The power of long-practiced good deeds | Upāya Kusala | Sermon 15 | Ven. Welimada Saddaseela Thero

In this sermon, we explore the profound connection between the cultivation of wholesome qualities and the power of acts of truth.

By nurturing a virtuous habit such as compassion, generosity, patience, or truthfulness — over a long period of time — we build a powerful force that can invoke protection, healing, and resolution when life’s challenges arise.

The sermon reflects on real examples and Dhamma principles that show how a life of steady goodness can turn into a source of miraculous help when faced with suffering or danger.

Transcript:

[NOTE: This translation was made by one of our volunteers]

So, if someone can listen to these episodes continuously, maybe repeatedly, a good strength for life enters.

So, there’s something like this. In our lives there’s an issue where we’re unable to retrieve the relevant answer for the relevant problem. We fail to apply the right answer to the right problem because we lack wisdom. We remember answers afterwards and think “Oh… We should have done this at that time.” Wisdom is not recalling answers but applying the suited answer for a certain problem. Because of shortcomings in wisdom, no matter how much one listens to Dhamma sermons, it may still be difficult to apply the right answer to a given problem. Yet, if we keep this in mind, we may be able to offer suitable advice to someone when the need arises.

In today’s society, a problem many people have is during a challenge or issue in life, there’s no nobleman to provide a Dhamma advice. There are no knowledgeable, elderly people to give sound advice in society. Everyone is impulsive. “If you are hit, hit back.” “If you’re scolded, scold back.” “Don’t let that go easily.” What exists is a world that challenges by saying such things. From the oldest person to the youngest child… Instead of getting aggravated, instead of aggravating, instead of fuelling flames, a habit that can douse (the fires of) life?

So, a gentleman from the police once told me “Bhante, when problems arise in villages, I say, ‘discuss and resolve this.’ They then reply ‘What?! We won’t let this go that easily!’ and they thus pursue legal action. They end up dragging legal battles on for years and eventually resolve them halfway through. They end up spending everything they have and on that day, they say ‘Oh sir, if only we settled this…’” Then this policeman would say “There you go, that’s why we said beforehand to settle this. Now after going in circles, after spending all you have; after learning a good lesson, you have now come to arrange a settlement, right?” The policeman says so. No one – the majority – does not accept (the advice of) coming to a settlement when saying it in the beginning.

Similarly, due to our deficiency in wisdom, we face difficulty in applying the most suitable solution to a problem. So, I accept that there’s something like that. Yet, despite that, we cannot avoid discussing life. We can’t avoid discussing solutions for problems. If someone accepts the help? There are those who accept the help. The abilities of humans vary. There are wise people. As soon as they receive wholesome advice, they transform their lives in an instant. So today we are discussing an answer for one of life’s problems: Acts of Truth.

Acts of Truth (invoking blessings through the sustained practice of a wholesome act). The practice of acts of truth is not used often by people. But some use it. An answer for life problems…

So the Supreme Buddha practiced the perception of truth. When categorizing these perceptions, the Bhantes who explained the Supreme Buddha’s Dhamma, to explain the perception of truth, they’ve added many examples of the acts of truth. Meaning, they experience the power of the truth they practiced diligently. That’s (the result of) acts of truth. So, during acts of truth, there should be a truth within you. But, in everyone’s lives, there’s some truth. There’s some truth. Then that – as a power or strength – to be used by you.

So, let’s take an example. For illnesses, urine is used as medicine. That’s known as Pūtimuttaṁ Bhesajjā. So that urine is in our bodies. But a common person would not take that as a medicine. But from that, a medicine can be made to cure certain incurable diseases. In the past, great Bhantes who lived in forests Have made a great medicine using urine that is considered a medicine for any ailment. So I said the medicine was made from something within the body. Just like that, We can use the truth in our lives and make it a medicine for ourselves. But that will be applied only where suited.

