When the painting was completed, the rich man was shocked! He was so angry that he ran to the temple to confront the Zen master.
"I have paid so much money to help build this temple. How can you curse me and my family?"
The painting reads -
Father dies,
Son dies,
Then grandson dies.
The Zen master explains, "Death is inevitable! If you think this painting does not bring you great blessing, would changing these sequences be better?"
*****
Many people are afraid of death. The mere mention of this word brings gross unhappiness to many.
Have you planned your death?
Do you know that at least 10000 people would never see the next sun rise tomorrow?
Are you grateful that you are alive today?
Death brings fear to many people - but is there any reason we should be afraid?
It is common human nature to fear death, and usually fear leads them to look for help to lessen their fears.
Hell..
Heaven..
Life after death..
Are those facts?
Or are those just fictions stitched up by people who fear death?
Is religion naught but just something to soothe our fears?
I'm not actually an atheist - I respect all sorts of religions, but I don't spend my time to be a religious devout or something.
I am my own God.
While everyone is a God themselves.
People keep looking for the "greater being", the Creator, the Lord-of-Everything, they keep looking for a omniscient, all-benevolent being. The more they can't find it, the more they'll want to continue searching.
Every religion has a common base - to guide a person to the right path.
Do good - and you'll go to heaven after death. (Or perhaps get 72 virgins or something)
Commit crimes - and you get thrown into hell.
Of course, there're different versions of the "punishments" yet, but it all shows the same meaning:
The action you take now determines the action that would be taken on you in the future.
I still wonder though..
Why do people fear death so much?
Death is but ".. going to bed after a very long day. After all, to the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure .." (Quoted from Dumbledore again, Sorcerer's Stone -.-)
If you lived your life well, there isn't any reason to fear death, isn't it?
Oh wait, how's "lived your life well" defined then..
There isn't a set standard for the definition of "Success", or "Successful Life". It differs according to one's own opinion.
Just a few days ago while our Civic subject teacher was discussing "Our Aim in Life" in class, she asked us for our personal aims.
Some people said..
"Get good results, and get a good job."
"Get a good spouse."
"Earn lots of money."
When it was my turn, I answered:
"Achieve happiness in every aspect of my life."
While the teacher commented that my aim was seemingly far-fetched.
Who says I couldn't achieve happiness in every aspect of my life?
I couldn't do that all at once, so I'll do that using the Daffodil Principle.
One step at a time, to complete the whole picture.
How do I find happiness?
By being happy myself first, of course.
"If you are happy, you will see happy things and happy people."
It's just that simple.
*****
It is in the past and the past will never change.
Only I can change by choosing to do so.
Beginning today I will no longer worry about tomorrow.
Tomorrow will always be there, waiting for me to make the most of it.
But I cannot make the most of tomorrow without first
making the most of today.
Beginning today I will look in the mirror and I will see a person worthy of my respect and admiration.
This capable person looking back at me is someone I enjoy spending time with and someone I would like to get to know better.
Beginning today I will cherish each moment of my life.
I value this gift bestowed upon me in this world and I will unselfishly share this gift with others.
I will use this gift to enhance the lives of others.
Beginning today I will take a moment to step off the beaten path and to revel in the mysteries I encounter.
I will face challenges with courage and determination.
I will overcome what barriers there may be which hinder my quest for growth and self-improvement.
Beginning today I will take life one day at a time, one step at a time.
Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive self-image,
my desire to succeed or my capacity to love.
Beginning today I walk with renewed faith in human kindness.
Regardless of what has gone before, I believe there is hope
for a brighter and better future.
Beginning today I will open my mind and my heart.
I will welcome new experiences. I will meet new people.
I will not expect perfection from myself nor anyone else: perfection does not exist in an imperfect world.
But I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.
Beginning today I am responsible for my own happiness and I will do things that make me happy . . .
admire the beautiful wonders of nature, listen to my favorite music,
pet a kitten or a puppy, soak in a bubble bath . . .
pleasure can be found in the most simple of gestures.
Beginning today I will learn something new; I will try something different; I will savor all the various flavors life has to offer.
I will change what I can and the rest I will let go.
I will strive to become the best me I can possibly be.
Beginning today. And every day."
I'm hereby marking the 100th post of my blog. Never thought I'd come so far..
"If A is a success in life, than A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut", - Albert Einstein.
"I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy", - Dalai Lama.
4 comments:
Wow... Did you write that?? You certainly have an old head on young shoulders^^ Hehe... Now's my computer's turn to have some major problem = =
finally, some1 who have same opinion wif me about life, cheers!
spiral riynn: glacial is a tech guy
I think your teacher missed out a different aspects of the definition of 'personal aims'. Your personal aim provides that aspect that your teacher missed, in my opinion.
By commenting that it seems 'far-fetched', your teacher might have an incomplete view on the personal aims. He/she only sees materialistic/ visible gains as achievements. It focuses on the "external interactions" with things that can be seen/ touched, e.g. money, job, results, spouse, etc.
Your personal aim, instead focus on "internal interactions" with your heart and soul. This, in my view, is a more meaningful aim in life. You want 'happiness' in your heart, and in order to achieve this aim, you will plan, work hard, look back at life and re-learn various lessons.
To achieve "internal aims" (in your case, to gain happiness), you could have "external aims" (e.g. your teacher's examples of aims) to create a wholesome life for you. This is where your teacher's view and your view merge, to provide a more complete view of "personal aims".
Not many people are exposed to the idea of internal happiness, so it is normal for your teacher to oversees this aspect. But I'm glad to see you having the intuition to realize this internal fulfillment that you need to gain. You have shown a good insight and should continue to explore your thoughts on various other matters in life.
As Buddhism always teaches us, if you want to look for happiness, look internally, not externally. You are on the right path.
it's cool to have someone with the same views on life with me...but death too!!! wow, you're really not sin min material (ie. you actually think)
I wasn't really looking for religion than the truth (Buddha once said that people only revert to religion in times of trouble....how TRUE!!!)
But somehow I ended up finding it, a teaching that encouraged me to question and test for myself.
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