A disciple once asked Lord Buddha, “Lord Buddha, there are many who are lax and are not diligent in their practice of Dharma. What should we do?”
Lord Buddha replied, “In Shravasti, there are four types of horses.
The first type will immediately start galloping with all it’s might upon merely seeing the whip or even the shadow of a whip.
The second type will do the same, but only when the whip touches its tail or hair.
The third type of horse will start galloping when it is physically hit by the whip.
The fourth type, however, will only start to move forward when a spike hits its hip.”
Lord Buddha says, “It is the same with human beings.
There are some, upon learning that calamities have befallen others – e.g. being stricken by illness or passing away, they will start to put their hearts into learning Buddhism and becoming diligent.
There are others whom will take such action only if it happens to their family members.
There are also some who will only take such action upon falling ill themselves.
The last type are those who, only upon being hit by terminal illness and in the face of death, will say: “I must start to be diligent in learning Buddhism”.
by Master Jun Hong Lu
20160212 Macau, Hong Kong
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