Incalculable worries beset the mind and the tendency is to surrender to them so that most people are ever in deep worries which rob their joys of life. The unwillingness to face the truth, to accept changes, to be content, or to be repaying karmic debts, have made life very unbearable for many so that wisdom is far from them. They are filled with complaints without realising that most of them are needless ones, that if they would exert some effort in knowing, many problems will disappear. But they prefer to be like someone sitting in the water and complain about being thirsty!
Who can help them but themselves? Dharma is for everyone and it is up to each person to realise it. Remove all petty cravings and fears and start living today! Why suffer ahead of time whenever you hear from others that the future is not bright? When has the future been bright for anyone at all? Worries only kill themselves and remove the true values of life. Be like little children who are blessed with no worries but trust. In the worse of times, some will emerge as great ones while others hope only to survive, the rest just die without any will to live. Seeing this situation is realisation so that you are able to determine what kind of a person you wish to be and will be. When the mind is set, fear and worries will subside. With the heart and mind of a Bodhisattva, one does not wish to run away from suffering but would like to be in the midst of suffering. This is not out of love to experience suffering but out of pity for the suffering beings so that one does not consider one’s own suffering as more important. Only those who have practised the Dharma with sincerity and have realised the spirit of the Bodhisattvas will have such a mind.
Why should anyone bother about others sufferings when he himself is in a state of woe? This is the logic of common ones but the rare ones; who are well endowed with merits and wisdom, seizes every opportunity to work off past karma, to be in situations where they can repay mankind for the evils that they have committed in the past, through being the ones to bring hope and happiness to others. Those on this path is far from fear and do not indulge in needless worries.
The world is filled with woe today. Where is peace even in the most peaceful of lands? It does not require war for peace to be yearned and appreciated. Each person is at war with himself, each day, when Dharma is not with him. Every little unhappiness can be the cause of great worries so that wealth, health and love which every being seeks become the root causes of troubled minds and all worldly problems. When one has wealth, health may be lacking, when both are attained, love is not fulfilled, and even when all three have been acquired, death is there to give worry to the mind. So there is no person in the whole world who can be at peace with himself unless he has the great fortune to be under the Buddha’s path, unless he is on the Bodhisattva’s path which gives him great joy to be able to give joy to others, to set others on the path of peace and equanimity.
At times such as this, Bodhisattvas will abound and great activities will be practised. It is also great times for aspirants to see in the greatness of others so that they too will take up the task of working for other’s well-being. In the worst of times many Bodhisattvas will emerge! Out of a single pure intention Bodhicitta may arise and develop a lowly being to a great and enlightened one. Those who fear will suffer and those who wish happiness on the sufferers will know no fear!
This is the time for prayers, for making bold and noble aspirations. Do not allow your spirit to be dampened by the views and influence of others. Prophets of doom are many, do not join in their crowd and become doomed by false understanding.
When the world is not at its happiest moment, it’s a sign that purification is necessary so that those who have known will not only purify their own hearts but also the minds of others. They will live righteously, nobly and sensibly thus giving others the examples to follow. They will avail themselves for others and seek ways and means to help others. They will show people to the way of faith and the pleasantness of a pure life!
This coming festival will be a day of gathering for those who are bent on the path of service. Those who come must learn to pray with a pure mind for the well being of others, must learn to sit in quietness and meditate happy thoughts for those in despair. Plan your prayers and programme for them and make sure that it will not be a social gathering but a rather serious or even solemn one. In between prayers there should be some time for meditation so that good thoughts can be generated and good wishes may be directed to others. Be ready to sit from 9.00 a.m. till 12.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. till 4.30 p.m. with prayers, meditation and other directed activities. Only serious ones are to be invited to stay on after lunch so that there will be the least of distraction. All are to meditate on ‘peace and love’ and visualisation to be centred on the White-Robed Form. Develop evenness of mind and the arising calmness will bring forth the ‘form of compassion’ that you desire to realise. But only those who exert effort will be rewarded.
Blessings can commence from 4.30 p.m. until 7.00 p.m. Be kind, be patient and let those who come late enjoy the benefit of the ‘developed calm’, the result of the full day’s prayers and meditation on ‘love and peace.’ Harsh words must be avoided even if it is for directions which are well intended. Let this day be kept holy with the least of desires that will sway the mind. Those who can, observe taking only a single meal for the day and treat it as an act of remembrance on those who are filled with hunger. Have sufficient water ready so that those who feel hungry will have their appetites appeased by drinking the blessed water. Vegetarian meals will be only for those who wish to observe, do not make it compulsory for everyone. If you wish to organise a dinner for the others, it is well, otherwise advise them to have their dinner before they come for prayers. Let the evening prayers continue to 8.30 p.m after which remind each individual to remember that if they wish for happiness they must live their lives for others.
Tuesday, 2nd July 1985 (5th Moon 15th Day)