According to the Buddhist perspective, harmony is the product of right thought, right speech, and right action. Harmony will not occur naturally, fall from the sky, or spring from the earth. On the contrary, harmony is the result of human action.
~ Venerable Dr. Seck Kwang Phing, President of the Singapore Buddhist Federation
Remarks by Venerable Dr. Seck Kwang Phing
Delivered to the inaugural ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference
Jakarta, 7 August 2023
Good morning to all of you: organizers, esteemed fellow speakers, and conference participants.
The theme of my short speech today is harmony, and how we may achieve it in our lives.
According to the Buddhist perspective, harmony is the product of right thought, right speech, and right action. Harmony will not occur naturally, fall from the sky, or spring from the earth. On the contrary, harmony is the result of human action.
It is, therefore, our responsibility to cultivate and uphold harmony within our own lives and in the world we inhabit.
Some may ask “why is harmony desirable? Why do we need it?”. The answer is simple: mental harmony is the key to a happy life. Once one realizes that achieving harmony in ourselves will lead to a happy existence, we can appreciate that every human being also desires harmony for themselves. It is, therefore, our responsibility to ensure that we do not cause disharmony for others, as this may result in others causing disharmony for us. This is the Law of Cause and Effect.
The exterior of Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple
The individual human being is the smallest, most basic social unit in the family, community, nation, and world at large. If each human being practices right thought, right speech, and right action, then they will have a harmonious family life. This harmonious family will, in turn, be the basis for a harmonious community, a happy nation, and a peaceful planet.
If harmony is desirable, the next question to be answered is how it may be achieved. The Buddha taught that our thoughts precede our actions and, therefore, we must — first and foremost — train our minds. This training has nothing to do with religious belief. It is simply a method for realizing harmony in our lives. We should implement three simple precepts:
1. Avoid doing all evil deeds. 2. Perform all good deeds. 3. Purify your mind.
Monks and nuns pray in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple of Singapore. Photo credit: Basile Morin
To implement the first precept, one should be watchful of one’s thought, speech, and actions. Make sure that one’s thoughts about others are not evil; that one’s speech is not pernicious; and that one’s actions cause no harm.
When we observe an unpleasant thought arising in the mind, we should prevent it from developing into unhealthy speech — which may cause discord with others — or an infelicitous action, which may be unwelcome to others.
On its own, however, avoiding harm is not enough, one should make oneself beneficial to others by performing good deeds. The Buddha, therefore, encouraged human beings to be generous, merciful, and useful members of society.
Performing good deeds — the second precept — is part of training the mind. As one performs charitable acts for others, they will reciprocate and be good to you. If every human being acted in this way, the planet would live in harmony.
From time to time — especially amidst difficult circumstances that cause us to feel frustrated — evil thoughts may arise. We must, therefore, train our minds to have compassion and loving kindness. Once the mind is trained in this way, negative thoughts will not arise, pernicious speech will not be uttered, and harmful actions will not be undertaken. It is advisable to recite these two verses in our minds in the morning, afternoon, or before sleep:
“May I be well and happy. May all human beings be well and happy.”
Guided by the three precepts I have explained, Buddhists in Singapore always strive to perform charity for the less fortunate; raise funds for the victims of natural disasters; and invite the followers of other religions to participate in our festivities, educational exchange programs, and so on. We believe that by doing this we will strengthen mutual understanding, foster worthwhile friendships, and live in peace and harmony with people of different ethnicities and creeds.
A shrine inside the Leong San See Temple. Photo credit: Basile Morin