11 Ways to Complete Wisdom, Good Fortune, and Virture

The goal in Buddhism is to cure the illness of ignorance. Wisdom is the cure and leads to enlightenment. Everyone has the potential to realize their Buddha nature. Wisdom can solve all our problems turning suffering into happiness. Discipline through observing the Buddhist precepts helps us to achieve deep meditation. Meditation naturally leads to wisdom. In the Visualization Stura there are three main practices that display the foundation of cultivation in Buddhism. If these practices are perfected many benefits arise. The three main practices are fundamental morals, cultivation of self, and following the way of a Bodhisattva.

The first condition of four practices are morals we should aspire to keep. These morals are:

1. Being filial toward our parents.
2. Showing respect to teachers and elders.
3. Being compassionate and not killing any living being directly or indirectly.
4. Following the Ten Good Conducts. The Ten Good Conducts are: not to kill, not to steal, not to practice sexual misconduct, not to lie, not to use abusive language, not to bear tales, not to use seductive words, not to be greedy, not to display anger, and to overcome ignorance.

The second condition of the three practices based on Buddhist cultivation are:

5. Taking refuge in the Triple Jewels. The Triple Jewels are the Buddha, Dharma, and the Sangha.
6. Abiding by precepts, rules, and customs are important in the self cultivation practice in Buddhism.
7. Conducting ourselves in a proper and dignified manner helps in the development of virtues.

The third condition consists of ways a Bodhisattva practices:

8. Generating the Bodhi mind is the mind that perceives the truth, believes in moral consequences, that all sentient beings have Buddha nature, and aims to become a Buddha.
9. Deeply believing in the Law of Cause and Effect, which is known as karma.
10. Reciting and upholding the Mahayana sutras creates good merit.
11. Encouraging others on the path to Enlightenment provides support for the Sangha.

All of these 11 practices have profound and vast meaning. Put these in use in your everyday life, because they are the foundation of the teachings of Buddhism. A cultivator can guard against harmful consequences created by mind, body, and speech by following these 11 ways to wisdom, good fortune, and virtues. Our true nature, Buddha nature, is complete with infinite wisdom, virtuous abilities, and talents all we must do is provide the right environment for them to grow. Buddha once said, "Everything arises from the mind." A pure, equal, and enlightened mind or heart naturally brings health, wisdom, peace, happiness, ect. With the Buddha's teachings we are saved regardless of race, gender, age, occupation, nationality, or religion. Buddhism isn't a restrictive religion it's more like an education. Buddha taught an education in life's suffering and how to remove it.