Learning to Transform Thoughts: Regarding Suffering as a Teacher

A young person said, “I don’t understand how suffering can be considered a teacher. If I experience setbacks, I lose confidence in myself and become depressed.”

In response to the young person’s words, let’s briefly discuss: The phrase “regard suffering as a teacher” may lead most people to become pessimistic and despondent when faced with adversity, unless they have contemplated and practiced this concept. With contemplation and practice, one can understand that suffering can also serve as a catalyst for personal growth, enabling one to face challenges courageously and overcome them positively.

Master Ou Yi of the Ming Dynasty once said, “Buddhas and sages all used adversity as a great crucible to temper themselves. The first of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism (suffering, accumulation, cessation, and the path) places suffering at the forefront. The Eight Sufferings (birth, aging, sickness, death, parting from loved ones, meeting with the disliked, not getting what is wanted, and the five skandhas) are also known as the eight teachers.”

There is a story about my venerable teacher, Venerable Master Sheng Yen, during his lifetime. One day, a person with wrong views and good debating skills hoped that the venerable master would speak well of her in front of others, essentially praising her. The venerable master did not comply with her request. She, in a fit of anger, pointed at the venerable master and said, “Look at your donkey face!” The venerable master remained composed, did not respond, and simply smiled before leaving.

Afterwards, people asked the venerable master, “How could you let that bad person go without scolding her?” The venerable master replied, “I regard her as my teacher. Meeting her is a part of my cultivation. Do not regard the adversities and sufferings in life as bad things, for they can help us break our attachments, overcome obstacles, and elevate ourselves.”

The story of the venerable master inspires us: cultivation lies in the transformation of thoughts. If one can transform adversity, one can break through oneself; if not, one becomes troubled. Seemingly unfavorable events, if approached from a perspective of spiritual practice, will not lead to resistance or complaint. Cultivation means to generate the mind of liberation, the mind of attaining Buddhahood, and to face everything joyfully and optimistically every day. By diligently using wisdom to transform the greed, anger, and ignorance within our hearts, we can step by step move towards liberation and attain inner peace and tranquility.

It can be said: Skillfully use the mind to transform thoughts, all suffering is an aid to the path.Understanding the principles, practice constantly,the name of Amitabha resides in the heart.