People in ancient times had relatively few thoughts and desires; hence they had fewer calamities. People nowadays experience more false thoughts and more desires; hence they experience more calamities. Where did these calamities come from? They come from people's greed and discontentment; they always feel that they do not have enough and want more. Problems occur when there is a lot of greed: either this problem occurs or that difficulty happens. One is always bothered by lots of afflictions. Originally they live a quiet and peaceful life, but they look specifically for some stimulation. Because of these stimulations, there are all kinds of entanglements that are difficult to sever and escape, as if glued with superglue. One's arms and legs are stuck; one cannot move and stands there waiting for the final moment - death. Even when death arrives, they still do not know where their problem and afflictions came from. They still do not wake up though they have waited until that moment!

Especially in our society today, people scheme and manipulate. Whoever is more skilled in deception wins; whoever loses one move in the game of manipulation, loses. This is the way the world works. Everyone lives in afflictions and greed, in a state of a flurry of thoughts. They expend a limitless amount of energy but end up with nothing. At the last minute, they finally understand, "Ah, if I had known it was going to be like this, I wouldn't have been so stupid. Why was I like that?" That is not so bad. Some still do not wake up and cannot let go at the time of death. It is incredibly miserable; they cannot take anything with them. One will not be humiliated if one knows when to stop; one will not be in danger if one knows to be content. Being content, one is always happy; being patient, one is always at peace. No matter who it is that studies Buddhism, he must first learn the paramita of patience, see that everything is illusory and unreal. Do not be attached to anything. No attachment means happiness, liberation, and the manifestation of wisdom. Okay, let's hope that everyone's wisdom will appear!