Happiness and Sadness in the Temporary World

"Tomorrow, I will release everything and return to the earth.

The dreams of the world, I leave to those who remain.

The morning sun, the afternoon rain, the whispers of worms and crickets—

At night, I will lie beneath the sky, gazing at the moon and stars.

…

But today, while breath still fills my lungs,

I will strive to live with joy—until that day comes"

(Monk Giac Nguyen)

 

On this pleasant sunny day, she sat in a daze, weighed down by a string of disappointments. Watching her, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sorrow—not just for her, but for this fleeting human existence. She was sincere, and her years in the temple had only deepened her sensitivity to the world around her.

 

The truth is, her relatives and loved ones were also devout Buddhists who had faced misfortune—misfortune born from past karma. Yet, when it comes to the cycle of karma and its consequences, there is more to pity than to blame. This pity stems from ignorance—stumbling in the dark, unable to see, understand, or know. And when the causes and conditions finally align, the outcome can be unbearably painful.

After the pandemic, some lives were lost—some endured. The loss was unbearable, too sudden to grasp, leaving survivors heartbroken. The pain of separation from loved ones is its own kind of suffering. Her sister, once thriving in real estate, faced bankruptcy as the pandemic shattered her livelihood. Families were torn apart, leaving lasting scars in its wake. Seeing so much suffering, it felt as if a heavy stone pressed against my heart. This world is full of sorrow—this world is truly miserable.

Then came my story. One day, I read in the newspaper about a man—unkempt and weary—who worked as a ferryman. He had been caught smuggling 12 kilos of gold across the Vietnam-Cambodia border and was arrested.

 

Looking at his image, I felt a deep sense of sorrow. A father, a husband, the breadwinner of his family—perhaps he only wanted to earn a little extra to give his loved ones a proper Tet celebration. But in a moment of desperation, he chose the wrong path. And now...!

 

"Bodhisattvas fear causes, while sentient beings fear effects." How true it is—unwholesome consequences are often unbearable!

 

"What should we do, Buddha? How can we ease the suffering of sentient beings?

 

Impermanence, suffering, and non-self—these are the very nature of life. We cannot live and practice in a state of fear and confusion, yet we must not ignore the inevitable truths of aging, sickness, and death that loom over us. A fellow practitioner has just passed away, returning to the Buddha in peace and liberation. With mental preparation, we can meet life's uncertainties without panic—without suffering as much as we fear. Loss, pain, and dissatisfaction are not just burdens; they are wake-up calls. They remind us to pause, to reflect. Our struggles, the struggles of others—the fleeting, dreamlike nature of this world—unfold every moment, every hour, across this earth.

 

The sound of the temple bell, the time of diligent practice in the old temple, echoes here again… hearing the bell, reminds me to let go!

 

Best Regards, 

 

An Tâm

Translated into English by Sophia Thai