Dharma 'compass'?

[Michael Craven]

Dear Ajahn,

May I please ask, is it the case that performing an action motivated by a genuinely virtuous thought always result in a pleasant feeling? And also is the opposite true for an action performed with a non virtuous thought. What I am trying to ask here is, are good and bad feelings a reliable indicator of whether we are practicing correctly? Sort of like a compass?

Kind regards,

Michael

[Ajahn Brahmali]

Dear Michael,

What I am trying to ask here is, are good and bad feelings a reliable indicator of whether we are practicing correctly?

Not always. There are people for whom doing good is difficult and involves a certain amount of pain. Yet in the long run they are better served by enduring that pain. The usual Buddhist compass is to ask oneself whether one is acting from a pure state of mind or from anger or desire. Alternatively, one needs to consider whether one is acting for the benefit of oneself and the other person. If one is, the act is good. It is difficult at times to know exactly what one's motivations and intentions are. In these cases, just do your best and keep the five precepts as your guidelines. If you do, you won't go far wrong.

With metta.

[Michael Craven]

Thankyou, I appreciate your help.