Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life
淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答
(continuation of the answer to Q13 - 3/3)
Similarly, between accepting one’s fate or committing offenses and blaming fate, which one is better? Accepting our fate means doing our best in performing duties, and accepting the outcome . In doing so, our lives will be more relaxed, happy, and mature. We can still plan for the future if we have faith in Buddhist teachings; but, as Amitabha-reciters our mindsets are different from others. For example, if you wish to recite the Buddha’s Name and become a monastic to benefit sentient beings; then, you can listen, think and practice more. This is the motive of your compassionate mind.
Or, if I should choose to be a householder under these causal conditions; then, I need a job, to establish good karmic relationships with other people, and tell them about the benefits of Amitabha-recitation. You should know it is quite normal for an Amitabha-reciter to have a job and a social circle.
你這樣是聽天命,還是自己造的不好的命?聽天命就是自己盡到本分,“所有的結局,我都能坦然接受”,這樣人生過得非常自在。果然有此心境的話,什麼考北大、考哈佛都無法和你相比,因為你的內心非常自在,非常坦然,人生是比較成熟的。
人在某一個環境下,在某一個時間段,都有他要完成的任務,就像樹一樣,該發芽的時候發芽,該開花的時候開花,該結果的時候結果。人在年輕的時候,該讀書還是要讀一些書,但是剛才講了,我們的心境不一樣。
另外,未來的人生,如果有佛法的信仰,可以自己作一些規劃。
◎ 比如說“我就想念佛,我就想出家,我想由出家來利益眾生”,這樣的話,你就可以在佛法當中聞思修,更多地用心,這就是你的動力,這個慈悲要讓眾生都得到利益。
◎ 或者說“我這種因緣,就在家吧”,在家,你總要有個職業,你總要跟大家結善緣,隨分隨緣地把念佛的利益告訴有緣的人。同時你要有一個正常的生活,一份正常的工作,正常的人際交往,這都正常,不要覺得進退都不對勁。
Namo Amituofo!
