The Journey of Life

The Nature of Our Earthly Journey

Life in this world is a journey. On this journey, one may have a clear destination, or one may simply be drifting forward without a goal. As you travel through this world, are you able to perceive all the scenery before you? Can you see clearly through the complex web of people, events, and material things that surround you every day? It is vital to ask yourself: what is the true essence of everything in this human world, and what should you be looking for as you travel through it?

The Trap of Unending Desire

Upon arriving in this human world, many people actively manage everything, striving to live well and working tirelessly to gain control over their circumstances. You pursue everything within reach and chase after things that are not yet yours. As your desires take root, you find that you are slowly unable to satisfy yourself. You begin to change in subtle, profound ways: your thoughts shift, your character is altered, unwholesome habits are formed, and deep-seated desires arise. Gradually, you become lost in this pursuit, forgetting the purpose of your journey and failing to return home.

Many people set their life's course without any intention of returning; they have forgotten that there is even a place to return to. They simply move forward in this world, constantly wanting more, never finding a moment of true peace. Because the thoughts of the human mind never cease, this journey is in a state of constant, turbulent change, shifting and transforming according to the cravings of the heart.

Awakening from the Illusion

Within this journey, have you ever truly awakened from the itinerary you have set for yourself? To awaken is to understand the nature of this journey and to see it with absolute clarity. These schedules and plans exist only within your own intentions, and they persist only because of your desires. The journey itself is merely a series of changes between the illusory and the real. You are travelling through layer upon layer of space, caught within the manifestations of your own mind.

Returning to the True Nature

When you finally step out of this cycle, you will be able to see the truth. My child, you must let your heart step out of this cycle first. Only then can you become clear and bright, no longer lost or confused by the illusions that surround you. Namo Amituofo.

This discourse was recorded by the Buddhist disciple Shi Faxi.