ทุกครั้งที่อธิษฐาน กุศลจะเข้าสิงจิตก่อนแล้วจึงชี้นำให้เราตั้งความปรารถนา บุญจึงถูกเหนี่ยวนำเข้ามาทุกครั้งที่อธิษฐาน ยิ่งอธิษฐานนานเท่าไรพลังงานยิ่งถูกเหนี่ยวนำมากเท่านั้น พระอาจารย์แนะว่าควรอธิษฐานให้ครอบคลุมทุกรายละเอียดของชีวิตที่ต้องการ และให้บรรลุมรรคผลนิพพานเป็นอธิษฐานหลัก ส่วนอย่างอื่นเป็นอธิษฐานรองEvery time we make a heartfelt resolution, the wholesome mind takes hold of us first and then guides us to form that wish — so merit is drawn in every single time we resolve. The longer we hold the resolution, the more energy is drawn in. The teacher advises making resolutions that cover every detail of the life we want, with reaching the fruit of Nibbāna as the primary aim and everything else secondary.
A student asked the teacher about the importance of making resolutions (adhiṭṭhāna), wondering why a resolution can shape life almost like a "blueprint," and why a senior teacher once said that merit increases every time we make one.
The teacher explained that every time we make a resolution, it's because we hold genuine goodwill toward ourselves, and mind is what guides us to resolve in the first place. The wholesome takes hold of the mind first, then guides us to form a wish using whatever matter is at hand in daily life. The moment the wish is formed, the wholesome side draws in energy immediately — which is exactly why merit arises every time we resolve: wholesome states must possess the mind first before a resolution can even be made.
The unwholesome side, for its part, doesn't want us resolving at all — which is why it tends to rush us to finish quickly. The longer we hold a resolution, the more energy continues to be drawn in.
What Is a "Fencing-In" Resolution?
The teacher explained further that every good deed already comes with its own natural blueprint of results. But we can also resolve for additional specific details of the life we want — this is called a "fencing-in" resolution. Look at your current shortcomings, and turn each one into a specific resolution to close off, so it doesn't happen again. Whenever we run into a problem, we can resolve on the spot never to meet it again; and for things already going well, we can reinforce them with further resolutions too.
Those strong in the perfection of resolution make a habit of resolving often — both for themselves and by encouraging others to do the same. The more detailed our resolutions, the more the "blueprint" of our life fills up with a genuinely good and correct quality of life.
The Main Resolution Should Be Reaching the Fruit of Nibbāna
A resolution must be paired with wisdom. The primary resolution should be to reach the fruit of Nibbāna, with everything else secondary — otherwise we risk wasting time on matters that aren't truly essential to life. Resolving for things that bring no real benefit only delays us. Conversely, resolving straight toward the path from the start means we never waste time on trivial pursuits.
Why Those With Great Merit Are Sometimes Born as Ordinary People
The teacher gave an example: why do highly accomplished teachers sometimes take birth as ordinary villagers rather than as royalty or the very wealthy? The answer is that being born an ordinary person makes it far easier to ordain and build the perfections. Consider the story of Prince Temiya, who feigned being mute and disabled for over a decade just to be allowed to ordain, or Prince Siddhattha, whose father built four seasonal palaces specifically to shield him from ever seeing old age, sickness, and death, hoping to prevent him from ordaining. Being born ordinary removes these obstacles and makes building merit as easy as possible — how far one develops from there depends on the store of merit each person carries with them.