THE PATH LESS TAKEN BY JUSTIN PHAN

Path Less Taken By Justin Phan Every time I heard the news of somebody’s passing, I always felt shocked and instantly reminded myself of impermanence of life. It’s something that most people don’t want to face or talk about, but it will come sooner or later to everyone and it’s inevitable. Every time I heard the news of somebody’s passing, I always felt shocked and instantly reminded myself of impermanence of life. It’s something that most people don’t want to face or talk about, but it will come sooner or later to everyone and it’s inevitable.

Path Less Taken By Justin Phan I’ve heard many people criticizing that Buddhism is so negative and pessimistic about impermanence, about suffering, dying, and all that, and it doesn’t look at the bright side of life in general. These people are like smokers deep in their breath of smoke who simply could not understand why the doctors keep talking about the “negatives” of smoking that may cause lung cancer! The doctors tell the truth about health, and to believe it or not is up to the smokers. Likewise, the Buddha shows us the way to end all sufferings. And how can you end suffering when you can’t identify what suffering is and what causes it in the first place. To believe or not is our own choice. I’ve heard many people criticizing that Buddhism is so negative and pessimistic about impermanence, about suffering, dying, and all that, and it doesn’t look at the bright side of life in general. These people are like smokers deep in their breath of smoke who simply could not understand why the doctors keep talking about the “negatives” of smoking that may cause lung cancer! The doctors tell the truth about health, and to believe it or not is up to the smokers. Likewise, the Buddha shows us the way to end all sufferings. And how can you end suffering when you can’t identify what suffering is and what causes it in the first place. To believe or not is our own choice.

Path Less Taken By Justin Phan I was fortunate enough to hear the words of wisdom from the Buddha, showing us the way to end all sufferings. I have never been a cigarette smoker in my life, but yet, I have been a heavy smoker of greed, anger, and delusion for so many lives, just like everyone else, whether they realize this fact or not. Now knowing the situation a smoker is in, how to quit smoking all together is a huge challenge for people like myself. And that’s what Buddhist cultivation is all about. I was fortunate enough to hear the words of wisdom from the Buddha, showing us the way to end all sufferings. I have never been a cigarette smoker in my life, but yet, I have been a heavy smoker of greed, anger, and delusion for so many lives, just like everyone else, whether they realize this fact or not. Now knowing the situation a smoker is in, how to quit smoking all together is a huge challenge for people like myself. And that’s what Buddhist cultivation is all about.

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