Everyone wants an enjoyable life, a life that continuously makes them feel content. Unfortunately, most people’s real lives are not like this. Rather, they often feel that life is short, but full of suffering. However, from my experience, we can use our heart to find peace and beauty in life. In fact, peace and beauty are with us all the time, if we choose to
feel them.
When you step out of your house,
Gaze gently toward the sky.
Look at objects and scenery near and far.
Greet everything you see with “Hello, how are you?”
Slow your footsteps, walk lightly.
Take care not to hurt the ants, those tiny innocents.
Do not let negligence cause them injury;
Maybe their children wait to be fed,
Or their wives look forward to their return,
Or their mothers expect them home safe and sound.
Yes, slow your footsteps, walk lightly.
TREES
Whenever you come across a tree,
Greet it with deep sincerity.
Watch and listen for the tree’s response,
Feel it accepting you with joy.
At this moment,
Feel as one with the tree,
And say: “I am the tree, and the tree is me.”
In a mere moment,
You will feel its freedom, calmness, and elegance,
Its essence at one with your body.
A tree is indeed selfless,
It gives us its all.
In spring, it decorates our surroundings
With exuberant green leaves and gorgeous flowers;
In the heat of summer,
It spreads its shade,
In autumn, it gives us a bounty of fruits
To nourish our bodies and minds;
And, in times of storm,
It shields us from wind and sand.
Even when it withers and dies,
It transforms itself in ways that serve us,
Constantly giving.
A tree will sacrifice itself to flames,
Giving warmth and light to those in need.
Trees!
They are selfless,
Giving everything they’ve got.
Unconsciously, we live in their protection.
They are forever our hope, our kin.
Trees are buddhas.
MOUNTAINS
Whenever you see mountains,
Greet them.
Then imagine,
“I am the mountain and the mountain is me.”
If you stand firm in this life,
Accepting the light from sun, moon, and stars,
Accepting the tumult of wind, rain, and snow,
You will feel their might,
And be steadfast in embracing the reality of life.
SKY
Looking up at the sky,
We cannot help but realize
How insignificant we are.
But by merging mind and body with cosmos,
Saying “I am the sky and the sky is me,
I am tolerant of all things,
And I am one with the Universe,”
We will come to see
That struggling for fame and fortune,
Is draining beyond measure,
To be enraged at anything, big or small,
To dwell in anxiety and misery,
Is selfish and ignorant.
WATER
Before drinking water,
Offer thanks in your heart.
Water gives me energy.
With water, I’m not tired, I’m not dirty,
I’m not manic, I’m not angry,
Ah! Water is the source of all beings;
It is everywhere, in all things.
Streams, rivers, and vast oceans give us life.
Water is irresistible, regardless of form;
Be it plain water, ice, rain, clouds, vapor, or rainbow,
There isn’t a place it cannot reach,
The highest peak,
The lowest valley,
Whenever, however, water serves us unceasingly.
When you are feeling ill,
Sincerely communicate with water,
Then drink it slowly.
Something miraculous will happen.
More often than not, water will rid you of disease.
After a long journey, when feeling exhausted,
A glass of water refreshes us in body and mind,
Cooling the heart, replenishing energy.
And, after taking a bath,
Body and mind resemble a young plant at dawn —
Fresh, cool, contained by the peace of the moment.
Every morning when you rise,
Drink pure water to wash your insides.
Then, cleanse your eyes, nose, ears, mouth, and throat;
At the same time visualize washing away.
Selfishness,
Greed, and laziness;
All impurities.
You are returned to a clean, bright, broadminded state.
This will bring you through a happy and beautiful day.
When our heart is full of kindness and friendliness, the world responds with kindness and friendliness. What we receive will be far more than we initially give. Living in a friendly and kind world, how can we not be happy? If our heart is full of selfishness, greed, and hatred, the world will appear to be cold, dark, and harsh to us, and conflicts and pain will surround us. This is the response we receive due to our own selfish, greedy, and vengeful heart.
With every little thought, we will try to foster our kindness and compassion and gain wisdom and right views of life. As we do so, success is already forming.
We create our own reality. An unfriendly heart attracts suffering, a loving heart feels happiness.