I’ll give an example. The Supreme Buddha – when traveling in Dambadiva – a particular forest would always have fires. The Supreme Buddha was dwelling in the midst of the forest when a great fire broke out all around. So the Supreme Buddha – along with the Great Sangha – went to a certain part of the forest and stayed within that border. Under a tree and around it. Then that great fire, did not burn a vast circular area and doused itself. Similar to a fire approaching a body of water and stopping there? Like that, the fire doused itself around a circle. So, the Sangha told the Supreme Buddha “Amazing, Venerable Sir! Blessed One! The Thatagatha’s Spiritual Power is awe-inspiring! Just like a fire was doused as it approached water, this great fire was doused in this particular area.” Then the Supreme Buddha said “Because I was here – it’s not something that happened because of the spiritual power of the Buddha. That fire was doused a very long time ago. In this land, I was born a bird – a quail. (This happened because of) an act of truth I did back then. Meritorious monks, a baby quail broke open its egg and came out. A little baby bird. So although it had wings, it still couldn’t fly. The feet have somewhat formed, but it cannot walk. So thereafter, in this forest, even back then, forest fires occurred. So, what happened? So, a forest fire started. When the fire was approaching all the older birds flew away. The mother and father flew away too, and this bird was left alone. So, this bird is watching from the nest. The fire is burning all around and the smoke is spreading. So it thought ‘How do I escape this?’” See? even the baby bird thought of escaping. The baby bird too thought of a way of escaping…”How do I escape this?” Then it thought “At this time, there’s no other alternative than the truth. There’s no other alternative than the truth.” Then it performed an act of truth like this – it thought “Now what’s the truth that I have?…The truth that I have is Saṃtipatta apatana – I have wings but can’t fly. That’s not a lie. It’s the truth. Santipāda avañjana – I have legs but I can’t walk. That’s a truth. Mātā pitā ca nikkantā. My mother and father left me behind. That’s the truth. It’s not a lie. Jātavedā paṭikkāma! Fire, you stop!” When that bird thought of it, the circle where the fire stopped is the same area where it stops. “As long as this eon exists, fire will never touch this land.” Even a bird made the truth a determination in the face of a problem. It performed an act of truth. Even a bird…

So therefore, the Great Bodhisattva in the Naḷakapāna Jataka made a determination for the bamboo bushes all around “I am the leader of this group. I must arrange comforts for all of them. That’s a truth. In the middle of every bamboo pole may the links disappear. To this day, the bamboo plants around that pond do not have links. It’s like a tube with the hole in the middle. Acts of truths…

In India, there are such special places. In a certain place in Varanasi Rain does not wet that place. The place where the potter Ghaṭīkāra’s house existed. He offered the roof of that house to the Supreme Buddha. Because he didn’t have anything else, he removed the roof of his house and used it to shelter the Supreme Buddha’s hut. When it rains, although there’s no roof, his house never got wet. Even to this day, that land does not get wet. There are certain such places.

Next, the two children of King Vessantara on the path they were taken away – beaten with sticks until their blood splashed. Even today, in that forest, the trees that grow along that path are said to be red in colour.

So there’s something called the truth in this world. So see the truth in your lives. So that truth should be applied to the right situation.

Now the arrow struck Prince Sama. When he was carried to his mother, that mother and father performed an act of truth. They performed an act of truth based on Prince Sama’s abstinence. So the prince regained consciousness. They brought him back to life by an act of truth.

When he was a merman, when our Great Bodhisattva was falling, the mermaid performed an act of truth and brought him to God Sakka. Next, based on one’s fidelity towards his/her spouse. A woman can perform an act of truth based on fidelity. “I have not wished for another man.” A man can – based on his character. “I have not pursued other women other than my wife.” “This is a truth.”

A daughter sent me a letter on how she listened to Dhamma sermons since her young days and lived a life according to the Dhamma. She then got married and for many years, she did not have children. Then she came to Great Aṅgulimāla Stupa and performed an act of truth. “Before marriage, I did not destroy my purity. I am a daughter who protected my purity. After marriage, I have not lain with anyone other than my husband.” I protected my fidelity. That’s a truth. Based on that truth, give me the gift of a child.” Before one week passed, that daughter conceived a child. So by such acts of truth… It’s there in Jataka stories too. Performing acts of truth after observing sil and where the gift of children were received.

