The title of a short clip during our first discussion of E4E3G reminded me the great insight I have been familiar with long ago. Thanks to Nay Yu who brought it before my eyes. While I was watching, the flow of thoughts seamlessly flowed into my mind very loudly describing the above words vividly. Suddenly I felt I was enlightened.
“Never forget: we walk on hell, gazing at flowers”. Those words are from Kobayashi Issa, a Japanese poet and lay Buddhist priest of the Jōdo Shinshū sect from the 18th Century. His words reminded me plainly the world we live. In the true form beyond our human knowledge and reason, life we live is suffering itself and our mere existence is an illusion. But we do not and cannot see it due to so much hatred, greed and delusion we have. These three biggest foes within trick our minds to believe that what we see, hear and taste are all real. For billions, this is the Truth we discern. Our earthly knowledge and reason limits what we can think, know and see.
Without the transcendence of Buddha and alike, the world we live would have been shrouded with the darkness making all of us blind preventing from seeing the Truth. Only mindfulness through deep meditation can enlighten us to see what we really are.
To be a mindful person is easier said than done. Incessant efforts, enduring attempts, unfailing self-determination and consistent consciousness are the keys in raising awareness of self. In other words, the process of “know thyself” needs tremendous endeavor. By knowing all little our continuous movements as a process of dying and rebirth, we can be enlightened. A pair of mindful eyes with wisdom can see the world in its true form depicting our lives as a mere illusion.
What a thought I have out of the title! In fact it served me well as a timely reminder of being. Without knowing its true form of our existence and enjoying earthly pleasure, we are as if walking on hell and gazing at flowers. As I have lived more than half of our anticipated life span, not to die as a mundane person, I must strive to live the Way Buddha and alike higher beings illuminated through their own life experiences.
I believe that living by Buddha’s principles and sharing good deeds to others will bring true wisdom and mindfulness to all of us one day.
(Words: 408)
Max | 7 January 2013
