There are four essential things, in Buddhism, that we must always discipline
ourselves to do (Phrabhavanaviriyakhun, 2012):
x Discipline to respect: pay respect to those who are worthy of respect i.e. our
parents, grandparents, teachers, the triple gem, etc.
x Discipline to be clean: every place where we are involved such as house,
school, workplace, public places, etc.
x Discipline to be organized: put things in order by categorizing them, piling
up according to their sizes, checking the total amount, and keeping them
nicely
x Discipline to be timely: be punctual to arranged appointments, set timetables,
and follow them both for personally and publicly
2. Respect: Once we have the moral basic that we cultivate in our mind, the next
principle is “Respect.” Since Respect is having an open mind to search for the
good qualities/ characteristics in other people, items, and events that occur
around us. When we have discovered these good qualities/characteristics, we
must accept and admire the good qualities/ characteristics and proceed to
develop ourselves to have those qualities/characteristics as well. Since we have
a role model or a good example in our real lives, hence it is not too difficult or
too complicated to follow them by performing good acts as they do. Also this is
one of the channels to attain more morality in our minds.
Having a good habit of respect means to not live life with a negative
perspective, but instead, to live life with a positive perspective on others, items,
and events that occur. Once we have realized the worth, or goodness that the
other person, item, or event has bestowed upon us, we must then accept it, honor
it, and act accordingly. For instance if we have a car, but it worn down and old,
we should not be distressed and concerned, but instead, we should be thankful
we have the car, and think, “At least it is better than having to walk!” To have
respect in our mind will bring us to be an optimistic person as well. Because our
life is like a two-side of a coin – head and tail. To look at other people
accordingly, everyone has both sides – positive and negative part. If we focus
only on their bad habits and bad deeds, it will formulate our mind unclear and
feel unhappy. On the other hand they, still, have some good points in their
personalities, then we just concentrate on their virtues. And this will point out
their good acts to us. This way of thinking also keeps our emotion stably and
not effect by surroundings. Owing to one of the poems of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu
(2007) summarized as hereafter “Looking for only good deeds of other people,
do not looking for bad deeds of them. Please let go. If you would like to get only
good acts of them, it seems that you are looking for the moustaches of turtles or