TLDR: Reflect on existence: What truly moves you? What do you live for? Venerable Jian Xin shares her journey from tears to clarity on the path.
A Zen Master’s question that changed Everything
It happened more than twenty years ago. However, the memory is still so vivid that it seems like it happened yesterday. It was more than ten years after I became a Buddhist and I had met with some spiritual setbacks.
At that point, I was feeling quite disillusioned with my spiritual life, so I took leave from work and attended a seven-day Zen Retreat. The many rounds of sitting and walking meditation greatly calmed my mind.
Soon, it was time for my interview with the Zen Master. I stepped into the room and sat down in front of him. Immediately, I felt enveloped by an immense sense of peace. He looked at me and asked, βDo you have any questions?β
I looked at him and shared what had been bothering me for quite some time: βZen Master, I have been feeling quite lost. In fact, I have been feeling quite disillusioned with my spiritual life.β
He paused for a few seconds and asked me a question that still seems to ring in my ears today: βAnimals live to eat. What do you live for?β
Tears immediately welled up in my eyes. Something deep within me was moved. Tears then began to roll profusely down my cheeks.
I could not stop them. They were tears of suffering, tears of joy; tears of suppression, tears of freedom; tears of Samsara and yet, tears of awakening.
From confusion to clarity
βWhat do I live for?β β This question had been bugging me since I was very young. Finally, I found the answer to my life purpose through the first Buddhist book I read when I was fifteen.
Through the years, all my major life decisions were centred around my life purpose β decisions regarding my studies, my career, and my relationships.
However, there were a few times when I was misaligned. I am deeply thankful that I would encounter teachers and episodes, like the above-mentioned Zen interview, which would reconnect me with my life purpose.
I remember a Buddhist parable that I read when I was doing my Philosophy studies at university. This parable was quoted by Leo Tolstoy, a Russian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time.
In this piece of writing β βA Confessionβ, he quoted this parable that to him, genuinely revealed human reality. He wrote, βAnd this is no fable but the truth, the truth that is irrefutable and intelligible to everyone.β
From honey drops to realisation
This βParable Sutraβ was related by the Buddha to a king named βBrillianceβ. Long ago, a man was travelling through the wilderness and was chased by a wild elephant. He fled and came to an empty well.
Dangling into the well was the root of a tree, and he quickly climbed down the root. At the bottom of the well was a poisonous serpent. Two rats, white and black in colour, gnawed at the tree root above him.Β
A hive in the tree root contained the honey of bees, five drops of which fell into his mouth.
The wilderness symbolises the path of ignorance. The person fleeing is a metaphor for the ordinary man, while the elephant represents impermanence. The well is a metaphor for the shore of Samsara (Cycle of birth, death and rebirth).
The tree root represents life and the two rats gnawing at the root symbolize day and night. The serpent symbolises death and the dripping honey is a metaphor for the five sense desires (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch).
So here we are, wandering in the wilderness of ignorance, fleeing from the elephant of impermanence, clinging to the root of life, knowing that the serpent of death is inevitably awaiting us.
The rats of day and night are gnawing at our lives. The drops of honey β are they still sweet to you?
Reflecting on Purpose: What Moves You?
Have you thought of your existence and what truly gives you meaning? Personally, aligning with my purpose in life eventually led me to renounce and become a Buddhist nun.
I cannot think of a better way to live my life meaningfully.
Back to the episode I mentioned at the beginning – what was it that I reconnected with, deep within me, that brought tears to my eyes?
The tears were about the suffering of sentient beings in Samsara and also about the bliss of awakening.
Yes, at that moment, I was deeply reconnected with this precious jewel β Bodhicitta, the mind that strives towards Enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. This is what I am living for.
Animals live to eat. What do you live for?
Wise Steps:
Learn from misalignments, allowing them to guide you back to your life purpose.
Reflect on symbolic parables, like the man in the well, to gain a clearer perspective on life.
Consider renouncing distractions to live a more purposeful and meaningful life.
Wholesome Wednesdays (WW): Bringing you curated positive content on Wednesdays to uplift your hump day.
