Philosophical Sayings About Worldly Matters 56-60

(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.)

　　LVI.

　　Some persons look handsome, and some don’t. The same can be said of animals. What is the standard of beauty? In terms of beauty, humans are much inferior to animals that possess colorful furs or splendid plumes. When it comes to flying and swimming humans are inferior to animals, too. Only with the combination of intellect and morality can humans excel.

　　LVII.

　　Opportunities promise success. Seize them the moment they arise and make the best use of them. Don’t hesitate or they will slip through your fingers. As the old saying goes, “do it now or never. Instant action is the best medicine for all illnesses.” It is important to know that civilization forges ahead through concerted, immediate action of all men.

　　LVIII.

　　Success belongs to those who work hard to win it, yet excessive effort is self-defeating. Why? One gets impulsive when one tries too hard. Ships sail on the wind, but their masts may snap when the wind gets violent.

　　LIX.

　　The strong are those blessed with the ability to survive frustrations and defeats. Success does not belong to the weak because they are not endowed with this ability. The world changes so fast that no one is able to fully anticipate what is going to happen next. But the ability to cope with an adverse situation that may arise will put one on the winning side.

　　LX.

　　The gate to true knowledge is not through specialized learning. This is the same in ancient academies and modern universities. The gate to the treasury of true knowledge is the combination of cultural learning and the awareness of the material and ideological aspects of the society. Even with a doctorate degree, but without the understanding of the essence of society, one is only a bookworm and stays outside the gate to true knowledge.

The photographs by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, formally know as Master Wan Ko Yee, include scenery, people, animals, etc. These beautiful, artistic pictures taken with a camera make use of lighting, natural colors, and the skillful arrangement of objects.  The following is one of them:  A Water Spirit Soars Into the Sky