Quotations on: All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else. When I was in solitary retreat, I knew
that I was together with all sentient beings in innumerable worlds.
Even though I seemed to be alone in a small, enclosed room, actually
I was in company with many ants who found their way inside, and
there were many insects around the hut who created all kinds of
sounds in the evening. When I opened the Sutras, people thousands
of years in the past were talking to me. How could I feel lonely?
Some people think I must feel lonely being a monk without any
wife or children. Not at all. I have the 5 precepts and the 10
Virtuous Deeds as my wife, and my children are all the people
who I have developed a karmic affinity with and who call me Shih-fu.
It is only those pitiable people who enclose themselves and cannot
establish a relationship with the outside world who feel lonely.
If you keep yourself enclosed, even if you live among thousands
of people you will still feel very lonely. However, if you keep
yourself open, then even if you are living alone, you will still
have a very full life. So open your mind and treat everyone as
your intimate, virtuous friend. Why are we bored, lonely and lazy? Because
we don't have the will to totally open our hearts to others. If
you have the strength of will to totally open your heart to others,
you will eliminate laziness, selfishness and loneliness. Actually,
the reason you get lonely is that you are not doing anything.
If you were busy, you wouldn't have time to get lonely. Loneliness
can only enter an inactive mind. If your mind is dull and your
body inactive, then you get lonely. Basically, this comes from
a selfish attitude, concern for yourself alone. That is the cause
of loneliness, laziness and a closed heart. Last
updated:
January 25, 2010
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