Seeking From Within

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Whether attaining something outside of ourselves such as material objects or inside ourselves such as virtues, we still need to seek from within, from the mind. Seeking from outside would be futile. Why? The outside factor is a constant as it cannot change whereas the mind is variable, it can be changed.

How do man made calamities, war for example come about? They are from the confrontational and conflicting thoughts in our minds. For example, when there is profit, who do you think of benefiting first? If we think of ourselves first, then it will be difficult to avoid conflicts of interest with others. If everyone thinks of him or herself, how can this world be safe and secure?

On the other hand, if everyone can put others before themselves, how can this world be in disorder? Many scientist now believe that everything in this world is composed of elementary particles such as electrons and quarks and that they are all actually tiny particles vibrating at different frequencies. Those particles that vibrate very slowly form rocks and minerals while those vibrating faster form animals, plants and human beings.

Those vibrating even faster than the earlier two kinds become television and radio signals. Everything in this universe is made up of quanta that are generated intensively and continuously and these quanta originate and die at a speed faster than we can ever imagine.

If one has the slightest thought of self, trouble will follow. Why? Because one makes mistakes when one has even a thought of self-interest. Only when one has no thought of self-interest and has truly let go of everything only will one's mind be liberated and one's wisdom uncovered.

To reconcile conflict, it is imperative to decrease and eventually let go of the desire for material gain. The opposite for material gain is benevolence and justice, which is compassion as taught in Buddhism. Benevolence is helping all beings attain happiness and sacrificing oneself for others. Justice refers to helping all beings to end suffering.

Therefore, Buddhism advocates "Compassion is the essence and expediency is the means", while Confucianism teaches benevolence and justice. Although the words used are different, both conveyed the same message. Mencius' method of problem solving is exactly the same as that of the Buddha, where they both start from the root causes.

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