Happy month of labour day! How can we become better ‘workers’ or professionals in the line of work? Minimalism and its value of decluttering might be an interesting way to be more effective at the work place!
Minimalism is more than clearing things, here’s what you might’ve missed
Decluttering as a zen meditation
Minimalism is more than clearing things, here’s what you might’ve missed
Cr: Unsplash
What’s going on here & Why we like it
Ben Meer, an influencer focused on personal development, shares 5 life clutter areas people might miss. These are relationship clutter, physical clutter, digital clutter, financial clutter, and time clutter. We like how actionable it is to declutter our lives at this very moment so that we can focus on what is truly important.
“Fewer possessions = more freedom/optionality”
Wise Steps
Contemplate: What can you declutter today?
Avoid the hedonic treadmill (pursuing one pleasure after another without experiencing any material change in happiness)
Leo Babauta, zen habits’ creator, shares how decluttering might seem overwhelming but it can be also seen as peaceful meditation. Leo shares three areas of decluttering by defining clutter, letting it go mindfully, and clutter as mindfulness practice
“Clutter might be things we think we might need sometime in the future. We hold on to them just in case. Over-packing for a trip is a good example β we bring more than we really need, just in case we need them. Itβs the same in our houses β we have a ton of things we donβt really need or use, just in case.”
Wise Steps
What’s one thing that you can declutter right now?
Clear one surface in your room/house now, do so slowly and mindfully.
Wholesome Wednesdays (WW): Bringing you curated positive content on Wednesdays to uplift your hump day.
Conversions and attempts at conversion are something Buddhists may keep quiet about. This week we explore this prickly topic and how we can manage proselytising when it happens. On the flip side, do Buddhist try to convert others? Let’s explore two resources today!
1. “Hi, would you like to convert to my religion?”: Agreeing to disagree
2. Do Buddhists convert people? : Don’t Ask Strangers If They’ve Found Buddha
“Hi, would you like to convert to my religion?”: Agreeing to disagree
Snapshot from the booklet
What’s going on here & why do we like it?
Yes, being subjected to proselytising is uncomfortable. As βniceβ Buddhists, we may feel uncomfortable to say anything so as to not upset others.
This 2005 publication, yes we are internet archeologists, is a great resource on different settings from work, to deathbed, to home. Sponsored by two of Singapore’s most famous temples, this resource also covers misconceptions about Buddhism and how Buddhism views other religions. Pretty neat.
We donβt need othersβ approval to practise the Dhamma. But we do need to be convinced in our hearts that what we do is right.
Wise Steps
Ultimately, people who try to proselytise to us have positive intentions to share their religion with us. Learning skilful means to reply is helpful in keeping harmony while being comfortable with your own religious beliefs
Check out the resource website here or the PDF itself!
Cover Page
Do Buddhists convert people? : Don’t Ask Strangers If They’ve Found Buddha
Have you found Buddha? Something you hardly/never hear Cr: Unsplash
What’s going on here & why do we like it?
Barbara O’Brien, a Zen Buddhism Expert, shares why the Buddhist teachings and practitioners aren’t big on proselytising to other non-Buddhists. She draws from suttas and renowned teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh and Dalai Lama on why proselytising might be counterproductive. We like it because she tackles the topic from many angles in a succinct manner!
“if it becomes important to you to prove to the world that your beliefs are the only correct beliefs, and it’s up to you to lead everyone else out of their erroneous ways, what does that say about you?”
Wise Steps
A common Buddhist saying “There are enough people trying to spread the Dhamma but not enough trying to realise the Dhamma.” Spread the Dhamma by practicing it, without having to use words, simply behave well so as to be an example to others through oneβs manners and behavior.
Those of us who wonder how we can introduce our loved ones to Dhamma can start by cultivating our hearts towards greater happiness
Wholesome Wednesdays (WW): Bringing you curated positive content on Wednesdays to uplift your hump day.
η½ειι»ε (White-haired person sends off black-haired person) is a common taboo subject that we avoid in our culture. However, it happens. Elderly sometimes have to witness the death of their offspring. How do we deal with such situations? Today, in the spirit of ghost month, we explore the topic of death.
