Often I will hear how someone feels their part in making the world a better place is unimportant or insignificant. Occasionally their discouragement is so great they feel like giving up.
In the passage I quoted today the phrase I encourage us to consider is “we, too, have obtained benefits.” Because the Buddha attained enlightenment we receive benefits. Without enlightenment, we may not have even known there had once been a Siddhartha who lived in India some 2500+ years ago. Because of enlightenment he was able to leave a legacy of the Lotus Sutra, and the possibility of changing our lives and also becoming enlightened.
No matter who you are, where you live, or what you do, you impact the world around you. Good or bad, helpful or not, you cause things to be. Of course how large or small that will be may be difficult to judge. It is difficult because we simply do not know. We don’t know what the long range consequences will be, and we may never know. Regardless of any awareness of the impact of our actions we are all the same influencing those around us.
We have a choice of doing good or not doing. We can contribute to happiness or take away from it. Generally I have experienced that when I succeed in doing good, when I encourage and support others, whether known or not, my life is better and I am happier.
If I bring toxic energy to the environment then my environment becomes toxic and that is not a happy thing. It only takes a small amount of bleach to purify water or a small amount of poison to pollute that same water. I would rather swim in clean water. What about you? It’s your turn, please add your comments below.
