OM MANI PADME HUM
Taking up spiritual practice and making it a part of one’s life is the wisest thing a person can do. Then he is walking towards the Path of Knowing, he will be practising that which is good, and he will experience greater happiness in life than the average person.
A portion of the day should be spent in developing one’s clarity of mind. There is no question of having ‘no time’ for it. Life is not just the pursuance of nourishing the body but also the mind. No one will say he has ‘no time’ to eat, relax, or enjoy the pleasures that please the senses. This is the looking-after of one’s bodily needs, which, in truth, is less important than having mental health. As a worldly person, one’s body seems to be the most important thing in the world because it gives the idea that oneself is the body. The spiritual person knows that mental actions precede bodily actions and therefore the mind is foremost in importance. What continues to exist after the body is no more is the mind continuum of a being. Therefore, take care of the mind, not just the body alone!
Attending to one’s mental states leads to calm and happiness. He who values a pure and clear mind will never slacken in spiritual practices. Whereas bodily actions increase desires, the purity and clarity of mental actions lead to understanding and wisdom. Each day provides one an opportunity to become wiser through understanding the reality that has become one’s conditions of life. There is no use in being annoyed or feeling fearful when unpleasant circumstances confront oneself. With a clear and calm mind, accept the situations and then contemplate on the ways and means to overcome them. An excited mind will only bring forth greater misery, and no solutions can be found unless he has accepted the situations.
Life cannot be one smooth flow of good happenings. Growing up is never painless, living through life is never problemless, and having to die is never free from worry and regrets. Since no one expects to die the next day or wishes to think about it, death, then, is often far from the mind. So the fear and worry for it is less felt than the pains and problems of daily living. Look back. It is easy to recall that each year has brought about its shares of happiness and pains, and many friends, relatives, or acquaintances have passed away. This should awaken oneself to the need to know more about life and how to live it.
Knowing helps to quell fears and tone down disappointments because one’s mind is prepared for it. Not knowing generates confusion and tension. Like the situation of the country, how is it affecting the people? Those who have no wisdom that is acquired through spiritual training will worry their minds off and end up making rash decisions that are likely to bring about new kinds of sufferings. Since the situation is what it is and one is where one is, then why not sit and think calmly on what is to be done. Worry, anger, fear, and tears will not change any situation.
It has surfaced due to many factors, which are its causes of dissatisfactoriness for the many. This is the karma of the country at this period of time and its influencing energy must expand or decrease as time goes on. Those who understand the characteristics of life will not be easily put off, will not avoid knowing what is in store for the future, they remain more calm to the uncertainties of life. The differences in the quality of life help to awaken one to the truth of life and cause him to learn how to deal with it. Whether the country is going to be better or worse is not as important as whether one is mentally ready to face changes and whether one has understood the meaning and purpose of living. Since one is alive, why not live rightfully? As many words as one can think, one may add into the list of how life should be lived. Many great teachers of men have come and gone, and they have left behind a great treasure of words on how a human life should be lived. Only those who were fortunate to be born at such a time when these great teachers were alive have witnessed how life should be lived; and they are the ones who were responsible for recording, practising and giving the teachings. The methods are all there. Whether one wishes to be born in the heavens, in paradises, in Buddhas’ Purelands, or once more amongst mankind, the ways to attain such goals are not a secret that only a few may share. They all carry the same message: to live rightly and to be spiritual!
Thursday, 23rd June 1988 (5th Moon 10th Day)