Whenever I tell people I’m having meditation classes here in Ocean Sky, the usual response I get is “Why?” I give out many reasons such as to be able to have a clear mind without attachments, but many of them don’t understand. It is really hard to answer this question because a person needs to actually be here to hear and understand the lessons to feel that the real question is not why, but why not.
Before coming to the temple, I cannot say that my attitude had been very pleasant. I was moody and easily got stressed. I was not mindful of other sentient beings, either I ignored their suffering and sometimes I even added to their suffering. I was aware that my attitude was bad, but I found no reason to change it. When my friends asked me to come to Ocean Sky, I realized the need to change my life for the better.
After two semesters here in Ocean Sky, I have learned many things: the purpose of being mindful and how it can help everyone to escape the cycle of rebirth. It has changed my outlook in life. I have learned to take care and tolerate other sentient beings. I don’t look down on others but help them improve their lives. Helping others attain our common goal is satisfying not because this might attain some good karma in the future but because it is heartwarming to see their smiles. These are just some of the things I was missing out by acting selfishly in the past.
I have also learned that everything happens due to karma. All bad things are caused by my bad actions and all good things are due to my good actions. So whatever happens in my life, I just accept it because all of it was due to my past deeds. Accepting everything and thinking that they are impermanent prevents me from doing further harm to others and to myself as well. Still sometimes, I forget and return to my old ways, but I try to do everything one step at a time. I cannot change overnight, but with practice, I can slowly be a person that might someday be able to do what I have not yet done in my past life and be enlightened.
I am so thankful that I had the chance to be here and had finished two classes in Ocean Sky. The first step to be a better person is to realize one’s wrongdoings. The lessons in Ocean Sky can help in realizing them. After realizing them, one should make sure not to repeat them. The practice does not end today with this completion exercise but must continue onwards and must be applied in my life. I also hope that we could all stay here and learn more because there is no end in learning. Even if we think we have known everything, there are still many things out there that we are not aware of. Let’s all help each other in attaining our common goal. Amitofo!