The bliss of no regret

anataman

I came across this concept again recently on a dharma talk I thad downloaded from audiodharma. Yes fell back into bad habits again!

Anyway it goes something like this - If you are aware enough in your decision making processes such that if you can foresee that someone may come to harm from an action and you refrain doing that action then you can come to experience the bliss of no regret. I started practising this the other day and have experienced the blissful state that indeed arises; it is quite a wholesome state, nothing to go banging on about, but I offer it up to the forum as something worth a try, if you want to feel good about yourself.

Fore instance, I have occasionally let myself have a bottle of beer and then driven afterwards. Whilst I know I am within the legal alcohol limit, I also know that if I were to have an accident, or even injure or kill somebody in the worse case scenario, I would regret having that beer and driving. If I know I this, I should not have anything to drink if I know I am going to drive straight after. The knowledge that in the event that I do have an accident, but have no alcohol in my system, gives me the sense that I am doing something right - RIGHT ACTION!

Anyone have any similar experiences to share?

fivebells

Actually, it ends up going quite a bit further than that. As described in the Salt Crystal simile, regret has very little negative impact on an expansive mind. This makes Right Action much easier, because it's no longer painful to admit mistakes and face their consequences. The Angulimala Sutta is a good example of this.

anataman

Angulimala keeps popping up in my awareness - These things tell me to go back and re-read the sutra.

Thanks five bells

Tosh

Isn't regret good in that it can help prevent us from repeating harming behaviours?

Not to be confused with guilt, which is damaging and a flipping useless emotion.

anataman

Good question @Tosh. However, I would say that when you have reached a certain level of awareness and understanding, you are so accountable for your actions, that you no longer need to repeat harming behaviours, so regret just falls away.

fivebells

Yes, Angulimala is a very important sutta.

anataman

read it tonight! Cements my previous understanding

seeker242

One of my favorite little quotes

Ananda once asked the Buddha:
"What, Venerable Sir, is the rewarding advantage of morality?"
"Freedom from regret, Ananda!"
"And what is the advantage of freedom from regret?"
"Joy that produces bliss, Ananda.
Bliss then generates happiness.
Happiness enables concentration.
Concentration facilitates vision and knowledge.
Vision and knowledge bring disillusion and detachment
Disillusion and detachment induce direct experience of
certain and complete mental release, Ananda…"
AN X.1

http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Mighty_is_Morality.htm

David

anataman said:

Good question @Tosh. However, I would say that when you have reached a certain level of awareness and understanding, you are so accountable for your actions, that you no longer need to repeat harming behaviours, so regret just falls away.

If nothing else, there is value in a lesson learned.

genkaku

More sensible than simply foreseeing a mistake, not making it and then patting yourself on the back is learning to admit (and correct as possible) the mistakes/harm you are bound to commit.

anataman

Oh dear, I foresee this post diverging to a discussion on Karma. :shake: Now how do I use skilful means to steer it away from it? Damn I can't think of anything… :banghead: It's 'bound' to happen. No pat on the back this time! I'll just have to accept it with humour - yes I can just start to feel the smile turning up the corners of my lips. At least I won't regret it … :om:

Bring on the Karma, at least I get to deal with it in this lifetime - like angulimala.

David

@anataman;

If karma has odd meaning in your view then think of cause and effect. It's hard not to talk about causation in a topic about regret.

anataman

Don't worry yourself @ourself- I know and understand Karma. I just don't want to get into the same old discussions about it. It comes back and bites you.

Interesting that you feel you cannot discuss regret without Karma, I was making a point that you can control your actions and reach a state of bliss - I will reflect on that a bit more in my meditation. Thank you.

David

I don't bother worrying, I was just commenting on the subject. I'm not trying to offend you but you talk about karma in the o/p.

Anyway it goes something like this - If you are aware enough in your decision making processes such that if you can foresee that someone may come to harm from an action and you refrain doing that action then you can come to experience the bliss of no regret.

How could one foresee harm from an action if they don't recognize cause and effect?

anataman

I take your point @ourself. Thanks again.