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Learning is a lifelong process. We need to embrace a mindset of continual learning to progress in life and create a better future. As the age-old saying goes,” One is never too old to learn”. The road of a thousand miles has to be taken a step at a time, and it is impossible to see overnight success. Therefore, the process of learning begins from ground zero, systematically and abiding by the rules.
The same is true in learning Buddhism, whether it is for beginners or cultivators at the intermediate level, we have to first understand the motivation behind Buddhism, and its guiding principles and form a clear goal to the practice. With a definite objective, we must still practise earnestly.
As one of the stories in the Hundred Parables Sutra goes –
A man went to visit his friend in a village in India and saw his newly completed home. He thought to himself: “This is such a nicely built house with such evenly laid walls”. He then asked his friend: “What material did you use to construct the even walls in your house?” His friend replied: “I soaked the stalk from my rice paddy till soft, then blended it with some mud before using it to plaster the wall.” After hearing this, he thought: “I shall learn from him to build a house using this technique.”
He began to construct his house upon returning to his hometown, but he thought: “If the wall can be plastered so beautifully with soaked paddy stalks, then why not use soaked rice grains instead. The soaked rice grains can definitely result in nice white walls.”
The man then carried out the work according to his plan and achieved seemingly good results at first. However, the wall started to show signs of cracking under the hot sun and the rice grains began to fall off bit by bit.
This story tells us that we must follow the right way, be it in learning Buddhism or in other things that we do. You cannot do well if just based on pure imagination. The correct path and rules of doing things have to be followed in order to achieve success easily.
For example, some people reach out to religious cultivation to gain spiritual relief but misapprehended the approach to this “relief”, believing that liberation only comes with the attainment of nirvana after abandoning our physical form. While the pursuit of inner happiness cannot be neglected, we also need to constantly seek self-cultivation. In life, we need to practise self-discipline to attain spiritual purity. In practice, we should actively do good deeds and offer help to everyone for the benefit of all and cultivate virtuous behaviour. We should also learn from people’s rights and wrongs, learn not to get worried and frustrated, learn to stay calm, have peace of mind and be happy every day. These are the true meanings of liberation.
We must continually embrace a learning mindset and take good care of our minds. Follow the path of life and put in a relentless effort to improve, then we will not be too far from our ultimate goal.
Translated by Kerri Loh
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