One way of living wisely

Happy new year, everyone! I hope you are all having a great start to the year! Here in Korea, we’ve had lots of rain, and even some very cold weather, but very little snow.

This Dharma talk by Daehaeng Kun Sunim is very short, but there’s a lot going on here to reflect upon. Start by returning what you’re feeling and thinking inwardly, and let them sink deep down inside you, and then pay attention and see what comes out. This is how to melt down our old gunk and turn it into something bright and shiny that can help us move forward and evolve.

Because humans are the pinnacle of evolution,
we have within us all the aspects of beings born through wombs,
through eggs, through moisture, and through transformation.
How they go about their lives
is the same as how we go about our lives.
You need to thoroughly understand this.

Going forward in the new year,
if we are even more kind and compassionate,
such that we can share everything,
put down every burden,
and set free every life we meet,
then none of what we encounter
will cause us harm.

인간은 만물의 영장이라고 했으니
알로 낳는 거나 태로 낳는 하下의 동물이나
또는 질척한 데서 낳는 거 화해서 낳는 거,
이러한 사생들의 그 모든 살림살이가
우리네 살림살이와 같다는 그 점을
우리는 상세히 알아야 합니다.

올해는 우리 마음가짐 하나하나를
더욱더 인의롭고 자비하게 가진다면,
전부 나누어 줄 수 있는 마음,
버리는 마음, 일체 방생하는 마음을 갖는다면
모두가 나한테 해害가 되어 들어오지는 않을 겁니다.