The amount of blessings a person can possess must correspond to an equally noble character to carry it.
The blessings one can have must be proportionate to an equally noble character. Blessings that do not match one’s virtues, even if they manifest, will ultimately bring misfortune. Therefore, do not merely focus on what you possess; instead, consider whether you are worthy of having these blessings.
There is a saying: In this world, small wealth comes from hard work, medium wealth from strategy, and great wealth from virtue. Looking at the prominent figures on the wealth list, we see they are not only symbols of wealth but also models of morality. It is no coincidence that wealth has come into their hands.
Yet what people lack most is not money, but wisdom. With wisdom, any state of life will become a form of wealth. Maintain a calm heart: to be poor and accept poverty with peace, to be rich and not be consumed by wealth—that is true wealth. Otherwise, no matter how much money one has, spending it improperly still incurs negative karma.
Therefore, when people pray to the deities for blessings, the deities respond, “When Heaven wishes to bring misfortune to a person, it first grants them blessings. When Heaven wishes to bless a person, it first brings them challenges.” This is not because the deities lack compassion, but rather, they hope that through the trials of this short life, one can cultivate character, gain wisdom, and quickly grasp the true meaning of life.
Our fate is self-made, and our appearance arises from the heart. Changing the heart is changing one’s appearance, changing one’s blessings, changing one’s destiny. Buddhism is wise and scientific; following the teachings and mastering the laws of destiny makes one the true master of their life.
When Master Xuyun was 120 years old, he still carried bricks. His disciples took away his carrying pole and hid it. The Master said, “You all wish to plant fields of blessings, and so do I. Today, I carry bricks for the Triple Gem, and tomorrow I shall harvest gold!”
Thus, the place of the Triple Gem is called the Land of Blessings, and monks are fields of merit. Respectfully offering to the Triple Gem, restoring and building temples is an immense blessing and merit—so vast that it cannot be conceived or described.
As lay practitioners coming to the temple, our purpose is to cultivate blessings, eliminate karmic obstacles, open wisdom, and enjoy the offerings of all ten directions, the virtue of the monastic community, and the shelter of the Triple Gem. Therefore, we should maintain a devout and respectful heart, work diligently, and contribute to enhance our own resources.
We have been reincarnating through infinite eons to reach this day, all because we did not understand how to take refuge in the Triple Gem. Thus, in this life, the greatest blessing we can gain is to take refuge in the Triple Gem. The Buddha is the one with complete blessings and wisdom, the most blessed “person.” When we revere the Buddha as the object of our offerings and the goal of our life’s endeavors, the positive energy within our hearts grows fuller and fuller.
