The life of studying away from
home has always been one of constant moving. The most
bothersome issue is of accumulating more and more
luggage with each move. It was a total of six pieces of luggage
as well when I moved into Hsihu Center as a resident disciple.
However, Master always uses every occasion to help us learn
the spirit of detachment. Hence, after moving from the front of
the mountain to the back some five, six, seven, eight times, I
had the opportunity to deeply experience "simple living so
naturally my luggage dwindled to only two pieces. Therefore,
currently, I feel relaxed and at ease.
When I feel depressed or bored, I rearrange the interior of where I stay. After getting rid of some unnecessary items, it's really like moving into a new home and my mood is renewed from outside to in. I remind myself to start a new life from that day. When accumulated garbage is disposed of our magnetic field automatically changes. | Sometimes by just changing the color of the curtain, or the color of the table cloth, the atmosphere in the whole house changes. To add more life to a room, I've learnt that green plants are great, not to mention they also purify the environment and help cultivate our patience and caring qualities. Changing the world begins with changing our own "dens In order to welcome 1997, we could give ourselves a great New Year's gift, that is, "moving into a new home You might try it! (Inspired by "Master Says" A Saintly Way of Living.)¡¹ |
¡i¡j==================
Once Tzelu inquired of Confucius, "What is the aim of spiritual practice?
Confucius replied, "We cultivate ourselves to bring peace to other people. It means, we cultivate ourselves for others. Tzelu asked, "Is that all there is to it? Confucius replied, "We cultivate ourselves to bring peace to everyone. Even Emperors Yau and Shuen have not been able to accomplish this. Whether Tzelu got it or not, I can't remember now. But we spiritual practitioners should be able to understand Confucius. We can make other people feel at ease, if we feel at ease first. We are like lamps, giving off light and heat, which people around us can bask in. This is what Confucius considered "cultivating ourselves to bring peace to others If most of the leaders in this world are working towards this goal, an era of peace and prosperity will be forthcoming. Note: This conversation between Confucius and Tzelu is excerpted from The Analects of Confucian Chapter 14.¡¹ |