..续本文上一页 that many people strive day and night just to make money, thus wasting their rather short human life meaninglessly. College students like you have great expectations for the future, but once you go out into the world you may find that life is full of hardship with little fun. Therefore, do not be puffed up with high hopes now, lest you become disappointed later.
Realistically, the importance of comprehending life, the Dharma, the Truth, and of learning to be an upright person in school cannot be overstated. Without having been educated in these aspects, even students from elite universities with bachelors, masters, or Ph.D. degrees may turn out to be just jejune when out of school. Why is that
Because without the slightest idea of how to get along with others, how to pay back to society and help sentient beings, one will work ceaselessly all day long for “my” happiness and “my” family only. Such a life is without much meaning, I am afraid, regardless of how wealthy, how powerful or how talented one may be.
My words may not be too pleasing to your ears, and as you have not offended me in any way, why am I on the offensive speaking here now
As a matter of fact, I could just do lip service but that would do little to address fundamental issues. But by considering my talk as a red flag, you may come to see the crudeness of society and become more prepared for it with an extra ounce of prudence.
To tell you the truth, I am more than delighted to see that people nowadays are well fed and clothed; but I am also struck with an unaccountable sadness to see people live mindlessly, just hanging around and drifting along. Why
Because they do not even know about future life and still consider themselves quite clever and are puffed up with self-importance. I feel utterly sorry for them, but again, this could be my own prejudice.
IV. A Brief Explanation of Pure Land Rebirth
If one has established a foundation of recognizing past and future life, then to take a rebirth in Buddha”s Pure Land is not too far-fetched. In the Han area in particular, the Pure Land School has long attracted many faithful followers. However, as the saying goes, “A sincere recitation is not in your mouth; a good meditation is not in your legs.” Reciting the Buddha”s name by mouthing it, though virtuous, is not what counts most—rather, it is to arouse in the heart a strong faith in Buddha Amitabha and aspire to be born in his Pure Land.
Equipped with a strong faith and aspiration, coupled by a dedicated long-term practice, we all will, according to what the last chapter of the Visualization Sutra (Guan Jin) has stated, have a good chance to be reborn to Buddha Amitabha”s Pure Land of Great Bliss.
The magnificence and blissfulness of Buddha”sPure Land is beyond the description of mundane language. On the other hand, happiness in our Saha world is always tinted with pain, no matter how joyful or how lucky one may claim to be.If our voracious desire for material goods is not curbed, no amount of owning real estate, luxury cars, or fancy resorts will be able to fill the void of the famished mind.
Thus people today really can take a good dose of the Buddha”s teachings. Tibetan Buddhism is now well-accepted in Han China and other countries, mainly because its essence is congruent with Han Buddhism and its instructions on training the mind to develop altruism can readily be applied to benefit society.
Of course Tibetan Buddhism, like any other religion, has its good practitioners as well as, unavoidably, some bad ones. But in all, its instructions from eminent masters and its sublime essence are particularly effective for modern people if followed correctly.
Again, I would submit to you to look into the science of life with an open mind—its importance to you as inpidual and to society as whole cannot be underestimated. As a matter of fact, there is no better guarantee of keeping a peaceful, stable society than to instill the notion of causality in society members. Some people give up their belief that “Good deeds, as well as bad ones, will always rebound upon the doer,” all too readily because they have not seen a favorable repayment for their good deeds in this very life yet. As to retributions in future lives, they could care less. Such a view is indeed shallow-minded.
When people flock to the temple to offer homage to the Buddhas and burn incense, most of them have only their own welfare of this life in mind; they pray to be successful in business, to be blessed with a baby boy soon, to have peace and health, a happy family with no feuding, etc. These are but narrow-minded, mundane wishes, not even up to the standard of the lowest Buddhist aspiration. What is there to say about the aspiration of rebirth to Buddha”s Pure Land
Hence we really have to dig into the true meaning of Buddhism and its practice.
Of course, I don”t mean to persuade you to take up Buddhism, as religion is one”s free choice; to believe or not to believe, either way is fine. But should you decide to learn Buddhism, you must not do it just superficially, rather, try to get hold of its right view. To do so, you have to learn Buddhist doctrines systematically and it is only by investing time and energy in Dharma study will you come to grasp its profound meaning.
In sum, may you all establish a right view and be always mindful of it. Once you truly learn the existence of past and future life, a rebirth to the Pure Land of Bliss is within your reach!
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