Ancient India deeply studied the teachings of liberation from worldly attachments. At that time, a mainstream belief among non-Buddhist schools was that asceticism could eliminate karma and lead to ascension to heaven. Some sat naked in forests without eating or drinking, others adopted the lifestyles of dogs or cows, and still others practiced asceticism in snowy mountains… To cultivate a human body into the body of a celestial being is simply too difficult.
The difference between a sage and an ordinary person lies not in asceticism, but in wisdom. As the ancient Chinese dictionary *Shuowen Jiezi* says, "A sage is one who is all-encompassing." The character 丨 (gun) in the small seal script represents unobstructed movement in space and time, beyond heaven and earth. The truths discovered by sages transcend time and space. The *Surangama Sutra*, Volume Six, states, "The so-called 'restraining the mind' is called precept; from precepts arise concentration; from concentration arises wisdom; this is called the three non-outflow studies." We have a path to approach sages, understand their teachings, and cultivate wisdom.
Why cultivate wisdom? The fundamental, simple motivation is still happiness. Therefore, asceticism is not the ultimate goal. People practice self-discipline, do good deeds, purify their mind and body, and even have religious beliefs—all for happiness, not suffering.
Buddhism is simply about bringing happiness and curing the afflictions of sentient beings. It's that simple. All sentient beings strive to be free from suffering and attain happiness. We often experience much pain and distress because we mistakenly pursue happiness. We are tormented by what we perceive as happiness, clinging to suffering. From this perspective, every ordinary person suffers from Stockholm Syndrome.
Life is filled with many small and large troubles. If someone says something bad about you, and you hold a grudge, are you happy? If you don't do well in school or don't earn much money, and you envy others' success, feeling somewhat inferior, are you happy? If you like someone and want to possess them, and your mind is filled with them if you haven't seen them for a day, and you feel jealous and envious when they are close to others, your emotions fluctuating like a rollercoaster, are you truly happy? If you try to help others but your advice is not accepted, and you don't know how to interact with people, and no matter what you do, there are always people talking behind your back, are you truly happy?
As long as there is pain and distress, this kind of happiness is not ultimate; it is suffering. The end of love is suffering, and even harmonious families experience the pain of separation. Only the happiness of saints (like the Buddha) is ultimately perfect; it is wisdom that brings them happiness.
Only the wise experience happiness; the deluded are filled with troubles, fearing loss when they gain something and yearning for it when they don't. To say that learning wisdom stems from suffering is a misunderstanding. We don't seek comfort, but rather to attain true happiness through our own efforts and by relying on the wisdom of these sages.
Speaking of my capacity for suffering, I am less capable than many, and I don't desire the capacity to suffer. Don't try to persuade me otherwise; everyone experiences suffering. That kind of advice is truly malicious.
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