Be Always Grateful--the Culture Building of the New Oasis for Life II

xidai

Being Always Grateful - Culture Building of the New Oasis for Life II

Xuefeng

February 21, 2010

(Translated by Transn Ltd. and Edited by Kaer)

Gratitude is the primary element for the sublimation of the quality of LIFE. To become a Chanyuan celestial, one must be grateful; to enter the New Oasis for Life, one must be grateful. How could one not be grateful for escaping the program of the secular world and enjoying the great pleasures of living in the New Oasis for Life?

What more do we want? The New Oasis for Life takes charge of our food, clothing, shelter, transportation, living, aging, illness, and health, and frees us from the worries and stress of supporting our elderly parents and rearing our young children. Our work is simple and we need not be overloaded with trifles. With a family of sisters, brothers, and lovers, we are no longer lonely or solitary; with free and open love, we are no longer depressed, melancholy, or distressed. As we have achieved the state of possessing nothing but having everything, we no longer need to worry about our “things”; as we have the stage to fully exhibit our personalities and talents, we no longer need to fear that our talents will not be put to good use; as we are far removed from the secular world, we no longer feel anxious about scheming, cheating, and intrigue between each other; and as we have our guide to lead us, we never need to worry about the future of our LIVES. What more could we want?

People should not be greedy. Do you think that by living in a greedy cultural atmosphere and environment, you can end your dissatisfaction even though you still feel that you have not treated yourself fairly, dislike this or that, have endless complaints, and find faults with everything?

Without a sense of gratitude, you will have an insatiable desire, feel dissatisfied, grumble with complaints, create problems, become lazy or fastidious, have a bee in your bonnet, feel that only you are capable, feel that others owe you, complain and find faults, try to control others while holding them at bay, stir up trouble and sow discord between people, use hurtful language, cause endless trouble and suffering to your sisters, brothers, and lovers, and be unable to concentrate on your work.

With a sense of gratitude, you will have a clear mind and conscience, but you will not ask for too much, focus on other people's shortcomings, loaf around with nothing on your mind and nothing to do, attempt to control and usurp others, attempt to impose your will upon others, restrict others' joy, happiness, blessing, or freedom, suffer jealousy, complaints, or comparisons, lose your temper, feel discontent and grievances, feel that others are bullying and restraining you, or become disheartened and listless when you meet any setbacks.

With a sense of gratitude, you will not feel the poverty and hardships of life’s depression, but you will bring joy and pleasure to yourself and others, feel that everything is wonderful and satisfying, be broad-minded and refreshed, have unselfish love and devotion, always compliment and encourage others instead of complaining to them of their shortcomings, be forgiving and tolerant of others mistakes and faults, form harmonious, amiable, and loving relationships with people and the environment, have great enthusiasm and passion, and devote yourselves completely to the cause of man's happiness.

Before we realize our ideals, we must always keep in mind that none of us are perfect, that we all need further sublimation, and that we should not stop where we were yesterday. Since neither we nor others are perfect, we should forgive and tolerate each other. Tolerance derives from the gratitude in our souls.

The sense of gratitude in every Chanyuan celestial is a cultural characteristic of the New Oasis for Life and as long as we have a sense of gratitude, there will be no mountain of flames that we cannot cross, no difficulty that we cannot overcome, and no temporary plight that we cannot tolerate because our sense of gratitude can reach heaven and earth as well as human nature. As long as we have a sense of gratitude, then we will get the love from Buddha and the Greatest Creator that we need and we can get out of any temporary setbacks in order to change for the better.

Always remain grateful for everything and you will eventually reach your ideal destination!