A good habit is an action repeated until it becomes second nature — in a direction that is right and wholesome — performed with mindful restraint and vigilance toward dangers that may arise in the future.
One must be on guard against danger even before it arrives. Think it through carefully, and again: if no harmful consequence is likely to follow, then by all means proceed, my dear ones. Whatever one does and need not feel troubled about afterward — that is assuredly good. But whatever one does and is certain to feel troubled about afterward — that is assuredly not good.
In the language of the Dhamma, the term used is saṃvara — restraint; in ordinary Thai, it is called being vigilant against danger. Whatever will not cause distress afterward, go ahead and do it, my dear ones — repeat it, and good habits will surely follow.
The old saying that elders are fond of using to scold others — “You act without thinking” — means precisely this: to act without considering whether any harmful consequence may arise afterward.
August 5th, 2019
