OM MANI PADME HUM
Many people know this truth but they are unable to get out of the vicious cycle of samsaric existence because they are not willing to get out of it. That is why you will see so many in pains and instead of doing something about removing such pains in future lives, they only hope for a short term relief.
To those who are suffering, you will have to do your best to explain to them the truth of suffering and the importance of taking the period of suffering as eyes opener so that determination towards understanding the truth of suffering will be strengthened and then the realisation that all pains can be removed will help them to change their narrow views of life thus leading them to cultivation.
You must learn how to see pain and also accept the conditions of pain in your own life. What happens when you see someone in the terrible state of suffering? Do not be involved in his sufferings too because there is nothing that you can actually do except to pray for his recovery. To pray well you must have a calm mind so that the prayers may be said with full sincerity and faith. If your mind is also suffering for no real reason except stupidity, then the prayers will not be clear, will not be effective because the agitated mind will cause such prayers to be said with unreasonable expectations so that you will forget that each living being must fulfill its own karmic burdens which include periods of happiness as well as sufferings. And because this is the world where conditions are suitable to induce beings to realise that ‘all life is sorrow’ therefore ‘Sorrow’ will be the main cause to spur beings to cultivation towards liberation.
Pains are very real and yet mere illusions. When pain is felt, it is very real, when the sufferings are over, it all seemed like a dream. Life is just like a dream when one is able to reflect upon it and because it is only a dream, why dwell upon it so such a long time?
Wake up! Stop dreaming! Face reality! Make up your mind to go forth to liberate yourself. Be wary of this samsaric existences, go for Buddhahood. Be ready to forsake minor wealth and pleasures, practice detachments and lead a life which is pure, which will not cause more and more karma that you will have to repay. Make a start today, now, and be determined that whatever is left of this life, be spent on doing good and cease doing evil. Study the Dharma. Practise all that you have learned in the best possible manner. Only by this method can faith be found. Faith cannot be given to you, it must be acquired by great effort.
Pain must be expected along with the practice, but it will also be part of your life whether you practise or not. Realising this, accept the pains to remove all pains and you will be conditioning your mind to accept the First Noble truth. Understanding the First Truth is not enough, you must know the Second, the Third and practise the Fourth. The Way has been given but how many can take heed of it seriously enough to practise it? The fortune that awaits those who practise this Truth far exceed all the wealth that anyone can amass in a life time, in all lifetimes! Knowing it, realising it and yet not practising it, how silly. To have the opportunity and not make good use of it, how wasteful.
To be practising it and yet not firmly practising it, how ridiculous! Yet, this is the human mind which must fill itself with all kinds of illusions that the world can offer. That is why perseverance is such a great virtue to uphold, that is why effort is so much needed, and that is why only the strong and determined ones will make it.
To be strong and determined has nothing to do with physical health, it only needs a mind which is set towards reaching the good. To attain it, one must be ready to practise the other virtues like charity.
Charity is not just giving alms to the needy ones. It is found in many aspects. To hope to give help to others, within the heart and mind is the birth of this virtue so that one is prepared to strive hard to pursue the goal with effort and perseverance with the view of bringing help to others. To think well of others, to speak well of others, to act well towards others, these are charitable deeds too.
To lead someone out of a problem, to show the way to a stranger and to remove obstacles which may harm others too reflect upon your charitable nature. And then there is the great need for one to practise maintaining equanimity of mind through contemplation and meditation so as to have a mind which is calm and clear, so that wisdom may be arrived at. When wisdom has been acquired, the practice will be made much simpler and then one will no longer fear any form of pain, for the reasons for their being there are well understood!
Friday, 26th November 1982 (10th Moon 12th Day)