​Venerable Thubten Chodron Shares Ways to Beneficently Navigate Towards Living a Meaningful Life

To be born a human being is invaluable; to hear the Buddha's teaching is priceless. To possess this precious human body in this lifetime is an exceptional privilege. How do we make the most of this limited time, to develop the potential that exists within all of us, and realize the ultimate meaning of life?

On November 23^rd at 7:30 pm, Ven. Thubten Chodron was cordially invited to deliver a lecture, "The Essence of a Meaningful Life" which was jointly organized by the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) and Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM), and co-hosted by Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia. Ven. Thubten Chodron shared her insights with nearly 150 attendees on ways to bring meaning to our lives, while together embarking on a spiritual journey of life exploration.

"Someone once told me I was a fantastic Venerable; not long after, another commented, on the contrary, that I was completely inadequate as one. If the perceptions of others about me are all true, then I am utterly perplexed, for am I good or not? The value of our actions should not be based on the opinions others hold of us." The Venerable believes that the perceptions of others towards us may not be congruent with our honest self-evaluation, simply because some viewpoints are generally controversial or even contradictory, including the labels of good and bad. For that, the Venerable revealed three ways that would allow us to live a meaningful life:


1. Cultivate the intention or motivation to be beneficent. Start every day with a morning vow not to hurt others with our actions, speech or intentions and, furthermore, to benefit others to the best of our abilities whenever the conditions allow.
2. Every day, dedicate a little time for sitting meditation, listen to or watch a Buddhadharma-related program, or read Buddhist literature, so as to nourish our spiritual growth. This will subtly guide us towards the path of enlightenment.
3. When reality does not accord with our hopes, pause momentarily for we can choose not to respond or take action. The Venerable gave an example of being overtaken while driving. Instead of rapidly accelerating to take the lead, it may be more prudent to consider the cost of gambling with ourselves and others' precious lives. 

"When we are in conflict with others, the most common excuse is, I'm doing this for your own good!" The Venerable then asked the following rhetorical questions: "Is it really for his own good, or is it an attempt to change him? Is it solely his problem, or should we claim some responsibility as well?" Life is short and tough, with everyone persistently seeking their own happiness. The Venerable recalled a quote by the Dalai Lama to illustrate a way to transform selfishness into happiness, "If you choose to be selfish, at least do it wisely. If you know how to be wisely selfish, sincerely give consideration to others, and care for their well-being, your heart will open up, and the happiness you crave for will indirectly result."

"Contemplating introducing Buddhism to your parents or family members? You merely have to take the household garbage with you on your way out!" Ven. Thubten Chodron emphasized that, as others obviously observe the positive changes occurring within us, even the most insignificant virtuous deeds may spark their interest in Buddhadharma. The Venerable added, when you hand them a book on Buddhadharma, they may not even comprehend its contents, whereas our spontaneous acts of trivial kindness will produce a great effect. "With a beneficent motive to spur our act of kindness, we may create good karma. These habitual behaviors will be implanted into our minds, eventually influencing our chances for a good rebirth."

"Would you like to know the way to nurture blessings and cultivate virtues without even lifting a finger? Simply rejoice in others' merits!" The Venerable quoted the sixth chapter of Engaging in the Bodhisattva's Deeds (Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra śāstra) by Master Śāntideva to expound the merits of rejoicing. When a person attains an achievement or merit, those who give praise or receive it are equally joyful. Conversely, if sunk in the pit of jealousy, our mind will be down in the dumps. "Why not allow ourselves and others to be filled with happiness, instead of misery for ourselves and others?" In conclusion, the Venerable encouraged everyone to diligently practice rejoicing for the sake of others. "We should be grateful and rejoice when others show more capability or more wisdom than us. After all, the development of their wisdom sparkles a more beautiful life for all of us, by enhancing our own ability to perform in our given professions, as well as live our lives meaningfully and brilliantly."


To watch the lecture "The Essence of a Meaningful Life" by Ven. Thubten Chodron, please visit the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I6mIgo3OZg



Text: Luo, Zhi-hao (羅志豪)
Photos: Fang, Shun-tsai (方順才)
Translation: Chang, Cheng-yu (張振郁)
Editing: Keith Brown