When rain fell during periods of drought after performing acts of truth after observing sil. The Devramvehera pond exists even today. For many months during a severe drought, in the sun, crops have dried up. The Jetavana pond dries up and the fish appear. Crows come and eat them. The Supreme Buddha – when in his fragrant chamber – saw this with His supernatural power of sight and said to Venerable Ananda Thero, in this harsh sun, that “Ananda, I want to bathe in the Jetavana pond. Ananda, get the bathing garment.” So Venerable Ananda Thero got it. In this harsh weather, there’s no rain. There’s no water in the Jetavana pond either. The Supreme Buddha, taking the bathing garment, and as soon as He placed his Blessed Feet out of the fragrant chamber, the skies turned dark. As He placed one Blessed Foot after the other, thunder roared. Great rains fell down. The Supreme Buddha was standing at the steps of the Jetavana pond; and rain poured down to cover the Blessed Feet of the Supreme Buddha. From the skies… So the Sangha said “Amazing, Venerable Sir…. Awe-inspiring…” So the Supreme Buddha said “What talk of a Supreme Buddha. I, in this pond, when I was a fish, I have made rains pour down.” The Supreme Buddha preached that the Jetavana pond existed back then too. “In that pond, I was a fish. Then a severe drought like this came and there was no rain. So thereafter, crows are coming and eating (the fish). When the crows came and were eating, this fish thought – it’s burrowed inside the mud now – many of my relatives are being destroyed now. Oh, can’t I be of help to my relatives?” So see the life of the Bodhisattva? There’s truth. There’s determination. He finds solutions for problems. He arranges well-being for others. Things that exist in a Bodhisattva’s lives. So that Bodhisattva fish thought “I must perform an act of truth.” Thinking so, splitting apart the mud, splitting apart the mud, it brought forth its black coloured head from the water. Doing so, it opened its eyes, looked at the sky and said “I was born a species of fish that eats smaller fish of my kind. From the day I was born until today, I have not harmed a living being with my mouth. I have not killed. I’ve been eating moss. I have not eaten animals of my kind. That’s the truth. By the power of that truth Abhittāne Pajjunna nidhiṁ kakassa nāsaya ehi Pajjunna! Eliminate these crows’ bounty.” The treasure. The crows have a bounty, as the fish have appeared. “Nidhiṁ kakassa nāsaya” Next he says to bring forth sorrow for the crows by raining. In this manner, he performed an act of truth. As he did so, great rains poured down. It’s said that the skies sang by thundering. Great rains poured down. Even today it is the Macca Sutta that is recited as the Rains Paritta. An act of truth…

So there may exist certain truths in your life. Experience that truth. I after going to Australia, a female lay devotee reminded me of a certain matter. That was, when she migrated to that country and was studying, when she was facing many hardships financially, she kept giving alms to the Sangha and did other meritorious activities too. After she married and was about to deliver her child, she’d come close to death. Then in her semi-consciousness, she had remembered the alms she gave with great difficulty. When recalling those alms – so her life and her child’s life were in danger. I think at that time, the baby was placed in the incubator, believing the child can’t be saved. The mother’s life was in danger too. So, she was in and out of consciousness. When she regains consciousness, she remembers the alms. She has recalled those alms thinking “It is true that I gave these alms with great difficulty. It’s true that lifespan grows when alms are given. May my son gain life. May my child gain life.” That kept coming to her mind. I think that’s because of an influence of a favouring deva. So, every time she regained consciousness, she would perform that act of truth. It’s said that the child was crawling inside the incubator. So, both the mother and child were saved. A certain wholesome habit practiced in one’s life…