1. My daughter died of leukemia. Is it possible to ever be truly happy again?
2. Grief and loss. Here’s how attending a concert shows you the difference.
My daughter died of leukemia. Is it possible to ever be truly happy again?
Thich Nhat Hanh’s shares the answer with the lady who lost her daughter
What’s going on here & Why we like it
A lady asks the late venerable Thich Nhat Hanh how she can be happy in spite of her daughter’s death. Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh compassionately shares on she can move on as a mother. Seeing other ways the departed person can manifest in your life is one way to develop healing and closure. We love how the mother listens intently to venerable and we feel that sorrow and hope for the mother.
“So the old buds who have died, they have not really died. They come again, as life is very strong. Life is stronger than death.”
Wise Steps
Healing from loss is an extremely difficult process that each of us will go through in our lives. By finding answers in nature, we develop the ability to see reminders of the departed one. A cloud never dies.
Grief and loss. Here’s how attending a concert shows you the difference.
Cr: A concert and death. What’s the relationship?
What’s going on here & why we like it
There is a difference between grief and loss. Ajahn Brahm, a famous monk from Australia, shares stories of death, loss, and how losses can remind us of the present moment. Grief is seeing only what has been taken away from you. The celebration of a life is recognizing all that we were blessed with, and feeling so very grateful. We like this talk because it beautifully captures the essence of life and how we can move on when love ones go in different directions as we journey through life.
“It wasn’t happy, it wasn’t sad. It was spiritual…It was like how I went for concerts, seeing bands…after the encores finished I had to go home. I knew I would never hear that music again…I never focused that the concert was ending. The only thing I ever knew was how wonderful it had been. How inspiring that music was and how fortunate I was to be there.”
Wise Steps
Death reminds us that losses will happen in our lives. Instead of going into loops of loss, we can reflect on the moments of inspiration we gained from that person’s journey in our lives. Reminding ourselves that life is impermanent will also spur us to forgive easily and not let petty arguments get in our way of love and friendship.
Enjoy the talk below! (We have cut it short to the juiciest part! But just listen to the whole thing if you can!)
Wholesome Wednesdays (WW): Bringing you curated positive content on Wednesdays to uplift your hump day.
Earth day is approaching! Climate change, going electric, buying sustainable products are all aspects passionately discussed on Earth day. Buddhists are commonly nudged towards being more environmentally friendly… so what does the late zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh, have to say about our attitudes to the earth?
1. Can you fix climate change? Answering it is harder than you think
2. The astronaut & the Dhamma lessons on earth
Can you fix climate change? Answering it is harder than you think
Unsplash
What’s going on here
Kurzgesagt, an awesome youtube channel and writer of Immune, explores how we can solve rapid climate change. He explores deeper into how individual responsibility is not enough to turn around the tide of climate change. Instead of feeling hopeless, Kurzgesagt explores what we can actually do.
Why we like it
“Go vegetarian! Buy metal straws!” We are often told to make personal lifestyle changes to save the planet. However, there are also more ways to create a deeper impact. This video shares our current impact and why it is not enough to solve climate change. The mixture of narrative and statistics makes this video super enjoyable.
“Can’t some technology save us so we can continue to drive our big cars and eat meat every day? “
Wise Steps
Education is our first step. The next goes towards advocacy at the level we can to help some of the greatest issues facing earth and humanity. Doing our part and helping others/ industries do a little better can go a long way!
Read our review of a Buddhist Environmentalism movie (psst. we enjoyed it!)
The astronaut & the Dhamma lessons on earth
Unsplash
What’s going on here
Late Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, shares on we can approach caring for the earth and our minds. When we are mindful, we are able to see the beauty of the earth and can start caring for it. Oh yes, he mentions legendary Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.
Why we like it
His short and impactful sharing between the first moon landing and earth is unforgettable. We sometimes think of different miracles being something extraordinary. Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh challenges to see the miracle in the simple. Simply earth.
“Mindful walking means you touch the ground of the planet earth mindfully, you touch all the wonders of life”
Wise Steps
When is the last time you walked in nature? Taking yourself out to walk and be in nature (no airpods/ no phones) could reconnect you with the earth on earth day!
