Question: What is an example of a ‘Buddhist student’, whom we should NOT become?
Answer: Not based on any particular person(s), these are some qualities to avoid.
[1] Undiligence: Such a student is not sincere, diligent and attentive when it comes to attending Buddhist lessons, joining none, or only some, without completing entire courses. There are also no continual efforts to learn what is crucial yet missed.
[2] Uneducated: Such a student does not realise the importance of acquiring sound Buddhist education in time, including for helping loved ones when dying, to secure the best rebirth in Pure Land. This is so despite repeated reminders by teacher(s).
[3] Entitled: Such a student feels entitled, demanding teacher(s) to be at his or her beck and call, especially in emergencies, for not just advice, but personal action too. This is while neglecting to be self-equipped with adequate education in ‘peace times’.
[4] Anger: Such a student easily and unreasonably flares up at teacher(s) when ‘requests’ are not met, even with disrespectful name-calling. Teacher(s) might cease communication to prevent them from creating more evil karmas with further slander.
[5] Ingratitude: Such a student forgets the value of all past teachings, encouragement and assistance offered by teacher(s). This is partially due to [1] Undiligence and being [2] Uneducated above, and [5] Ingratitude below.
[6] Unreflectiveness: Such a student lacks self-reflection, not contemplating why other students in the community do not have the same ‘problems’ with the same teacher(s), not wondering if it is himself or herself at fault.
[7] Unrepentance: Such a student lacks repentance due to [6] Unreflectiveness, thus also burning bridges of otherwise positive karmic affinities with teacher(s), which are hard to repair due to repentance amiss.
[8] Outsourcing: Such a student ‘outsources’ filial piety by expecting teachers to teach their dying parent(s) last-minute, while not personally learning well when there is time, so as to teach them. This is a ‘gamble’ as teacher(s) might not be available in time.
[9] Unappreciativeness: Such a student, even when receiving past taught step-by-step teachings, which are shared again, as reminders in emergencies, are not appreciative of them, when they work well for other students.
[10] Attitude: Such a student is essentially with the wrong attitude, who should be sincere and humble in the continual Threefold Learnings (三学) of Learning, Contemplation and Cultivation (闻思修), thus not giving rise to the problems above.
