The glory of life
Grand Master said, “What is the big deal about some people being able to
live to a ripe old age of 100 year-old?” Those who live for 100 years are just
“walking-dead”, “skeleton”, “negative karma” and the “ignorant one”. How has one benefited himself from living up
to 100 year-old in a meaningless way? What good has he done for the rest of
sentient beings? Nothing! A candle is burnt to ashes yet it brought no light to
others.
Grand Master reveres Jesus who lived only 33
years and died crucified. He only lived 1/3 of a century. Life is just about to
start for anyone at the age of 33.
However, he lived the most meaningful life compared with the rest in the
world. Although he only taught for 3 years, the effect of which lasted more
than 2,000 years! Look, Jesus had left us for more than 2,000 years by now, but
he still continues to live in the hearts of many today. Why? For those 3 years
of his life brought light to this world that lasts for more than 2,000 years.
His life of 3 years is equivalent to that of more than 2,000 years. The glory
of his life is beyond our imagination. So what if we could live 100 years when we bring no light to this world?
Do
not be too hung-up!
Grand Master said, “Do not be too hung-up
about our life.”
We live a very stressful life. So, Grand
Master is telling us to loosen up – do not suffocate ourselves with worldly
concerns. We should not assume that everything is important. Grand Master said,
“Actually, nothing is important!” What we think is important is not important
at all to Grand Master. Why? “Life is too short! Life will be over in no time!”
Grand Master wants us not to be worried about anything at all because our life
is simply too short! Do not assume that we have several decades more to go.
Actually, time flies! Even the most important thing to you will become a thing
of the past in no time.
Grand Master said there is only one thing in
life that is worth being serious about – spiritual cultivation! The rest is
worthless. What we regard as important is not important to Grand Master
including our life, our career, our relationship, our family, our spouse, our
children and all other things in life. To Grand Master, only spiritual cultivation
is the most important thing in life; the rest are worthless and unimportant.
What Grand Master is trying to say is that - we have wasted our precious time
on worthless things!
The
Purity of Our Action, Speech and Mind
Grand Master said when you manage to purify
your action, speech and mind, the window to your heart naturally opens. At that
juncture, you will find a Buddha right within your very home, right within your
heart - you have attained the spiritual response! You have “morphed”
spiritually into a state of greater maturity. At that juncture, the sun light becomes your dress, the air
your body and the water your pure mind. Every day, every hour,
every second is "spring" to you – you will feel the joy of spring!
Why have you been practicing for so many
years and yet not attaining the state of enlightenment as mentioned by Grand
Master? For you have not truly purified your action, speech and mind.
Although you appear to be a practitioner in form, you have not been able to
attain the true state of a practitioner in substance. So what if you are eloquent
about the teachings, when you fail in realizing them? That is the very reason why
you continue to be mired in mental afflictions.
We should not just read the books written by
Grand Master like reading a novel and forget it soon after. We should bear
in mind his teachings and put them to practice. It will be wasted if you simply
read and forget about it. These are key teachings which can help our practice
tremendously.
Last but not least, if you treat spiritual
cultivation as something decorative in life, it will be completely meaningless.
In actual fact, we should treat spiritual cultivation as the most important
thing in life, and the rest decorative, unimportant and not worthed wasting our
time.
A teaching given by Acho Rinpoche on 13 Nov
2012
