The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.112)

53 TZU CHI 112 For example, even though Sakyamuni Buddha renounced his affluent life, kingdom and royal status, he still had desires. He wanted to know how to become enlightened and how he could save people after he attained Enlightenment. These are also pursuits. Many people joined Tzu Chi for this reason: There are birth, ageing, illness and death in life as well as greed and pain. After joining Tzu Chi, people learn to really appreciate life. After understanding life, they are able to rid themselves of its desires and pains, and they are able to actively cherish life and utilize their innate abilities. Ms Yun: Do you think it is easier to know but harder to do? Or, harder to know but easier to do? Master Cheng Yen: Nothing is hard in the world. When one is unwilling to learn, it is hard to know. When one is unwilling to take action, it is hard to do. If we focus our attention on the present moment, we would not have time to think about things that happened yesterday. Therefore, what is really hard is seizing the present moment. Ms Yun: Is a person’s mission assigned by heaven or just taken on by oneself? Master Cheng Yen: Everything depends on our own efforts. But all things are connected to the karmic law of cause and effect that Buddhism talks about. The karmic causes in one’s previous life produce certain results. Whatever we have done in the past will follow our spirit to this life; that is what we nowadays call the subconscious. For example, in one’s previous life, if one had pleasant interactions with certain people, subconsciously he will be happy when he meets those people in this life. If one dislikes someone in a past life because of a negative cause, it will be unpleasant when they meet in this life. They may even have conflicts or hamper each other. This is the simplest explanation. On the other hand, if one was full of compassion in a previous life, his mission in the past life stays in his subconscious and will naturally emerge in this life. Of course, to fully develop this love and compassion, there is a need for practice and training. Conditions may be changed, but karma is hard to alter. This subconscious mind will exist forever. People come into this life with karma. If we can refrain from taking issues over conflicts that arise from our previous lives, if we can overcome grievances and resentments and be understanding, accommodating and even grateful, then we are changing our karmic conditions. We can create new causes and conditions. Karma will definitely manifest itself, but people can be taught and good affinities can be established. * The article is extracted from the book “Friends from Afar: Conversations with Dharma Master Cheng Yen”.