If we want to transcend human nature,
we should be able to spread our love to all beings. In addition, we should find an honorable transcendent person to respect.
TRANSCENDENCE
A young man overcame a tough way to see a transcendent hermit in a mountain. His rustic hermitage next to a small cave was furnished with some simple appliances, depicting the very austere lifestyle of its owner.
Only people who were transcendent could live like that. The young man bowed to the hermit as he walked in. Then, he knelt down to pay his honor to the old man.
The hermit asked:
"Why do you come here? It must have been an arduous trip."
The young man said:
"Master, I want to become a Saint."
The hermit nodded his head:
"Are you not satisfied with who you are now?"
"No, Master. I want to be something transcendent. I suppose you're transcendent as you can live here."
"A Saint is not the one who dismisses his human nature. Instead, they face their human nature, embrace that nature, perfect that nature, and transcend that nature."
"What you say sounds good to me but I don't think I understand. Why do you leave your normal life to be here alone? You dismissed your earthly life, didn't you?"
"I don't. Whoever avoids the earthly life will never find heaven. A tree can grow up because its root sticks in the ground. Likewise, we naturally become transcendent because we love all beings. A tree can never grow up if it doesn't stay in the ground. Similarly, we will never become Saints if we don't love all beings with our hearts."
"I live here because I want to challenge my mind in loneliness. People are challenged in two extremes. One is to live alone, when they tend to be tortured by the feeling of isolation. The other is to live with others, when they get involved in people's feelings such as hatred, love, disagreement, annoyance, etc. A self-cultivator needs to live in both extremes to challenge themselves. When they are with people, they live a harmonious and pure life. When they live alone, their mind is still serene and at peace."
The young man kept quiet for a while, then said:
"Master, please give me some advice."
"If you want to become a Saint, you first need to help many people become Saints."
"How can I help them become Saints when they don't want to?"
"How about you go and convince them?"
"How can I convince them?"
"You examine your mind to see why you want to become a Saint. Then, use those reasons to talk to people."
"Okay Master, I got it. But if they agree to practice to become Saints, what should I tell them next?"
"You ask them to correct their own sins. Saints are human beings who have rectified their moral faults. Don't look for Saints elsewhere, look inside yourselves when you have swept away all your sins."
"Master, I'm unable to find my faults by myself.
I need someone who is wise and patient to love and teach me. Only then could I find my faults and eradicate my misdeeds."
"You're talking so much. Alright, you can stay here with me."
The young man happily knelt down to show his gratitude to the hermit.
Happiness happens when suffering ceases. Happiness is not something independent of suffering. Likewise, holiness is when sins are eliminated. Holiness is not independent of sin. Transcendence is something deeply rooted in a strong and legitimate foundation, not hovering amidst the air.
Besides, what we want to find for ourselves is what we should help others to get first. To be rich, we should help others prosper first. To be healthy, we should help people avoid illness. To be successful, we should help people not to fail.
If we want to transcend human nature, we should be able to spread our love to all beings. In addition, we should find an honorable transcendent person to respect.
Written by:
Janna
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