Cats who teach me to fly…

I didn’t know shame and fear have become a traditional thing that people would just simply dismiss and cast it aside. However, shame and fear are extremely important to me, especially in today’s society.

Below was what the Buddha said…

Dhammapada Verses 244 and 245

Verse 244: Life is easy for one who is shameless and bold as a crow, who slanders others and is pretentious, aggressive and corrupt.

Verse 245: Life is hard for one with a sense of shame, who always seeks purity, who is free from attachment, who is modest and who sees clearly what is proper livelihood.

In the Lokapala Sutta (AN 2.9), it is called The Bright Protectors/Guardians of the World

“Bhikkhus, these two bright principles protect the world. What are the two? Shame and fear of wrongdoing. If, bhikkhus, these two bright principles did not protect the world, there would not be discerned respect for mother or maternal aunt or maternal uncle’s wife or a teacher’s wife or the wives of other honored persons, and the world would have fallen into promiscuity, as with goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, dogs, and jackals. But as these two bright principles protect the world, there is discerned respect for mother… and the wives of other honored persons.”

With the thoughts of Shakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprata follow by the the four types of right effort. There is no chance for unwholesome thoughts to linger… This is my best antidote to prevent myself from making mistake which could lead to shame… Thus, I would completely agree with the Buddha’s teachings – the Guardians of the world.