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According to the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish, before Buddha attained Buddhahood, he once saw a hunchbacked elderly in hell pulling a flaming metal cart. He felt terrible and moved forward to offer to take over the cart. A jailer pulled him aside and explained, "This elderly had committed many evil crimes when he was alive and deserves his punishment in hell now. This is his karma".
"He has sinned and ought to be punished, but I cannot bear it and am willing to suffer in his place". After he said that, the flames on all the carts vanished and cooled off. Even the jailers started to have empathy and stopped executing the punishment.
Everyone chooses happiness and avoids suffering. Only Buddha and Bodhisattva could endure the suffering on earth and are willing to return to this world again and again to save all beings. A person who can defy hardships in life and eventually make contributions is a Bodhisattva too!
How do you view external conditions? How do you listen to voices within? The answer is: With your mind! In pleasant situations, hold on to your mind and resist the temptation of desires and enjoyment. Under adverse circumstances, adjust your mind and do not let setbacks affect you. Instead of getting stirred by circumstances, turn situations around with your mind.
Translated by Lee Mui Hoon
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