Philosophical Sayings About Worldly Matter (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.

(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.)

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Below is not an official translation, just for reference.

The success of anything involves opportunities, with the prerequisite that one must possess the corresponding knowledge, abilities, and virtues. When an opportunity arises, do not hesitate; act on the fly; act promptly and decisively. This means that when you see an opportunity and know that something is good to do at that moment, it's easiest to succeed, so you must act immediately. As soon as you hear about it, you should take action right away; otherwise, if you are late, someone else might seize the opportunity first, and you will lose it. That's why the ancients said, "As soon as you realize it's tomorrow, it's already long gone; as soon as you realize you're ill, it's the time for medicine." This tells us that as soon as you realize you need to do something, and upon correct analysis, don't wait until tomorrow. Do it today, immediately. If you discover an illness, treat it right away; do not delay, because the illness could worsen. Whether it's business, dealing with people, or anything else, the principle remains the same: act immediately when you know what needs to be done. Of course, we are not asking everyone to snatch away others' benefits., but if everyone seizes opportunities to work together, it will promote the development of both material and spiritual civilization in society, thus accelerating societal progress. This principle is well worth considering thoughtfully.