Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity – Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant – & Islam), and I imagine many other God-based religions such as Hinduism and Sikhism, have the concept of Kingdom of God aka Kingdom of heaven. The Churches-Mosques-Temples and their faithful think of Kingdom of God as a physical (or spiritual) realm where you may come after you leave this earthly world.

Such Kingdom of Heaven goes along with other after-death places such as Hell (forever prison – you can come in but never get out), or Purgatory (temporary jail, to cleanse you before you deserve to enter Heaven).

Buddhism also has Hell (but Hell has time limit) and you may eventually be reborn into another life. The circle of life, death and rebirth is called samsara (luân hồi). Also, there is Nirvana (Niết bàn), similar to Heaven – a place of total happiness, without going back to rebirth (No more samsara).

I am not saying anything about those places after death, because I am still here with you guys, not dead yet. So, I don’t claim to know anything about those places. But I want to talk about the Heaven and Hell of your heart, your mind.

This is the Zen story The Gates of Paradise in “101 Zen Stories”

The Gates of Paradise

A soldier named Nobushige came to Hakuin, and asked: “Is there really a paradise and a hell?”
“Who are you?” inquired Hakuin.
“I am a samurai,” the warrior replied.
“You, a soldier!” exclaimed Hakuin. “What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar.”
Nobushige became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but Hakuin continued: “So you have a sword! Your weapon is probably much too dull to cut off my head.”
As Nobushige drew his sword Hakuin remarked: “Here open the gates of hell!”
At these words the samurai, perceiving the master’s discipline, sheathed his sword and bowed.
“Here open the gates of paradise,” said Hakuin.

All the Holy Scriptures of all religions focus on helping you get to Heaven/Nirvana. Of course, because that is the spiritual state of quietness and happiness of your mind. Quietness and happiness together. Not the kind of happiness that makes you scream and jump up and down like a monkey. And no Scriptures of any religion focus on your material success – money, property, reputation, power… Material success, most of the time, is considered as bad temptations that would lead you to spiritual downfall.

The Buddhists talk about greed as one of three poisons – greed, anger, ignorance – that kill your sacred heart. And Jesus said: “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

You need to get to the state of heaven in your heart and mind first, then your material needs will be taken care of. Why? When you achieve the state of heaven in your mind/heart, you will have such a deep love for everyone because you can see most people are suffering, but they don’t even know they are suffering and, of course, don’t know how to stop suffering like you have done. And when you have such a state of mind, people respect you and trust you – they can see your aura of calmness and goodness. Thus, whatever job or business you do, you will be successful – when people trust you, you succeed.

Not that the Masters do not understand your material needs. They all understand the Truth: If you achieve the state of heaven in your heart, all your material needs will be taken care of.

So, focus on the root – bring your mind/heart to the state of heaven. And everything else will be taken care of.

Work on the root. And the root will take care of branches and the leaves.

Wish you all have heaven in your heart.

With compassion,

Hoành

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Trần Đình Hoành
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