Many people pursue a good life based on material success, such as a high income, expensive homes, and luxury cars. However, these things are temporary and may not bring true contentment. So what types of blessings bring long-lasting happiness in life?
The principles of karma and virtue
Because good and evil will eventually be rewarded, it is often said that we must do good deeds and accumulate virtue (called good karma by some).
For thousands of years, people have believed that karma is real and will bring misfortune, and being good to others will result in good things for ourselves. This was the consensus throughout society. Today, we can still hear the elderly often say that if a family is thriving, it is because they have accumulated virtue, which has brought them blessings.
So how can blessings be acquired? Is it by giving more money to beggars, or going to church more often to worship God? Many people say filial piety, gratitude, helping the needy, and so on are the answers. Of course, these are indeed good, but such deliberate good acts cannot be sustained for a long period of time.
Real blessings come from the small and insignificant things you do and encounter in daily life, and are like a stream that can flow long and persistently. Even doing small things in life can help you accumulate virtue and bring blessings. Let’s take a look at three examples.
1. How you eat food
Few people think of eating as a way of acquiring blessings. However, the prerequisite for accumulating blessings is that you do not waste your blessings, and this includes food.
Having enough food to eat is itself a blessing. If you often eat a lot of meat and fish, but never finish it, then you will lose blessings. As the old saying goes: “Every bit on the plate comes from hard work.” Respect for the fruits of other people’s labor, and not wasting what they have earned, is one simple but important way to accumulate blessings.
2. Speak with goodwill
As the saying goes: “Bad words hurt people and make them feel chilled even in summer, but good words warm people’s hearts and last for three winters.” Sometimes, a careless word can hurt someone so deeply, it’s as if they’ve received a great blow, while a single kind word can warm their heart and save a desperate person’s life.
In the Buddhist view, a person who speaks with bad intentions will accumulate bad karma of the mouth, and upon death, fall into a realm of hell where he will experience “plucking of the tongue.” Conversely, speaking with goodwill brings virtue and blessings. This shows just how important speaking with goodwill is in your life. It is no small matter.
3. Be tolerant and generous
When people interact with one another, there will inevitably be friction and misunderstandings. You may be misunderstood by others or envied by someone else, and as a result, have quite difficult situations to endure. If you become upset about it and begin to feel resentful about your difficulties, life will be full of bitterness, anger, and hatred.
When you are wronged by another, instead of focusing on others’ mistakes and keeping score of who has done what, it is much better to keep a calm heart and remain undisturbed. No matter what you encounter, you should do things the right way and not be unkind to others in return. In this way, you will earn virtue while avoiding creating karma for yourself. In time, the misunderstandings and unfair accusations may eventually come to light and be resolved. But either way, how you respond in difficult situations not only speaks of your character, but also shapes your future.
As the old saying goes: “To suffer is to be blessed.” Those who tolerate others when they are unkind and can forgive others’ mistakes will accumulate virtue and be rewarded with blessings.
Many of the world’s conflicts and confrontations are magnified because of the intention to seek revenge. Having a broad and open-minded attitude can help you avoid sinking to such a low level and reduce conflicts, and can even prevent hatred and wars. In this way, virtue and blessings are accumulated for individuals and society.
Blessings do not have to come from only large and obvious good deeds. By treating every little thing you encounter in life properly, you will accumulate virtue on a daily basis.
The great thing is, you have many choices and chances every day that, when handled with kindness, compassion, and thoughtfulness, will result in future blessings. If you can remember that every small thing you do helps decide your destiny, then doing the right thing will seem easier to do, and enduring hardships will seem easier to bear.
The choice is yours — and it’s never too late to start!
Translated by Audrey Wang
