Contentment Brings Lasting Joy

Attorney Liu Longzhu: Hello everyone, I'm Attorney Liu Longzhu. Today, we are especially honored to have with us one of Fo Guang Shan's most senior elders, Venerable Master Xindingding, who is also the abbot of Thai Hua Temple in Thailand. He will offer us some reminders and share his teachings. Venerable Master Xindingding, auspicious, auspicious.

 Venerable Ding is actually extremely busy. When Fo Guang Shan was first founded in 1967, it was a time of immense hardship. Over the years, through countless efforts, sweat, and trials, Fo Guang Shan was established. Today, it has grown to over 300 Buddhist centers worldwide.The early days were incredibly arduous, filled with grueling labor. Through immeasurable dedication, sweat, and hardship, he built Fo Guang Shan into what it is today—a global network of over 300 Buddhist centers worldwide. None of this would have been possible without Venerable Master Ding. He is truly an extraordinary and profoundly wise venerable master in the Buddhist community.

Personally, I handle numerous divorce cases, criminal defense cases, and many other lawsuits, witnessing countless aspects of human life. However, I believe that American law is essentially remedial in nature. In contrast, the Humanistic Buddhism advocated by Master Hsing Yun, along with Venerable Ding and other Buddhist masters and disciples, is preventive. When prevention is effective, there is no need for remediation.So while I handle numerous cases, engaging in heated, sometimes brutal legal battles daily, the glamour behind it—people praising, "Attorney Liu, you're such a skilled litigator! Another victory! That's remarkable!"—is merely superficial. The true essence, underlying many cases—whether divorce or criminal defense—is that there are no winners. At their core, they leave everyone battered and bruised.Behind it all, there are boundless karmic obstacles lurking. Today, I specifically seek guidance from Venerable Ding on some modern issues. Venerable Ding will offer everyone some guidance and reminders. Alright, I hope everyone will seize this opportunity, for it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

First off, it's like this: whether it's the United States or mainland China, I feel that material conditions and technological advancement have progressed significantly compared to before.People's lives are generally more affluent and convenient overall, yet it seems they aren't happier. They appear more troubled, and opening the newspaper often reveals numerous human tragedies. Instead, people live with greater distress and inner agitation. Why is this happening? Second, is there any way to live a little more lightly?

 Venerable Ding: Hello, everyone. Regarding the question raised by Attorney Liu, fundamentally, humans possess a strong desire for more. This desire is intense. The Earth's climate and temperature continue to rise. This is largely due to human development and exploitation of the planet, the destruction of natural ecosystems, coupled with industrial progress and technological advancement, which generate vast amounts of waste and pollution. All these are human-made factors.

So human factors, like the Amazon River—the Amazon is over there, and how to get people to stop cutting down those forests. But illegal logging keeps happening, somehow.All these factors influence the Earth's temperature and are human-made. Humanity's insatiable desires drive us into this high-tech era where companies compete to outdo each other's products. These tech professionals earn far more than those in ordinary industries—sometimes several times more—yet they face immense pressure.They must achieve breakthroughs, ensuring their products surpass competitors in every aspect—superior quality, greater excellence, enhanced convenience. Thus, despite their high earnings, the pressure leaves them far from content.

Due to the advancement of modern technology—smartphones, the internet, and so on—some young people, even children, spend their entire days playing with phones and computers, watching all sorts of strange programs. Consequently, some criminal elements imitate these behaviors, influenced by such content. This imitation primarily fosters criminal activities.In the past, during the agricultural era, people lived in villages or small towns where neighbors were close by. Everyone interacted frequently, gathering in courtyards after dinner to chat. But in this era, with computers, smartphones, and the internet, almost everyone retreats into their rooms, glued to their phones, constantly scrolling through the internet, staring at their computers, and so on.

So opportunities for face-to-face conversation between people have diminished. Consequently, friendships and relationships aren't as warm and harmonious as they used to be—this is another impact. Due to technological advancements, children see new products or better brands and demand their parents buy them the latest items.Parents, facing financial hardship, often can't afford to comply. Nowadays, children don't care whether you have the money or not—they threaten violence if they don't get what they want. I've witnessed children hitting their mothers and fathers simply because they refused to buy them a branded phone or other luxury items.

So in this day and age, it seems like no matter what you do, there's always constant demands and competition, which only adds to the pressure.I believe all aspects of society generate pressure. As society evolves into this high-tech form, the friendships between people—the kind where neighbors used to interact warmly—have vanished. Now, when the elevator doors open in the same building, those doors lock behind you. Even neighbors living door-to-door on the same floor don't know each other.It's nothing like the old days in a village, where almost every adult and child in every household knew each other and interacted freely. The entire dynamic has completely changed.

This is also a reason—especially the content of technological products—that influences children's minds with negative thoughts. These negative thoughts, coupled with societal chaos, stem from this very source. As everyone pursues ever-higher material living standards, the relentless demand for improvement naturally leads to greater pressure to find ways to earn money. This inevitably brings stress, tension, and an inability to feel joyful. Thus, fundamentally, it is endless desire that generates all manner of pressure and suffering.

 Attorney Liu Longzhu: Thank you, Venerable Ding, for your teachings. Thank you, everyone.

 Venerable Ding: Thank you all. Wishing you good health, fulfillment of your aspirations, and smooth sailing in all endeavors. Thank you, everyone. Thank you.