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05-12-2024, 02:52 PM
At the end of life, we leave everything behind. We take nothing with us and gain nothing in the end. Think about it: we can’t truly possess anything. Let me give you a simple example. Life can be divided into three stages: childhood, youth, and old age. In childhood, you might win awards, earn certificates, or receive recognition at school. At the time, you felt so proud and excited, much like the joy of graduating from university. But how much of that excitement do you still feel now? When you started university, did those high school achievements still matter? And as you near the end of your life, will the events of primary school, high school, or even university truly hold any significance? At the end of life, the things you care about most are your family, yet even then, you must leave them behind. You cannot hold onto the money you’ve worked so hard for—you’ll have to let it go. Everything you have is temporary because, eventually, you must part with it all, whether you want to or not. Life is full of such helplessness. Once you leave your body, where will you go? It’s truly pitiful. That’s why you must learn to let go when the time comes. Release attachments when necessary. Show care for those you love from your heart, not just through outward actions. You can love someone deeply without needing to be with them every day.
Many of you come here to learn Buddhism and the Buddha-dharma from me. By sitting here, you’re also bringing blessings and shelter to your families. Isn’t that true? By becoming my disciples, your homes gain peace and harmony. Isn’t that a form of cultivation? Isn’t that what spiritual practice is all about? Do you think sitting here is a waste of time—that you should instead be with your family? On the contrary, because you’re studying Buddhism, practising the Dharma, and reciting Buddhist scriptures, your family naturally receives blessings and protection. Isn’t that a meaningful way of caring for them?
If you want to live a meaningful life and extend your time in this world, don’t waste it. Spend your time reciting scriptures, cultivating your mind, and helping others—that’s how to make life truly worthwhile. Running around aimlessly every day is simply wasting time. What are you trying to achieve? Think about it: if you’re engaging in an activity with me or under my guidance, such as travelling overseas for Dharma events, its purpose is to spread the Buddha-dharma, helping you accumulate merit and virtue. On the other hand, if you’re travelling purely for leisure, it’s simply a way of wasting time. Can you travel to the Heavens? The beautiful scenes I’ve seen in the heavenly realms are far beyond anything you could ever see in your lifetime. These breathtakingly serene and ethereal landscapes resemble scenes from a movie—completely transcendent. Now think about it: when you travel, you spend hours on a plane to visit another country, only to endure another long flight back. Isn’t that exhausting?
When you leave this world and exist as a spiritual being, do you know what you’ll see in the Heavens? Those who have read the Amitabha Sutra know of the Seven-Treasure Pools, the Eight Meritorious Waters, and the golden ground. Imagine a place where everything is made of gold. Would you still pick up a piece of gold to hoard it, any more than you’d bother picking up a pebble on the road? People think the human world is so wonderful, but it’s all illusory and empty. What has the human world truly given you? Has it brought you lasting happiness? No—it only brings sorrow, worry, suffering, and pain. It burdens you with the harsh realities of life: birth, old age, sickness, and death. The hardest truth to accept is that you must die. When you lie in bed, unable to let go of this or that, how do you think that will feel? Stop wasting your time and make the most of it by diligently practising.
Master Jun Hong Lu's Buddhism in Plain Terms, Volume 3 Chapter 22, Abandon Worldly Bad Habits, Focus on Spiritual Cultivation in This Life
Many of you come here to learn Buddhism and the Buddha-dharma from me. By sitting here, you’re also bringing blessings and shelter to your families. Isn’t that true? By becoming my disciples, your homes gain peace and harmony. Isn’t that a form of cultivation? Isn’t that what spiritual practice is all about? Do you think sitting here is a waste of time—that you should instead be with your family? On the contrary, because you’re studying Buddhism, practising the Dharma, and reciting Buddhist scriptures, your family naturally receives blessings and protection. Isn’t that a meaningful way of caring for them?
If you want to live a meaningful life and extend your time in this world, don’t waste it. Spend your time reciting scriptures, cultivating your mind, and helping others—that’s how to make life truly worthwhile. Running around aimlessly every day is simply wasting time. What are you trying to achieve? Think about it: if you’re engaging in an activity with me or under my guidance, such as travelling overseas for Dharma events, its purpose is to spread the Buddha-dharma, helping you accumulate merit and virtue. On the other hand, if you’re travelling purely for leisure, it’s simply a way of wasting time. Can you travel to the Heavens? The beautiful scenes I’ve seen in the heavenly realms are far beyond anything you could ever see in your lifetime. These breathtakingly serene and ethereal landscapes resemble scenes from a movie—completely transcendent. Now think about it: when you travel, you spend hours on a plane to visit another country, only to endure another long flight back. Isn’t that exhausting?
When you leave this world and exist as a spiritual being, do you know what you’ll see in the Heavens? Those who have read the Amitabha Sutra know of the Seven-Treasure Pools, the Eight Meritorious Waters, and the golden ground. Imagine a place where everything is made of gold. Would you still pick up a piece of gold to hoard it, any more than you’d bother picking up a pebble on the road? People think the human world is so wonderful, but it’s all illusory and empty. What has the human world truly given you? Has it brought you lasting happiness? No—it only brings sorrow, worry, suffering, and pain. It burdens you with the harsh realities of life: birth, old age, sickness, and death. The hardest truth to accept is that you must die. When you lie in bed, unable to let go of this or that, how do you think that will feel? Stop wasting your time and make the most of it by diligently practising.
Master Jun Hong Lu's Buddhism in Plain Terms, Volume 3 Chapter 22, Abandon Worldly Bad Habits, Focus on Spiritual Cultivation in This Life
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