Words of Wisdom delivered at The Temple Of Ultimate Bliss of Tainan Taiwan—Learn to be humble and to respect others （Episode 1） 2017/12/31 No：32-258-0001_en
During the Declining Age of the Dharma, there is no way to attain Buddhahood except by reciting "Amitabha".
Just think it through, you will realize how hard it is to sever yourself from desires.
Reciting "Amitabha" is the only way that enables people to attain Buddhahood by going to Amitabha's Pure Land after death so long they succeed in suppressing their desires.
Without that way, we will not be able to make it.
You have got to weigh the pros and cons carefully, If you cannot sever yourselves from all desires, then you should take the easier way by reciting "Amitabha" wholeheartedly.
This will definitely set you on the course to success.
So, if you can sever yourselves from all your desires, fine.
But if you cannot do that, then following any other way will be a dangerous course, full of pitfalls for you to fall into, and you will not succeed attaining Buddhahood.
We must understand well that only this way can save the sentient beings of the Age of Declining Dharma.
Devoted to taking this approach by practising and introducing to others the recitation of "Amitabha", you will then succeed one day.
To be a person is to learn to be humble.
If you learn to respect others, then you will succeed.
As the saying goes, "As you respect others, they will also respect you".
Being arrogant is the worst.
Once you are full of yourself, you are finished, you have no future.
You must learn to be humble no matter how great you are.
Why?
Because all sentient beings and the Buddhas are one, they are equal, there is no difference.
There is no difference.
If you insist on differentiating, then you are wrong.
Being equal is to teach you to be humble and to respect others.
This is real equality.
It does not manifest itself in arrogance.
Every Buddha, every Bodhisattva, is humility itself.
I often talk about humility.
As Professor Thome H. Fang put it, "Studying Buddhism is the greatest pleasure in life".
Have you experienced the greatest pleasure in life?
I have.
That is why I believe what he said.
What is the greatest pleasure?
Be humble and respect others, that is the greatest pleasure.
Praise others to the sky and bring yourself down, that is the greatest happiness, the greatest pleasure.
Buddha respects others.
Buddha Amitabha praises all other Buddhas.
Definitely, those who are arrogant, those who sing their own praises, and those who destroy others will never attain peace and happiness.
The Bible of Christianity also promotes humility.
If you can achieve hating no one in your life, then you are almost there; but if you still have enemy or foe, or people you dislike or people you are unhappy with, then you are rather far away from your goal.
Where should we start learning to become a Buddha?
By letting go.
What should we let go of?
Letting go of your arrogance, letting go of your many bad habits.
Start from right here, so you won't be wasting your efforts.
Learn to be humble and to respect others, and you will find real happiness and spiritual joy.