Dear friends, hello everyone!
Welcome to this episode of the podcast, brought to you by the Australia Buddhas’ Practice Incorporated.
Today, I’d like to share a simple yet profound truth: whether planting a tree, cooking a dish, or cultivating our body and mind, precision, rigor, and sincerity are the cornerstones of success. Our habits, thoughts, and actions determine the outcomes of cause and effect, and ultimately, the achievements of our lives. Let’s explore together how to move toward purity and fulfillment through the small details of daily life.
1. Precision and Rigor in Action
Let’s start with planting. Growing a durian or a jackfruit may seem simple, but it requires immense precision and rigor. Durian thrives with alkaline fertilizer, while jackfruit needs acidic or neutral soil. Watering, fertilizing, soil aeration, and even the fermentation level of the surface soil—all must be meticulously managed. If you approach it carelessly, the plants will die.
What does this tell us? If we don’t follow rules and treat tasks with rigor, the result is failure.
This applies beyond planting. Cooking is the same: the amount of water, the heat, and the timing must all be precisely controlled to create a delicious dish. Whatever you do, there are detailed rules and processes. Master each step, and you’ll produce something great!
2. Physical and Mental Health
Next, let’s talk about physical health. Many believe height is determined by genetics, but human factors are equally critical. Why? Digestive disorders, early exposure to sexual behavior, consuming hormone-laden meat or fast food—these disrupt the endocrine system and affect normal growth. Excess hormones can stunt height; bad habits can harm health.
3. Invisible Obstacles in Self-Cultivation
However, even more challenging than planting or maintaining health is cultivating our mind. Why? Because we all have habits—deeply ingrained flaws that hinder our progress.
First, there’s self-centeredness and pride. We often think we’re right and others are wrong, or that we’re more capable than others. This mindset only makes us worse off!
Second, there’s jealousy and resentment of others’ success. We fear praising others, worrying they’ll appear better than us. This attitude blocks our own path!
Third, there’s complaining and defensiveness. When others gain benefits, we feel discontent, hoping only we get the good things. When others point out our flaws, we become fully guarded and enter a “combat” mode.
4. The Law of Cause and Effect
Why must we change these habits? Because cause and effect is real! When conditions align, we bear the consequences of our actions. What you give to others, you will receive in the future; how you treat others will eventually return to you.
Your thoughts are especially crucial. Thinking ill of others copies their flaws onto yourself, making you worse; thinking well of others copies the good, elevating yourself. Praising others’ virtues brings praise to you in the future; criticizing others’ flaws invites criticism of yourself.
In The Eightfold Path of the Heavenly Dragon, Murong Fu, with royal blood and martial prowess, descends into madness and ruin due to his greedy obsession with restoring his kingdom and constant scheming. Meanwhile, Xu Zhu, seemingly simple and slow, achieves great success through sincerity and good deeds. Slander and speaking ill of others harm their reputation and ultimately hurt ourselves; ignorance and delusion make us think we understand, yet trap us in error.
Conclusion: Precision in Action, Sincerity in Cultivation
Dear friends, planting requires precision, life demands rigor, and the mind needs sincerity. Cause and effect is undeniable, and we reap what we sow. May we treat others with sincerity, act with precision and rigor, and find paradise wherever we go in life. Thank you all! See you next time!
