The Buddha says:
With karma as the field and the mind as the seed,covered with the soil of ignorance,moistened by the rain of desires,and sprinkled with the water of egotism…
This is how evil thoughts grow and produce fruits of confusion.
Many people ask me: “Master, how can I gain wisdom?” I just reply: “Don’t fret over trifles! If you don’t argue over every little thing, you won’t have any worries. Without worries, you will naturally have wisdom.
If you can endure life’s challenges, you will no longer argue over trifles. When your mind is no longer bothered by such worries, it will naturally shine with the glory of wisdom.
I often hear children being called “little bodhisattvas” and seniors being addressed as “elder bodhisattvas.” Is it appropriate to refer to humans as bodhisattvas?
Dharma Master Cheng Yen: “Real bodhisattvas are not statues that people worship in temples. Only those who can save people are real bodhisattvas. To be a bodhisattva, you must become involved with people in order to experience their lives and understand their needs. This is how you learn to be a bodhisattva.”
Translated by E. E. Ho and W. L. Rathje; drawings by Tsai Chih-chung; coloring by May E. Gu
