundane wish such as
the wish for wealth, fame, and love
When one makes a
supramundane and/or virtuous wish during merit making such as donating,
chanting, or helping the poor, one’s mind become more wholesome. As such, one earns additional merit energy from
having a righteous view & intent expressed in the form of resolution. This kind of merit attributes to resolution
perfection.
On the contrary, one who
makes a mundane wish which may be neutral and/or unwholesome consequently earns
no additional merit from having righteous view & intent. Thus, one’s resolution perfection is not
cultivated, accumulated, and perfected.
Other than the merit
earned from having meritorious wish, resolution partially or totally spends our
merit earned from meritorious deeds such as donating, observing precept, and
meditating. This occurs when our personal ‘transcendental nurturer’ reports and
inputs the intensity of our thought, speech, and action involving in a
meritorious deed to the Machine of Element & Essence which calculates the
merit energy to be transferred back and set karmic programmes for each merit
maker. As such, a part or the total
volume of merit energy is used in this process whereas the rest is transferred
to the merit maker.
In the case that a merit
maker uses vijja or meditation to make resolution, more merit can be used for
programming karmic fruitions because of the intensity of mental power from a focused
mind which is taken as a factor for calculation. Also, if a merit maker exercises vijja to
program the karmic fruitions by oneself, the merit energy earned is used, more
or less, directly by the merit maker.
According to our equation
of resolution perfection, the perfected merit from resolution equals to the
wholesome wishes which make merit maker’s view and intent righteous. This can be expressed in the form of (i)
thought (ii) speech and (iii) action, in the process of wish-making. Then, the fraction is to the power of (a)
supramundane wish(which increases and spends merit at the same time), added and
subtracted, more or less, by (b) mundane wish (which spends merit only). Thus, we divide the function by the value of commitment
of perfection (perfectiony) where y1 = regular commitment,
y2 = selfly commitment, and y3 = life commitment.
In conclusion, we can see
that resolution making can allow us to, both, earn and use merit. This chapter of Dhammonomics helps us to
understand better so we can control the co-factors in order to better off in
pursuit of perfections in spite of running into a merit deficit or becoming
unsuccessful in pursuance where our wishes do not come true.
By Pirajak Tisuthiwongse
(pen-name: Pittaya Wong)
Dhammonomist & Vijja Scholar
8 April 2022
www.Meditation101.org
