Forget the Goal, Fall into the Mire

Xuefeng

A life without goals is a life scattered in disarray, filled with worry, suffering, conflict, frustration, anxiety, and fear that will linger throughout one’s lifetime.

If a person has a life goal but is tempted by fame and fortune, entangled in self-interest, led astray by desires, or weighed down by difficulties, they may forget their goal. As a result, they will quickly find themselves trapped in a mire of jealousy, comparisons, anger, rage, quarrels, conflicts, and competitiveness. This will inevitably make it difficult to live in harmony with others. Without provocation, turmoil will arise, and relationships will grow complicated, filled with contradictions, sharp opposition, and chaos, leading to an unbearable life.

The grander the goal, the lighter life becomes; the more short-sighted the goal, the more burdensome life becomes.

If at this moment you feel frustrated and demoralized because you are troubled by the laziness, greed, selfishness, aggressiveness, indifference, or heartlessness of those around you, it’s likely because you either have no life goal or have forgotten your goal.

Let me explain this principle using the example of Chanyuan Celestials.

As Chanyuan Celestials, there are only two goals: one is to live a life of joy, freedom, happiness, and fulfillment, and the other is to extend one’s LIFE to the Thousand-Year World, the Ten-Thousand-Year World, or the Elysium Celestial Islands. Once these goals are set, things become clear, simple, and effortless. Do not engage deeply with people who don’t share these goals or engage in matters that contradict your goals. Do not do work that diverges from your goals, and do not walk paths that deviate from them—even if that path is paved with gold and silver, lined with handsome men or beautiful women, leads to worldly success and honor, or grants imperial power and dignity. Absolutely do not follow it.

What should you do if the people around you—your parents, children, spouse, siblings, or friends, or those you must work and eat with—often bring you trouble?

First, do not try to change others. Everyone has their own path in life. Trying to change others is a futile, wishful delusion. Let those destined for heaven go to heaven, and those bound for hell go to hell. Let radishes be radishes and cabbages be cabbages. If you insist on turning a cabbage into a radish or a radish into a cabbage, the problem isn’t with the radish or cabbage, but with the person trying to change their nature. There’s a popular saying on the internet: "Those who can change themselves are saints, but those who try to change others are mad." So, don’t turn yourself into a mad person.

Second, when you see those around you or someone in particular making mistakes and heading toward ruin, don’t get upset. They follow their path, and you walk yours. If they want to waste their lives, let them. Don't try to stop them. Just focus on managing your own diligence and frugality. If you've made food and they come to eat, welcome them happily. If they’ve made food but don’t offer it to you, then simply don’t eat it, and don’t harbor anger or resentment. If you are busy all day while they idle away their time, don’t be envious or troubled. You do your work, and they live their leisure. Don’t keep score between yourself and others—leave that to heaven. In the end, everything will come full circle.

Finally, never forget your own goals. Consider yourself a celestial. As a celestial, maintain your celestial qualities. Even if those around you—your parents, children, spouse, siblings, friends, or colleagues—are all ordinary people, you must keep heading toward the celestial realm. Don’t let the words, actions, or ways of others affect your own spiritual cultivation. Continue to give and contribute without worrying about gains and losses. One day, when you ascend to the celestial realm, you will look back on those who caused you trouble and pain, and everything will be clear and resolved.

In the end, the people who live with the most clarity, freedom, and a bright future are those without ego, selfishness, or attachments. Conversely, those who are troubled, suffering, anxious, and fearful are usually people without life goals, burdened by ego selfishness and attachments.

Let the dead be dead, let the living live, and you just keep climbing toward your own goal.

September 29, 2024