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 of 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 of 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able to walk out of the prison of boredom because one has superseded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!
