H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu’s

Selected Philosophical Sayings About Worldly Matters

(This is a translation of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu’s philosophical sayings about worldly matters originally written in Chinese.)





XLI.

Why is sin more alluring to some people than virtue? Sins allow indulgence in one’s selfish ambitions and look like a wider road that is easier to walk; whereas virtues require high moral stature and the sacrifice of one’s personal interest for the good of the public and thus look like a narrower path to follow.

XLII.

Richness comes from diligence. A rich person is one who is diligent and who chooses a fit career with proper goals.

XLIII.

A spoiled seed will come to nothing; so will arrogance. Modesty promises rich rewards in much the same way as strong healthy seedlings promise a good harvest. Why? Arrogance leads to inflated self-esteem that people find obnoxious, whereas humility wins one popularity and support.

XLIV.

Success in life begins with faith. Faith leads to action and action leads to results. Without faith, there will be no action, and without action one gets nowhere.

XLV.

It has been frequently claimed that knowledge is power, but in reality it is not true. Knowledge is the ability to recognize and distinguish things, while power is the outcome of the application of knowledge. When knowledge is applied, power is accumulated. A great lake accumulates water from hundreds of streams, but if the waters are not diverted to the farmlands, there will be drought and cracks will appear in the fields. Similarly, there will be no power if knowledge is kept unused. Thus, one should not equate knowledge with power.