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‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ For Realising The More Wonderful

In the nick of time, Clarence the guardian angel (or ‘Bodhisattva’ in the Buddhist context) saves George, who was about to jump off a bridge to drown himself, by manifesting and pretending to drown. Clarence knew that the ‘better angels’ of George’s good (or rather, pure Buddha-)nature would urge himself to save him (i.e. Clarence), thus not thinking of killing himself in the same moment. This can perhaps be a skilful thought experiment for counselling the suicidal...

Just when one is contemplating ending of this life, if seeing another about to end his or hers too, will one not naturally prevent it, by dissuading the person? Instinctively, one might, perhaps thinking that the person is being rash, that there should be something precious for the person to live for. Will this not create the cause for reflection, on whether oneself was also wrongly thinking of doing the rash? When you help others, you inevitably help yourself too,

We say that ‘life is (full of) suffering’. Yet, ‘it’s a wonderful life’ for realising the more wonderful too – blissful liberation, that transcends the cycle of birth and death. Much suffering only offers motivation, the impetus. Spiritual transcendence cannot be reached with forced death though, with which there will only be rebirth according to karma. As self-killing demands great self-hatred, this cannot lead to a good rebirth, much less liberation.

Thus, may all be courageous in facing and overcoming suffering without giving up. After all, what we really want is not to end life, but to end suffering, while to end life deliberately is jumping from the frying pan into the fire. We ought to take refuge in our Buddha-nature, with mindfulness of Buddha for blessings to help us do so too. And yes, whatever doesn’t kill you will make you spiritually stronger.

Please Be Mindful Of Your Speech, Namo Amituofo!

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