Guru's Talk

The byword of one my disciples is "boring." He complains about being bored every day. He tells me that he finds life boring. For example, going to school is very boring. Also, having a career is very boring. Getting married and having children are the most boring. I explain, "If you take away school, career, marriage, and children, there will be nothing left in life." He said, "Exactly! So it's very boring!" I laugh, "Then do cultivation. Cultivation is most meaningful." He replies, "We cultivate because life is really too boring. That's why we boringly cultivate." In short, life is boring in every possible way to him.

I have calmly pondered the question of boredom before. People in this world follow the same path. First, they go to school, then they have a career, and they also get married. Everybody is similar. It looks like these three stages of life are carefully planned, yet it also looks as though there isn't any deliberate planning. Nonetheless, it's basically these three stages in life.

My disciple says that going to school is boring, having a career is boring, getting married is boring, and even cultivation is boring. I don't know what else he can do! I also don't understand what his purpose in living is. How many people such as him are out there in this world?

To expand this further:

Why live?

Living is boring.

It's a pity to die.

Why is it a pity?

Afterwards, it dawned on me that the sun, moon, and stars all shine above. The mountains, water, and grass all exist with a meaning. Everything in this world has its reason for existence. If people want to live a life without boredom, they must see the things behind the things they see, and hear the sounds behind the sounds they hear. For example, the discovery that life is boring will lead to the diligent and zealous exploration of life. When life is finally understood, one will delve deeper into cultivation. One will be able to walk out of the prison of boredom because one has superseded the ordinary to enter into the holy stream!

Translated by Harmony

Edited by Dance Smith & TBN

Proofread by Jessie

Courtesy of Padmakumara Translation Team

Website: www.padmakumara.org

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