On Being a Good Person

2024, May, Issue 97

“If there were a place where heaven and hell collide, implode and explode, then get stirred together, this would be it.  The dream was both a dream of clarity and a karmic dream.  It was my life ending and my Spiritual Path going forward.”

An excerpt from, The Frog: A Spiritual Autobiography, Spanning Many Lifetimes, pg. 299, © 2021.

It’s not so easy to be a good person.  This is even true for very serious Spiritual Practitioners.  Even though we feel tremendous bliss when we delve into deep practices of mind, the world kicks us hard from time to time.  This makes it more difficult for us to be compassionate for all beings.

Within this turbulence of mind, finding the resolve to establish Bodhicitta begins with simply being a good person.  What being a good person is revolves around simple kindness.  We might use as an anchoring point the thought of when someone was kind to us, giving us strength that way.  They shared their light with us, and it had a profound impact.

When we compare this to the trauma people might inflict, when we really investigate that, we see quite clearly that this light is much more powerful than any darkness.  We can take refuge in the light this way, by knowing that we are living our own lives by shining brightly as a good person.  This is very much the same as taking refuge in the Ultimate Reality that shines so brightly that it is beyond any description, beyond belief.  We can’t really even give it a name.

If you look at all the teachings by great spiritual masters from across the ages, it doesn’t take very long before you see something essential in all of their teachings.  It’s very simple, they teach that we should at least be a good person, that we should be kind.  Simply being a good person is a universal truth, one that brings immeasurable benefit to all. 

Being a good person is more important than any religion, any spiritual lineage, all institutions and all national or political affiliations.  Being a good person is the same as that bright light we talk about so often.  It should also come as no surprise that being a good person far exceeds anything that somebody else can give you. 

The fantastic thing about that is that it is free, as well as readily available to you now.  You don’t need permission to be a good person.  You can rebel against this evil world by simply being kind to others, without asking for anything in return, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. 

In your heart, you can start paying attention to that light that shines brightly, utilizing that knowledge in everything that you do.

Sometimes people think that it doesn’t matter.  They decide to engage with everything in a negative manner, defending ego, wreaking havoc that way.  It doesn’t take too long before they might notice how this is a lot of work, that everything is falling apart, that is, if they are capable of observing what their negative thoughts and actions are stirring up.  Many people simply will never know what they are doing, as they will continue to suffer for all eternity, blaming others for their downfall.

Sometimes people take great pride in meeting famous lamas or spiritual gurus of various sorts, or they fixate on some idea about existence, or what they might think it’s all about, intellectualizing at the detriment of everything else, forgetting to simply be a good person.  Spiritual and intellectual pride becomes a weapon for battle.  It becomes justified because it is used to defend ego, and that’s what they’ve always done.  Many people seem like they’ve attained a very high level, as they will tell you; however, they’re back where they started.

If a person behaves poorly, placing that above simply being a good person, they destroy their lineage, their religion, their spiritual accomplishments.  Being a good person is that important; and, if we simply remain out of control and dominated by darkness, we can shatter our own Spiritual Path, our forthcoming awakening.  The aspiration of Bodhicitta could dissipate in our lives.  This is why we must protect our mind, as well as cultivate Bodhicitta as if it were the most precious jewel we could ever possess.  Living our lives as a good person will give us this power.

When it comes down to it, we don’t need to belong to anything, we don’t need to look outside ourselves.  Our own awakening is dependent upon only us.  It isn’t something that can ever be given to us.  We must engage in the Path on our own, just as we must enter the death bardo on our own, without anyone else.  Even a Spiritual Master can only help by giving you encouragement or a piece of advice here or there.

Despite what some might tell you, you have complete and full access to divine truths.  This is important to know, if you wish to awaken.  In this terrible turbulence of life, it is difficult to establish Bodhicitta.  We can’t do that unless we meditate.  If you meditate, you will find a way to awaken.  This starts with being a good person.

Blessings in Light,               

Robert Aho