Perfect Thought, Perfect Word & Perfect Deed

Knowing that there are causes for all human suffering and there is a way by which they may be ended is only useful if you know how to do it.

Fortunately, Buddha did not leave this process to chance and provided a specific system that has been being used for 2500 years to reduce suffering in the world.

            Perfect Thought

            Perfect Word &

            Perfect Deed

Perfect thought is about the paradigms that frame your world.  If your paradigms are imperfect, you will not be successful in reaching enlightenment.  An example is the previous step where we talked about the “stuff happens” people vs. the “stuff happens for a reason”.  Unless you hold the thought that “stuff happens for a reason”, you will not successful in removing all suffering from your world.

This is the reason the successful people, families and organizations have mission, vision and value statements.  It makes sure tat everyone is focused on and thinking about the same things and hopefully the right things. 

Perfect word is all about communication.  In Buddha’s time, word was the only way to communicate.  Today, perfect word means using all communication tools currently available to make sure that everyone is engaging in perfect thought and perfect action.  Perfect word is an essential leadership tool.  The following is a quick list of basic communication tools:

·        Email

·        Voice mail

·        Podcasts

·        Intranets

·        Internet

·        Memos

·        Individual face to face verbal and body language

·        Conference calls

·        Video conferences

·        Group meetings

           

Perfect deed refers to our actions.  These are the choices we make with each present moment of our lives.  We literally create our future by the choices we make in each of our present moments.  We can create a future of enlightenment or a future of suffering through the cumulative effect of these decisions.

Buddha taught this about our actions and deeds:

My actions are my only true belongings.  I cannot escape the consequences of my actions.  My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

The power of the system comes though the synergistic and interdependent nature of the three distinct components; perfect thought, perfect word and perfect deed.

You, your family and your work organizations must be mentally focused on the same things and the right things to remove suffering and create happiness.  In order to get everyone on the same page and going in the same direction, you will need perfect communication.  If you have engaged in perfect thought and communicated these thoughts effectively, you then need perfect execution or actions to create individual and organizational enlightenment or perfect happiness, the removal of all frustrations or sufferings.

How do you engage in Perfect Thought, Perfect Word & Perfect Deed?