This afternoon, I received a phone call from my sister. She was feeling frustrated because her superior, XX, had made a few humiliating comments that denied a project she had worked on for a long time, and by extension, denied her efforts. She called me to vent about her frustration. For someone like me, who has endured humiliation and hardship as part of daily life, this is no longer a big deal. But I must say that this is the most difficult lesson of all. Even Shakyamuni Buddha had to endure the hardship of five hundred lifetimes of humiliation—how much harder must it be for an ordinary person? My father was never able to pass this test. He received a cancer diagnosis and left us too early. Earlier today, during my nap, I dreamt of him. When I woke up, I felt a surge of emotion and decided to jot down a few thoughts.
I have long since stopped living according to others’ opinions. We can only become the person we wish to be, not the person others want us to be. So at the very least, there is no need to strive to become the standard-bearer of the neighbor’s family, nor to become the version of yourself that others expect you to be! As the saying goes: “There is a kind of coldness, and that is when your mother thinks you’re cold.” If everyone could simply focus on being the best version of themselves—eating well, sleeping well, and living well—that would be the best state of all.
In Buddhist teachings, it is said that all beings will ultimately become Buddhas, and that there are countless worlds and limitless Buddhas. I could never understand this before—didn’t Buddha exist as a divine, exalted being? There are always hierarchical existences in the world; how could everyone be a Buddha? Only today did I suddenly understand.
The word “Buddha” essentially refers to awakening, wisdom, and harmonious unobstructedness. In reality, it does not belong to the religious domain; rather, it is the natural state of freedom that we should cultivate in our lives. The ultimate goal of learning Buddhism is not to indulge in superstition, worship deities, or adhere to dogma, but to break attachments, transcend appearances, and discover the inherent purity that is already within us. The purpose is to attain complete freedom in life. Once you reach this state, you are the Buddha!
In the script of life, all the circumstances presented to you—five desires, six senses, seven sufferings, eight difficulties—are actually just exam questions. They are tests arranged by your true nature, designed to help you continuously overcome challenges, level up, and awaken. The entire purpose is to help you develop and transcend yourself! In other words, as long as we are alive, the only path we are walking is the path to “becoming Buddha.” The difference is that this road is accompanied by karma and dependent on conditions—some people progress faster, others more slowly. It can truly be said to span countless lifetimes!
Thus, this seemingly vast and boundless Buddhist teaching is actually revealing to us that life contains an enormous treasure of innate potential! We are all destined to become “Buddhas,” which means finding that most liberated and free version of ourselves.
Yesterday, Sister Wang Fei from Qufu TV brought me The Light of Non-Duality by Mr. Qi Fei. I spent the whole day reading this book today, taking it slowly and reflecting deeply. Although I haven’t read many scriptures and am just starting to explore traditional culture, I have a certain understanding, and his viewpoints resonated completely with me. It aligns with the idea I often share—that we should not be attached to “forms.” The only difference is that I am not yet able to cite scriptures and reference classical texts as fluently as he does. The book is filled with many thought-provoking stories that impart wisdom, leaving one deep in contemplation.
Since this book hasn’t been officially published in China, I’ve developed the vision of seeing it published internationally and made accessible in a better format, so that more people can access the wisdom of prajna.
Mr. Qi Fei’s vast reading, understanding, speaking, and writing skills are top-notch, comparable to the renowned contemporary scholar Nan Huaiyin. It’s rare to come across someone whose interpretation of Buddhist philosophy aligns so closely with my own. Today, I gave him my book Born as a Human, and I wonder if this is the beginning of a shared journey to promote practical Chinese studies and contribute to the greater vision of a harmonious world!
