Master Ri-Chang has often used this phrase: 人无远虑，必有近忧
one that does not consider a higher objective, will be beset with present worries (please pardon my attempt at translating )
This is shared by my 班长, translation again (badly) provided by me
《入行论》说： 若事尚可为，云何不欢喜？ 若已不济事，忧恼有何益？
《A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life》says:
If there is a remedy，then what is the use of unhappiness ?
If there is no remedy，then what is the use of frustration？
Again, good to dispel getting worried unnecessarily.
My learning here is not to blindly follow advice - especially important when faced with views from someone adept at convincing his audience. Thus one should observe, reflect and understand on the advice before taking it to heart.
I first heard of this quote from my dad - “Slow and steady win the race”. It’s from Aesop Fables but as years went by, I slowly understood that it means not to just rush to get things done to accomplish the results, but to focus on taking the time to understand the process and building up strength to improve it.
My understanding will be that when we do good, the priority is to better ourselves in our practice rather than with the intent to show to others that we are good.
Useful verses to help temper our pride and continue to work on improving ourselves.
Considering that these quotes were by the past sages, it shows the incongruity if we were to think that we have attained some wisdom and then slacken off right there.
骗别人容易，骗自己是一点都骗不了的
It is easy to fool others (on your intentions) but to deceive yourself, it is not possible (you know best whether your intentions are good or bad).
My own interpretation is “to be mindful of the foundation and work on the basics will naturally get one to the higher practice, being patient with our practice will speed up our progress, to focus on helping oneself will in turn help others”
小病可以忍受，那个大病才能忍受； 小苦，小苦忍受，这大苦可以忍受啊！
If I can endure small illnesses, the big illnesses I will then be able to endure;
Small suffering I endure, the big suffering I can then endure.
A reminder for me not to kid myself that I will be ready for the big challenge of death if I don’t even train myself with the small, daily challenges of life.
I think what Master Ri-Chang is trying to emphasise is that we should understand what we are practising otherwise we will be expending much effort and accomplishing little.
So how do we understand better the practices? My take is to read more of the scriptures and listen to more discourses by Venerables and Masters.
A beautiful verse that encapsulates how we can see the world as it is - undesirable:
【如《七童女因缘论》云：“见住世动摇，如水中月影，观欲如瞋蛇，盘身举头影。见此诸众生，苦火遍烧然，大王我等乐，出离往尸林。”】
Consequently, as Guhyadatta’s 《Edifying Tale of the Seven Maidens》 states: We see the things of the world as wavering images of the moon in water. We see attachments as shadows of the hoods and coils of angry snakes. We see these beings to be ablaze with the flames of suffering. We therefore go to the cremation grounds, O King, delighting in the determination to be free.
reference: Lamrim Commentary Track 82B
@adrian: The term “wavering images of the moon in water” reminds me of the photos of beautiful models in magazines. I feel envious of how pretty they look and wish I look like them too. But then, it’s rather foolish of me to want to look like them because I’m not and I can’t because the pictures have been air-brushed, computer altered etc. So my foolishness about this is really undesirable. What are the other things of the world that you can think of which is like wavering images of the moon too?
another thing that I am beginning to see as more of a illusion…I would even call it a trap…is striving for wealth…(I still get seduced by it more often than not).
I try to remind myself that a person can get by with less.
Master Ri-Chang had something to say on wealth too:
有钱的人呢要去守护，唉呀，这个的确千辛万苦。唉呀！要保险箱，保险箱不行，还要保险公司，保险公司不行，还是要被人家抢掉，然后要打官司，然后要弄这个、又要忙这个，没有一件事情……实际上这个毫无意思，无非是痛苦。那么穷人呢？唉，穷了是没有了，要追求的痛苦，这个里边是无量无边哪！不但如此，于明明是痛苦的，还愚痴地执为安乐。所以这三件东西当中，无一不是增长我们生死轮回的染业啊！要晓得，这是恶业之果啊！以前的因，感得现在的果；现在这样去做，又要将来感得将来的果，是一无是处啊！
Taken from his Lamrim Commentary Track 83A
My interpretation:
the rich get troubled protecting their wealth and busy themselves on it
the poor experience much pain trying to get wealth
both of them suffer and it is all for nought
it is a result of the fruits of their karma past and in turn this becomes the cause of their future fruits. It is totally pointless!
)