So in that way, in some people’s lives, truth exists. Even a prostitute performed an act of truth. King Ashoka, when a great current was flowing down the Ganges river, King Ashoka asked his ministers “Who can make this river flow upstream?” They said “Oh dear king, who can make a river flow upstream?” That is, to flow upwards. A prostitute present there said “I volunteer. I can do it.” Then what did she do? She went to the river, worshipped, and performed an act of truth. “I was born in a caste that sells their bodies. Since I was of a knowledgeable age, I have been selling my body for a living. But people pay my fee and come to me. One hundred or 1,000 gold coins. Whether that person is from a royal clan, a brahmin clan, or a trading clan, or if a Śūdra comes, or a weaver comes, I have served the weaver the same way that I served the member of royalty. If anyone who came to me paid and came, I have not discriminated against anyone…That’s a truth. If that’s a truth, this river should turn upwards.” The river turned upwards. The river’s water is flowing upwards now. See the truth? The truth…

In one life, the Great Bodhisattva was born in the womb of a mother in a village. The baby entered that mother’s womb when that mother went to the forest to cut firewood, the king had gone deer hunting. The king had seen this girl and had been with her. That’s how she conceived this child. When leaving, the king had given a ring. When the child grew up and asked for his father – in the Kaṭṭhahāri Jātaka – when inquiring about his father, and he was at an age of understanding, his mother said “Your father is the king of this country.” He said “Okay then let’s go. “I don’t know what will happen but let’s go son.” So they took the ring and went. They went to the castle and spoke at the assembly saying they came to meet the king. When speaking and narrating the story about the forest and showing the ring, the king remembered the incident. But he was ashamed amidst all the people. He was ashamed amidst all the people. He said “I don’t remember anything like that.” “How can you say that, dear king? This ring is yours.” The king kept saying no. Because of his shame. So everyone in the royal assembly was bewildered and they wanted to punish her for making baseless accusations against the king. So the mother took the little child to her hand. The mother took him and said “I got this child because of you. I’ve not been with other men. That’s a truth. If it is a truth, may this child remain suspended in the air; if it is a lie, may he be destroyed right here.” Saying that she threw the child upwards. He remained suspended in the air cross legged… It’s said that the king knelt and worshipped. It’s said that the king knelt and worshipped… See how that mother faced that challenge?

Although we hear this as a story, for an act of truth to be applied at a specific situation – that act of truth is put into effect by determination. That’s called The Four Iddhipāda – Chanda, Citta, Viriya, Vīmaṃsā. Those Iddhipāda developed within the Bodhisattva. The habit of determination. Therefore, in the face of problems that aren’t getting resolved, the wholesome values you have protected so far can be a solution.

A girl when listening to a Dhamma sermon – I think during the Anuradhapura era – when listening to a Dhamma sermon, a serpent who had followed her – probably her husband in her previous life – is wrapping itself around her body. So she feels a coil moving around her body. She removed her focus on her body and focused on the Dhamma sermon. Now that serpent is keeping it’s hood on her head. She thought “Let whatever happen.” and focused her mind on the Dhamma sermon. As the Dhamma sermon ended, she performed an act of truth. “When I was listening to this Dhamma sermon, if it is true that I focused my mind solely on the Dhamma sermon, this hold should leave me.” Then the serpent felt as if her body was on fire and removed itself from her in an instant.

A serpent bit a child. The mother made a determination: “If I listen to sermons with a thirst for Dhamma that is greater than the love I have for my child, then may the poison depart from my child.” The poison departed.

