Human Potential

Of the different realms in samsara, the cycle of rebirth, being reborn as a human offers the greatest potential for spiritual advancement.

In some existences, everything is so wonderful that there seems to be no suffering in sight. In other existences, beings suffer so much themselves that even thinking of alleviating the suffering of others is virtually impossible.

But as humans, we personally know suffering and can empathize with the suffering of others around us. As humans, we have both the ability to find our own happiness and the compassionate wisdom to help others find their way to happiness.

Comments

[Kelly Ngo]

Venerable Wu Ling,
Just a note to share the following quote -
"We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along with these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results." – Herman Melville

I came upon the quote from the first chapter of a book by Hillary Clinton entitled "It takes a village, and other lessons that children teach us". The book emphasises the importance of collectively improving the way that children are raised. To me the quote reminds me to stay focussed on serving others.

With metta,
Kelly

[Venerable Wuling]

Kelly,

Thank you so much for the Herman Melville quote in particular. It perfectly and vividly expresses causality.