Engaging
in ‘wholesome’ acts would help one achieve the supreme bliss of Nibbana- the
highest status one can achieve by adhering to Buddhist way of life. If you try
to correct your weaknesses-eliminate avarice, greed and malice - such
activities can be considered wholesome.
If you
perform a good deed (helping others, being kind to others), it will be a
meritorious deed. For example, if you give a parcel of food to a beggar it is a
meritorious act which can sometimes be considered a wholesome act as well. If
you are determined not to inflict pain on others it is not only a meritorious
act, but also a ‘wholesome’ deed. It is possible to transfer merit on others,
but not ‘Kusala’.
He who tends to the sick, tends to me..
When one
is severely sick apart from providing proper food and medicine, it is important
to take care of the mental conditions as well. As such kindness of doctors and
nurses is as important as effective medicine to a speedy recovery. Thus kind
words and acts are helpful in bringing in hopes and comfort to a helpless
patient. Metta and Karuna are sublime emotions (brahamavihara).
Sickness
is a period where one faces the realities of life and the fear of death is
naturally greater when a person is sick than when one is feeling well.
Diverting one’s attention to Dhamma is the best remedy of calming the fear and
caregivers are expected to help patients to turn to spiritualism.The Buddha
describes three types of patients in Anguttara Nikaya – those
who do not recover whether they do get or do not get the proper medical
attention and care; those who recover irrespective of whether or not they get
medical attention and care and those who recover only with suitable medical
treatment and care. However, as long as a patient is alive, everything possible
should be done with best medical treatment available and suitable food and care
for his or her recovery.
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