(10) Let Go of Your Sorrow

　　(A reply to Mr. Gao Shi Xiong)

　　From your letter, I am aware that in the past few years unfavorable environments and homesickness have caused deterioration in your health. This casts a cloud over your future. Fortunately, you have taken refuge in the Triple Gem, and are approaching towards the brightness of the Triple Gem. I believe that under the benevolence of the Triple Gem you will soon be enlightened and consolated.

　　You mentioned the sufferings that you have been through and wished that you may receive the brightness of the Buddha Dharma. This luminosity is in fact pervading everywhere at all times. It is just waiting for you to accept it. Please use your eyes of wisdom and see the brilliant hope right in front of you! You should understand that these sufferings are not the sorrow of an inpidual, the disastrous era is the result of common karma.

　　In China and all over the world, there are many who have escaped from the Iron Curtain and sought freedom. Thousands of them are like you, scattered everywhere, facing many difficulties, separated from their families, losing contact with their parents, and unable to go back to their homes. They are drowning in sorrow and frustration. Both their mind and physical body are seriously tortured. You are not the only one who is suffering. Furthermore, are those still behind the Iron Curtain living in a conducive environment

　　 Can their families be together

　　 Does their health deteriorate due to excessive work and malnutrition

　　 You knew the situation very well, hence you chose to seek freedom. We are suffering in this disastrous era that was created by our common karma and we should not think of ourselves only.

　　The deterioration of physical health is the result of the unfavourable environment and your anxiousness to see your family. You should not worry about your health only. Instead, you should be concerned about the grief that has arisen due to your unfavourable environment and homesickness. If you keep on worrying about the unfavourable environment and the unreachable home, you are in fact torturing yourself more, and it will be impossible for your health to recover. Your should consider, can your grief and worry help to change your unfavourable environment and reunite your family

　　 Of course it cannot. And in actual fact it will only worsen your health. Therefore it is useless for you to worry. By practising the teachings of the Buddha, we should learn to look from a wider and higher perspective. By understanding and developing faith in the Dharma, we should learn to let go our worthless worries.

　　It is true that you are facing an unfavourable environment. However, if you do not compare the satisfaction of the past with the dissatisfaction of the present, you will not have so much sufferings! Whatever is in the past has gone, including pleasure and happiness. It is useless for us to cling to it. Clinging to the past (i.e. cravings), is the defilement of all sentient beings. It brings alive past memories and consequently increases our disappointment and grief. It diminishes our effort to confront our difficulties and our enthusiasm to progress.

　　Why don”t you think in this way: you have freed yourself from the Iron Curtain. In comparison to those who are still behind the Iron Curtain, you are much more fortunate. The homeless and wandering period of the past few years is now over. You have arrived in a free country and settled down with a good job. Your situation is much better than those who are still wandering about as refugees and suffering from the stress of unemployment.

　　Whatever we are facing now is the result of our past karma and conditional causation. You should learn to feel at ease and find peace under all circumstances. You should make an effort …

《Let Go of Your Sorrow》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…