(Photo by Jarmoluk / Pixabay)
It is how we perceive and feel about people and things that determines whether our life is beautiful or bitter. If we look at life with gratitude and contentment in our hearts and learn to count our blessings, then everything we see each day will be beautiful. Hence, we must always keep a grateful and contented heart.
Abide by the teachings and forgo greed
Once, when the Buddha was expounding the Dharma at the Venuvana Vihara (Bamboo Grove Monastery) in Rājagṛha (an ancient city of India), there was a sudden commotion from outside. So he asked his disciple and attendant, Ananda, to go out and find out what the noise was about. When Ananda was outside, he saw a hunched old man with a crutch, repeatedly asking the gatekeeper to let him in to see the Buddha.
The gatekeeper told him: “The Buddha is expounding the Dharma now. You’re hard of hearing and you won’t be able to understand what the Buddha is saying; besides, you have difficulty walking. Your presence will disturb others inside.”
The old man replied, “I am already very advanced in age. If I do not see the Buddha today, I may not have the chance to do so in future. Would you please be kind enough to let me see the Buddha for just once?”
Despite his insistent begging, the gatekeeper refused to let him in.
After hearing the conversation, Ananda went back to inform the Buddha about the incident, and the Buddha compassionately asked him to help the old man in. The old man was then respectfully ushered in by Ananda. He was so happy to see the Buddha that he kept bowing to him with tears all over his face.
The Buddha asked the old man, “How old are you?”
The old man lifted two trembling fingers and said, “I am already 200 years old.”
The Buddha said, “You are already at such an advanced age. Is there a reason why you want to see me?”
The old man replied, “Lord Buddha, what have I done wrong? Why am I made to live this long? I have been living a life of poverty and hardship since young. I really want to be liberated, but life and death is a serious matter; I can’t change my destiny. Why am I living such an impoverished and difficult life?”
The Buddha told him: “It is all because of karmic causes and conditions. You were a rich man in your past life. But you clung to your wealth and were too stingy to donate money to poor people who came to beg for money from you. Therefore, although you get to live a long life in this lifetime, you experience all kinds of torment and misery throughout your life.”
After hearing what the Buddha said, the old man remorsefully said, “So it is because of my greed and stinginess in my past life that I am so impoverished and experience so much hardship in this life. I wish to request the Buddha to take me as a disciple so that I can repent and engage in spiritual practice with the remaining time I have left. And I hope to be able to listen to the Dharma starting from youth in my next life.”
The Buddha said, “There is no age discrimination in spiritual cultivation; both the young and old can cultivate themselves. From now on, you must vow to eliminate greed and stinginess, nurture a joyful, giving heart, and try your best to forge good affinities with as many living beings as you can.”
The old man replied, “I will definitely follow and live out the Buddha’s teachings.”
Thus, the Buddha accepted the 200-year-old man as his disciple and allowed him to join his monastic community.
Happiness lies in contentment
The greatest punishment in life is regret”.
Will a person with a long life always have an easy and comfortable life? It is not necessary so. All our troubles and afflictions in life are actually caused by greed, hatred, and ignorance. For example, what made the criminals commit crimes, such as robbery and kidnapping in society? It is mostly due to greed.
Actually, we only need one to two bowls of rice per meal, 1-2 metres of cloth to keep our body warm, and a single bed to have a good night’s sleep. Therefore, everyone can lead a good life as long as we are willing to work hard. Why does one need to rob or steal?
I often say, “The greatest punishment in life is regret”. A person who has never done anything regretful in life is the happiest person. But if one fails to take care of one’s mind and commits wrongdoings out of greed and hatred, it will be too late for regrets.
There are no complains but only joy in serving others
We should live for the sake of working, and not work just for the sake of earning a living."
As a member of this world, we must have a sense of mission. We should live for the sake of working, and not work just for the sake of earning a living. When we live for the sake of working, we are contributing to the masses in society. If we only work for the sake of making a living, it will be quite demoralizing! There are many people who feel burnout after having just worked for a few years. In the world of Tzu Chi, however, people do not feel that the work they do is hard on them; they feel blessed instead.
Tzu Chi volunteers willingly devote themselves no matter how heavy the workload is. Therefore, I will not say that they are having a hard time doing the work. Instead, I will say that they are very “blessed”! And they will always reply, “We feel fulfilled!” This is an example where one lives to work (for the greater good). If you have to work just to make a living, you may feel tired even before you start working—this is just a matter of perspective.
A grateful person knows how to repay the kindness of others. Someone with a loving heart will work to sow blessings for people. Wouldn’t a society filled with such people be very beautiful?
Source: Tzu Chi Taiwan website
Extracted from “Wu Ai Wu Jia” 《吾爱吾家》
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
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