All Things But None

To crave death is a trait of weakness; to strive to live is courageous. Life should be “alive", and we can only appreciate the colors of life when we are alive. On the other hand, death is like the sunset, for even when there are signs of life, there is no more brightness in the world. Many people suffer business losses and all but run out of hope, but they continue to strive courageously to succeed. As long as they develop their potential in life, they will naturally encounter the right conditions to help them overcome their difficulties. They will be able to stand up on their feet and get on the road to success again. Many others endure lost love. Heartbroken, they lack the courage to carry on. But they need to understand that, just as there are numerous stars in the sky, there are even more people on earth. Why suffer so much for one person? Instead, they should pull themselves together and begin a new life.

Arriving at a seemingly dead-end road may actually signify the beginning of a new one. In our world, many survive the pain and horrors of natural calamities, yet they continue to live. The courage they display in the face of loss and suffering makes them models for others who face life’s trials and tribulations.

Because of impermanence, nothing escapes the tide of change. Both the good and the bad come with impermanence and change, so there is always hope as long as we live. Therefore, whether we suffer business failure, lost love, a family dispute, financial difficulty, a career setback, or poor health, we must live on courageously. In the face of hopelessness, we should still maintain hope to the very end.

Likewise, in the battlefield, even when the troops are down to the last man, they still fight on for their country. In nature’s world, cold ashes may burn again, and dead wood may sprout to life. The chance to survive often hangs on the brink of death, so there is always hope when we live life to the fullest. Seagulls struggle in a lonely battle against the wind and rain, and salmon persist upstream on a mission to spawn. They all strive until the very end. A lone boat in the storm still holds hope for rescue, and the wounded veterans of war sustain themselves with courage. When one is down in life, one should endeavor to turn over a new leaf, to stand up again, for courage and determination are the driving forces behind the will to live. Hope in life is not only sustained by courage, it is also sustained by vows and the wisdom to carry on. To live courageously is not to live for oneself only; it is also to live for one’s family, for society, and for one’s responsibilities. Only cowards shun life, the courageous safeguard its existence.

Text: Venerable Master Hsing Yun

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Live Courageously! I do find these two words go beautifully together.