Work hard, do your best, but remain unattached.
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol6no2a.htm
Seize The Day
In the Noble Eight-fold Path[1]
taught by Buddha, the Right Action[1] advocates practitioners of
Buddhism to pursue all that are virtuous with zeal and a commitment
to progress. Such should be the correct attitude whether in our
career or in pursuit of the ultimate truth. The following short
story may help to illustrate Buddha's teaching more
clearly.
Early one morning Buddha and one of his chief disciples, Ananda,
set out from Jetavana to seek alms. They came to the city of
Sravasti. As they entered the city gate and were walking along a
path by the city wall, they saw an aged couple.
Their backs were crooked and they could neither straighten
themselves nor move about. They were dressed in rags, appearing
unhygienic and well worn with age: frail, toothless, grey hair,
hard of hearing and poor eyesight. They lived next to a pile of
rubbish by the derelict wall of a sleazy alley. They crouched close
to each other, facing a small fire for warmth. With eyes only for
each other, they resembled a pair of old swans that cannot bear to
part.
The Buddha turned his head and asked Ananda, "Did you see that aged
couple by the wall and the warmth of the burning cow dung?"
Ananda replied, "World Honoured One, I see them."
The Buddha continued, "If this old couple had been determined and
diligent when they were young and strong, regardless of the nature
of their work as long as it is legitimate, perhaps at this age they
are already amongst the wealthiest class of people in Sravasti. On
the other hand, if they had chosen to renounce their worldly life
to learn and cultivate the right path with diligence, perhaps they
would have already attained the Arhat [2] by now.
Even if they were not that determined when they were young, but are
ambitious and diligent only at a later age and they work with the
Right Action, perhaps they are already amongst the second
wealthiest class of people in Sravasti. Similarly, if on the other
hand, they had chosen to renounce their worldly life to learn and
cultivate the right path with diligence, perhaps they would have
already attained the Anagami [2].
Worse still, should they only realise about diligence and progress
when they are already at their middle age, and only then began to
work with the Right Action, perhaps they are already amongst the
third wealthiest class of people in Sravasti. If they had chosen to
renounce their worldly life to learn and cultivate the right path
with diligence, perhaps they would have already attained the
Sakrdagamin [2].
However, they did none of the above. Instead, they spent their life
times loving and possessing each other, and wasted the most useful
time of their lives. That is why today they are helpless and have
no way out of their predicament. They live in poor conditions, are
penniless and there is nothing that they can do. For them it is a
living death, having to face the retribution of their own doing,
and nobody took any pity on them. What meaning is there in a life
like this?"
In order to encourage people not to fall into the same predicament,
the Buddha said, "Ananda, always remember to advise and guide
people:
In youth, be determined, diligent, and thrifty and strive to
acquire knowledge.
Maintain a mind that is distant and unchained from desire and be
focused on building a career during the prime of life.
In middle age, realise a stable career that is based on diligence,
zeal, progress and Right Action.
Always use the wealth meaningfully to benefit self and
others.
Do not wait till old age and rely on the people's benevolence like
the aged swan."
The above incident demonstrates the compassion of the Buddha in
caring for sentient beings and encouraging people to be determined
in striving for progress, regardless of whether one is concerned
with building a career, or one who has renounced the worldly life
to learn and cultivate the right path. His only wish was for all
sentient beings to be distant from suffering and attain happiness
in life.
Notes:
[1] Noble Eight-fold Path:
1. Right Speech
2. Right Action
3. Right Livelihood
4. Right Effort
5. Right Mindfulness
6. Right Concentration
7. Right Views
8. Right Thought
[2] The four stages in Hinayana sanctity:
- 1st stage - srota-apanna
- 2nd stage - sakrdagamin
- 3rd stage - anagami-phala
- 4th stage - arhat, the highest stage