The Four Bases of Success
Apr. 11th, 2022 04:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cattasallaI decided about a month ago to make some major changes in my life. So I made a set of ten long-term goals that I intended to have achieved by the full moon in July, which begins vassa. I have been breaking the long-term goals into shorter-term goals, according to month, week, and even every day. Every day, every week, and every full moon I evaluate how I'm doing on progressing to the long-term goals.
One of the many, many lists in Buddhism I've always had trouble connecting with is the Four Bases of Success. Four qualities which are essential for learning any skill, but figure prominently in Buddhism. They really aren't widely taught in the West, but apparently a big deal in Thailand. I've been listening to a Thanissaro Bhikkhu workshop on them, and realized, I am employing them in this trek to achieve these goals!
The first is chanda, generally translated as "desire" in this context. This is not the bad kind of clinging desire (although eventually all desires must be given up), but a skillful desire to make good things come about. I desire to reach these certain goals. Next is viriya, translated as "effort", "energy", or "persistence". And I'm certainly being persistent, every day making new goals, and generally not slacking off in my effort to achive them. Third is citta which typically translates as "mind", but Venerable Thanissaro translates as "intent" or "intentness". It's "mind" in the sense of "setting the mind to do something". Having the mind set on achieving something. Which I have. And finally, vīmaṃsā, "analysis" or "discrimination": Looking at what you've done, what is helpful and harmful for reaching your goal, and planning based on that analysis. Which is what I do every day when I evaluate my goals and set new ones.
Neat!
One of the many, many lists in Buddhism I've always had trouble connecting with is the Four Bases of Success. Four qualities which are essential for learning any skill, but figure prominently in Buddhism. They really aren't widely taught in the West, but apparently a big deal in Thailand. I've been listening to a Thanissaro Bhikkhu workshop on them, and realized, I am employing them in this trek to achieve these goals!
The first is chanda, generally translated as "desire" in this context. This is not the bad kind of clinging desire (although eventually all desires must be given up), but a skillful desire to make good things come about. I desire to reach these certain goals. Next is viriya, translated as "effort", "energy", or "persistence". And I'm certainly being persistent, every day making new goals, and generally not slacking off in my effort to achive them. Third is citta which typically translates as "mind", but Venerable Thanissaro translates as "intent" or "intentness". It's "mind" in the sense of "setting the mind to do something". Having the mind set on achieving something. Which I have. And finally, vīmaṃsā, "analysis" or "discrimination": Looking at what you've done, what is helpful and harmful for reaching your goal, and planning based on that analysis. Which is what I do every day when I evaluate my goals and set new ones.
Neat!