Then in another Jataka story, when the serpent bites the child, the mother and father go with their child to visit an ascetic. So, when conversing with the ascetic, the child was playing outside. A serpent crawled out of some rocks and bit him. The child foamed (at the mouth) and fell. They carried him and placed him in front of the ascetic. He said “I have no knowledge of medicine. At this time, there’s no other option that performing an act of truth.” He asked the mother to perform an act of truth. (She said) “There’s one truth in my life. But at this time I can’t use it.” (He) then said “At this time make saving your child your primary goal.” (She said) “Then I will perform an act of truth. It’s been 12 years since I started my married life with this father’s child. This man became repulsive to me the very first day. Now when a serpent bites my son, I have no positive feelings towards the serpent that harmed my child, right? I feel the same about this man. But even from the looks of my eyes or my speech or from anything else, I have not shown him that I dislike him. That’s the truth. By that truth, may my son be well.” The blue hue left his body and he opened his eyes. Now the boy is not standing up. Then the father was asked to perform an act of truth. The father said “I give alms to brahmins who visit our house because my wife wishes to do so. But I’ve never given even one alms offering willingly. Because I don’t like to hurt their feelings, I gave alms. But I never showed my dislike. But in my heart, I don’t like to give alms. If this is a truth may the child be healed.” Then he sat up. But the child did not stand up. The ascetic said “I ordained and lived a monastic life willingly only for 7 days. Now I’ve lived a monastic life for 55 years. For the 55 years I am living this way out of helplessness. I don’t like to remain in this life, and I am unable to leave this robe and go home. I remain here unwillingly. If that’s a truth, this child should be healed.” As he said that the boy stood up. So the three spoke amongst themselves saying not to think in that manner about her husband, don’t think in this manner about alms, and you have a positive mindset about being ordained. They discussed amongst themselves and solved their problem. So see how by acts of truth life’s problems are resolved?

Therefore, if you are someone who protects the five precepts; now the Aṅgulimāla Paritta is solely an act of truth. Yato’haṁ bhagini, ariyāya jātiya jāto nā’bhijānāmi saṁcicca pāṇaṁ jīvitā voropetā, tena saccena sotthi te hotu, sotthi gabbhassā’ti. That act of truth… “Sister, since I ordained, I have not harmed a living being.” Because of that act of truth, how many children have been healed to this day?… How many children at the verge of death have been saved?… How many people have been healed, how many sicknesses have been healed because of the Aṅgulimāla Stupa?… How many solutions for ghost/demon related problems have been derived because of the Aṅgulimāla Paritta?… What is it? An act of truth…

What is the Ratana Sutta? Etena saccena… Idampi Buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ Etena saccena suvatthi hotu. So in that manner if the Supreme Buddha’s The Ratana Sutta contains the act of truth performed using the power of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. All those are acts of truth.

Therefore, an act of truth is a solution for life. Sometimes you maybe wrongly accused. You will be accused of wrongs you did not do. Face such times. In the end, if there’s no solution, venerate Ruwanweliseya, venerate the Jaya Sri Mahā Bodhi Tree, develop loving kindness for all, and perform an act of truth – “It is true that I did not do this.I have been entangled in a random problem. May I get a solution…” Acts of truth being a solution for life is something you must remember. Experience that truth. The truth in life… The act of truth… The act of truth is a very strong thing.

The Great Bodhisattva in the Ummagga Jataka, where wisdom was used in the Ummagga Jataka. See how much acts of truths were used there?… Paddy seeds were brought and an act of truth was performed. In one night. The paddy took root and matured. Next, clay was filled in a 100-cubits long bamboo pole and the lotus seed was placed at this end. The bamboo pole was placed in an upright position. An act of truth was performed that in one night the lotus plant should take root and the lotus bud should move up the pole and the lotus flower should appear at the top. The people of today cannot even believe such things… Acts of truth…That’s a beautiful story. The Ummagga Jataka is something that one should definitely learn about. It’s very beautiful how he faced life using acts of truth…

So the Great King Dutugemunu – how he faced the war. That is King Elāra’s army and King Dutugemunu’s army have worn the same uniform to the war. Now how can they be identified? At that time, King Dutugemunu performed an act of truth. “Not for royal comforts, I am fighting this war to protect the country, the nationality, and the Buddha’s Dispensation. If that is a truth, May the swords of my army glisten.” Then the swords of everyone in King Dutugemunu’s army began to glisten. Notice how the act of truth served as a means of help?

Therefore, meritorious devotees, such things exist. So in the face of life’s problems and challenges, One solution is acts of truth. So we spoke of it. Therefore, develop a wholesome habit in your life. Either protecting the 5 precepts, not getting angry, patience, tolerance, kindness, compassion… Some truth… Not hurting another’s feelings, not being jealous. Cultivate a wholesome quality like that in your life. Using that, one day you will be able to perform an act of truth.