Be a lake and not a cup
When the Buddha was at the Jetavana Vihara, his disciple Radha once asked “Enlightened One, when you expound the Dharma before many people, you have always mention “impermanence”. Through I listen to it every day, I’m still unable to understand the truth of impermanence.”
The Buddha said “The truth of impermanence forms the basis of the Dharma. Without understanding the truth of impermanence, one cannot enter the primary stage of truth, so you have to listen carefully. The five aggregates namely form, consciousness, sensory feelings, volition and conceptualisation are all impermanent. Do you understand?”
Radha scratched his head and said “Enlightened One” the “form” you talk about includes all things that can be seen but everyday, many things i see are the same! Why do you say they are impermanent?”
The Buddha replied “Flowers bloom in spring, have you seen how a flower in bud and have not bloom yet look like? Have you seen the flower that have not bloom?”
“Yes! But…flowers in bud are flowers, aren’t flowers that bloom wilt still flowers?”
“Yes , the name is “flower”, but in the process the name that corresponds to the form is different.”
“Enlightened One, i still do not understand the truth behind it” Radha said.
“That is because you are not using your heart to think.” The Buddha further explained “Form has to be felt. Upon seeing a flower in bloom, you have to think about why the flower blooms. Upon seeing a flower in bud, you will also have to think about why the flower is in bud. You even have to find out the form that the flower takes before it is a bud or shoot.”
Radha scratched his head and said “Is it a seed”
The Buddha said “Yes, a flower’s earliest form is a seed. After the seed enters the soil, it will grow shoots and develop branches upon ripening of the cause. It will then grow buds and bloom. After the flower blooms, it will wither and the seeds will fall to the ground. This is the cycle of impermanence”
Radha said “Enlightened One, all these are too deep for me. What must be used to feel?”
The Buddha said “You have to use your heart to think and understand. Everything in the world is in the aggregate of volition. This is like the flower seed which bears fruit when combined with elements like sunlight, soil and air during the process of growth from the seed to wilting of flowers.”
The Buddha encouraged Radha “Knowing that a seed entering the soil will go into a perpentual cycle is the first step. Continue to use your heart and you will be able to understand the meaning of life through things.”
Sometimes from here i really do wonder how many of us are using our heart to think the things surrounding us? When a person is doing something which everybody all agrees that its not worth to know and its not important. Have they themselves ever rethought and goes another way around to understand of why there’s a need to find out while the person feel the thing is important? If we all of us keep insisting that “I am reasonable!”, the result is simply upsetting both parties as everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do. Why don’t we consider “Feelings”?
Now i really can feel that its not easy to making respecting and deferring to others a part of a person’s spiritual practice. When you meet people who are rude, careless and full of themselves, it is even more important for you to treat them with tolerance, humility and a peaceful mind. This will help to avoid many unnecessary conflicts. Will that be possible? Well i guess its through the experience in life…
Sometimes I do wonder when things happen, why am i the one who would make the apologies first? Is it due to my softness in my heart? Haha but one thing for sure is that i don’t like arguments..Seriously i don’t have the mood to celebrate chinese new year this year and the most important factor is due to my heart which is unable to settle down. Haiz and the days are starting to count down closer and closer
