Mobile VersionBlessing Eight:
Artfulness in Application
B. DEFINITIONS
B.1 Definition: Artfulness in Application
The Pali word ‘sippaṃ’, meaning ‘one endowed with artistry’ means someone who is skilled in application of their knowledge. The ‘bahūsūta’ of Blessing Seven is one who is skilled in knowledge, but the person who has mastered this Eighth Blessing
is one who can apply that knowledge fruitfully too.
B.2 Six Components of Artful Application
Not all performances or displays of application of knowledge qualify as ‘artfulness in application’. You can learn skills, but it doesn’t guarantee that using the skill will bring you merit — therefore, before committing yourself to a skill you want to learn, you have to consider the merits of it first, for the harmony of society: If you are a sculptor, then why not use your skill to sculpt Buddha images that can bring inspiration to others? If you can draw then why not draw the sort of pictures that will inspire others to do good deeds? Even little skills like being able to make toys for one’s children can help to stop wastage of family income on imported dolls and cartoon characters — as a guideline, bear in mind the following six qualities of applied work that demonstrates artistry:
1. Must be refined
2. Adds to the value of the raw materials
3. Product of the work leads to creative thinking, not aggressive or destructive thinking: A motor engineer should use his skill to build engines to help people in their everyday lives rather than to build weapons to wage war.
4. Product of the work doesn’t lead to sensual obsession: Don’t go studying the sort of arts that will stir up the passion of others — like cabaret dancing or strip-tease.
5. Product of the work doesn’t lead to illwill or vengefulness
6. Product of the work doesn’t lead to aggression: Don’t engage in arts that will cause people to seek vengeance such as inventing war slogans.
B.3 Three Categories of Artful Application
Don’t think that only artistic applications you can ‘see and touch’ qualify for fulfillment of the Eighth Blessing. Such skillfulness can be applied to body, speech and mind:
1. Artistic Application in Body: This applies to various sorts of specialism or applied expertise, whether it be plumbing, mechanics, painting, design, sculpture, photography, printing or other vocational skills such as gardener, farmer, author or nurse — and further than that, having the manners to walk, stand, sit and lie down politely, dressing appropriately, being hospitable, expressing respect and behaving in a ‘cultivated’ way;
2. Artistic Application in Speech: This applies to communication skills, knowing what to say and how to say it in a way to inspire the hearer towards virtue (more in Blessing Ten)
3. Artistic Application in Mind: This applies to skillfulness in thinking, having one’s wits about one and creative thinking.
In a nutshell, Artfulness in Application is artfulness in body, speech and mind.
http://goo.gl/jCXnS
พิมพ์บทความนี้
