Philosophical Sayings About Worldly Matter (LIV)

The rigors of life are what a person wishing to become a worthy member of society has to undergo. This process can be compared to the smelting of rocks to extract the gold they contain. Without being subjected to the heat, rocks will remain just rocks and lie useless in the wilderness. Because the gold requires hard work to extract, it has extra value. That is why one should cherish the fortune he has won the hard way.

(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

We must train ourselves in all beneficial aspects, whether in terms of wisdom, physical fitness, spiritual well-being, or material aspects. During the process of training, when faced with difficulties and hardships, we must confront them head-on and not shrink back. Only through this can we enrich our intelligence and knowing, strengthen our physique, perform our tasks well, and thus become a valuable member of society. It's like how gold ore must undergo smelting in a furnace to become pure gold. Without putting the ore into the furnace, it can never become gold. Only through refinement can gold reach its purest form. If a lump of gold ore is left in the wilderness, in the valley's crevice, between myriad valleys and cliffs, it's no different from ordinary rocks or barren weeds—they are similar, yet soiled and void. In simple terms, without someone to refine it, it's just an ordinary stone.

Therefore, as individuals, we must actively seek out ways to improve ourselves, cultivate our knowledge and skills, ultimately build successful careers, and cherish the happiness that comes from these efforts. If success and happiness were easily obtained without effort, there would be no need for self-improvement or striving. It is precisely because happiness is earned through perseverance and training that we should greatly cherish the happiness that is hard-won. Only by cherishing happiness can happiness last forever.