There Is No Suffering 20


To illustrate, someone I knew who was dying from cancer spoke to a friend, who had cancer in its early stages. The dying person said to her friend, “I want to tell you something that will help you live longer with cancer. Don’ t wait for death and don’ t be afraid of death. Accept this and you will live longer.” The dying person had learned from her own experience, and armed with that truth, she was able to help someone else; and she did not have to cure herself of cancer to do it.

In helping others, a bodhisattva’ s practice is deepened. And the ultimate benefit of practice is full liberation. Most people mistakenly think that only after attaining liberation can one truly help others. The four great vows state clearly the bodhisattva way. The first vow is to help deliver innumerable sentient beings, and the last, to attain complete liberation.

When I was in my twenties, a monk of similar age told me, “I have to practice diligently to attain liberation so I can help sentient beings. If try to help before then, others will likely influence me. So I plan on practicing very hard and praying to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas for their blessings. Hopefully, I will attain liberation and be able to help sentient beings.”