As one progresses, the scenery must change, the situations must be different, different kinds of people will be met and all kinds of conditions must be faced. That is why life is always changeable (unpredictable).
A lifetime will not be sufficient for the completion of the Journey. It takes lifetimes, very many lifetimes, in fact, uncountable lifetimes have been spent in the pursuance of progress on the path. Each lifetime is not the same as the previous whether in quality or in circumstances. So the journey is a very long one!
Once progress has been made, do not turn back because that would be regression, going backwards. It will be a waste of time to seek what was once pleasurable and memorable. The same feelings of the experience can never be regenerated. The second time around will always be less satisfying because the newness of excitement will not be there. Let memories be memories and be ready to accumulate newer ones. Clinging and attachments will only bring about problems of dissatisfactoriness.
Many people foolishly wish that they could relive their lives. It is an empty wish which wastes times and energy. There is so much to do with life and to learn from it, why should anyone long for the “old days?” It’s like wishing to be “young and healthy” once again when one is in his twilight years. That would be impossible, that would be not accepting the realities of life! That would surely be painful too!
Many people pray for guidance and they were guided. Then as they progress, they will come to a state of non-progress because they think that they are not progressing, not being guided because “old feelings” were not there. This will be felt by many and they are likely to think that “guidance” has been lost!
That is not so. The form of guidance has changed, that’s all. From the gross to the subtle! In the beginning, one easily falters and one needs help and the new experience is keenly felt. As the months and years go by, guidance will not be the same, need not be the same. One is already on the path and all the help that is needed will still be there except that one must learn to progress by oneself. So do not look back and wish for the elementary, move on!
It’s like a person who has had his first ride on a bicycle given by someone. What a glorious feeling, and then one looks forward to more rewarding rides. But a person must grow, and in time he must learn to ride the bicycle himself instead of hoping for a ride. Then during the learning of how to ride the bicycle, one is being aided. Yet how long must his bicycle be held by another? In this way changes and changes will be part of every life. Having mastered riding the bicycle, one wishes for the company of others. Then it is exchanging the bicycle for something else! This is how life is!
Each change will generate feelings or clinging or rejection. What is most important is not the feelings but the will to take full control of one’s life not to depend on others to help us all through life, but to learn to walk and face life confidently. Always remember that changes can bring about either pain or pleasure. No one can be sure of what it will be. This means that when one makes a change in his life, he must face the forthcoming resulting feelings. This answers those who are seeking advice on migration. Even to leave home for a short period of time or moving from one locality to another can cause feelings of happiness or misery, what more when one has to uproot oneself and to seek a new life elsewhere. Where there is confidence and the preparedness for some struggles and pains of changes, then it will not be too difficult to adapt. When there is only hope that by such a move happiness must follow, then one is holding a foolish thought, he will surely suffer.
Saturday, 24th October 1987 (9th Moon 2nd Day)