Here is a story about a monk in Tibet.
In the remote mountains of Tibet, there was a monk named Tenzin (dān zēng). He had been living in the monastery since he was a young boy and had devoted his entire life to studying and practicing the teachings of the Buddha.
Tenzin was known for his incredible discipline and focus, and he spent most of his days in deep meditation, contemplating the nature of reality and striving to cultivate compassion (cí bēi) and wisdom (zhì huì) within himself.
One day, while Tenzin was out walking in the mountains, he came across a small village that was in desperate need of help. The villagers were suffering from a severe drought, and their crops were failing, leaving them without food or water.
Despite his rigorous routine, Tenzin knew that he could not ignore the suffering of the villagers. He immediately set to work, using his knowledge of the local environment to build irrigation channels (guàn gài qú) and help the villagers cultivate their crops.
Over the course of several weeks, Tenzin worked tirelessly, day and night, to help the villagers overcome their hardships. And despite the physical toll that the work took on his body, he remained steadfast (jiān dìng) and focused, never losing sight of his ultimate goal of alleviating suffering (jiǎn qīng tòng kǔ) and spreading compassion.
Eventually, Tenzin’s efforts paid off, and the village was able to recover from the drought. The villagers were immensely grateful to Tenzin, and they showered him with gifts and praise. But Tenzin remained humble (qiān xū) and gracious, knowing that his work was not done.
As he returned to the monastery, Tenzin felt a deep sense of fulfillment (mǎn zú) and joy. He knew that his actions had brought real benefit to the world, and he felt that he had truly embodied the teachings of the Buddha.
From that day forward, Tenzin continued to balance his rigorous spiritual practice with his desire to serve others. And although he faced many challenges (tiǎo zhàn) along the way, he remained steadfast in his commitment to helping all beings find peace (hé píng) and happiness (xìng fú).
What words did we learn above:
xìng fú – Happiness
hé píng – Peace
tiǎo zhàn – Challenges
qiān xū – Humble
jiān dìng – Steadfast
cí bēi – Compassion
zhì huì – Wisdom
That seems like a lot, doesn’t it? Well I think we should think about praciticing each word one at a time. Maybe that will help us out.
The detective seeking peace and happiness.
Short story about a detective who wants to find peace and happiness. Peace and happiness will be repeated at least 3 times in the story:
Detective Li (Lǐ), a renowned investigator, was tired of the constant chaos and violence (bào lì) he encountered on a daily basis. He yearned for a sense of inner peace (nèi xīn ān píng), a feeling of contentment (mǎn zú) that he could not find amidst the crime scenes and grisly investigations that consumed his life. One day, while investigating a particularly gruesome murder (mó shā), Detective Li stumbled upon a clue that led him to a small, unassuming temple in the outskirts of the city. As he entered the temple, he was struck by the serene atmosphere (tǐng jìng) and the soft glow of the candles that flickered in the darkness. For the first time in a long while, Detective Li felt at ease (shū fú) and relaxed.
He approached the temple’s master, a wise old monk (zhī shì) named Master Wu (Wú), and asked him how he could find true peace and happiness in his life. Master Wu smiled and beckoned Detective Li to sit down beside him.
“Happiness and peace,” he said, “are not found outside of oneself. They are cultivated within.”
He went on to explain that one must first develop a sense of inner stillness (nèi xīn jì zhì) and mindfulness (zhù yì), learning to observe one’s thoughts and emotions without judgment (píng děng).
Detective Li was skeptical at first but decided to give Master Wu’s teachings a chance. He began to meditate every day, focusing his attention on his breath (hū xī) and letting go of his thoughts. Slowly but surely, he started to experience a sense of calm (jìng rán) and clarity (qīng míng) that he had never felt before.
Over time, Detective Li found that his work as a detective no longer overwhelmed him. He was able to approach each case with a sense of detachment (fèng sù) that allowed him to think more clearly and make better decisions. And in his personal life, he found that he was becoming more patient (nǎi xīn) and compassionate (cí bēi), treating others with kindness and understanding (lǐ jiě) instead of judgment.
As Detective Li continued to practice meditation and mindfulness, he found that he had discovered a lasting sense of peace and happiness (xìng fú hé ān píng) that he never knew was possible. And he knew that he had Master Wu and the teachings of the temple to thank for it.