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Seeking
Nothing Is True Happiness
Only when your own nature is at peace will you know real happiness. A talk by Venerable
Master Hua in the evening of January 9, 1993, |
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| Broken
families are widespread; ninety-nine percent of the marriages in America
end in divorce. If the children live with their father, all day long they
hear him rant about how terrible their mother was. "If she hadn't been so
bad, I wouldn't have divorced her," the father tells them. The children
think, "Oh, how awful my mother is! How I hate women!" So you see, those
children end up hating women. If the children live with their mother, she
keeps telling them how awful their father was. "That's why I divorced him,"
she says. The children end up hating their father. They get annoyed whenever
they see a man, because they think every man must be that terrible. Think
it over. As a result of their parents' divorce, the children learn to hate
men or women and grow up to become troubled teenagers. If they hate their
father, they will want to murder any man they see, finishing him off with
one shot. If they hate women, they will want to shoot women. They see women
as thorns in the flesh. Under these circumstances, how can the society function
well? It is rotten at the core. Nevertheless, Americans have not yet realized
the seriousness of this problem. They still think, "Our country is so rich
in natural resources and material goods, and doesn't lack anything. This is a good country." They do not realize that it is already rotten inside, just like a tree whose trunk is rotten and whose roots are gone. This problem is caused by divorce. After a man and a woman get married, they are almost certain to get divorced, because they will get tired of each other and want to find new partners. The new partners turn out to be worse than the original ones, and the more they do this, the more of a mess it becomes. As a result, there are troubled children and broken families. This is because the five kinds of human relationships and the eight virtues are no longer functioning. Chinese people should not think that Western culture is so great, for it has become bankrupt at the very roots. Furthermore, even if a couple stays married and does not get divorced, the man will find a lover and the woman will also get a lover, out of revenge. They become dissatisfied with each other and mutually want to take revenge. They disturb the family until it breaks up and is no longer a real family. That's what happens if they don't get divorced. There are still some people who understand principle and do not get divorced or find lovers, but they are in the minority. The vast majority of the people are constantly getting divorced. It seems to me that Chinese people are also picking up this trend. That's why I want to speak about the importance of the fundamentals of being a human being. We should quickly awaken from our confused dream. Don't dream about the West anymore. I used to think the West--the United States of America--was really great. But when I got there, I found out--I'll tell you the truth, and I'm not afraid if the Americans here oppose me--I think they are very stupid. What do you think? Did you hear about this trend in the United States before? I have eighteen minutes left. After listening to my talk, if any of you have questions, you can ask them. I'll answer your questions now. I plan to stay until eight o'clock tonight. I say to you, whether you believe or not is up to you, because I have come with illness, to tell you about these experiences in my ineloquent way. Do you think they are of any benefit to the Chinese people? Everyone can think it over. When you ask questions, I have one condition: Don't ask profound questions. I won't be able to answer them, because I don't have much learning and I don't have much wisdom. If you ask a profound question, it's best if I don't answer it. If I answer it incorrectly, then I have to be responsible for the cause and effect. You can ask simple questions about what you really don't understand, and we can discuss them together. I am also just a student and wish to learn from all of you. You should not think I know everything, for I really know nothing at all. If you ask questions, I will try my best to answer them. Do you understand? [Everyone: "Yes."] Quickly! Those who ask questions should either write out or say their names. There are many people, so don't waste time. You should first give your full name, and then ask your question. If there is a microphone, please use it so that I can also hear it clearly. In my old age, my ears are going deaf and my vision is blurred, and I am no match for you young people, so please do not fight with me! |
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