WHEN I STOP WISHING

Foggy morning, June 15th, 2024, one, two, then three leaves fell, I saw them and suddenly smiled. Those leaves could not stay on the tree forever, right? Yes! It is…

WHEN I STOP WISHING

 

Foggy morning, June 15th, 2024, one, two, then three leaves fell, I saw them and suddenly smiled. Those leaves could not stay on the tree forever, right?

  Yes! It is…

 

I see you release yourself! But "releasing" or "surrendering" will probably be clear to you. What have you seen or realized, my dear? Do you perceive the impermanence, variation, and change of everything, and even the human heart? Or do you see the suffering, the difficulty of enduring, the physical pain - the mental suffering in yourself and in others? One thing I can be sure of is that you no longer have the strength to control this earthly game! It is because everything is egoless, right?! I know you have been heartbroken and worried for a long time to get here and make these decisions.

 

The girl I met ten years ago was in her twenties with an innocent, strangely warm heart. She always cared and helped everyone and animals. Oh! How beautiful is the energy of a newly sprouted Bodhi seed! But do you know? To nurture that Bodhi sprout, it is necessary to have sun, wind, rain, and dew. In addition, sometimes that seed cannot escape storms and droughts!

 

The worldly world is miserable!" - The Buddha is not wrong, right?

 Well, you should learn to be enlightened from the favorable things and even from the unfavorable things. As acquaintances, we remind each other of a few things every year, "If you cannot get something, don't force it. If it belongs to you, it belongs to you. If it is not yours, then just relax."

 

Now, after many years of ups and downs on this temporary earthly path, we reunite at this beginning and perhaps the end. Right here, I see that you are different, you have let go of what you need to release such as your family, your loved ones... and you have stopped clinging to a place that does not belong to you anymore. All thoughts have been abandoned, so you have accepted "All dharmas are Buddha Dharma". Know clearly what is true happiness and what is temporary suffering. I know you have stopped looking outside, stopped hoping for the people around you. So, you have learned to realize the truth of life, "This is suffering, impermanence, and no-self".

 

Only when you can help yourself and know clearly what you need; only when you are truly filled with joy and peace of mind, will you truly live and truly meet yourself on this journey of life and death. Then you will  be able to help people, my dear! Now, just breathe, which is a treasure.

  

“Let's laugh and sing for the sake of life

 Breathe to keep your strength stronger

 Although tomorrow may be everywhere

 My friend, please stay on the road

 Now you have the whole world 

With the moon and stars, all species and everywhere

 The sun rises brightly, and a new dawn

 Smiles in peaceful, leisurely steps..."

 

(Plum Village Song)

 Best regards,

 

An Tâm (Hoằng Pháp pagoda)

Translate by Huỳnh Thị Khánh Phụng