The Real Values of True Buddhist Meditation
(Sayagyi U Ba Khin, 1961)
V. Human Relations
The attitude towards life of a Buddhist who makes a bid for release during this lifetime differs from that of one who is in the process of accumulating virtues in order to consummate his vow to become a Buddha. For example, Rajagaha and Savatthi were the chief seats of the Buddha during his lifetime. Rajagaha was the capital of the kingdom of king Bimbisara, who made a bid for release during that very lifetime and who attained the first Noble Path and became an Ariya (Noble One). He was very devoted to the Lord Buddha and had built a stupendous monastery, known as the Veluvana Monastery, for the Buddha and his disciples. He accorded pardon to all citizens who had committed crimes if they joined the order of the Buddha's Sangha. He was known as King Abhaya, the Harmless King. He would not harm anybody himself and would avoid encouraging others to harm anybody. His power in administration was his love for humanity.
On the other hand, Savatthi was the capital of Kosala where Pasenadi was the king. He too was very devoted to the Buddha. In fact, the Buddha stayed in Savatthi longer than elsewhere. This king was in the process of accumulating virtues in order to become a Buddha, and although he would try by all possible means to avoid doing harm to others, when occasion demanded it, he was prepared to suffer himself the consequences of saving those depending on him[4]. Once he stopped at the Buddha's monastery on his way back to the palace after his conquest of the enemy in a battle which took place on the border of his kingdom. He led the army out to fight the enemy in order to save his country and his people from the invaders, failing which, his countrymen would have suffered maltreatment and torture. When he mentioned to the Buddha his conquest of the enemy, the Buddha smiled and told him, "You have made more enemies than you had before the incident." It can therefore be understood that those who are in the process of accumulating virtues cannot, at times, avoid committing an offence which would take them to the sub-human planes of existence, and in consequence are prepared to suffer themselves for the offence for the sake of humanity. As to how loving kindness reinforced with the power of Truth can do something tangible in the domain of human relations, let me cite a few of my own experiences.
I was required by the Prime Minister to investigate the many irregularities suspected in the State Agricultural Marketing Board, and accordingly I was appointed on August 15, 1955, to be Chairman of the S.A.M.B. Special Enquiry Committee. The reports made by me to the government led to further enquiries by the Bureau of Special Investigations, and their enquiries led to the arrest of four Officers of the Board, including the General Manager, during the time of the annual conference of the Board's Officers. This was so resented by the officers in conference that they submitted their resignations en masse from their appointments under the Board. This action by the officers created an impasse and the situation was aggravated when the Union of Employees of the Board gave support to their cause through their all Burma annual conference being held at Pegu. The government decided to accept their resignations, and this decision upset most of the officers, who half-heartedly had taken that course of action. Eventually, after some negotiations by third parties, they withdrew their resignations and surrendered themselves to the government for a token penalty.
It was in this atmosphere that I had to join the State Agricultural Marketing Board as its Chairman, before I could forget their slogans denouncing the Special Enquiry Committee and the Bureau of Special Investigations. I had no grudge, however, against anybody, because I had worked for the best interests of the country and was sure that I could prevail upon them with my point of view that my acceptance of the offer of the post of Chairman of the Board was to save the situation of the Board and the country at that critical juncture, and to work for the efficiency and welfare of the employees, as well as the other people connected with the business of the Board. In point of fact, after a few meetings with the representatives of these bodies, I should say I had really turned the tide. The officers and staff were reunited and there was co-ordination between the Board and the millers and other traders. New plans were drawn up and improved techniques introduced. The results were better than what anyone could have dared imagine. These results have already been mentioned in the section "The Fruits of Meditation." As a result of their whole-hearted co-operation and unrelenting effort which contributed to the success of the undertaking I had very strongly recommended, the government very kindly granted the title of "Wunna Kyaw Htin" to the two officers of the Board, one of whom was the Deputy General Manager (administration) and the other was the President of the State Agricultural Marketing Board Employees' Union. Employees' Unions normally run counter to the government, and I presume such a case of awarding a title to the President of an Employees' Union must be rare. For the Directorate of Commercial Audit, the case is not at all difficult. There is a Buddhist Society, many of the members of which are my disciples in meditation, and there is also a Social Club, where there is a brotherly feeling among all the officers and staff of the directorate. Religious functions are held annually where one and all join hands for the common objective, and twice a year they pay homage to the Director, both as a Teacher and as the Head of the Organization. The Social Club arranges annual trips in a chartered launch or other means of transportation to outstations for relaxation where members of the employees' families also join them, and a pleasant at mosphere is created for all. All this helps to promote understanding and pave the way for efficiency in the Directorate.
For the Institute of Accounts and Audit, where teachers with extraordinary patience and goodwill are required apart from their qualifications and teaching experience, the Vice-Principal and the lecturers are mostly those who have taken courses of meditation at the Centre. For all types of students the good intentions of the teachers prevail on them and the response of the students in all the classes has been consistently excellent. From the date of the inception of the Institute, there has not been a single complaint from the students. On the other hand, at the close of each course of study there are parties held by the students in honour of the Principal and the teachers, where they invariably express their gratitude for the kindness shown to them and the pains taken to help them understand their lessons thoroughly.
I have no doubt, therefore, that meditation plays a very important role in the development of the mind to enable one to have the best in human relations.
FOOTNOTES:
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