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THE LISTENER The Buddha often said, there are a lot of sufferings you face, as long as you live in this world. The moment you are born, suffering begins, you are going to be old, sick, and eventually die. You can’t escape, because it is nothing but the fact, they are not all you suffer. When you lose or separate from someone you have, that absolutely causes you to suffer. There are many things you want, but can’t get them all, which is suffering. Or, even though you get whatever you want, you will never be satisfied. For example, when you find a good spouse or become rich, and succeed in life, nothing seems to trouble you, but in fact, you feel empty in your mind. That is the beginning of suffering. The trouble is, once you suffer, you can’t see when it will be over. Looks like those sufferings will continue forever, with no end. Now, suppose you felt deep sorrow or pain, what would you like to do? Or, I should say, what would you like people around you to do for you? I know there are many ideas you have, but one thing on which everybody may agree with me is, you want somebody to listen to you. When you are sad or depressed, you are eager to talk to your friend about what happened to you. Why you want to talk? Because, after telling you sad story to your friend, you feel some belief friend are precious for us. But even if you told friend you deep sorrow, you would not be completely healed. Pain is still hanging around you. But what if there are not more friends around you, is there no hope for you to recover ? No, the Buddha will listen to you, please look at the Buddha of our temple, have you ever notired the Buddha’s ears are fairly big? Compared with the ears, the mouth is relatively smell. Why do you think they are so? Let me tell you my personal opinion. It is because the Buddha is willing to listen to you. Always, definitely, rather than giving you some advice, first of all the Buddha is ready for you to comfess your own sorrow. This is why, I believe, the Buddha’s ears are so long and big. So, when you are in trouble, or in pain, do not be desperate. Do not think you are not wanted. Please come to see the Buddha, sit down in front, and tell the Buddha everything you have in your mind. I’m sure the Buddha will quietly listen to you. However, in Mahayana Buddhism, especially according to the Lotus Sutra, that is not enough, I mean, just finding a person listen to you is not enough to be a Bodhisattva. Then what can we do? You have to be a Bodhisattva, when you are suffering, you get help from friends or from the Buddha. But once you recover, it is you who, in turn have to be ready to listen to other people pain. No comment is needed. Just listen to them with all your mind and soul devoted to them. Please do not forget how much relief you got when someone who you trust listened to you earnestly, it is now you turn to do the same thing for all those who suffer. “There has long been a question, why I was born here? My answer is there is nothing which has no value in this world, including you. Because you are here, you can help somebody. People around you will be happy some day because of you.” This is what the Buddha tries to tell us. This is the very essence of the Lotus Sutra. Thanks you again for coming and listening to me. |