The stages of sainthood or purity

Learning Point No 89

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A second look at Vesak. Be pure. Don't go for all or for broke...

Lord Bo Tien

*The path to purity requires one to tread through
the yin and yang of life, the polarities or the vicissitudes
or contingencies of life. There should neither be denial
or running away nor clinging on to life but balance as
portrayed by the feet of the lord saint balancing the elements.
This is the inner truth that enables one and all to be pure
to be with God through any religion or sect of his or their choice

To step onto the path of sainthood, one must practise not just being focused (often alluded as concentration) on how to be more pure but how to be ever more mindful of what is pure and good and to be able to effect this in life.

The first stage is to understand life and to begin to progressively know what are right and what are wrong. There is need to be progressively clear and to be progressively ever more confident that one is on the right direction.

The next stage is to minimise or attenuate greed (often referred to as lust), ill will and have more wisdom on what are right (that is eradicate wrong views to life). There is still the occasional or even  the baseline background desire and ill will.

The third stage is to do away with the faint background of desire and ill will and to have not even the occasional desires (or attachment)  and the occasional ill will.  There is that ability to have *not denying nor having. Then there will be balance that promotes inner peace.

Then one has reached the zenith of purity of enlightenment and is worthy and wholesome to be with God and His saints like the pure ones, buddhas, posats and the prophets.