WHAT DO WE GET FROM FOLLOWING BUDDHA?

It is a sunny day! After weeks of heavy rain, this morning the sunlight has appeared, giving the sky and earth a new coat after days of continuous storms. Sitting and gazing at the sunlight, I am filled with thoughts of the recent typhoon Yagi. The damage it has caused, both material and human, is truly horrifying.

Oh! The karma that sentient beings create due to ignorance has caused truly tragic suffering. But sentient beings are also just victims because they do not see, do not know, do not understand karma and the karmic results that they have created. How pitiful it is! Seeing Mr. Thoi sitting there absent-mindedly, when everyone in his family was swept away by the flood and he left alone. Seeing this scene, my heart ached... In addition, the whole village of Nu was now devastated, lost asset and people’s lives, what was left just two words of ‘great sorrow’. Suddenly I remembered myself! I thought about this human life. A series of questions continuously appeared. How and how? Today, after much struggle, I have found the answer for myself.

 

Where to start? Well, it starts with being a young person who desires happiness. In fact, happiness includes two elements such as material and spirit. In terms of material, we must choose a good job, as the Buddha taught, “A true Buddhist does not engage in five professions including trading in weapons, trading in people, trading in meat, trading in poison, and trading in alcohol and drugs.” It is because when we do an unscrupulous job of making a living by harming other beings’ lives, it means we have planted bad causes, then we will certainly receive bad results in the future. Also, when we are still healthy, with abundant energy but we do not work, what will we have to fight when unexpected events occur such as accidents, illnesses...?! As the Buddha taught in the Dhammapada Sutra:

 “When young, we are not virtuous

Not seeking money

Like an old stork by the pond

Cheerless, no fish or shrimp.

When young, we are not virtuous 

Not seeking money

Like a broken bow

Lamenting the days gone by.”

(Dhammapada, verses 155 - 156)

 

At the same time, when one’s material life is sufficient, his spiritual life needs to be paid with more attention. Why? Because money and materials are external things, and external things only serve our daily life. When facing difficulties and unexpected events, we need to have a "steel" spirit to be able to overcome them. For example, there was the bewildered image of Mr. Thoi when his whole family lost everything and his house was swept away by the storm. If we face such adversity, what should we do? That is my concern. Do we need to prepare ourselves first? Prepare ourselves with inner strength to face the storms of this life. But what should we prepare? Only the Buddha's Dharma can help guide and illuminate our lives against the eight winds of this world. It is never too late for those who desire happiness to begin learning about the Buddha's teachings.

When the light of truth is shone, the darkness of ignorance will be pushed back. The image of the Sangha members overcomes difficulties, storms, landslides... in the heart of the storm to send everyone necessities, financial support... along with words of encouragement and consolation has shown that the spirit of compassion that the Buddha practiced and taught his disciples more than 2500 years ago that is still echoing here. To do so, I set out to find the Buddha. But where is the Buddha? Buddha is in our good words, actions, and thoughts. As a result, I knew I had to learn about the law of cause and effect, the three refuges, the five precepts, and the ten good deeds… These are the most basic foundations for my path to liberation. They help me to be more steadfast when facing the unwholesome consequences that I created in the past due to ignorance. Therefore, we can learn and vow to give up and not repeat them. This is peace and happiness! It is when I realize the benefits of practicing and following in the Buddha’s footsteps.

“Some people, thanks to their good roots, can self-reflect on their body, mind, and environment and become enlightened.

Some people are fortunate enough to meet a teacher who can enlighten them.

Some people have to wait for their karma to teach them before they can become enlightened.”

(Truc Lan Nha)

I wonder, which type of person do you want to be?

Best regards,

An Tâm

Translated into English by Huynh Thi Khanh Phung